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Homeschooling. It is one of those decisions that will change your life (for the better). I have read time and time again that people are afraid to homeschool due to the cost. Many of us are homeschooling on a budget. Assuming you have the basics, like a printer and basic school supplies, it is possible to homeschool for less than $100 a year. I have even seen people homeschool their kids for free (not including printer paper and ink.) I bet at this point you are wondering how to homeschool for less than $100 a year, let me show you!
Using Paper and Ink whenHomeschooling on a Budget
I find the biggest things we need is printer paper and printer ink. Since we use this is our business, it is a business expense for us, but those of you using it in your homeschooling budget here are my tips. Watch Staples and Office Depot for the free after rebate printer paper. Yes, you will pay up front, but once you get the rebate check back, you can put that money right backin your budget. While Staples is known for doing free reams of paper, Office Depot is known for doing free after rebate cases of paper or even $5 after rebate cases of paper.
As for saving money on printer ink, I suggest looking into refilling your cartridges yourself.Also look into places like 4inkjets.com for cheap ink.
When Homeschooling on a Budget use a Free Online Curriculum
I am surprised there are so many FREE homeschool curriculums that people do not know about. Sure, they may not be exactly what you want to use 100%, but you can still work with it. Easy Peasy (All in One) is one of the most popular ones. She has created an online curriculum that can allow you to homeschool for free. If it asks you for money, it isn’t a free curriculum. However, if you can access the curriculum right away without entering your credit card, it is most likely free.
Take Advantage of Pinterest
Go to Pinterest right now and soak in the fact that it is a never-ending option for homeschooling families. There are so many different options available on Pinterest. Whether you need a guideline on how to homeschool or you need curriculum, this is my go-to place for inspiration. Pinterest is FREE, and you can weed out the resources you do not want to use. Perhaps the best thing about Pinterest is that you can pin/save your content for later. Follow me on Pinterest I am always sharing free printables!
How to Homeschool and Create Your Own Curriculum
Although you may spend more time on curriculum than you wanted to, creating your own curriculum can help you save a ton of time. I’m so thankful to have the Internet at my disposal, and it is so much easier to put together something that I want my kids to learn than it is always to find what I need. Researching is always a great option when it comes to creating your own curriculum. Make sure to take advantage of resource resources like the library as well.
Join Free Homeschool Co-ops
While most Homeschool co-ops do cost some sort of fee, there are ones that cost no money. Joining a free homeschool co-op can allow your family to have a little variety in their lives. Teaching your kids should not cost an arm and a leg and I think a lot of families realize that, which is why they have formed co-ops.
How to Homeschool by using the TV
I use Amazon Prime Video on my Amazon Firestick along with Netflix and Hulu in my homeschool. There are so many documentaries and science shows. How it's Made is a good one my kid's love. For elementary grades,there is the Magic School Bus and more! With Amazon, you can buy and rent almost any show. I earn free Amazon Gift Cards to do this.
Homeschool Days
Check the attractions in your area for their homeschool days. Many places will do free or even really cheap homeschool days for things like museums, factory tours, farms, even bowling. Many times admission is half cost or as little as $3 a person, sometimes it's even free. The free ones are my favorite 😉
One of the best things you can do to homeschool for under $100 is to do a lot of free hands-on activities. Parks, museums, libraries, and any other free activities your family wants to do. Learning is not limited to just sitting at a table.
