Neige Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 DS is still young and it will be a few years before we'll probably start formal anything in terms of school. At the moment, we're just reading a ton. At the same time, I'm always seeing great deals on books that I think are fantastic and would interest him when he's older (but are, for the moment, way beyond his reading/comprehension level). I have ordered some, but I feel like if I keep going I'm going to fill our whole apartment with books before he's even ready for them! Do you take advantage of sales you see now on books your DC may not use for another 2-3+ years? What's reasonable? I may just start a giant book list of things I see and like and could buy later, but then in the back of my mind I'm always thinking "but what if I don't see it for this great price again?" I'm not talking about curriculum, btw, just straight books/reference books. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Well, if it's just books... it's hard to say no. :) If I was finding GREAT deals, like at a library book sale or thrift store, I'd have no problem buying ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I buy reference books I like. My kids love looking at the illustrations on reference books long before they can read. However I do try to balance the amount of reference books per subject that I purchase unless it is my kids interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Coast School Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Buy as far ahead as you want: Fiction and non fiction picture books; classic children's literature; reference materials for you Don't bother: Any curriculum for more than one grade level over your kids' current grade level (you simply don't know if you'll change your mind about what you want to do or if your child will be ahead or behind); workbooks of any kind (they get updated all the time--you want to most current); duplicates (two different science texts because you can't decide, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I'll buy living books several years ahead...I figure these can be used no matter what program we are using. I don't purchase actual curriculum very far ahead. What works for us now might not work in a few years. I would make an exception for an amazing deal (like $1 at a garage sale). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I have hoarded curriculum and some classical literature for all elementary levels for my DS who is 5 (started hoarding classics from birth, curriculum and workbooks at 4). We use them all, informally to keep learning fun and introducing concepts that will keep DS thinking. I use all the curriculum to read ahead and make advance lesson plans on how to teach my DS. For example, his reading skills and math is 2 years ahead of his age, so I am reading the curriculum that is 2 years further out right now. And I have things like dictionaries, thesauri etc that are upto middle school level. I have the whole collection of Magic Tree House books, Winnie the Pooh, LOTR, Harry Potter etc (some 45 books) and he is progressing through my MTH collection right now. I have the whole LOF series and BA series and we are on book 2 of LOF now. When I see what I like, I just buy the whole series. I think that it is OK to hoard 3-4 years worth of stuff if you are going to go through them in preparation for schooling your child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misty.warden Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I swim against the tide when buying curriculum in advance, I have English and Math until middle school and ds is 3. I'm also spoiled to live near an amazing library system so I don't buy as many literature or living books because I know we can pick them up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I buy books ahead when I get a deal (25-50 cents), but I wouldn't buy ahead anything more expensive than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I've bought plenty of things ahead, not curricula, but just novels or important non-fiction books. We have a really big used bookstore and I built a huge library of old classics for very cheap from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WistfulRidge Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Well, I'm hoarding a box or two of various resources for high school that I saved from some of my college classes... many of which took place before my first was even born. So... I agree that I wouldn't buy any curriculum very far in advance but literature and reference materials? Yeah, I'd hoard boxes and boxes of them without second thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I buy way in advance when I see good deals. Mostly on literature/living books/reference, but some on curriculum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I usually buy literature far ahead when I see they really cheap like $.50 or cheaper. Some of them are sold by the libraries as not a lot of people are reading them. I don't buy main books like math text or Lang arts text but I buy mostly supplements etc.far in advance. I already have books that my dd will not read for another 5 yrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teeniebeenie6 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I am one who buys books and curriculum sometimes years ahead. In this economy I have no idea if we'll have enough money for it next year; will my husband have the same job, etc? The curriculum I'll buy ahead is stuff that isn't going to change much such as history. With our vehicle situation libraries aren't much of an option. So I browse thrift stores, used book stores, ebay, betterworldbooks, etc., homeschool boards and buy as cheaply as I can. I won't buy more then 2-3 years ahead though. I have next year figured out and have a big chunk of the year after worked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I'm a crazy book hoarder, but to keep from overwhelming the house, I've been trying to only buy and hold onto used books that are out of print. If it's still in print or if I know the library will still have multiple copies, I can leave it behind at the used bookstore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 When it comes to books, I buy if the deal is good even if it will not be used for years to come. I have boxes of fiction books waiting to be open and placed on the shelves when dd reaches a certain age. Non fiction books go on the shelves right away though. I learned long ago to buy when you find a good deal because when you are ready to read it you might not be able to find/afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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