Tylianna Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 There is a time when we all started and were starry eyed at all the curriculum choices that we had. Some of us may have had the "money is no object" view, while others pinched their pennies. But, no matter how carefully you may plan, something that you didn't think of comes up. Library fines! lol Printing paper. This was expected, but I never thought I would go through 5 reams of paper in just a few months! Ink! I just recently estimated that I would use 6 xl cartridges of ink a year. At $40 a pop (without sales) that is $240!!! Gas for any extracurricular activities. Money spent on new curriculum when the first (or second, and third) just didn't work out. Anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Going from dial-up internet to DSL for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Field trips! I am a glutton for field trips! At the moment, I am pondering an overnight trip to Philly for the opening weekend of the Silk Road exhibit. We don't have to go, but it sure is a good excuse for a family outing. Ink - we switched to a continuous ink system and the savings has been spectacular. Paper, card stock, art supplies - we go through more than ever before. Time - I admit that I enjoy planning, but there are times I'd like just a tiny bit of that time just to do something, anything, else. Have to figure that one out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mynyel Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 There is a time when we all started and were starry eyed at all the curriculum choices that we had. Some of us may have had the "money is no object" view, while others pinched their pennies. But, no matter how carefully you may plan, something that you didn't think of comes up. Library fines! lol Printing paper. This was expected, but I never thought I would go through 5 reams of paper in just a few months! Ink! I just recently estimated that I would use 6 xl cartridges of ink a year. At $40 a pop (without sales) that is $240!!! Gas for any extracurricular activities. Money spent on new curriculum when the first (or second, and third) just didn't work out. Anything else? Switching curriculum twice in one year :glare: Ink and paper are good ones Pencils! We go through pencils like Kleenex here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Ink--we refilled 3 or 4 cartridges at Walgreens last year on Earth Day for $1 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommee & Baba Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 INK! for sure. Paper.... Def. agree with all the ones listed so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoyfulMama Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Printing paper. This was expected, but I never thought I would go through 5 reams of paper in just a few months! Staples had a sale over the summer, with a rebate, and I asked my MIL to buy 2 reams of printer paper for me, so I could get 4 reams total at the great price. She was so puzzled why I would want 4 reams of paper, and kept questioning why I would want so much paper in the house when I could just go to the store and buy it when I needed it. :banghead: I told dh this was precisely why I never ask her to help. So dh texted her, "Just get the paper!" The next week she came over with the paper. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I often think of just the wear and tear on the house having 5 people here all day instead of just a couple hours waking in the morning and evening. Things like toilet paper and electricity just because we are always here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 There is a time when we all started and were starry eyed at all the curriculum choices that we had. Some of us may have had the "money is no object" view, while others pinched their pennies. But, no matter how carefully you may plan, something that you didn't think of comes up. Library fines! lol Printing paper. This was expected, but I never thought I would go through 5 reams of paper in just a few months! Ink! I just recently estimated that I would use 6 xl cartridges of ink a year. At $40 a pop (without sales) that is $240!!! Gas for any extracurricular activities. Money spent on new curriculum when the first (or second, and third) just didn't work out. Anything else? So true, my home library has taken to reminding me everytime I take out more books to call and renew things, because my fines get so high some months. I also go through so much paper and ink it is insane. DUe to our current love of lapbooking, I go through my ink cartridges every 2 weeks, so I do between $40-80 of ink a month depending if I need a new color one or just black(and there is no ink refill places close to my tiny town). I also spend a ton of money on extras, not associated with a particular curriculum. So the cool science kit I found, or craft supplies, or board games etc. Plus of course there is the cost of conference, hotel, gas etc. I didn't go last year because we were moving and I really noticed a difference in my excitement/energy level. I truly NEED to go to conference each year to recharge and get focused again on my reasons for hsing. This is not a cost I ever thought would be REQUIRED of me. Kwim. Fieldtrips is a big one. It was different when we lived in the city, everything was close by AND due to being low income we got into most things for free. Now I live 2 hours away from the city and do not get free access, so field trips are a new expense I did not think about. THe same goes for the membership fees to the indoor playground and toy lending library, something I would not of thought of joining if I was not home all day teaching the kids. The new expense I need to bite the bullet for is internet. In the city it was fairly cheap so I never thought about it much as an extra expense of homeschooling. Living in a tiny town it is WAY pricier. We have not had it at all since moving, which has it's upside, but I am finding it more difficult to hs my older 2 without it, so I need to come up with the $$ to get it. The monthly fees are more than double what they were in the city so that is an unexpected expense. (and the reason why I am now taking on a 2nd job doing newspapers again). