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Is Homeschooling Expensive?
© Beverley Paine
I'm often asked "How much does it cost to homeschool?" It's one of those "How long is a piece of string?" questions... and is best answered with, "As much as you can afford!"
However, that isn't a very comforting - or even useful - answer, but it is realistic.
One family told me they spend less than $50 a year while others have told me that it doesn't cost them a thing. Some families spend a small fortune... A lot depends on how you count the cost.
We've spent as much as $100 a week, and at times absolutely nothing. When homeschooling blew our budget it was usually because we added petrol for excursions, every little last scrap of sticky tape and blue tac and piece of string as expenses, and rightly so! However, many families only think of books and curriculum materials when counting the cost of homeschooling. These used to make up the smallest part of our homeschooling budget!
We tended to spend around $20 a week on consumables if we found we had active little handicraft or model making children or budding artists, with an extra splurge now and then to take the children to the pictures, pool, zoo or wherever. I've would have spent this much money on the children even if they had been at school: our house has always been well stocked with art and craft and science materials, musical instruments and we've always explored the environment and community.
How much you spend, exactly, is going to depend on the resources you have available and your children's needs. Buying homeschool goodies can easily get out of hand, especially for new homeschoolers. Take it slowly to start with. Your children will be best served if you spend your dollars conscientiously. Hopefully, the following steps will help you conserve your dollars. Most importantly, they will help you make sure that your homeschooling dollars are spent conscientiously.
Research
Spend some time researching available materials before you buy anything. Check out local stores, catalogs, web sites, the local library and homeschool resource books. Examine curricula carefully (check with members of your local support group to see if anyone uses the curriculum you are considering). Don't forget to consider memberships to local museums or zoos, private classes and lessons, and fieldtrips. Write up extensive wishlists. Once you have an idea of what is "out there" you will be better able to determine what will be useful to you.
Narrow the Field
It is highly unlikely that you will be able to purchase everything on your list, so you'll have to begin to narrow things down. Focus on the things you want for this year only, but keep in mind the overall direction of your homeschooling approach and goals.
For many families, a packaged curriculum is the largest single expense. Consider this choice carefully. Will you be using all of the curriculum, or only portions? Will you have to supplement it with additional materials? Can you purchase different materials that cover the same ground? Consider whether or not the ease of using a packaged curriculum justifies the expense. Would you prefer to spend those dollars on different materials? You don't have to buy a pre-packaged curriculum and most Australian families don't. These are personal decisions and there is no single correct choice, but it is important to consider the options before laying out the money.
Write up a list of everything you want and then work out what you really can't do without. This is your wishlist. If you have plenty of money go for it! But if your budget is tight you'll need to consider the next step.
What is Your Spending Limit?
Determine exactly how much can you afford to spend? Will you have to buy all of the materials at once, at the end or the beginning of the year? If you don't need to, don't - you could save yourself a bundle, especially if your children end up not using the materials. Take another look at your wishlist again. Arrange it in an order of priority - what do you need or want to concentrate on first. Add these to your shopping list and leave the rest until later. Knowing what you want to buy later will help you budget and save for it.
Don't forget that you don't have to buy new resources and materials. Scrounge around for secondhand bargains or give aways. Ingenuity is often a hall mark of the frugal homeschooler! Perhaps you borrow materials from the library rather than purchasing them? Make resources instead of buying them. We found that making games and activity booklets as a family enhanced our children's educational outcomes, and saved us money too!
Resist Temptation - Stick to Your List
It's really easy to go over budget if you don't stick to your list. Don't be tempted to buy something on special unless it is really cheap. Don't buy it if you don't have an immediate use for it, or probably won't use it this year or next. It's too easy to turn your home into a storage cupboard rather than a thriving dynamic educational hothouse!
Sticking to your list doesn't mean you can be flexible, or take advantage of great offers. If your needs change, rewrite your shopping list. Review your wishlist and your expenditures regularly and you shouldn't stray too far from your budget shopping line.
Scroll down for a complete list of available books. We accept Personal Cheques and Money Orders (Aust only) or PayPal for credit card orders.
HOW TO ORDER
ALB Newsletter
Getting Started
Learning Without School
Language Series
Practical HS Series
Ebooks
Educational Games Series
Natural Learning Series
Sample Learning Programs
Unschooling Books
Diaries
Portfolios/Report Cards
Homeschool DVDs
Interested in homeschooling, but still not sure? Read
'All You Need Is...'
Looking for educational resources?
Home Education Directory
Questions about homeschooling?
Browse the Homeschool Australia Article Library,
or join our Frequently Asked Questions
online support group.
Wondering what to teach? See
Australian Homeschool Curriciulum
What's new on
Homeschool Australia? Subscribe to our mailing list.
Children Learning Naturally
Online Support Group
Travelling and homeschooling? Keep in touch with Aussie Homeschool Campers!
Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State governments are responsible
for regulating home education.
Different states have different
requirements, however
homeschooling families are able
to develop curriculum and learning
programs to suit the individual
needs of their children.
For more information:
Home Education Association
Text & Images on this site
Copyright © 1999-2008
Beverley Paine.
All rights reserved
Email
Thank you
for visiting!
Please note:
The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice.
Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling their children in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network.Beverley wrote several books and booklets on home education through her self-publishing business, Always Learning Books. Beverley balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of ebooks on a variety of homeschooling subjects. retired from actively supporting home education in July 2008 to allow her to spend time on her garden and writing projects. She maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home. Beverley continues to support the Home Education Association of Australia as a committee member and helps to produce the HEA Newsletter, publications and annaul Resource Directory. If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for either the Always Learning Books mailing list or the Homeschool Australia Newsletter.
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How to Order ~ Orders from Outside Australia
Click on each title to read reviews and brief descriptions of each book. |
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Getting Started With Homeschooling: Practical Considerations ISBN 1876651008, Paperback, 132 pages, AUS$25.00
Home Education Student Portfolio Reports Early Childhood Student Report Middle Childhood Student Report Early Adolescence Student Report
covers approximately year/grade level 7 to 10 (ages 12 - 15) A4, Spiral bound, 130g $6.00 (free postage)
Weekly Homeschooling Diary Naturally Learning Diary
Learning in the Absence of Education
The Homeschooling Trail:
Unschool~Kidz! Visit the Unschool~Kidz web site
also by Beverley Paine Aquadome, an underwater research station in the year 2024, is shrouded in mystery, hiding controversial genetic experiments and treacherous secrets. Psychic links draw teenagers, Katya and Coen, into an international conspiracy which threatens their very existence. 2002 Book store price...
Learning to Let Go
ISBN 1876651288 A5, stapled, 60g, 30 pages.
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PRACTICAL HOMESCHOOLING BOOKLET SERIES
Practical Homeschooling Exploring Approaches This booklet combines the notes of seven speakers at the Adelaide 2008 Homeschooling Seminar and Curriculum Fair.
Chapters in this booklet cover Charlotte Mason, Natural Learning, Unschooling, Discipleship Based, Relational homeschooling, Steiner influence, Unit Studies, and more! $4.50 (free postage)
The first in a series of booklets sharing Beverley's reflections, experience, tips and suggestions to help you become a more effective home educator.
Take the frustration out of everyday homeschooling.
Motivation in the Homeschool "If I knew twenty years ago what I know I know now about motivation home educating my children would have been a breeze! What I can say is that it is never too late to make adjustments... Despite all the 'mistakes' we made in the early years we couldn't ask for a better outcome. Our now adult children make us proud every day." Beverley packs in a lifetime of learning about how to overcome motivation obstacles into this 36 page booklet.
Answering Objections to Homeschooling
by Beverley Paine How do you answer all the questions people ask you about home education? These could be friends, family or total strangers. Beverley offers a selection of well-worn answers to over a dozen of the most popularly voiced objections to homeschooling you are likely to encounter. Includes a section on dealing with unsupportive relatives.
Write Your Own Unit Studies
Learning Maths Naturally
Frequently Asked Questions
by Beverley Paine Over 60 fundamental questions asked by families new to homeschooling are answered by Beverley in this 36 page booklet. 2004
The Spelling Process
The Writing Process
Learning to Love Reading
Developing Handwriting
Language Games You Can Play
A Sample ‘Approved' Learning Naturally Homeschooling Program & Review
Natural Learning
Learning Materials for the Homeschool
Translating Every Day Life
into Educational Jargon
by Beverley Paine . 2008
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2007 National Home Education This 4 DVD pack includes over 8 hours of conference speeches by John Taylor Gatto, Alan Thomas and Eleanor Sparks as well as the Brisbane Conference Question and Answer session. Includes Conference Notes from many of the Workshop Presenters. NHED Conference DVD $50 for International Orders [Please ensure that your TV and DVD player will handle DVD-R disc in the PAL format before purchase.]
Let's Play Together Traditional Children's Games Kathi Wyldeck's very practical Educational Games Booklets draw on her extensive educational experience with children and will help supplement your children's learning across the curriculum. Fast Games and Quiet Games
Physical and Mental Games for Families Book One Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651385, 70g $4.50 (free postage) Outdoor, Campfire, Water and Theme Games
Physical and Mental Games for Families Book Two Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651369, 70g $4.50 (free postage) Maths, English, Music and Art
Educational Games for Families Book One Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651350, 70g $4.50 (free postage)  ScienceEducational Games for Families Book Two Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651342, 70g $4.50 (free postage) History Geography, French, German and Latin Estimation, First Aid, Health, Tracking, Safety, Knotting and Navigation
Life Skill Games for Families Book One Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651377, 70g $4.50 (free postage) Character Building, Handcraft, Aussie Flags and Emblems, Discovery, Nature and Conservation, Cooking, Self Expression, Tools and Construction
Life Skill Games for Families Book Two Kathi Wyldeck ISBN 1876651393, 70g $4.50 (free postage)
STOCK TO CLEAR EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE Take advantage of this opportunity to fill in any blanks in your collection of this great homeschooling magazine no longer in production.Education Choices featured columns by well-known, experienced home educators in various practical departments, such as:
$4.45 (plus postage) Issues available:
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More than 60 essays covering a wide range of homeschooling concerns and issues, such as late readers, value of play, socialisation, learning maths, part time school, and thoughts on testing. Follows the Paine family's progress from homeschooling to unschooling. An intimate and honest look at the day-to-day life spanning several years. Illustrated with clear black and white photographs and children's drawings. 
Designed to take the worry out of education and to reassure parents, these booklets are a valuable aid in the homeschool. Written by experienced home educators and teachers, each booklet offers ideas, activities or tips on how to help your children learn at home in the different subject areas. All prices include postage.
by Beverley Paine