Homeschool for Free?

What’s this going to cost me? It’s a question every prospective homeschooler asks. Can I homeschool for free?

Well, the nuts-and-bolts academics part, yes. Absolutely. You can use a free online curriculum and supplement with library books, or build your own curriculum utilizing free resources. But, at the end of the day, you’re still going to want some basic supplies at home. Paper, pencils, colored pencils, maybe a stapler, binder, or 3-hole punch. (Or maybe you want to just use sticks to write in the dirt. A bit rustic, but whatever works!)

In some states you’ll have to join a homeschool association and most states require testing or evaluations at the end of the year, which is an unavoidable cost. 

Ultimately, you’re probably going to end up paying for something. But let’s just assume that you are a top-notch freebie hunter and you have way more time than money. In that case, here are 10 ways you can homeschool for free – or at least as close to free as possible.

1. Use the library! – Your library is a treasure trove of resources. You can find books for pretty much any topic under the sun, but books are just the tip of the iceberg. Most libraries allow about 10 pages to be printed for free each visit, offer classes, let you “check out” e-books, etc. I have a post dedicated to some of the resources you might be able to find at your library.
2. Start couponing and clearance shopping (or up your game) – follow a favorite site or two (like Homeschool Deals) to stay updated when crayons and printer paper have hit their stock-up prices. Shop the back-to-school clearance sales to prep your stash for the next year, and keep an eye on random clearance events throughout the rest of the year.
3. Subscribe to your local Freecycle, Buy Nothing, or other free item resource. We’ve been gifted paints, board games, books, newspapers for papier mache, a table for our art space, and more.
4. Use a free curriculum. Yes, they do exist. Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool is one of the most popular.
5. Locate a homeschooling lending library – Not every area has one of these, but they’re amazing resources if you do. Some have “how to homeschool” books, some have full sets of curricula. Check around and see what you can find – or start one!
6. Build your own curriculum (or unschool). It’s a lot easier to work within a budget when you’re not tied down to specific workbooks, textbooks, teacher manuals, or video courses. There are so many amazing free, or cheap resources these days that your kids could be occupied all day long without spending a penny on a pre-planned curriculum. Download some free lessons from Teachers Pay Teachers, utilize library books, enroll your kids in free online classes, etc.
7. Sell and swap. Find a good used curriculum sale, or set up a local one yourself. Sell what you no longer need, and look for great deals on pre-loved books and supplies.
8. Use what you have. Are you already paying for a streaming service? Put it to educational use! Do you have trees in your yard? Identify them; measure them; use them for learning about shadows; research the latin root of their names; read poetry about trees; etc. Do you have access to a world map and a variety of ingredients? Research a different country each week or each month and make foods that are from that nation.
9. Use cashback and receipt scan apps – If you don’t already do this, pick one or two cashback apps to start using, and put all the money you earn back into a homeschool fund. This can pay for field trips, tests, curriculum, or basic school supplies, or go towards that all-important snack budget! My favorites are Fetch, ReceiptJar (referral code REBEMHRH6), and CoinOut.
10. Barter – I have always loved the idea of bartering and wish more people would get behind it. One of the most common ideas in the homeschool community is a simple co-op, where families team up and each parent teaches a subject they’re passionate about, that the other parents might not be as comfortable teaching. But don’t stop at your homeschooling community. Look for a mentor or tutor within your church or neighborhood. They may not need lessons in return, but could possibly benefit from a swap for yard work, tech help, house sitting . . . the sky’s the limit!
11. Add to your wish list – My personal wish list contains things like pens, educational philosophy books, and staplers. But I also keep an ongoing list for my kids, and grandparents and other family members will often send paper, colored pencils, books, puzzles, or science kits for birthdays and holidays. (Side note: One year my then-8yo exclaimed, “Best Christmas presents ever! Especially all the books!”) You can also share your list on social media when the #clearthelist hashtag trends each summer. People are more likely to donate to public school teachers than homeschoolers, but you may get an item or two taken off your list. Or when the public schoolers start posting their fundraisers, make up your own!

BONUS TIP: Follow Homeschool Deals – Homeschool Deals is my FB page where I share free and discounted homeschool-related resources – everything from sales on pencils, board games, and magnet tiles, to coupons for standarized tests, to free unit study downloads. You can also follow Homeschool Deals on Instagram, but that account is currently not well-updated.

How have you cut costs on your family’s homeschool journey?