Buying homeschool curriculum can get expensive in a hurry!
Homeschooling can be expensive, with the cost of curriculum being one of the most expensive aspects.
If you have more than one child, the expenses will be higher.
We’ve found 10 great ways to help you save money when buying homeschool curriculum!
Find out our best ideas by continuing to read!
1. Shop for curriculum in the “off-season”
Purchasing your homeschool curriculum outside of the normal school year can help you get some great discounts.
Homeschooling parents tend to buy their curriculum during the summer as they are preparing for the upcoming school year.
Many online booksellers offer some of their best homeschool curriculum discounts during Spring Break.
Additionally, Black Friday can be a great time to find discounted homeschool curriculum. If you like a curriculum and it works for you and your kids, you can buy it at a discount far in advance.
2. Have a co-op curriculum swap/sale
If you are a part of a homeschool co-op, you could suggest or host a co-op curriculum swap. This would be a great way for everyone to get new material to use.
Co-op members are invited to bring their gently used curriculum to trade or sell at a discount.
It is also a good idea to include homeschool room supplies, such as globes, number charts, etc.!
3. Subscribe to free printable libraries
You can find everything from worksheets to unit studies and more. There are a lot of great free homeschooling online printable libraries. You can find everything from worksheets to unit studies.
4. Search local homeschooling Facebook groups
You can save money when buying homeschool curriculum by posting in your local homeschooling Facebook groups about what you’re looking for.
If you want to find something specific or just browse for options, it can be worth checking to see if anyone nearby is selling what you’re looking for!
5. Rent
A great way to save money when purchasing homeschool curriculum is to rent it instead of buying it.
Yellow House Book Rental is a great place to rent homeschool curriculum. They offer 5-month and 10-month rentals, as well as an option to buy.
6. Buy used
Secondhand books can save you a lot of money compared to buying new books, just like when you were in college!
7. Bundle curriculum
Most curriculum providers offer discounts when you purchase a set or groups of resources at one time. This can be a great way to get everything you need all at once, and you’ll save money in the process. If you want to save money when buying homeschool curriculum, you should buy it in a bundle. Curriculum providers usually give discounts when you buy a set or group of resources at the same time. This way you can get everything you need at once and save money.
It can be less expensive to buy an all-inclusive curriculum than to buy each subject piecemeal. Although it may feel like a big investment, the cost of buying a different curriculum for each subject can add up quickly.
Although you may like the idea of buying each subject separately, you may be able to find ways of getting them bundled together.
For example, you can save money by buying a box set of The Life of Fred math books instead of buying each book individually.
The library is a great resource for finding books to support your homeschool curriculum, and best of all, these books are usually available for free.
8. Go digital
Many homeschool curriculum sellers now offer the option of purchasing a digital copy of the textbook instead of a print version. This is often at much lower cost – both to you and for the publisher!
9. Use your local library
Check out books, of course, but also DVDs, audiobooks, and even CDs. We suggest you use your local library in any way possible! You can check out books, DVDs, audiobooks, and CDs.
Libraries offer many helpful features to homeschooling families, such as the ability to reserve or hold books, or extend borrowing periods.
10. Trade curriculum with a friend
You may consider swapping textbooks with a homeschooling friend who uses the same curriculum and has kids in different grades.
11. Look for programs that last for more than one school year
Another way to save money on homeschool curriculum is to find programs that can be used for more than one year.
We love Spelling Power because it is an inexpensive textbook that covers your kids’ spelling curriculum from third to eighth grade.
In addition to stretched program, you could also do a program that lasts for two years instead of one.
12. Use Teacher’s Pay Teachers
Teacher’s Pay Teachers is an online marketplace where teachers can buy and sell resources they have created in the form of printables.
There are thousands of great homeschooling materials available on Teachers Pay Teachers, from both public school teachers and homeschooling authors.
In other words, you can limit your search to materials that are specifically designed for homeschoolers.
If you want to save money, look for bundle packs of printables instead of buying them individually.
14. Try Khan Academy
Khan Academy is one of our favorite homeschool curriculum resources.
The courses offered are of extremely high quality and cater to all grades levels, from pre-K through college. Furthermore, they offer literacy and language arts classes, high school science classes, computing courses, and much more. And the best part is that it is all free of charge!
Homeschooling Curriculum Planning Tips
1. Shop Your Shelves
Before looking through a bunch of homeschooling catalogs, check what you already have! You might be surprised at how many good things you already have access to. This saves money and time. I love researching and looking at all the different curriculum options as much as the next mom, but it can be really overwhelming trying to decide between all of them. Keep in mind that as long as you stay within some basic guidelines, whatever you choose is going to work for your child. You aren’t going to mess up your child’s education by choosing the wrong math program or writing curriculum. So do your research and choose carefully, but don’t obsess over it.
