6 Back to Homeschool Frugal Tips

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SWAGBUCKS. All opinions are 100% mine.

July is over and the anxiety of planning the new school year is drawing near. These thought provoking, lack of sleep inducing moments are something that the majority of homeschoolers face at this time (unless you homeschool year round as we do). To attempt to put your mind at ease I am going to share 6 back to homeschool frugal tips.

Homeschool Frugal Tip #1: Swagbucks

I believe that homeschooling moms are some of the most creative and frugal set of people I have ever known. Did you know that you can use your swagbucks towards curricula? I asked one mom how she gained enough swagbucks to buy anything and I had to take notes.  I will share a few with you.

• If you have an android phone that you hardly use and have access to free wifi, run videos all day and earn at least $1. SBTV (an app) gives almost 36 swagbucks a day. I actually have a homeschooling friend that does this and she is currently saving up to buy Mammoth Math for her kids this way.

 

• If you need to search or buy anything online, sign into your account first before doing so! When you do this you actually earn points per dollar and then put those points towards an Amazon gift card.

 

• Use the Swagbucks search engine to your regular searches and then follow the Swagbucks’ Facebook Page for extra points.

 

• Complete online surveys- Sure this may seem annoying but if you only had to do a one question survey (yes, one question) just to earn points there is no need to complain.

If you want make sure you don’t miss an opportunity to earn, try using the SwagButton for Chrome, FireFox and Internet Explorer. You get alerted to earning opportunities at over 1,000 online retailers, plus you can earn SB when you’re not even on the site!

 

Homeschool Frugal Tip #2: Homeschool Groups and Friends

At the end of the school year, homeschoolers try to get rid of all the curricula that they used or didn’t use as it was not a perfect fit for their kids. How do you gain access to these awesome freebies or dirt cheap curricula? Join a homeschool group or ask a homeschooling friend what they are getting rid of?

A few options for groups  for those of us who do not have a local homeschool group are:

1. Homeschool Curriculum Free for Shipping
2. Homeschool for Free
3. Curricula Buy and Sell Groups: this or this (simply use the words, “free homeschool” or “free curricula” in the Facebook search bar.

 

Homeschool Frugal Tip #3: Online Free Resources

While it may not be easy to homeschool for free, it is possible to be as frugal. There are so many free resources online for homeschoolers to take advantage of. A few sites known for free curricula are:

1. Easy Peasy
2. Khan Academy
3. Ambleside
4. Amazon Daily Free eBooks (yes Amazon gives away free ebooks for free daily)

 

Homeschool Frugal Tip #4: The Library Is Your Friend

The library can be a homeschooler’s best friend when used correctly. This simple building can be the passport to a successful homeschool. You gain access to unlimited books and curricula just by joining a library. Need to find an educational dvd about a topic you are studying? Simply ask the librarian for options. Cannot find a suggested book for a topic, ask the librarian for alternatives. A library card is a necessity if you want to have a homeschool frugal life.

 

 

Homeschool Frugal Tip #5: Dollar Store Stakeout

Just like the library, the dollar store can be our friend (if used wisely) when we have to buy our homeschool supplies. Aim to stock up on the resources that you use the most. In our case we use a lot of crayons, paint, rice (for our preschool sensory bins) as well as pens and binders.

 

Homeschool Frugal Tip #6: Sell Stuff

If you need a few extra bucks, why not go through everything you have and evaluate if they are necessary. If they are no longer being used (think of items gathering dust or being stored in your shed or attic) sell them. Having a garage sale not only leads to extra cash but also helps to declutter your home.

Well there you have it, 6 homeschool frugal tips for the back to homeschool season- now you can rest somewhat easier.