Trying to take every aspect of homeschooling into consideration. Just curious, how much should I expect to spend if I choose to homeschool? Also, can I save the books/curriculum for my other children when they get older?

That question probably has as many answers as there are homeschooling families. Some people spend thousands per year on curricula, while others can successfully homeschool on $100 or less per year. It's going to depend on the method of homeschooling you choose and the materials you use. Theoretically, you could pass on the materials from child to child, but as every child is different and may have different educational needs and learning styles, you might need to use different things for each child.

I'm sorry my answer was kind of vague!

We spend a couple of hundred per year including book purchases, museum memberships, and that sort of thing.

Tara

Well, the library will be your best friend if you choose to home school.

For the Kindergarten supplies I have spent about $100 and will spend a bit more to get a few more things. Maybe $200 when it's all said and done. I follow the siggestions in "The Well-Trained Mind" so I know what I will need in years to come. I shop a year ahead so that I can buy used stuff and not buy everything at full price all at once.

ITA with tara. Some years more and some less. The web and library (as Elizabeth mentioned) are wonderful!!! It takes some searching but I think it can be done pretty cheap imo!
But again that really is personal to each family :)

In September I spent the most. When the stores have pencils, crayons and paper on sale. The books I did use I borrowed from the library first. I don't use a textbook cirruculum though. I have seen Saxon and Heath at the library. I don't believe there is any one book you can learn from. I did buy the What Your *Grader Needs to Know. These were about $11 each and I can use them again with the other 3 children. They are my basics and then we take more books from the library to expand on them.

I did average my late fees. About $8.40

It is hard to say. If I joined the Children's Museum or go to a movies is that homeschool related or a family event?

Kathy

I'm not entirely sure. But, I would guesstimate for our son's Second Grade we spent $400 or so.

If we go with Calvert for Third, we expect to be paying in the $700 range.


Grassaf,

Becca

I spend 75% of my personal spending money on things that could be considered "homeschool related" but that's just because it's my favorite thing to spend it on... add up the crafts, sewing, music, books, lessons, museums, trips, instruments, educational toys , cirriculum (some of which MUST be resold!) and I spend thousands every year. But the only difference between my purchases and a public schooling friend that i have is the cirriculum and she easily spends that much on the "right" clothes for her child to go to school, and another spends even more for tuition to a private Waldorf school.... so it is what you make of it!

For materials specifically for homeschooling (workbooks, etc), about $20. (this is for a preschooler)

All the other stuff, we would do whether we were homeschooling or not. You know, the art supplies, regular books, music, etc.

We use a public charter school, so we get about $600 in flex funds per year to use for curriculum, classes, etc.

Out of pocket, I probably spend around $20 a month on field trips, sometimes more, sometimes less. I plan many of them and if I get enough people, they often offer the 10th or 20th person free admission, so I'll go free.

Oh wait, I just signed Gavin up for a weekly class at the environmental nature center, so that will be $16 a month.

Of course, many of our field trips are things I would probably take the kids to even if they were in school, so I don't know if that would really count...lol.

Oh...you want to talk about expensive? Youth sports!!!!!

I expect to budget $100 a month between art supplies, story books, and field trips. The curriculum I have chosen (Enki) will be $400 for the teacher's guide and Kindergarten resource book.

The way I look at it, I'm currently paying $450 a month for preschool (2 boys, M-F, 9-12). I'm going to save money once we're homeschooling.

Peace,

Kimberly