Sharon asked me how much we spend homeschooling. I don't actually keep track. I guessed $1,000 a year; Jeff says it's more like $1,500.
Homeschooling doesn't have to cost nearly that much. (Of course, it can cost much more.) I like buying curriculum, and I love buying books. So I do. Very little of what I buy is essential, though. Especially if you have a good library system (which I do! Yippee!).
I think the most expensive thing we're using this year is Right Start Math. Their text is a bit pricey, and then they recommend a good $100 worth of manipulatives. We spend more than that, though in museum memberships.
Does that help, Sharon? Maybe some of you other folks will chime in with what you spend.
Posted by Steph at October 27, 2004 08:11 AMI'd say we spent about $1000 Canadian this year, (aprox $700 US) but - and this is a big but- that's only because my super awesome parents give us $600 a year for hoemschooling stuff.
Our biggest expenses:
-RightStart Math (but now that we've bought the manipulatives we get to coast on about $70 US a year, well, plus shipping and duty...)
-Science in a Nutshell Kits - we've only done one and have another on order, but they're so good and science programs for hsers are so crappy that this may be how we do science. (Except when I'm crazy enough to decide to write my own, like this year)
- books to suppliment History and Science since our library is less than marvelous
- I also had to buy a new phonics program since Sandra wasn't able to learn with the others. It cost me $200 US, but that's all the L.A. we'll need till Gr 8.
Other things, they're hard to calculate. Swimming lessons we'd do any way, etc.
Posted by: Sarah on October 27, 2004 10:56 AMI really have no idea - I do know its not a major budget item. $1000 a year sounds about right - we do buy some curriculum, although we usually get at least 50% back when we sell it used on Ebay the next year.
Whatever the number is, I'm sure it's less than "school clothes" would cost if we had to play that game every year.
Posted by: Chris on October 27, 2004 02:54 PMI'm guessing $1000 - Math U See Beta, FLL, Spelling Workout, some various books for history/literature and Sonlight Core K, plus $100+ for the science class Luke takes at the Heard.
But then, you can really count just about anything as a school expense. Do crickets for the toads count? What about art supplies which I would have on hand even if they went off to school everyday? Or library late fees?
Oh, and a big expense - additional money for extra-comfy pajamas since we stay in them for so long every day!
Posted by: Amy on October 27, 2004 03:20 PMThis is our first year homeschooling and I think that we're going to spend close to $1,000 for our fifth grader. It seems like we've had some "start up" costs: a white board, a few art supplies, a plan book for me, some maps and atlases, textbooks, workbooks and lots of other random things, like owl pellets, field trips and membership in two homeschooling groups (one regional, one local).
Posted by: Andrea Q on October 29, 2004 09:34 PM