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Mom's sanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjbeach Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I often think of just the wear and tear on the house having 5 people here all day instead of just a couple hours waking in the morning and evening. Thingslike toilet paper and electricity just because we are always here. :iagree: Extra carpet cleaning, more cleaning supplies, definitely more water consumption... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Keeping the air on in the summer because we are here all day. And art supplies. Who knew paint and brushes (and canvases and clay and a dinky kid version of a potter's wheel and clay tools and so on) could cost so much? Not to mention the cost of art lessons and paying someone to fire ds's home creations. I love that he has this interest, but geez! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 For me it's art supplies. Luckily when I was contemplating homeschooling dh suggested we buy a color laser printer (I now have 2 of them, the first one he got me has some issue from being so old, but we kept it for the kids printing needs) That was such a great investment. The printer cost us $250 when we bought it, and the toner is about $110 for each color (times 4 colors) but those cartridges last me easily 1.5-2 years each. Each cartridge will print about 7 reams worth of paper before needing to be replaced. My paper also costs me but I'm a paper snob and won't use less than 28lb paper with a 98 brightness rating. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeegal Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Mom's sanity. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Case after case of Mike's Hard Lemonade . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Those of you mentioning high ink costs really need to look at laser printers! Even for a color one, the cost over time should be much lower for high users. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Case after case of Mike's Hard Lemonade . . . :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anneofalamo Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Food? Oh my gosh, they ate breakfast and lunch at school! Now they eat everything in my home!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Staples had a sale over the summer, with a rebate, and I asked my MIL to buy 2 reams of printer paper for me, so I could get 4 reams total at the great price. She was so puzzled why I would want 4 reams of paper, and kept questioning why I would want so much paper in the house when I could just go to the store and buy it when I needed it. :banghead: I told dh this was precisely why I never ask her to help.So dh texted her, "Just get the paper!" The next week she came over with the paper. :D I got in on the same deal last summer. I only got 2 cases though. Love how cheap it was! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Case after case of Mike's Hard Lemonade . . . Which definitely helps preserve Mom's sanity. ;) For me, the hidden costs haven't mattered much. A long time ago, in a job far away :D... My manager taught me to budget very carefully, then once I had accounted for every possible thing, to add 25% to the budget to get a final total. That rule of thumb has helped me tremendously over the years. I keep a spreadsheet with my expenditures to detail what the 25% is, to see if I can do better next time around. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaMa2005 Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Staples had a sale over the summer, with a rebate, and I asked my MIL to buy 2 reams of printer paper for me, so I could get 4 reams total at the great price. She was so puzzled why I would want 4 reams of paper, and kept questioning why I would want so much paper in the house when I could just go to the store and buy it when I needed it. :banghead: I told dh this was precisely why I never ask her to help.So dh texted her, "Just get the paper!" The next week she came over with the paper. :D Between Staples, Office Depot and Office Max we really scored with all the paper (almost free with the rebates). I think I have over 40 reams :D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Extracurriculars. DD was MUCH less interested in "I can take another dance class, mom!" when she was exhausted after a day in school. Even when it's something "free" or inexpensive, it still adds up-driving, food that can be eaten on the go or meals out, bringing snacks for the end of the season party... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheApprentice Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Electric and Water Bills. And gas for my car. And enrichment classes. And curriculum never used. And my sanity. And my waistline. And my house never being cleaned.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Toilet paper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Mom Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Bookcases. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakereese Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Case after case of Mike's Hard Lemonade . . . :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacie Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 My Keurig and all that coffee... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Dish detergent, laundry soap/water/electricity, dry erase markers, binders, binders, and more binders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 higher electric bills because we are home most of the time....this one bit us in the rear last month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakereese Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Amazon has all my money!! :lol: Seriously, just knowing I can have something in my hands in 2 days (or less!!)....click!! Just bought another book!! :lol: I have definitely spent more on ink, and I am researching laser printers now. Which I can then add to the cost of homeschooling...;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Higher heating bill. We used to turn the heat way down during the day... now we can't because we're home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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