shinyhappypeople Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Does anyone remember my "$200 and Keeping it Simple" thread from last spring? Well, I have the results... All told I spent $65 out of pocket. I'm using some stuff I already own, but if I'd had to buy everything this summer it would have been around $90. Everything was purchased used. This is for 10 yo DD working at a 4th grade level. For her 8 yo sister we're using the library and delight-driven education, sharing the math book and using tools I already own. I've gone from a charter school budget of $1600/yr per kid to streamlining and bargain hunting. Yet, I feel happier about this year's choices than I ever have in the past, because these tools don't come with strings attached, weren't purchased with any thought of aligning (or catching up) to the state standards of the moment, and were purchased by ME with MY money. I think it's going to be a GREAT year. I'm excited :) Oh, and in case you're curious, here's the list: Learn Math Fast book 1 $30 McGraw Hill Interactive Science $4 Rod and Staff 3 student book for grammar and writing $10 (bought the TM for $1 a couple years ago.) Natural Speller, making personal spelling dictionary $0 (already own) MPC Phonics D $12 Cursive using my brain and a pencil $0 Story of the World 2 plus AG $6 Home Art Studio $0 (already own, otherwise around $10, I think) Resource books: WRTR, a couple of books from the NTK series, etc. purchased from a used sale for less than $5 total. BE ENCOURAGED!! You do NOT need a lot of money to homeschool your children! This is my fifth year homeschooling and the year when we have the tiniest budget ever. Yet I truly believe that by using my brain, a few carefully chosen tools and our public library we're going to have the best year ever! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 It is wonderful that you have found what you needed and figured out how to make do otherwise. I hope you have a wonderful year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warneral Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat in MI Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I thought going from the $800, I was originally planning, down to $300 was good. But yours is fantastic!! Great job and I am happy you are pleased with your choices. Off to plan some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I really like your plan and am excited for you. I usually only get excited about my own plans. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama25angels Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I like your plan as well. I also took your challenge and am really looking forward to seeing how our year turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Thank you :) Here's the deal, though. I'm not saying I'm never buying anything else this year and that everyone should spend as little as possible. This isn't a contest. I am just excited that not only can it be done, but it can be done well, with good resources. I did have to make choices and pass on some options, but in the end I'm pretty happy with what I came up with :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama25angels Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Thank you :) Here's the deal, though. I'm not saying I'm never buying anything else this year and that everyone should spend as little as possible. This isn't a contest. I am just excited that not only can it be done, but it can be done well, with good resources. I did have to make choices and pass on some options, but in the end I'm pretty happy with what I came up with :) Well, your challenge really inspired me to look at and use the things on my shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Does Natural Speller include grammar? I have the other language arts books and can't figure out if the author skips grammar or if it's in the spelling book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piper Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Awesome. Well done!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoGal Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I'd love to try this next year. I usually end up buying things that sound interesting that we never use. I think a tighter budget would force me to focus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Shiny, some of my best years were when I spent the least. Truly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2queens&1princenmyhouse Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Wow, great job! That's got me to thinking... I wonder what I spent on stuff for this year (I'm a pick it up as you go sort of person and I purchase with leftover grocery funds. :thumbup1: For DD10 5th/6th grade WWE4-$16 Houghton Mifflin Math-$10 Science (online)-free Grammar (online)-free French (online)-free Latin/Greek root word study (library book)-free as long as I don't incur overdue fines SWO E (with TG also)-$6 SOTW 3 (library book)-free History of the US vol 2-5 - $15 LLATL and the