by Nathan Perkins

Created on: July 27, 2011   Last Updated: July 28, 2011

Here are three quick tips that will help you save some money in your homeschooling budget.

1. Books

Buy and sell on eBay.  You will need some expensive books.  Most of the time you will find what you need at a discounted rate from a used book site like eBay.  We have also learned that friends are usually willing to let us borrow books they’ve used or to split the cost on a book we will both be using.

2. Co-oping

If you are part of a homeschool co-op, you will have valuable resources of others who homeschool their children.  They will have books you can borrow.  Co-ops are often full of people with areas of expertise.  Some classes offered in a co-op are impractically expensive for one family to do at home, but when a group co-ops they share the cost and make it more reasonable.  Science classes are a great example.  Some science experiments are expensive.

Co-oping is not only about joining a group.  You likely know people who can help you teach certain areas of your curriculum.  My friend, who is an editor, is a great resource for when I have grammar questions.  She even comes to my house to walk my kids and I through a course on journal writing.

We’ve had a police officer stop by our house who showed us his car and talked with us about law enforcement.  Even if you don’t know an officer, you could call your local unit.  They will likely help you out.  Have fun with it by not telling your child that this person is coming.  Their adrenaline will rise when the officer pounds on your house door. 

If you plan a week ahead of time, give your child a chance to ask questions of an officer, if they ever meet one.  Then a week later they will have forgotten about the assignment and will be surprised enough to get excited.  It’s as good as a field trip and it’s free.

3. Improvising

Using what you have in your house or what you have available to you outside your house will save you money.  You have resources around you that you can repurpose and make great illustrations for education. 

- Music

Do you have a musical instrument at your house?  The Internet provides an endless supply of music for your child to learn. They can even look up their favorite song at sites like www.ultimate-guitar-online.com .

- Cooking

Cooking is chemistry.  Teach your child how to cook as you show them the chemical reactions and the adding of elements and the adding of heat or chill. 

- Home improvements

Most home improvement projects will teach math and science.  Your child can learn to estimate the cost of a project, buy the supplies, measure, mix, and learn all the skills of doing a job at the same time.  Home schooling can be a very practical experience.

- Shopping

Economics class will be enhanced if you talk with your child about the ways you are working on saving money while homeschooling.  They will certainly learn from your example. 

One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling on a budget is that you will be able to do more and stretch your homeschooling advantage by stretching that homeschooling dollar.

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