5 Ways to Save Big on Homeschool Curriculum
A question I am often asked by fellow military homeschooling families is, “What are some of the ways that we can save money on our homeschool curriculum?” Below, you will find five ways that allow you to lighten your budget without compromising the quality of your children’s education.
- Buy used. Buying used curriculum has helped my family save thousands of dollars over the last eight years. Yes, you read that right – thousands of dollars. I have found the best way to purchase used curriculum is either from your local homeschooling group, at used bookstores or online. When purchasing online, you can start with eBay or Vegsource.
- Be patient. Patience alone will help you save money when buying curriculum. As homeschooling moms, we have a tendency to be lured by every shiny new homeschool catalog we see. By being more patient and calculated with your purchases, you will make less impulsive buys and reduce frivolous spending. This simple tactic will keep the money in your hands until the right product at the right price comes along.
- Make a list. This might seem silly, but it is a crucial step when buying any homeschool curriculum. I always have a list of what I’ll be needing at least one year in advance. From time to time, I will update the list to make sure that we are on track for the upcoming year. If you keep a running list of what it is you are looking for, you will eliminate purchasing unnecessary items.
- Consider e-books. Whenever possible, it is wise to purchase e-books, as they can cost less money, they don’t take up any space, and they are the most environmentally friendly option. Purchasing e-books has been a very inexpensive way to build up our reading collection for our three children. As an added bonus, e-books actually last, as there are no pages for the younger ones to tear or mark up! We also have physical books in our home, but this option for homeschooling e-books is wonderful when you are committed to a frugal way of living.
- Sell, trade, or consign your old curriculum. This is one surefire way to “trade” up from year to year. Because some of us are homeschooling multiple children of different ages, we might keep some of our curriculum. However, if you do not need to hold on to something, why not sell or trade it? Not only does this give you money to spend on your next set of curriculum, it can also be a blessing to another family looking to save money.
I hope that this list can help you to think differently about your approach to buying curriculum. This is not a comprehensive list of saving on homeschool curriculum, but it will certainly put you on your way to a wonderful start. Happy saving!
Carlie is a blessed, stay-at-home, homeschoolin’ mama to her 3 precious gifts she calls “children.” She is a proud Army wife married to the love of her life, Michael, for over 11 years. In her free time, she enjoys anything to do with Jesus, family, reading, writing, singing, teaching, and being outdoors. You can find out more about her faith and family at her blog: So You Call Yourself A Homeschooler?
Great article, Carlie! I also like homeschoolclassifieds.com… and paperbackswap.org is one cheap way to get readers and other books that show up.
Good point about not purchasing items you don’t need. I think that’s an easy trap to fall into! I think the longer you homeschool, the better equipped you are to know what to watch for at yard sales, etc. For example, just because something is DK doesn’t mean you need to buy it. Or just because it looks good to you doesn’t mean it will be attractive for your child to read.
Thanks for reading
And thank you for sharing the additional websites as well! Bless you!
Great timing on this post since I am currently planning our curriculum purchases. I think “Be Patient” will be my mantra for the next few months.