Becoming a homeschool parent is well worth it, but it is challenging. If you were working before, you might have to quit your job like I did in order to homeschool. You might have to try to find ways to contribute to family income or work from home. Either way, the wiser you are with your budget, the better off you will be.
Homeschooling With A Limited Income?
Even if a husband or wife makes enough money to support the family on one income, being budget conscience with your homeschool dollars will make you all feel better. It keeps the clutter down and helps keep the focus on what’s truly needed to disciple and homeschool our kids.
Why do we worry about money and homeschooling?
Some think you have to spend a lot of money to have good homeschool education options for your children. I have made the mistake of buying too many supplies and curriculum. I ended up with too many things to choose from. This made scheduling overwhelming. Since then, I’ve learned to simplify.There are great programs and materials that range from free to in the thousands per child. You will find what you need, including amazing support, for your homeschool journey. A free option that I highly recommend with a full curriculum from K-High School is Easy Peasy All In One Homeschool.
Practical Tips to Help with Homeschool Budgeting
Tip #1 – Pray
I know that when I just jump into things I think will solve my problems, I end up in a tangled mess. When I stop, spend time reading the Bible, and ask God for guidance, I am more organized and see things more clearly. I simply ask for the Lord to open up my eyes to what I need to do and help me avoid distractions. My goal is to educate my child not only in academics, but in knowing the Lord and walking closely with Him.
Tip #2 – List Subjects & Electives You Want Your Kids To Learn
We all know we must include:
- Reading
- Grammar
- Writing
- Math
- Citizenship
- Social Studies and History
- Science
It is very important to important to look up the laws in your state about what is required for curriculum. Once you know, then you can add a list of electives or other types of things your kids want to learn about.
Tip #3 – Research
Now that you have a clear path for the subjects you are including, it’s time to find the best bang for your buck on curriculum. WARNING — this part can get very overwhelming, so before you begin, decide how much you can afford in total for the year for ALL of your children and STICK TO IT. Create a sheet to keep track of your research. A good start would be to have at least 5 categories:
- Subject: Write the name of the subject. (You knew that!
)
- Name & Location of the curriculum/product to easily get to when you need to review it.
- Price: Remember to record the total price for the full year for all children.
- Pros: It’s important to be specific about why you think this learning tool will be a good fit for your family.
- Cons: Be detailed about things that don’t fit your family.
I learned about keeping track of researching curriculum the hard way. I would see one I liked, then later, when I was ready to buy, I’d forget where it was or why I liked it so much. This is also a lesson in TIME BUDGETING!
Tip #4 – Consider Ways to Earn Extra Cash
There are a lot of ways to bring in extra cash on a flexible schedule from home. The key is finding the right one that fits your current life. Don’t get bogged down. It’s so easy to get swamped and lose tons of time looking for legitimate ways to earn money from home on a flexible schedule. So again, create a sheet to keep track of this with these categories:
- $ Needed: Here, write the amount of money you need to reach each month.
- Time: Be realistic about how much time you actually have to devote to earning extra money. Remember to include how much time you need to homeschool your children as well as how much time you need to complete basic chores.
- Name and location of opportunity: Be sure to record the website or location.
- My Role: Make sure to detail what you will need to do in order to earn money.
- Time Required: How much time will I have to put into this opportunity to reach my monthly income goals?
- Money to be Earned: How much will I actually earn per hour as when I’m working?
As you fill this out, be sure to pay close attention to the amount of time you will have to put in to earn the amount of money you need each month. Be careful to avoid opportunities that will take up too much of your time without providing the monetary return you need.
The Last Thing You Need To Know About Homeschool Budgeting
The bottom line is…streamline. Target your plan based on spiritual needs, academics and physical fitness in a way that fits your family and match that with your budget plan. YOU are your child’s BEST TEACHER. Now you have time to pour yourself into them in a way that strengthens their relationship with Jesus Christ, their love for learning, and knowledge of staying healthy. Planning all of this will help you avoid investing time and money into things you don’t need.
Do you have any great homeschool budgeting hacks up your sleeve? If so, click the link below & let us share it with everyone!
