It's Cheaper to Homeschool than Public School

News Flash! Homeschool - The Frugal Choice!

Parents concerned about the cost of homeschooling their children should compare costs. According to thisarticle.. most parents will spend $527.08 on school supplies to send their children to school.

I spend less than that.. and so does every other homeschooling parent I know.

Here's a breakdown of our costs:

$435.00 Deluxe My Father's World package for second/third/fourth grade. (it covers history, science, literature, writing.. basically everything except penmanship, spelling and arithmetic).

$50.00 for "classroom" type supplies and teaching tools, anatomical charts, maps, paper for arts and crafts and a "real" painting kit (acrylics, with "real" brushes and paper.. it's not a kiddy craft thing).

$3.00 for plain pencils

$15.00 for a good electric pencil sharpener (our big "luxury" item!).

$50.00 (rounded up) for supplemental curriculum from Abeka, Rod and Staff, and a "home economics" primer.

Last year.. I spent about $30.00 on clearance or "back to school" things like crayons etc.. and STILL have two large totes full of arts and craft supplies.. so I'll count that $30.00 towards this year too.

My son's (1st and K4) are using hand-me-down curriculum from my DD, and all I needed to buy was new writing tablets, erasers and pencils (already covered above).

That's $583.00. I'll add an estimated $50.00 in extra printing costs (paper, toner) and that brings us to
$ 633.00 for educating my three oldest children for the year. Not bad.

Aside from curriculum, supplies and teaching tools... (as it's obvious we've saved money already).. here's the other ways homeschooling saves us money.

1. Lunches. We wouldn't qualify for "free lunch" programs, so I'd either pack a lunch, or send money... either way, it costs at least $1.50 per "bag lunch" or to buy... so that'd be $270.00 per full time student ($540.00 for both). At home.. we eat simpler, lots of leftovers, and my average cost to feed all of us (me and the four eaters) for lunch is $2.50. Figuring that my DD8 and DS6 eat nearly as much as I do.. that's a savings of $360.00 just for lunch.

2. School clothes. We are blessed to get lots of hand-me-downs, and I usually only buy two "nice" day outfits a season per child. Because the hand-me-downs wouldn't work really well for school(either too bummy, or too "churchy"), I'd have to buy lots more clothes. That'd be for three children.. since my two boys are wearing the same size (6). Figure a minimum of $15.00 per outfit X 2 children x 8 days worth plus $15.00 X 1 X 3 days (preK), and that's ANOTHER $360.00 that I don't spend thanks to homeschooling.

3. Fuel. Assuming we allowed our children to go on the bus (a false assumption btw).. I'd still have to take my 4yo to preschool and pick him up every day. If he went three days a week, I'd use a gallon of gas every day just to get him there. So.. that'd be around $324.00 in extra fuel costs. If they went to private school (much more likely).. it'd be a total of $1040.00 just in fuel costs.

4. Birthday parties/teachers gifts/etc. I'm just taking a wild guess.. but if they went to three parties each per school year (this would be extra.. since we don't "know" these kids already).. and we spent just $7.00 per gift, plus a gallon of fuel $3.00 per party.. per child.. that's $90.00 (a low figure, according to my SIL), and if we gave three teachers gifts per child at Christmas.. that be another $50.00 at least. so.. $140.00.. which is a low estimate.

So far, what do we have?
Lunch-----$360.00
School Clothes------ $360.00
Fuel---------$324.00 (a very unlikely minimum.. but assuming our children rode the bus)
Birthday/extra holiday $140.00
For a total of.........$1194.00

That $1194.00 is BEFORE the "average" outlay of $527.08 per student. So.. if we did that.. it'd cost us a total of $2775.24 just for the priviledge of letting the NEA get ahold of my children's minds. (oh... did I mention their latest resolution to teach INCEST in schools???? oh, yeah.. I'm SO interested in my kids learning that kind of stuff as alternative lifestyles... ick.)

IF... on the other hand(and much more likely if we didn't homeschool).. my children went to our "inexpensive" but very well ranked Christian school (they are in the 90th percentile nation wide of all students consistently)... it'd cost us much, much more.

Tuition would be $585 per month, or $5265.00 for the year (that would be for all three children.. but still!)
Plus $4500.00 for lunches, school unifoms, fuel, and holiday/birthdays. Total (minimum.. probably cost even more, since I didnt' even get into shoes etc) $9765.00

So.. by homeschooling our children, in addition to numerous other good benefits, we are ALSO saving...

Homeschool versus Public School = $2142.24 saved
Homeschool versus Private School = $9132.00 saved

A Look at My Day

Today.. was one of those days. A hungry newborn baby, fatigue, a nagging headache.. and Homeschool.

