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Here for the giveaway? Click here to go right to the entry form.

Homeschooling is a rewarding journey that brings families closer together, fosters a love for learning, and allows for individualized education. The familial bonds created through homeschooling are invaluable, but when it comes to finding those resources to bond over can also be expensive if you're not careful.

However, there are plenty of ways to provide a high-quality education without breaking the bank. At Homeschool Resource Co., that's our specialty! Let's explore some practical strategies to save money on homeschool resources and curriculum.

How to Save Money on Homeschool Resources and Curriculum

1. Leverage Free Online Resources

The internet is brimming with free educational materials waiting to be utilized in your homeschool.

Free Digital Supplemental Resources from Creators

Some of our favorite homeschool resources and online courses have come from bloggers, brands, and creators who made them for their families! Not only are you supporting the community you're a part of, but gleaning from someone with a heart and desire to help others educate in a way that is unique and engaging.

A simple Google or Pinterest search will bring up information and resources from amazing creators and brands- shopping small has its perks!

Free Websites for Homeschoolers

Websites like Khan Academy, Easy Peasy, and even Discovery K12 offer comprehensive courses across various subjects. These platforms provide interactive lessons that can supplement or even replace traditional textbooks.

You can even include your particular homeschool style or method in your searches. By searching “free Charlotte Mason curriculum” you'd find Ambleside Online– a free resource for homeschool parents!

Some curricula brands offer full resources or companion content for free as well! Good and the Beautiful offers free curriculum and materials that will help you save money on homeschool resources.

Free Learning Videos for Homeschoolers

Learning with the 5 senses is a great way to ensure that you're retaining information. Utilizing video content is a great way to bring it all together!

Platforms like YouTube or streaming services like Discover+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime have great options for learning content; documentaries, virtual field trips, movies, tutorials, and more!

Utilize Open Educational Resources (OER)

Open Educational Resources are free educational resources and teaching materials that you can find in the public domain. Websites such as OER Commons and OpenStax offer textbooks, lesson plans, and other educational tools at no cost. By incorporating these into your homeschooling routine, you can significantly reduce expenses while maintaining quality education.

2. Take Advantage of Public Libraries

Public libraries are invaluable resources for homeschooling families. They offer an extensive collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and more—all available for free with a library card.

Participate in Library Programs

Many libraries host educational programs such as story times, science clubs, and art classes. These programs provide excellent opportunities for socialization and enrichment at no additional cost.

Use Interlibrary Loan Services

If your local library doesn't have a specific book or resource you need, inquire about interlibrary loan services. This system allows libraries to borrow materials from one another, expanding your access to educational content without spending extra money.

Homeschool Giveaway

Another homeschool year is right around the corner! Many homeschool moms are busy preparing, planning, and finalizing curriculum choices for the upcoming school year. And many are trying to squeeze every last penny out of their homeschool budget, hoping to afford all the books and resources they will need.

Whether you're living on one income or are buying curriculum for multiple kids, homeschooling can put financial strain and stress on a family. So I’ve gotten together with a great group of homeschool bloggers to give you a chance to win a gift card to a major online homeschool retailer. Our hope is that we can bless a few homeschool families (although we wish we could bless many more) so they can decrease that burden and buy the curriculum and supplies they need.

Three people will win a $250 gift card to either Rainbow Resource Center or Christianbook.com – two great places to shop for homeschool curriculum and resources, with the best prices around!!

To enter for your chance to win, simply use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Now I know this is quite a few entries, but each of these bloggers has generously chipped in their own money to make this giveaway possible, so I hope you will take the time to do all of the entries. And hey, the more entries you do, the better your odds are of winning!

Giveaway ends July 19, 2024 at 11:59pm. Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to enter. Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn. By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers (see the Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter form).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3. Buying During Sales Season

Being strategic about when you purchase supplies can lead to significant savings over time. There are certain times of the year when curriculum owners, creators, and brands will put their resources on sale because they know families are looking to buy!

Shop During Back-to-School Sales to Save Money on Homeschool Resources

Retailers typically offer deep discounts on school supplies during back-to-school season in late summer/early fall. Stock up on essentials like notebooks, pens, pencils, art supplies—everything you'll need throughout the year—at reduced prices.

