Let’s face it, homeschooling can get expensive. Some science curriculum alone, especially as your children get into the upper grades with labs, can almost wipe out a small budget in one purchase! It doesn’t have to be that way. You CAN provide a quality education for your children, AND homeschool on a budget.

Here are ten ways to homeschool on a budget that I’ve learned through years of painful experience, trial and error, and great advice from more experienced moms.

Ask yourself: Do I really need it?

Seems obvious, but there are so many new products coming out all the time, and so many suggestions on forums and blogs, that it’s easy to get sucked in by the idea of a shiny new miracle curriculum that will solve your child’s hate for math once and for all. If you have a product that’s already working, even if it’s not their favorite subject, keep going with it and save yourself a few bucks.

Borrow curriculum

If you have a trustworthy friend who homeschools, you can raid her bookshelves and see if she has anything she’s not currently using that you could borrow and use with your kids, and vice versa.

Teach together

There are all kinds of homeschool co-ops; some are free and some can get pretty expensive. If you don’t have a free or cheap co-op in your area, create a small group with your homeschool friends.

I get together with a group of five other moms and we take turns teaching our kids science and literature. This spreads out the teaching responsibilities, as well as purchasing homeschool supplies. You can also share curriculum and resources, especially among your own kids.

The Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on HomeschoolingHomeschool Bravely: How to Squash Doubt, Trust God, and Teach Your Child with ConfidenceThe Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and LifeBetter Together: Strengthen Your Family, Simplify Your Homeschool, and Savor the Subjects that Matter MostThe Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child’s Education, A New Way to HomeschoolTeaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace

Combine your kids

If you can teach your kids together, using the same curriculum, this will save you money on curriculum and resources, as well as save you time.

For example, if you have kids that are within a 2-4 year age range, you can potentially teach them the same science course and the same history course, among other things like literature and electives.

Re-sell

Some curriculum has great resale value and are highly sought after secondhand, like Notgrass and Apologia. The internet makes it so easy to resell curriculum nowadays. There are lots of online Facebook groups for reselling homeschool curriculum.

Ask around and see if there is an annual homeschool curriculum sale in your area where moms can get together, set up tables, and sell their used curriculum. You can make out pretty well reselling your curriculum, especially if you use these tips for reselling your homeschool curriculum.

Buy used

While you’re in those Facebook groups listing your used curriculum, you can take a look for curriculum you know you need. Don’t get distracted! It helps to have a planning list, even just a Post-it note stuck to your laptop, so you don’t get sucked in to the vortex of all the homeschool things!

Make your own plans

Not every subject has to be taught with the use of purchased curriculum. You can save a lot of money by making unit studies and doing your own research.

Try notebooking

Many subjects can be learned at once by including them in a notebook. All you need are a “spine” book or two and the patience to let your kids write their own opinions, sketches, draw their own pictures, and take charge of their own learning without you trying to lead them.

Use the library

It saddens me immensely when I hear that more people aren’t taking advantage of their library. Even if you live far away, most libraries now allow you to “borrow” e-books online, so once you have your membership you don’t even have to leave the house to get your hands on reading material.

Find it free

There are so many amazing free homeschool resources out there today that there’s truly something for everyone’s style. Search “free homeschool curriculum” on Pinterest when you have a few hours to surf and you’ll unearth more than you could use with your children in a lifetime.

Do you have ways to homeschool on a budget that aren’t included here? Please share in the comments!