Thankfully.. it's Friday, and I'm still making post-partum allowances for myself.

Instead of really hitting the books (with my daugher and two oldest sons).. I hit the books for myself.
Besides doing a minimal job of HS (my DD did Math, division drills, creative writing/drawing, Bible search and her Good Manners book.. the boys (ages 5 and 4) played very imaginatively and watched some Andy Griffith with my 2yo...
I myself read two Dorothy Gilman novels, and most of Dorothy Sayers "Murder Must Advertise".

It was a great day for reading. The children were subdued and happy (except Baby who nursed every 15min or so it seemed). All day, it was pleasantly overcast, not too warm, and I had two great excuses for hanging out in bed with a couple good books.

Breakfast.. was milk and pumpkin bread (homemade last night) and was delicious.
Lunch.. frozen Jack's pizza. Ok.. but we supplemented with more pumpkin bread.
Dinner... Perfectly cooked ribeyes, oven roasted garlic potatos, corn and carrot sticks.. with brownies for "bedtime" snack.

Thing is.. besides doing a few upkeep chores (rebooting the DW twice, ditto laundry, working on school stuff, cleaning up several spontaneous messes gratis my 2yo, and baths all around after one particularily spectacular mess)... I hardly did anything except snuggle with baby and read.

I DO enjoy Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Polifax series.. Except for the part where shes a widow and lives alone... Mrs. Polifax is the kind of woman I'd like to be when I grow up. Kind, tough, compassionate, sentimental, patriotic and brave.

It was a Dorothy kind of day.. because Dorothy Sayer's Lord Wimsey fitted right in. I've adored Sayer's for several decades now.. I think I was around eleven the first time I discovered real mysteries (versus Nancy Drew).. and I've never looked back. Dick Francis came after my discovery of Dorothy Sayers, and I realized that this was a genre with endless possibilities.

My 8yo daughter is desperate to begin reading my Agatha Christie collection (two shelves worth).. although I would have thought the titles enough to worry one so young... mystery must be in her blood though.. it certainly is a family tradition.

Other girls practice cheers, or have pretend boy-friends.. I used to dress up in an overcoat and fedora and pretend to be a private eye (using a dilapidated round scrub brush as a pretend magnifying glass if I remember correctly). In my world back then.. there were spys and criminals lurking beneath the facades of most of the people I came across.. and I'm still not sure how much of my present fondness or dislike of certain people is based on what character's I assigned them.

Homeschool... allowed me to have a down day and not feel really guilty about it. We are already 45 days ahead of the public schools.. so who cares if my postpartum days are filled with snuggling with my children, reading books to them and for myself, and musings about whether to make brownies or cake.

One of my favorite movie quotes.. is when Meg Ryan says "I have a small life.. small, but valuable" in "You've Got Mail". That quote describes how I feel today to a "T".
You won't find my name in lights, or on a tabloid.. but the life I lead is full of very precious and worthwhile happenings. I'm just grateful to have been humbled enough that I can live in the moment and enjoy them. Today is what I have.. it may be small.. but it's valuable!

Speaking of small but valuable.. here's a small but priceless quote from Dorothy Sayers that brought me intense joy to read. In response to Lord Peter asking somebody about what reason we had to buy butter if margarine was so great...
"You don't need a reason to buy butter, it's a natural, human instinct."

Missing Church

Yesterday, I began the process of getting us (me and my five children, ages 8,6,4,2, 3wks) ready for church at 4:30PM.. Church starts at 7:30pm, and it was 8:15 when I was doing the very last thing.. putting baby's socks on his feet.. and looked at the clock. Church is over by 9pm, and we have a twenty minute drive... so by the time we loaded up (5min), drove to church (20min) and unloaded/walked in (5min).. it'd have been 8:45PM when we finally were in our seats.. just in time for the closing prayer.

I really hate being late to church, and REALLY hate missing church. It's one of those things.. if I'm on time.. everything is good, I feel good, we are all happy (the children are usually well-behaved etc).. but if we are late.. it seems like we might as well have stayed home, because Husband and I are tense, the childen are tense, and we end up spending more time in the foyer than in the sanctuary.

The very worst thing.. is missing church. I need my "fix" of worship, praise, Bible study and fellowship in the middle of the week. If I miss it.. the rest of the week and weekend til Sunday seems dreary and I seem to get weaker and weaker (ie.. crankier!) until I get another "fix"of church.

These people who can go months/years/lifetimes without being in a good church service, hearing the Word preached, and participating in warm fellowship and praise... I just don't see how it's possible. I NEED my church family. I NEED time in prayer and worship. I NEED a pastor and the preached Word.

