While homeschooling isn’t completely free, the specific costs can vary depending on the curriculum, field trips, materials and other factors.
In this handy guide, we find out how much you can expect to pay for homeschool and what different factors can affect your homeschooling budget.
Average Homeschooling Costs
You can spend anywhere between $50 and $2,000 per child per month on teaching your child at home. The exact costs for homeschooling depend on the costs of your child’s individual curriculum, the materials you want to use and any field trips.
These costs vary widely according to your family’s individual needs and what your child needs for learning at home. You also need to factor in your child’s individual needs, such as dyslexia or other learning difficulties.
Factors That Affect How Much Homeschooling Costs
There are a variety of factors that you need to consider when you want to get a better understanding of the costs of homeschooling.
From supplies and books to transportation and the number of children you teach at home, all these elements affect how much you will need to pay for your child’s education each month.
Curriculum
One of the most important factor to consider when you are providing your child with an education from home is the curriculum and the type of tuition.
This usually depends on your child’s previous education level and their age. There are a number of online homeschooling curriculums that you can use for exams and assessments.
If you can’t teach your child yourself, then you will need to work with a professional tutor or a number of tutors for various subjects. This can considerably increase the costs of your child’s education.
Generally, homeschooling curriculums vary between $350 and $2,000 per year.
Depending on the state where you live, your child may need to sit regular exams. This can significantly affect the costs because you will need to pay for testing fees.
Parent Involvement
If you want to be fully involved in your child’s education, then you may only need to hire a couple of tutors for any subjects that you don’t feel confident in.
However, if you prefer your child to be tutored by an expert, then you need to hire a full-time tutor which can be extremely expensive.
As a rule of thumb, tutors cost around $20 per hour, although this can vary depending on their experience level and where you live.
Homeschooling Materials And Supplies
While homeschooling mostly happens online, you still need to buy some basic supplies and materials for your child, including books and stationary.
This being said, there are no guidelines as to what exactly you need to buy which means that you can shop around and get second-hand items online.
This can be especially handy for books and technical devices, such as a computer, tablet or laptop. You should also consider any software that your child may need to learn, such as puzzles and games.
Where You Live
Living standards vary across the country and where you live also affects your homeschool budget. For example, if you live in a city, you may need to pay more for supplies and general costs like grocery shopping.
However, you will pay slightly less for transportation and field trips because most amenities, such as museums and libraries, are nearby.
On the other hand, if you live out of town and you have to drive everywhere, then a field trip can be more expensive.
In addition, different US states have different rules and regulations for homeschooling requirements. For example, your child may need to take regular tests which means you need to pay regular testing fees.
Transportation
Whether you need to drive your little one to the library or you are going on a field trip, homeschooling doesn’t always happen at home.
It is important that your child joins in a variety of activities, from socializing with other homeschool families to art classes.
You will need to factor in additional costs for public transport or gas. This can cost between $100 and $400 in addition every year.
Food
Another factor to consider is that your child needs food over the day. Unlike public schools where food is provided, you need to adjust your family’s grocery spending to account for more meals at home.
The Number Of Children
The cost of homeschooling increases with the number of children you want to teach from home. This being said, if your children are the same or a similar age, then they can also use similar materials.
Even if your kids have a greater age difference, you can reuse resources and textbooks which can save you a considerable amount of money over time.
This being said, no matter how many children you want to homeschool, it is still cheaper than outsourcing your kids’ education to a state or private school.
How To Save Money On Homeschooling
The longer parents homeschool their child, the more clever they become about cutting costs. There is a number of easy ways to reduce homeschooling costs for your family.
Use Your Local Library
Local libraries are a great resource for educational subscriptions and materials.
Go For Second-Hand Items
Used book sales and homeschool fairs are fantastic ways to socialize with other parents and get some cheap supplies.
Make Use Of Educational Events
Across the United States, there are hundreds of educational events throughout the year. Make sure to keep an eye out for any events in your area.
Find Homeschool Discounts
Some venues and stores offer discounts specifically for homeschooled children and parents.
Read Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
Before you decide on a homeschool curriculum, make sure that you do your research and read plenty of reviews to ensure this is the right choice for your child.
Final Thoughts
Homeschooling is a fantastic way to teach your child everything they need to know for a successful career.
While the costs of homeschooling depend on a number of different factors, there are a few clever ways to cut costs while keeping the standard of a good education for your child.
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