While homeschooling might not be for everyone, many who have opted for this path have found it greatly rewarding. Being able to help shape your child’s education can be beneficial for the both of you, and there are ways to do that without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to help you better understand ways you can afford to homeschool.
Look at How Much You Can Save
While homeschooling does come with its fair share of costs, it can be helpful to see the areas in which you’re saving money. With the money you’re saving, you can then reinvest that into your child’s at-home education
Saving money on a morning commute, not having to pay for school lunches, avoiding the hidden fees of class trips and yearbooks, and the smaller costs of sending your child to school can begin to add up. Having a rough estimate of how much money that levels out to can help you choose the best places to then spend on homeschooling needs
Take Advantage of Free Resources and Materials
One of the areas that’ll take up the largest portion of your homeschooling budget is the curriculum and materials needed for your child. While there are some costs that might be unavoidable in order to provide the best education for your kid, there are a bunch of great resources that you can use at no cost.
Look online for some helpful homeschooling resources that you can use to further your child’s at-home learning. Many sites that offer homeschooling materials offer free trials or demos, so you can better understand if they might be worth spending part of your budget on. Depending on your child’s age and their current subjects, access to free resources might vary a bit, but there’s typically always something available to get their feet wet at the least.
Find More Alternative Sources of Funds
While homeschooling does come with a few financial burdens, there are often some less-thought-of ways that parents might be able to use to finance their child’s education. Depending on the amount of money you desire/need, there are many options and they’ll vary in time commitment.
Depending on your current housing situation, some parents may look into a home equity loan as a viable option to get immediate access to some funding. This money can be used in any way that they deem necessary, and can even provide tax benefits if you use it to improve your home, such as adding a dedicated classroom or study area.
Finding a way to earn some income on the side is often a popular option, and you can aim to find a less time-consuming option that fits your needs. Creating a blog can be a great way to earn some extra money, and if you’re spending most of your time at home renting your car could also be a possibility.
Consider Working From Home If Possible
Since COVID-19, many employers have allowed their employees to remain remote. While some have started to return to the office, working remotely can be a great way to not only keep your income but reduce the costs related to commuting. According to a survey from FlexJobs, “The average person can save about $4,000 per year by working remotely.” This is the sum of reduced commuting costs such as gas and car maintenance, formal clothing, eating out and more.
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding if this is a possibility for your lifestyle, but if you’re able to make some adjustments in your life, this can be a great way to not only be more present with your family, but also ensure you’re able to support the homeschooling costs.
Learn Where to Make Compromises
While everyone wants to make sure their children get the best possible education, it’s important to know where you don’t need to spend large amounts of money. There will be certain areas such as textbooks or items related to their curriculum where you won’t want to cut corners, but making sure they have the most expensive pencils and notebooks probably isn’t the highest priority.
Making compromises is a healthy part of life, and that’s no different when it comes to affording homeschooling. Identify the right areas for you where you can pull back slightly financially, which means you’ll have more to invest in the areas that matter most for you and your child.
Homeschooling can be a great experience for both you and your kid. Not only do you get to spend more time with them, but you get to help them grow and develop in their schooling. Using some of these tips can help you provide a better education for your children, and ensure you’re setting them on the right path in their educational journey.
Since 2004, Global Student Network has been a leader in providing innovative online curriculum to homeschooling families and partnering schools throughout the world. GSN offers a wide range of online curriculum options. We have over 2000 course offerings including Honors, AP®, World Languages, and Career and Technical Education courses. Our program has been used by homeschool families as well as public, private, and charter schools, both nationally and internationally. Learn more about or try a demo of GSN’s curriculum here: https://globalstudentnetwork.com/curriculum