How much does it cost to Homeschool?
There’s two variables that create how much homeschooling will cost you: Time & Money.
Most of us have more of one than the other.
In the early years of homeschooling, both are often pretty limited. Especially the years we are raising toddlers and possibly adding more children to our family.
So if you’re there, I’d love to encourage you - we have all been there. People don’t like talking about money, or how difficult it is to have a tight budget and little energy or time to implement all the money saving strategies we could take on if we had a second to think. If you are diligent towards the goals you have for your homeschool in those years, everything will get easier over time. I promise.
There’s actually a surprising amount of overlap between time & money - and as life switches back and forth, we find sometimes we have more of one than the other, but you still will find yourself doing the following things regardless of which way the scales are tipping at the moment.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Make some time for yourself and your interests. I firmly believe your interests need to be present in your homeschool.
Involve your kids in the things you have to make time for. Cooking, cleaning, and reading together are the top three that come to mind. These are all important, and if that’s the time you have available include them before worrying about extras.
Keep a routine so your children will be trained on how to work independently, and so they will know the general structure of the day so it’s not a daily surprise. This routine will change often throughout the year, which is normal, expected, and a big way to teach your children to be flexible.
Be really specific in your curriculum choices. If you can afford buying all in one boxed curriculum or online classes, vet them thoroughly so that they aren’t secretly more work than you can commit to in this season. Also, if time is more of what’s available to you, check out free resources or use a book you like and create assignments for your kiddos from that.
Stay on top of your workload - If you can take an hour once a week to plan, do it. If a nightly glance over the next day's work is all you need, do that. You can choose how this looks for you but the point is to know what comes next before your kids. It’s stressful when they’re waiting for you to dole out work or assignments and you have to slow down the day to do it on the fly.
Be flexible. Everything changes year to year, and if you have multiple small children it will change from day to day or hour to hour which is fine, normal, and not going to ruin your older children’s education. Seriously.
How much homeschooling costs is up to you. Spending more isn’t going to secure a better education. Parental involvement is the best marker of educational success. Not money. We have spent anywhere from $75 to several hundred dollars a year. It all depends on what is best for your child and family at that point in time.
Time and Money are our biggest variables, but the next biggest variable is you. You are your child’s curriculum filter, their parent, and teacher on all things life and all things academic. Here at My Texas Homeschool, I want to help because I have been there and wondered where to start. Sign up for my free homeschool planning guide below!