Seven ways to save money on curriculum

Homeschool materials can be expensive. Not as expensive as private school, but still pricey, especially when you have multiple kids. But the good news is there are ways to make homeschooling more affordable without sacrificing quality. Here are seven strategies to help you save money on homeschool curriculum.

Use a literature based curriculum.
While the upfront cost of a new set can be a little higher, literature based curriculums are comprised of everyday books, many of them classics, so the individual books themselves are lower in cost and you may already have some of them. In addition, they are non-consumable so you can use them over and over (even for grandkids!) or sell them when you are finished. You can also often combine close-in-age students into a single curriculum and save yourself both time and money.

Share with friends.
If you have homeschool friends whose children are slightly different ages or levels than your kids, ask about borrowing books they aren’t using and offer to let them borrow books you aren’t using. This might not work every year, but it can easily save you hundreds of dollars in the years it does work, and save you the hassle of storing so many books in your own home.

Use the library.
Don’t have any homeschool friend nearby? Check out your local library! Some libraries even have special privileges for homeschooling parents and teachers that allow you to check out books for extended periods. You might not find every book you need at the library, but any book you do find is one you don’t have to buy.

Purchase used.
Used curriculum sales are a great way to save money on homeschool curriculum, and help out another homeschool family in the process! Usually, the bigger the sale, the more likely you will find exactly what you are looking for, so be sure to attend your state homeschool convention’s used curriculum sale if they have one.

If you can’t make it to a used curriculum sale you can also shop online on used book sites, homeschool forums, and even eBay. Or check local thrift stores or Goodwills. If you are able to put in the time and effort to hunt, you can often save quite a bit by buying used, especially if you know exactly what you want to purchase.

Shop end-of-year and clearance sales.
End-of-year and clearance sales are a great way to save money on new curriculum. Many times the differences between the old curriculum (which is at most only a few years old) and the new are minimal, and by purchasing an older version on clearance you can save a bit of money. Some homeschool curriculum companies also offer occasional scratch and dent type sales where they sell damaged books, and this can also be a great way to save money on books you’re needing.

Avoid unnecessary extras.
It can be tempting to purchase all of the wonderful homeschool resources you find like games and special flash cards and posters, etc. While it’s in no way wrong to purchase these fun extras, if money is tight, this is a great place to cut back. And not purchasing these extras doesn’t mean you can’t make alternatives using materials you already have at home.

Create your own courses.
Unit studies can be a lot of fun and can help students to explore a certain subject in much more depth, while applying academic knowledge from across disciplines. But you don’t have to purchase unit studies—you can make them yourself. As when writing a paper, it helps to start with an outline of what you hope to cover and then you can research what you need and pull together resources from your own bookshelves or the library.

Homeschooling may cost more than public school, but it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Hopefully these ideas can get you thinking about more ways you can save on your own homeschool curriculum purchases.