Parents opt for Home Schooling because they believe that this will offer their children a  better education than that which they would receive in a regular school. It is most unlikely that parents would opt for home schooling as a means of saving money, although the presumption that it will be cheaper than a regular school is something that enters the minds of most parents. Unfortunately, this is a wrong assumption. If there is a savings on the cost of education a child by opting for home schooling, it will be minor.

Giving your child the best education at home means high HomeSchooling costs. Top quality education needs top quality equipment – up to date text books and course material, a library, computers and accessories, lighting, special furniture etc. Schools have the upside on you because they purchase in bulk and you are have little purchasing power.

One factor often over looked is not the additional direct expense but the loss of income that should be added to home schooling costs.  One parent, usually the mother, will stay at home to teach the children. One the assumption that she has a level of education that makes her competent to teach the children, she could have been working and bringing money home. Even parents with college degrees stay home to teach their children. What could the earnings from a job have been? A good amount.

Remember there are always subjects that parents are not going to be able to teach themselves. Getting a tutor for these subjects can be very expensive.

However, this does not mean that home schooling costs need be unreasonable. The size of the family is an important consideration. Just like sometimes we reuse clothes for younger children, its a good idea to try and reuse some of the home schooling materials as well. HomeSchooling support groups often circulate and reuse material. Online discount home school suppliers are another cost effective option, as are buying used books, if you are sure of what you are getting.

Membership to public libraries, and taking children to reduced price shows (home schoolers can easily go for weekday matinees) at theatres, operas and ballets are another money saving option. 

Money that would have been spent on tutors, as mentioned above, can sometimes be saved by a barter system. For instance, the mother of a 9 year old may teach anther child English along with hers. In return the other child’s parent will teach both the children maths.

While home schooling is not about saving money, home schooling costs should be taken into account before a decision to go ahead is taken. And remember , the costs are only in material terms. When you are able to decide what your child should be taught, when he or she should learn it, how they will learn  and are able to focus the home school experience on building a better life for your child than he or she could have received from a regular school education, you are profiting in ways that cannot be measured in money terms.

Home School Jewel is there for you to give you all of your home schooling needs. Come by Home School Jewel today and join the site for free and you get a free Homeschooling Basics EBook just for signing up! Come by Home School Jewel Today for your free Ebook on Home Schooling.