readers-$20 Faith and Life 5-$4 Total $71 DS5 k/1st grade Saxon Math 1 TG and Workbook-$10 The Reading Lesson-$12 BFSU-$5 Faith and Life 1-$6 Bible (gift from his prek teachers)-free A Child's Guide to Geography-$17 Base 10 Blocks-$15 Cuisinaire Rods (returned a gift that someone gave me for my b-day and the rods were slightly more expensive)-$3 Total-$58 And then we spent $406 to send DD12 back to Catholic school (so I needed to be cheap somewhere). Also, we have an awesome library that I am blessed enough to work at, so we HEAVILY supplement with library books, DVDs, audiobooks and programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maela Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Do you really like the Mcgraw-hill science? Oh, I guess you haven't started using it yet... I'm considering using it in a year or two, so I'm just wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maela Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Oh and congratulations! It feels so good to save money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Wow, way to go! What an inspiration! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 Does Natural Speller include grammar? I have the other language arts books and can't figure out if the author skips grammar or if it's in the spelling book. It touches on mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, and commas), but that's about it. There's quite a bit on dictionary usage, and alphabetizing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Does Natural Speller include grammar? I have the other language arts books and can't figure out if the author skips grammar or if it's in the spelling book. Not much. BUT, for making our own spelling, I loved Natural Speller for the word family lists, combined with The ABCs and All Their Tricks. We used those 2 books for years to make our own spelling. Very practical -- like a bit of an extension of the Dr. Fry's 1000 Words. A little off-topic, Hunter but -- one that might inspire you, as I know you make your own worksheets, is Mary Pecci's Word Skills, for grades 2-5. See sample pages here. (Also available at Amazon and on Ebay.) Topics covered included: - plurals - roots & endings - syllables - compound words - possessives - contractions - prefixes - suffixes - alphabetizing - dictionary skills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 That's awesome! This thread got me wondering what I spent this year... DS13: Holt Physical Science: $20 The Mommy Writer's History Plans: my brain + books we own/can get at the library = $0 Math-U-See Zeta: $20 Total Language Plus (3 books new at the local convention, yikes!): $70 Adventures in Art: $0 Shakespeare Project Pack and Narnia packs from Hands of a Child for co-op: $20 Miscellaneous books from book sales: $10 Total: $140 DS10: Apologia Land Animals with Journal for co-op: $40 TMW's History Plans: $0 Total Language Plus with brother: $0 Adventures in Art: $0 Math-U-See Epsilon: $20 Drawing through History: $10 Miscellaneous books from book sales: $10 Total: $80 DD7: Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space: $0 TMW's History Plans: $0 Scholastic Spelling grade 2: $1 HSS lit guides: $0 Math-U-See Beta: $0 Draw. Write. Now. books 2-3: $16 Adventures in Art: $0 Miscellaneous books from book sales: $10 Total: $27 Co-op fees: $175 Total for the school year for all: $422 Wow. :glare: That's a bigger number than I thought it was going to be! There are definitely places I could have cut costs! Next year will be better!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama25angels Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 That's awesome! This thread got me wondering what I spent this year... DS13: Holt Physical Science: $20 The Mommy Writer's History Plans: my brain + books we own/can get at the library = $0 Math-U-See Zeta: $20 Total Language Plus (3 books new at the local convention, yikes!): $70 Adventures in Art: $0 Shakespeare Project Pack and Narnia packs from Hands of a Child for co-op: $20 Miscellaneous books from book sales: $10 Total: $140 DS10: Apologia Land Animals with Journal for co-op: $40 TMW's History Plans: $0 Total Language Plus with brother: $0 Adventures in Art: $0 Math-U-See Epsilon: $20 Drawing through History: $10 Miscellaneous books from book sales: $10 Total: $80 DD7: Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space: $0 TMW's History Plans: $0 Scholastic Spelling grade 2: $1 HSS lit guides: $0 Math-U-See Beta: $0 Draw. Write. Now. books 2-3: $16 Adventures in Art: $0 Miscellaneous books from book sales: $10 Total: $27 Co-op fees: $175 Total for the school year for all: $422 Wow. :glare: That's a bigger number than I thought it was going to be! There are definitely places I could have cut costs! Next year will be better!! I think you did fantastic!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I think you did fantastic!!! Aww, thanks! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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