Do You Save Money Homeschooling? Facts and Figures

In the United States, the average homeschooling family spends about $600 per year on homeschooling materials and supplies. This is compared to the national average of $11,000 per year that public school students spend.

The question arises in the mind of most parents is Do you save money homeschooling?

The answer is Yes! Because, when you homeschool, there are no costs associated with things like after-school programs, sports team fees, uniforms, or school lunches. In addition, many homeschooling families choose to purchase used curriculum materials and books, which can further cut down the cost.

So when you factor in the cost of things like after-school activities, child care, and extracurriculars, homeschooling can be a very cost-effective option for families.

How do you save money homeschooling?

It’s no secret that the traditional education system is broken. Kids are crammed into classrooms, forced to learn at a pace that doesn’t work for them, and then tested on material they haven’t had enough time to understand.

Homeschooling offers a unique opportunity to customize your child’s education to their specific needs and learning style. And, because you’re not paying for expensive school buildings and administration, homeschooling can be a lot cheaper than traditional schooling, too.

There are a few ways people save money by homeschooling their children. One way is to not have to buy school supplies. Another way is that you can usually customize your child’s education more than you could in public school, so you don’t have to pay for extra classes or tutoring. You can also usually feed your children cheaper at home than you could buy school lunch every day.

Furthermore, there are lots of associated costs with public schooling that you don’t have to worry about when homeschooling. For example, you don’t have to pay for school buses or after-school activities. You also don’t have to worry about paying for childcare while you’re at work, because your children can be with you at home. All of these factors can save you a lot of money in the long run.

The estimated cost of Homeschooling

By means of an estimated cost, it’s just an assumption. Because the cost of homeschooling can vary greatly from family to family, it’s hard to say how much you’ll save by homeschooling your children.

A few things that will affect your homeschooling costs are:

• The number of children you’re homeschooling
• The curriculum you’re using
• Whether you’re purchasing used materials or new
• The extracurricular activities your children participate in

But as of stats by ThinkImpact, Materials cost around 150-300$, while activities and trips cost parents around 200-500 bucks.

In general, we can say that it can be around 500$ to $800. Furthermore, in most parts of the world, parents spend a 350-750$ average on homeschooling, while in the US the average is a bit higher (i.e., 750$ to 1800$).

With that being said, it also depends on the state where you live in. Obviously in some countries (if we neglect the quality of education and just focus on affordability), public schooling is cheaper than homeschooling.

But talking in general, homeschooling is a better and cheaper option than public schooling, and the parents who are homeschooling their kids can ensure the education quality, care, and attention.

Recommended: Why Do Parents Homeschool Their Child?

How to make homeschooling affordable?

I talked with my old colleague, who is a homeschooling mom of three kids and she gave me some tips, saying that if you’ll not smart on your homeschooling budget you’ll soon be struggling to make it work. Here are some of her tips:

Don’t go new always

According to her, You don’t need to purchase everything brand new. In fact, you can often find great deals on curriculum and supplies at yard sales, consignment sales, and even on Craigslist.

In fact, many online curriculum vendors offer used books and materials at a discounted price, so be sure to check the prices online before heading to the store.

Reuse and Recycle

When it comes to homeschooling on a budget, reuse and recycle are your friends; notebook paper, index cards, and construction paper can all be reused multiple times. Even old textbooks can often be repurposed for younger students.

Get creative with your space

You don’t need a separate room or even a big house to homeschool successfully. In fact, many families homeschool right at the kitchen table. If you don’t have a lot of space, get creative with how you use the space you do have.

Consider co-ops and group classes

Co-ops and group classes can be a great way to supplement your homeschool curriculum and allow your children to socialize with other homeschooled kids.

And finally, she said that the best way to save money on homeschooling is to start early. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to save up and plan for your homeschooling expenses.

So these were some of her tips that I found pretty helpful.

? Also Read: Is homeschool expensive? Truth + Financial guide

Do you have to be financially strong before homeschooling your kid?

I think that parents need to be financially strong before homeschooling their kids for a few reasons. Firstly, homeschooling can be a more affordable option than public schooling, but it still requires some money to get started. You’ll need to purchase curriculum and materials, and you may also want to participate in co-ops or group classes.

Secondly, parents need to be able to take the time off from work to homeschool their children. This means that one parent will likely need to stay home full-time, which can reduce the family’s income.

Lastly, parents need to be prepared for the possibility that their children may not want to return to public school after homeschooling. This could mean continued homeschooling expenses for a longer period of time.

So overall, I think that parents need to be financially strong before homeschooling their kids. They should make sure they have the money to get started, and they should also be prepared for the possibility that they may need to continue homeschooling for a longer period of time.

What are some other benefits of homeschooling (apart from money)?

Although most of you have already aware of the facts, I always love to ensure the benefits (as well as pitfalls) of homeschooling as I believe we all parents should remember at our fingertips.

Homeschooling allows parents to be more involved in their children’s education. This means that parents can be sure that their children are getting the best possible education and that they are being taught according to their individual needs.

• It allows parents to instill their own values and beliefs in their children. This is something that can be difficult to do in a public school setting.
• Children can learn at their own pace. This is especially beneficial for children who are gifted or have special needs.
• Homeschooling allows parents to customize their children’s education. This means that they can choose the curriculum and materials that they want their children to use.
• You can take your children on field trips and learning experiences that they may not be able to have in a public school setting.

What are some of the challenges of homeschooling?

Even if you’re financially strong, even if you strongly believe homeschooling can save you money, I would recommend not to go with it, if you have any of the following symptoms.

Recommended: Reasons why homeschooling is bad

You don’t wanna interact with kids

Homeschooling is not going to work out if you simply don’t like children. It’s that simple. If you try to force yourself, it will only end up in a disaster, both for you and the child.

You’re not patient enough

This one is closely related to the first one. If you don’t have enough patience to deal with children on a day-to-day basis, homeschooling is not going to be a good fit for you.

You’re not organized enough

Homeschooling requires a lot of organization. You need to be able to keep track of your child’s progress, plan lessons, and keep track of materials. If you’re not organized, homeschooling will be very difficult.

You’re not creative enough

Creativeness is one of the key factors. You need to be able to come up with new and interesting ways to teach your child. If you’re not creative, homeschooling will be very difficult.

You’re not flexible enough

It’s more about flexibility. You have to adjust your plans as needed. If you’re not flexible, homeschooling will be very difficult.

You’re not motivated enough

As motivation is the key to determination everywhere, even in the case of homeschooling, if you’re not motivated, it will be very difficult.

? Check: Homeschooling Laptops

Conclusion

Do you save money homeschooling?

The simple answer to that may be yes, and of course! Homeschooling can be a great way to save money on your child’s education, but it is important to consider all of the factors involved before making a decision. There are some definite financial benefits to homeschooling, but you need to weigh these against the other factors as well.

Ultimately, only you can decide if homeschooling is the right choice for your family.

Also recommended to read: Do you get paid to homeschool?