How to Start Homeschooling
on a Limited Budget

These tips on how to start homeschooling on a limited budget are the result of what I have learned over the years. There are free homeschooling worksheets online, discount home school curriculum sales, and other options where real-life experiences become the homeschool curriculum to help with the cost of educating at home.

Free Options

There are plenty of free, Internet resources to aid you as you instruct your children. Truly, if a person has the time, a printer, and sufficient paper and ink, everything s/he needs to teach grades preschool through college can be obtained online!

Additionally, consider the useful free, computer software like the OpenOffice productivity suite download that would allow someone to teach an entire computer course and create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Remember to download your free anti-virus software for your computer, too.

The public library has a wealth of free books, cds, and videos to help you develop your personalized, homeschool curriculum.

We regularly go there when we want to do our coursework outside the home or need additional books. You will also be able to pick up books that explain how to start homeschooling, as well.

You can also use "real books" you already have in the home to create material for schooling. For instance, use the Bible to generate handwriting, history, science, math, and of course Bible lessons for your child.

Low-cost Options

If you need to purchase resources, try these options to help with your cost:

• look for used books online at Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon, and used curriculum sites
• search for used items at thrift stores, yard sales, and curriculum fairs
• scan the bargains and close-outs found at curriculum suppliers such as CBD

Barter with a friend to give your child music, sewing, swimming or writing lessons. They would create their own course of study and use their own material.

Set up an apprenticeship where your child works with someone else, such as a carpenter or engineer friend, to learn a trade or skill for credit.

These free and economical ways of beginning homeschooling can be a help if the financial expense of schooling at home would be a hindrance to your family.

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