How Much Does Homeschooling Cost & Ways You Can Save Money
Are you contemplating homeschooling your children this year? If you are, how much does homeschooling cost?
The answer to this question varies based on several factors, but, on average, parents can expect to spend between $500 and $3000 per child. This price tag includes various things such as course materials, supplies, extracurricular activities, etc.
No matter where your budget falls on this spectrum, you can rest assured that giving your child a wonderful homeschooling experience is possible.
In this blog post, we will explore how much it costs to homeschool a child on average and for families who want to customize their experience. We will also discuss ways to save money when pursuing this educational option for your kids. Let's get started!
What Factors Impact The Costs Of Homeschooling?
As mentioned above, several factors can impact the potential cost for families to homeschool their children.
#1 - The Number Of Children You Have
The total cost of homeschooling is often higher for families with multiple children because each child will need course materials, supplies, and activities.
For example, a family with two kids would need to buy two sets of books, course materials, or set up a double subscription for online classes and online courses.
#2 - Additional Courses & Topics You Want To Include In Their Curriculum
We recommend to all homeschool families that you cover the basic subjects, such as math, science, language arts, and social studies, at minimum. But you can easily add more courses and topics to your child's curriculum if you want to.
Some ideas include:
music
art
foreign language
While adding these to your child's curriculum will give them a well-rounded education experience, it will also add additional costs to your homeschooling.
#3 - How You Put Together The Curriculum For Your Child
Homeschooling parents have several options for putting together a curriculum for their children, and each has a different cost.
For example, you can purchase pre-packaged curriculums from online teaching platforms, which is something we do here at Infinite Learning Academy. Going this route might cost a little more financially, but it will save you significant time.
Alternatively, you can create the curriculum yourself using books, articles, and other resources you find online. While this option might be cheaper, it will require a lot more time and effort from the parents.
#4 - Extracurricular Activities You Sign Your Kids Up For
There are numerous extracurricular activities your kids can take part in, including:
Art or Craft Classes
Swimming
Sports (Hockey, Lacrosse, etc.)
Horseback Riding
Clubs (Writing, Mathematics, Astronomy, etc.)
Spelling Bees
Field Trips (Museum, Aquarium, Zoo, etc.)
Most of these things cost additional money unless you can find a local community organization that offers them for free or low-cost.
#5 - What Supplies You Need
Of course, you will need essential supplies like paper, notebooks, pens, etc. Thankfully you can get these supplies cheap at places like the dollar store. You can also save money buying in bulk from places like Costco.
As a homeschooling family, having all the technology they need for their studies and online classes will also be essential. This could include a printer, computer, webcam, and microphone. Consider getting them a tablet as well which they can use to view textbooks, write notes, etc.
Lastly, suppose your child is participating in extracurricular activities or additional school subjects. In that case, you will need the supplies necessary to do those things, including art supplies, musical instruments, sports equipment, and so on.
Other Homeschool Costs To Consider
In addition to everything mentioned above, there are other fees you should factor into your homeschooling budget. These could include things like:
membership fees for homeschooling groups;
online teaching platforms;
extracurricular activities;
assessment tests (varies by state);
hiring a private tutor;
college entrance exams.
While some of these things may not apply to your child, they are essential to remember if they are a part of your child's learning path.
Ways to Reduce Homeschooling Expenses
Many homeschooling parents we have worked with have struggled with the same problems and encountered the same costly mistakes. We don't want this to happen to you!
It's important to us that you can manage your homeschool expenses while still giving your children the best homeschool education. So, here are some of the best ways to reduce your costs.
Tip #1 - Find A Done For Your Curriculum
A great option for any homeschooling family is to take advantage of a done-for-you curriculum.
Many homeschool parents make the mistake of trying to create their own curriculum or lesson plans from various sources in an effort to save money. The challenge with this approach is they spend a lot of time searching and designing a curriculum that doesn't meet their child's needs.
Furthermore, when you create the curriculum yourself, finding support may be more challenging or expensive, as anyone you bring in to help will need to get familiarized with your process or materials.
Instead, find a done-for-you curriculum created with your child in mind. Going this route will save you time and money in the long run.
Here at Infinite Learning Academy, we offer several done-for-you curriculums and support from our expert educators.
Many of the parents we work with now talk about how much they wish they had just started working with us right from the start.
Tip #2 - Take Advantage Of Low-Cost or Free Resources
When it comes to extracurricular activities, there are a lot of excellent low-cost and even free options, such as:
art classes
music lessons
physical education
You can find these online resources on YouTube, Skillshare, or homeschool platforms.
You can also utilize library books or educational programs in your local area to supplement and enrich your child's homeschool education without breaking the bank.
Tip #3 - Don't Buy Everything All At Once
When homeschooling, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and tempted to buy everything all at once.
However, we recommend taking a step back and planning how you will approach homeschooling your child to slowly build up the resources and supplies you will need while avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Tip #4 - Shop Around For Deals on Supplies And Course Materials
Shop for the best deals on homeschooling supplies and course materials whenever possible. Many stores have sales throughout the year that can help you save money.
In addition, online homeschool stores often offer discounts or promotional codes to their customers. These deals can help you get the most bang for your buck.
Tip #5 - Take Advantage Of Tax Deductions
Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for a tax deduction or various tax breaks. The federal government in the United States does not offer tax deductions, but some individual states do.
Research this before filing your taxes to see if you can take advantage of them.
The Cost Of Homeschooling Compared To Other Options
Every educational option has costs associated with them. So, how does homeschooling compare with other options?
Private School
Private schools are one of the most costly education options, ranging in price from a couple thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the school.
Additionally, there are often costs for uniforms, books, and other supplies.
Public School
There is a misconception out there that the public school system is the cheapest option for education, but that is not always the case.
You still have to buy school supplies and clothes for your child. And many parents need to factor in the cost of field trip fees, transportation costs to get their child to and from school, and so on.
So, parents can still expect to pay $500 - $1500 per year per child for public schooling.
Charter School
The cost of charter schools will vary greatly, depending on where you live.
For example, in some states, they are not allowed to charge tuition fees, but in others, they are.
So, if you are considering charter schools as an option, get some quotes and compare those costs with the cost of homeschooling to get an accurate idea of the cost difference where you live.
After-School Care
Lastly, we have after-school care, which can be an additional cost to parents who need a place for their kids to go after school.
The cost of an after-school program can range from $200 - $1000 per month.
Day Care
Daycare costs can range from a few hundred dollars per month to thousands depending on how long your child will be in care and the type of daycare you choose.
Overall, homeschooling costs are very affordable in comparison to these other options. And you can't discount the rewards of having your kids home with you and being a part of their educational experience.
With some planning and research, you can easily keep costs down while providing your child with an excellent quality education from the comfort of your home.
We offer free consultation calls if you want to learn more about how Infinite Learning Academy can help you and your child's education. During this call, we can walk through the best options based on your child's needs and interests and answer the most common questions you might have as a new homeschooling parent.
To book your call with one of our expert educators, go here!
