How to Homeschool When Money Is Tight
Homeschooling on a budget is simple when you follow these money-saving tips.
Homeschooling Can Be Inexpensive
You don’t need to be rich to homeschool.
In fact, homeschooling when money is tight can actually make your homeschool more successful.
You tend to stick with the basics and ensure your kids have a strong foundation.
You search for free community programs and educational opportunities you might not have utilized otherwise.
You spend time outside. It’s not just free; it’s soul-filling.
You get creative and think broadly.
You problem solve daily!
You are forced to decide on a curriculum and stay the course instead of buying more than you need.
Don’t look at your limited budget as a limitation. It’s an opportunity (and arguably an advantage).
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Budget-Friendly Ways to Homeschool
Homeschooling on a budget is perfectly possible with these tips and tricks.
Check Out the Free Resources Online
You can literally homeschool your kids with just a laptop or a tablet. (Just ask roadschoolers.)
Check out YouTube for free educational content like storybooks read aloud, history and science videos, and brain break ideas.
Khan Academy has free lessons in many subjects, including K-12 math and standardized test prep.
You can even find free online curricula like Easy Peasy Homeschool.
Are you homeschooling a preschooler? You can get a free preschool curriculum (with lesson plans!) at Homeschooling Preschool.
Explore All the Public Library Has to Offer
The public library has oodles of books, audiobooks, and DVDs that you can check out for free.
Did you know that they also take requests? Ask your librarian to order books from your homeschool wish list!
Does your library have a digital library? You can often rent movies, e-books, and audiobooks for free online. No car trip required!
The library also offers free classes, book clubs, and more. These are budget-friendly activities and field trips, all covered by your tax dollars.
Join a Local Homeschooling Group
Do field trips seem beyond your budget? A local homeschooling group can help when you are homeschooling on a shoestring.
Parents often brainstorm free field trips or procure budget-friendly group rates.
Visit Your Local Community Center
If you have a community center, check their list of free or affordable classes, clubs, and music and sports programs.
Extra-curricular activities are often the #1 expense for homeschoolers, so take advantage of the free options in your area.
Utilize Open Educational Resources
A tablet or e-reader is a piece of technology that may save you money as a homeschooler.
Explore platforms that offer Open Educational Resources (OER).
OER Commons, Internet Archive, The Library of Congress, and Project Gutenberg are all content-rich OER sites.
Team Teach with Co-ops
Tutors can cost a lot of money, but you can team teach with other homeschooling parents through a co-op to get the job done.
You can share teaching responsibilities and resources with your fellow homeschooling parents.
Create a DIY Curriculum
Designing your own curriculum is a marvelous idea when homeschooling on a budget.
Between library resources, online lessons, hand-me-down curricula, and your own ingenuity, you can create a fantastic and personalized curriculum.
Don’t forget to check out our Freebie Library for loads of educational worksheets, games, and crafts.
Speaking of freebies, your first year of homeschooling your little one can be absolutely free with Homeschooling Preschool.
Attend Online Educational Workshops and Webinars
If you would love some teacher training, you can find free webinars and online workshops.
Where do you start? Check out the website of your state homeschooling organization.
Explore the Outdoors
The Great Outdoors is a wonderland! Take advantage of local parks, trails, and nature paths.
Your kids can learn so much from the outdoor classroom (just ask nature schoolers!).
Check out these nature activities and nature journals to get some great ideas.
Download Educational Apps
Educational apps are a free or low-cost option for learning and review. (Bonus: Kids typically love them!)
Try these lists of the best educational apps:
Go to Museums on Free Days
Many museums have designated free or discounted days for students.
That’s one of the beauties of homeschooling: you can make a field trip day any day of the week!
Barter Your Skills
Are you a craft whiz but hopeless with math? Perhaps you love messy science experiments but hate editing papers.
Find another homeschooling parent with complementary skills and barter. You will both get to do more of what you love.
Print, Print, Print
Although you can find a host of online lessons and videos, your child may not learn best from those.
You can still take advantage of “paper learning” with free online printables.
These interactive worksheets teach and reinforce skills in math, reading, handwriting…you name it!
Our Freebies Library is a great place to start. It’s free to join!
You will find engaging educational printables like Writing Prompt BINGO, early readers, coding activity sheets, and handwriting worksheets.
Center Your Homeschool Around Projects
Project-based learning is a hands-on, dynamic form of learning that often integrates multiple skills and subjects.
When homeschooling on a budget, you can assign projects that use materials you already have at home.
Let creativity be your guide! Try cooking recipes from around the world for geography, delivering dramatic speeches or reenactments from history, or creating Lego towers in math.
Subscribe to Educational Podcasts
Educational podcasts and audiobooks (remember to check your library’s digital offerings) are budget-friendly, on-the-go educational options.
If you want some engaging podcasts to try, check out this list.
Homeschool on a Budget
Homeschooling on a budget is an exercise in creativity, but that’s where you come up with the best ideas!
By following these tips, you can have an excellent and effective year of homeschooling, without breaking the bank.