God is with me.. but without that human touch.. that "divine" in action... I grow weak, heavy hearted and discouraged so quickly.

So.. this week, I missed our midweek service. Yes, I have a newborn and am still recovering from birthing. Yes, I have four other small children, and a husband who has to work long hours and drive a long commute. Excuses and reasons, logic and justification.. those things don't satisfy and uplift me the way spending an hour or two together with other Christians does.

I need Jesus! I need His people.. the ones who are called by His name!
and.. I'm still missing church. As though my loved one has gone away and left me behind... I'm missing that feel, that warmth, that blessedness of being together with "God's Wonderful People".

so....Til Sunday... I'll be missing church.

Cool Free stuff site

Just a quick post to share my favorite freebie site in the world. Phoenix Freebies Not only do they have a very extensive, up to date and commented on list of categorized freebies... BUT! Phoenix Freebies also has new coupon and rebate forums, trades, auctions, surveys, and a host of other fun and useful features.

A long overdue HatTip to a Freebie site well done!

Humble Homeschool

Homeschooling has never been easier.. there are literally millions of links and tips available... all ready to show us the "best" way to homeschool.

I've been thinking about the simplicity of the concept lately though... Homeschooling is something nearly every single parent does to some extent or another. Most parents don't consider themselves "homeschoolers".... but if they thought about it.. they would see that homeschooling is just as much a part of parenting as fixing meals and laying out clothes. Everytime we read our children a book, tell them a story, explain what a word means, mix up a batch of cookies with them.. nearly every parenting moment can be a homeschool moment. What parent has never helped with homework? What parent has never drilled the multiplication tables or ABC's?

The curriculum sellers have beautiful and awesome offerings... things that excite and motivate us to do better. I think though.. that the "homeschool" movement is so much larger than just those of us who eagerly peruse the latest educational offerings at conventions and "hotel" meetings. The humblest homeschool moment I've had was when I realized that those parents who "homeschool" their children before and after sending them off to public school actually spend MORE time "schooling" their children at home than I do. They also spend more time on school related chores (ironing clothes, packing lunches, dropping off/picking up, etc).

I'm blessed to be a Homeschooling mom. It's what I want to do. However... I try to keep in mind that just because it's the best choice for me (and usually.. the best educational choice for children)... I don't have a moral "high ground" just because I homeschool versus public school. It takes nerves of steel to send your precious darlings off to be tempted, abused and pressured by the world. It takes time, energy and money I just don't have to send children to school. Dealing with children who've been stressed all day, and dealing with a never ending stream of "need to get/do/find's"... that's something I don't think I'd be good at.

My days are as quiet as they can be considering I have five small children. We don't have high stress.. we don't have peer pressure.. we don't have to worry about teachers/principals/other children or parents criticizing or discouraging us.

I guess.. I just feel grateful to be able to school my children at home. Not only is it the best educational, social, physical, financial and emotional choice for my children.. but it's the best choice for ME to. I've heard too many people say things like "I could never Homeschool.. it'd be too much work(or money, time, hassle etc)... I've never been able to find a polite way to respond.. because I feel just the opposite. I can't imagine "having" to public school my children. After the hassle of sending them off to school, picking them up, and doing the various school related chores.. I'd STILL have to supervise homework, chaperone field trips/parties, read at bedtime, and provide a supportive home. It's like doubling the effort for less return and exponentially increased emotional/psychological grief.

I'm happy in my humble homeschool.

Those Who Tresspass - Illegal Immigration

An open letter sent to Washington:

I feel compelled to write and tell you that I personally am in favor of
securing our borders against illegal immigration (which is an
inaccurate term anyway.. they are trespassers.. not immigrants). Not only do I
feel very strongly about this.. but it seems everybody I talk about this with is
strongly concerned with the laid back approach our elected government
officials have taken and propose to take towards this issue that affects so
many aspects of our nations security, prosperity, cultural integrity and our
peaceful tradition of unity by common goals, language and loyalty.

It seems that illegal "immigration" isn't a stand alone issue either...
drug smuggling, prostitution rings, theft rings, terrorists and other
groups that have the intent of deliberate harm to our society are being
granted free access to our borders due to a general attitude of Federal
negligence. Also... the huge and unaddressed issue of fraud, identity
theft, cost of educating their children, and immense local and federal
burdens of expense that is not balanced by corresponding taxes paid by
legitimate workers.. The total cost of allowing unfettered access to our
free country by people who do NOT respect our laws, our customs, our
culture or our rights as citizenry is far too high to allow it to
continue.

