The topic for this TOS Blog Cruise is “Budgeting” -for homeschool that is. Here is the real question: “Do you set a specific budget for your homeschool supplies and books?” Uh, since I’m not so good at budgeting at all I wondered how I was going to answer that.
Finally I decided honesty is always best 
I make a list (or rather I go by these lists and thin them out to suit us) and then scour Amazon, paperbackswap, and used book sales. Because I do not have a specific amount that I’ve decided I will spend on homeschool needs, I spend what I have that can be spent.
I know it’s quite lame. But so far it has worked for us. I did read on another TOS Crew Member blog about making a homeschool proposal (which I equate to a list of the specific items that are wanted/needed to be purchased as well as the costs) and I really like that idea. With my kids’ getting farther in school (those high school subjects seem to be more expensive) the cost is getting to be more than just what can be ‘done by the seat of my pants’. (that means without budgeting lol)
It’s something to think about. I really haven’t thought about it terribly much. The money is always there when it’s needed. And there are tons of products that I would love to purchase that there is no way we could. But perhaps a budget would help with that.
Then again, maybe it is needed so that we don’t try to take on too much- buy too much.
So how do you deal with the costs of homeschooling- with a budget or by the seat of your pants? (I do hope there are a few other ‘seat of the pants’ers out there 
Seat of my pants and swagbucks!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a seat-of-my-pants gal when it comes to buying homeschool materials and supplies. I do tend to look for bargains, only buy what I think is necessary, and allow my husband to veto things.
ReplyDeleteYea! Two other 'seat of the pants'ers! Briana- I'd forgotten about swagbucks (I redeem mine for amazon gc anyway lol).
ReplyDeleteCristi- good point about allowing hubby to veto. Fortunately, my hubby leaves the difficult 'what will we use' part to me (lol as well as the actually teaching). I think he would just get confused by all of it ;)
O' yeah we are defiantly on a tight budget in our house. What I do is try and get lots of supplies during back to school sales, and we use Time4Learning & currclick units studies. We also use freebie sights like spelling city too! I think our only issue is the cost of ink :/ but that's why I pinch so many pennies so I can buy that ;)
ReplyDeleteKeri
I am usually a budget person but for some reason when it comes to homeschooling its more by the "seat of yer pants" deal... I do pick up what little bit of supplies we need at the back to school sales or even better when all the left overs go on clearance. I usually buy a bunch that last for a couple of years.
ReplyDeleteI am very iffy about buying curriculum I havent ever seen because when we first started homeschooling I spent a bunch of money on a curriculum that bombed for us Big time! While my husband is all for us homeschooling I am the teacher and the decision maker for it. I just bounce the ideas off of him.
I think things get more pricy once you get to high school. We're almost there, so I guess we'll find out!!
ReplyDelete