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What can you do when there’s no money for homeschool curriculum? Here are three things that you can do NOW!
It is curriculum shopping season, and chances are you have been inundated with homeschool catalogs, internet ads, and homeschool curriculum fairs. For many, it is THE season! The one they have been looking forward to all year. But, for others, it is a season of sadness, a season of want, and a season of not being content.
When there’s no money for homeschool curriculum it seems logical to feel unsatisfied, envious, and even perturbed. You want new books for your children, and you want to be able to purchase items necessary for your homeschool. But, if left unchecked these feelings can lead to resentment in your heart and discord in your home.
So, what can you do when there’s no money for homeschool curriculum?
Borrow
Just about every homeschool group has a “curriculum queen”, see if it is possible for you to look at, or borrow curriculum. Our homeschool group has a curriculum swap and share every year and often times there is a table FULL of free curriculum that moms no longer want. Also, if you are close enough with a few members, make it known that you are in need of a few items to get you through this tough time.
Check Out Free Homeschool Sites
There are tons of free curriculum sites out there! Here are just a few:
Homeschool Programs for Families in Need
Some curriculum companies offer financial assistance for families who cannot afford to buy curriculum. If there is a company you have purchased from before, but cannot afford to go through now, this option may be worth looking into.
Many homeschool support groups offer scholarship programs for families who have fallen upon tough times. Depending on what your needs this may be beneficial to look into.
One program that strives to help homeschool families with financial needs is the Homeschool Foundation. This organization offers financial support for purchasing curriculum to families with certain needs. Some of these needs include single parents, military families, and families with children who have special needs.
Find a Way to Make Extra Money
There are tons of work at home options out there for moms. Consider taking on a babysitting job, look into a newspaper route, a freelancing job, or working as a virtual assistant.
If you are not interested in working from home, look into other ways to make some extra money. Clear out your closets and have a yard sale. Look into selling some items on eBay or Craig’s List, consider collecting and scrapping cans.
Moms, I encourage you as you go through this lean season to remember the big picture. Many families have been where you are and are on the other side. This season will pass.
If you are facing financial difficulties right now, and have no money for homeschool curriculum, I hope this has helped you realize that homeschooling is not impossible! No money for homeschool curriculum does NOT mean you can’t homeschool 🙂
How have you homeschooled when there was no money for homeschool curriculum?
So sorry you went through such a hard time. But, so happy you were able to turn to the savior. God never leaves us or forsakes us.
Yes, I have spent years homeschooling with zero budget for supplies or curriculum. We were lucky to have rice for dinner at times. This was hard… add to it a husband working 12-13 hours at a location 2 hours away, having to leave our church, and then my body developing a mystery illness that took years to diagnose and treat, and heal from. Now facing burnout and depression in the aftermath even as things are getting better!!!!! So funny. Working through the hurt and sadness from having to work so hard to make things work, and to overcome the battle of keeping my chin up. Asking God to heal me. This really took a lot out of me. No feedback please if you cannot keep it positive. I felt so much panic so many times. God alone was my best friend through that.
This just came on my newsfeed! We use Claritas memory work: https://www.claritas-publishing.com
The digitized version is: https://crossseven.org
It is engaging musical memory work and it covers the following subjects: Timeline, History, Science, Geography, Scripture, Math, Latin, English Grammar, and Hymns.
The curriculum is quite reasonable and you can check it out for $3.97 a month online.
The library is our main source of curriculum. It’s like a second home to us!
I have heard of this, but never looked into it. Thanks so much for sharing! It sounds like a great resource!!
Book Samaritan is a non profit organization that gifts families in need homeschool curriculum. You send them your “wish list” and they will attempt to get what you want or at least something very similar. They are a great program.
Thanks for the suggestion!!
Homeschooling World (http://homeschoolingworld.com) is also a good site if you’re looking for free/cheap curricula.
Libraries are SUCH a blessing!!
The library is my best friend when we are homeschooling. i rarely buy anything. No need to….use khan for math and everything else comes from library.
Yes, and many people DON’T realize that!
Great suggestions and ideas! I love that it truly is possible to home school on a $0 budget. Perhaps not the easiest thing to do, but definitely possible!
These are great tips, but I’d add that you don’t need a curriculum at all to homeschool, so if you can’t afford what you’ve been buying, embrace the opportunity to do your own thing!
I’ve been homeschooling my kids for 5 years and I believe the grand total I’ve spent on school books is less than $40! Remember the good old days, when all you needed to homeschool was a library card and a AAA road trip book? The public library is still a remarkable free resource — but I do use my phone to help me navigate, so no more AAA book!
Great!! I have never purchased through them. Maybe next year 🙂
Exactly! It does NOT have to cost a lot.
Yes, I LOVE shopping used curriculum sales 🙂 We have used Khan Academy as a supplement. It is a great resource!
I love good curriculum deals! I always shop first with local homeschoolers to see if I can get what I need gently used/discounted. Khan Academy is a favorite here, too!
We have gotten so many of our homeschool resources at yard sales and through gifts for Christmas. There are so many ways to save money with homeschooling!
We took advantage of the Ultimate Homeschool Bundle a few weeks ago and got tons of great curriculum for a low cost.