Cutting down on expenses is not always easy when you have a classroom full of homeschool students. However there is always a way to stretch what resources you do have to benefit everyone. Here are some ways that you can do more without going bankrupt in your homeschool classroom.
Re-Use What You Have
Instead of investing in workbooks, invest in textbooks. These can be re-used for the next homeschool student who reaches the grade. Buy more unit studies as these will have activities and knowledge for different grade levels and experiences. Use educational games. These can be played with all the homeschool students and can be modified in difficulty levels as they grow older. The idea is to be able to use each resource that you buy for at least two academic sessions and with at least two of your homeschool students to make them more economically viable.
Inexpensive Supplies and Furniture
A lot of money and effort can be saved if you re-purpose what is already available within the home to use in the homeschool classroom rather than going for store bought supplies and furniture. Stock up on spiral notebooks in the month of August when they are cheapest. They can be used throughout the year for various purposes. Buy school supplies in bulk packages where ever possible to ensure that you get good discounts. Reuse school bags, pencil boxes and other material which is still in good condition. Buy something new only when the old breaks beyond repair.
Frugal Field Trips Combined with Errands
Taking the homeschool students on a field trip could often be combined with chores such as picking up groceries so as to save money on fuel. Also field trips can be made to places like public parks, town libraries and historical sites which do not have any entry fees. There is plenty of learning that can happen on such field trips as long as the homeschool parent plans the trip well in advance. Spending on food on a field trip can prove to be quite expensive, so make sure that each homeschool student has their own food packed from home.