I understand that it costs money to erect fences, hire patrolmen, and
enforce deportations. However.. these people who trespass are not
primarily taxpayers who add value to our budget.. they are leaches that
suck tax dollars away, displace unskilled and even skilled citizens who
then go on welfare since they can't get hired.. these lawbreakers and
trespassers also have children who then have a "right" to go on being a
burden to the taxpayers of the US of A indefinitely.

If we really do need the extra population... or just need the extra
low-paid workers.. let there be legal alternatives and then enforce
harsh penalties for those who continue to trespass into our country and steal
opportunity, peace, and economic parity from those who belong here by
right of citizenry. We the citizens of the United States of America..
we OBJECT to being taken advantage of.. being mocked... having Mexican
flags waved in riotous rebellion.. having illegal trespassers moving into our
towns, our neighborhoods, our work place, and especially.. the culture
we hold very dear to our hearts.

I personally will not "assimilate" with the Mexican culture. If they
will not respect our laws, our culture, and our people... learn English and
become law abiding citizens as those peoples who lawfully emigrate from
every other country must do.. they are not welcome here.

Project Car Musings:

I've told you before ( at my old blog http://ramblingrose.blog-city.com ).. haven't I? About Husband's project car. Here's the whole story(well, most of it anyway). He bought this car as a teenager and drove it for several years. Matter of fact.. I first saw him in June 1990 at my best friends house walking to this car. It wasn't exactly love at first sight.. but I thought about him quite alot and when he asked me out later that year... that first "sight" was what made me say yes(I was 15.. a mere baby). The car in question is a 1970's era Buick Centurion convertible. Right after he asked me to marry him.. he decided to restore the car properly, and it's been in various stages of rust and unrecovery ever since. Until, that is, I gave him a strong nudge.

My words on the subject (coming after the caged free storage from my favorite uncle had "expired" after four years) were "Either finish it and soon.. or get rid of it and stop burdening ourselves and others with it's existence". At that time.. it'd been in a damp and mousey garage for years, following being in a dry and mousey barn for years, following being outdoors without hood or decent top for years. We'd been married almost 12 years, and this thing had done nothing but add clutter, stress and a nagging sense of guilt.

Perhaps other women would have said it more strongly, or not even presented the option of restoring it. I'm on this uneasy road to learning how to keep a good attitude and a submissive heart.. so I did what felt fair. Which is how we came to be spending thousands and thousands of dollars on this car that:
1. Will require garage space we are currently using for other things.
2. Will require specialty insurance.. after all..it's a "collectors" car now.
3. Will NOT legally hold our family of seven.
4. Is a ragtop... so it won't be comfortable in winter.
5. Is surely destined to be babied and so won't be drivable in anykind of "tough" circumstances. I hesitate to imagine how Husband will react the first time the children manage to grind a granola bar or fruit snack into the carpet.

Why.. you may be wondering.. would I want Husband to go ahead and restore this car?

1. It's part of our shared history. My first Husband sighting.. our first car ride together.. our first trip after engagement.. various and sundry other "firsts".
2. It's part of Husband's personal history. And.. I've learned that cars figure in men's history in a way that women can't usually relate to. This car has emotional meaning for my husband, and losing it would be like losing a friend.
3. We'd reached the point of having no more free storage available.. it was "restore" or move on time.
4. I decided that even though he seemed willing to part with this car... it had to be his decision, and that if he chose "restore".. that I'd help make it work and would enjoy it.

I'm sure we could have used the money for other more practical things. Trust me.. with five children, a needy house, and a bare wardrobe... there are always things to spend money on that are practical uses.
However... my dear husband works so hard for us... everyday he gets up before dawn and goes to work.. commuting 50min each way to return near dusk. Sometimes doing impractical fun things is the right thing to do. Practical uses of money don't always trump doing something that is totally impractical that has great meaning and signifigance. After all.. it's just money. Money that doesn't get used to bring joy or security into our lives is wasted money in my opinion. Just because our needs are many doesn't mean one of those needs isn't to have some fun.... Whatever else this car is.. it's going to be fun. After all.. it's a convertible that rides like a huge sofa going down the road!

Husband has some pictures I can share (whenever I figure out the uploading to blog thing) so you can see his new "baby". It's jaguar green (my favorite color) with cream interior and ragtop.

We've gotten notice that the restorers are finished (just sticking a few pieces of trim on and finishing fine-tuning the engine).. so this week we are cleaning out the garage to make room for our new(old) family member. Husband isn't acting really excited... I'm not sure it's sunk in that he'll finally be getting his baby back.
Besides the garage cleaning out project.. I've got to try to find a seatbelt attachment that will allow us to buckle four instead of three in the back seat (it's certainly wide enough!).