Frugal tips to save money on curriculum is important. When you are first starting out it can all be so overwhelming. I remember the first convention with all of the vendors, I spent way too much. After thirteen years, I know exactly what I need to spend and what not to spend money on. These tried and true tips will help you function better as a homeschool mom. Focus on keeping it simple. Add more only as you need more.
So many moms step into the ring of homeschooling with worry. The best person to teach your children is you. Set aside a little money each month to buy a standard curriculum each year with a company you like, or create your own. That is the beauty of homeschooling.
Have More Than One Child Use The Curriculum
First, take a look at what your homeschool will look like. How many will you be working with at a time?
Next, look at the curriculum options that would allow for group teaching. Research these options that will be affordable for more than one child to learn this subject.
Another Idea is to take the oldest child’s curriculum and purchase all of the books. Then, for each subject put together the same theme for younger children. Print off worksheets, add in video’s and use educational websites such as coolmathgames.com to expand on learning.
Library Ideas
Next, go to the library. The library has all of the free curriculum homeschoolers need. Find books that have what you want to teach. It may take some time to put together a curriculum, but it will be cheaper.
I have found so many teacher learning tools at the library through magazines, educational books , and subject specific information.
My other resource is the librarians. They are a wealth of information. Librarians have the 411 on where to look to gain knowledge of teaching.
Search the Internet
After purchasing a curriculum, see if Pinterest has any ideas that will help add to it with worksheets. Print off as many that will be needed before school starts. Several websites offer a free curriculum. I add these to what I have purchased.
Now that I have three in my homeschool, buying a full curriculum is expensive. So I buy the individual subjects such as Language Arts, Math and Latin.
Finally, I try to reuse what I can. If it is a workbook that is consumable then I use the teacher’s guide for the both children. Then, the next year all I have to purchase is the workbook.
Read other websites of homeschool moms’ and the curriculum they have chosen.
Utilize these frugal tips to save money in the next year on homeschool curriculum, and while shopping online. For more adventures in saving and homeschooling follow me @momsarefrugal on Instagram.
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Reusing one curriculum for different children is a great way to save on homeschool supplies! I have 6 little siblings, and while Mom did tweak the program a little each time and sometimes change curriculums for children with different learning styles, there was a lot of overlap and many books were used again and again. We used Sonlight, primarily, which seems to be especially well designed for use by large families!
Using the same curriculum for our younger children has really saved us big in the homeschooling department. Great tips.
I’ve never thought to talk with a representative and negotiate a discount, but that’s an idea 🙂 We are new to homeschooling but given that we’ll have 4 kids in school, I’ve already considered this issue. I only purchase curriculum that works for multiple learners. That way I can copy what I need, when I need it, without copyright infringement.
If I’m given the choice between workbooks and textbooks, I choose textbooks every time. It’s easier to back up and review material, and I can hand it down to each of my 6 children. 🙂