– Jimmie, Jimmie’s Collage
2. Look at the Real Thing
When you’re planning your homeschooling curriculum for the year, talk to other homeschooling friends to see if they like the curriculum you’re looking at. Try to look at an actual physical copy of the curriculum, if possible. I’ve had some curriculum that I thought was a good match until I actually saw it. Sometimes curriculum that I had discounted became my favorite once I got my hands on it.
– Ticia, Adventures in Mommydom
3. Is the Curriculum Working?
You should think about how much work you have to do. Does your schoolwork suit you? If it makes you feel like you’re falling behind, you can reduce the amount you’re doing or stop doing it completely. You don’t have to finish what you started. You can make changes as you go, even in the middle of the year. Also, don’t feel like you have to finish something because the end of the year is coming. You don’t have to finish it.
4. Don’t Fret About Time
Last year a reader shared a great tip with me: if you don’t feel like you have all your curriculum choices made by a certain date, don’t worry. It’s better to start a subject a month or two later than everything else than to buy a curriculum that doesn’t fit well just because you feel like time is running out.
– Emily, Table Life Blog
5. Plan Weekly
I start each year by looking at my curriculum and finding out what is happening throughout the year. I also find out when we’ll be taking a break, and look through Pinterest for ideas. Every Sunday, I sit down and fill out my planner with specific details for the week.
– Ticia, Adventures in Mommydom
6. Delegate and The Have Fun
I often feel like I spend more time planning homeschool lessons than teaching them. Two things I try to keep in mind to make things easier: 1. Delegate as much of the printing, hole punching, and copying to your kids. 2. In the midst of all the academic choices…don’t forget to plan some fun! Once the major curriculum choices are made, I focus on making homeschooling fun.
– Stacey
7. There is No Perfect Curriculum
There is no surefire method for choosing the right products for your children that will work for every family. You may find some success with a certain method or product, but it is possible that it will not work as well for another family. Do not get discouraged if a product does not work out for your family; instead, try something else that may be a better fit.
8. Use Flexible Curriculum
When contemplating which curriculum to choose for the new school year, take into account what was effective and what was not effective last year. As your children age and their interests and learning styles evolve, it becomes increasingly important to factor this into your decision of what to teach them. I also believe that the curriculum should be flexible enough to mesh with our hectic schedule. Personally, I think it is essential to shop around, avoid rushing, research thoroughly, and not be afraid to scrap the plan if it isn’t working.
– Jen, Practical by Default
9. Curriculum That Gives You Confidence
Think about your child’s learning style when you pick a curriculum, but if you find a program you’re happy with, it’ll be simpler to tweak it for your kid. Every once in a while, I come across a program that just clicks with me, as a teacher, and it makes me feel more capable in my role.
– Tonia
10. Rotate Subjects
You don’t need to do every subject every day. Just do reading, language arts, and math every day. Then you can rotate the other subjects throughout the week. This makes it easier. Also, remember that you don’t have to do every subject every day. This will give you time to do fun things like field trips and nature walks that everyone will like.
11. Icing on the Cake
Remember that you are doing the best you can to educate your children and train them in righteousness. You don’t need to worry about what other people are doing or what expectations you are placing on yourself. Be creative, let the kids choose what they learn, and have fun!
– Lauren, Serving From Home
12. Yearly Marathon
I try to do as much as possible during my yearly planning marathon. This includes cleaning our homeschooling place, throwing away papers from the previous year, organizing supplies, selling old books, and printing out reviews, quizzes, tests, project lists, and extra work pages. It does take time, but it will save you hours and headaches through the school year.
– Sam
13. No Shortage of Choices
The possibilities are really endless. If you’re new to homeschooling, you may be wondering what kind of curriculum to use. Fortunately, there are many options available, no matter what subject you’re teaching. You can buy ready-made lesson plans, create your own, or use a combination of both approaches. You can also choose to follow the traditional school curriculum, or base your lesson plans on your child’s interests. The possibilities are endless.
– Megan, Education Possible
14. Develop Your Own Plan
Some people like a lot of structure while others are more relaxed. Everyone’s homeschooling experience is different and there is no one right way to do things. It’s important to figure out what works for you and your family, rather than comparing yourself to others and trying to replicate their experience. Some people prefer a more structured approach while others are more relaxed.
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