Don't forget about Educator Discounts

Some retailers offer special discounts for educators—including homeschool parents! Stores like Barnes & Noble or Michaels often have loyalty programs that include educator perks; simply ask about any available discounts next time you're shopping there!

Stores and favorite sites that offer homeschool discounts:

4. Buying Homeschool Bundles

One of our favorite ways to save on supplemental resources for our homeschools is to shop bundles! We might be biased, but we think Homeschool Resource Co. puts together the best bundles.

Not only are they the best deals, but they help you save time! We fully vet every resource before we include it in our Collections to ensure that it is a great fit for a variety of families and it's the quality that you deserve.

When you shop our bundles, you can save up to 98% on awesome homeschool resources and materials.

5. Buy Used Curriculum Materials

Purchasing brand-new curriculum materials can quickly add up. Instead, consider buying used textbooks and workbooks from sources like eBay, Amazon Marketplace, Facebook Groups, or local thrift stores.

A used curriculum is still new to you! Don't fall into the shiny new curriculum trap, save on those homeschool expenses- added bonus!

Swap with Other Homeschoolers

Organize a curriculum swap within your local homeschooling community. Swapping gently used materials allows everyone involved to refresh their resources without spending any money.

You can also look for curriculum sales in your area by searching homeschool Facebook Groups near you, search for “Homeschool” on Facebook Marketplace, or look around your area for local yard sales, or garage sales, that may contain educational materials.

4. Attend Homeschool Conventions or In-Person Events

Homeschool conventions often feature vendor halls where you can find discounted curriculum packages and books. Attending these events not only helps you save money but also connects you with other homeschool families and educators.

We've saved over 30% by buying our curriculum at special events and curriculum fairs!

Book Sales

It is a good idea to check your local college, library, or community outreach for book sale options. Our local college and libraries have a book sale every year where we purchase our read-alouds and other supplemental learning books.

We've saved so much money and we love going through all the books!

5. Create Your Own Curriculum

Designing your own curriculum may sound daunting initially, but it offers flexibility and substantial savings. Tailor lessons to suit your child's interests and learning style using readily available resources.

Many homeschool styles can be adapted this way.

Incorporate Real-Life Learning

Everyday activities such as cooking, gardening, budgeting, and DIY projects offer valuable learning experiences that don't require purchasing specialized materials. These practical skills are just as important as academic knowledge.

You could even get them involved with finding resources to fit that tight budget. They'll be mastering creativity, finances, math skills, planning, and more!

Use Free Printables

Numerous websites offer free printable worksheets covering various subjects and grade levels. Sites like Teachers Pay Teachers often have sections dedicated to free downloads created by experienced educators.

6. Utilize Community Resources

Your community likely has numerous resources that can enhance your homeschooling experience at little or no cost.

Visit Museums and Cultural Institutions

Many museums offer free admission days or discounts for homeschoolers. Take advantage of these opportunities to provide hands-on learning experiences in subjects like history, science, and art.

Explore Nature Centers and Parks

Nature centers often host educational classes, and sometimes even homeschool programs, focused on environmental science and biology. Additionally, parks provide ample space for physical education activities like hiking or playing sports—all free of charge.

7. Consider Family Style Homeschooling

Family-style homeschooling is a popular method of homeschooling where the whole family learns together using the same resources and materials. Typically, there is one source of reading and then separate corresponding grade-level activities.

For younger kids, notebooking, crafts, and narration can be great to gauge retention and understanding while workbooks may be necessary for older children.

With family-style homeschooling, students typically learn things like Geography, History, Science, and electives together while their studies for Language Arts and Math are skill-based, requiring individual materials.

Family-style homeschooling can save you a lot of money because the amount of resources per child dwindles, meaning more room in the homeschool budget for other things.

This can be a great curriculum option if it fits your family's needs.

Conclusion: Embrace Creativity & Resourcefulness

Saving money on homeschool resources requires creativity but brings immense rewards—not just financially but also in terms of personal growth both yours as an educator parent—and theirs—as eager learners!

By leveraging free online content, utilizing public libraries, buying used or bulk, creating personalized homeschool curriculum, tapping into community offerings, and planning purchases wisely—you'll foster enriching educational experiences while staying within budget!

Remember—we're all part of this incredible homeschooling community together supporting and encouraging each other every step way! Happy teaching—and happy saving!

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