tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post3909777685837655607..comments2024-03-28T19:35:24.365-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: Homeschooling on one incomePatrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-85561529862295133822014-05-05T00:37:03.677-07:002014-05-05T00:37:03.677-07:00I'll second Montana Guy. We are from MO origi...I'll second Montana Guy. We are from MO originally, but the last place we lived before moving to Montana was Silicon Valley. Just moving dropped our total cost of living by more than half. We can live here on what we were paing for rent in Silly Valley...and that's with making payments on 40 acres! Laws here are homeschooler friendly, and homeschooled kids can be involved with public school extracurriculars.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07067701162901440088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-81136876942678297952014-05-02T18:36:29.426-07:002014-05-02T18:36:29.426-07:00You can do it! If you're looking for curricul...You can do it! If you're looking for curriculum ideas, try Homeschool Freebie of the Day (http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/ ). A variety of free programs show up on this site- old posts are kept for a while but not forever so download/save the ones you like. I found KISS grammar through them recently as well as some great science and history .pdfs.<br /><br />Math Mammoth is a great math program that isn't nearly as expensive as others- and there are sales (seems like August and January are the big ones).<br /><br />While the local library is a resource, see if any local churches have a library with homeschool materials. A bunch of our local churches have libraries with homeschool sections (including well known ones) available to check out. One has an enormous homeschool section because a local private school recently changed curriculum and donated all their old books to the church. <br /><br />Obviously you'll have to follow a lot of the ideas above with shopping at thrift stores (take a list with you) and cooking from home. I didn't see anyone mention the Hillbilly Housewife website, but it has a lot of useful money saving recipes (and other ideas). I get kicks out of finding the occasional free Kindle download too.<br /><br />Good luck! <br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-59461365126108613672014-05-02T14:31:32.994-07:002014-05-02T14:31:32.994-07:00Thank you Rozy Lass! When we first started homesc...Thank you Rozy Lass! When we first started homeschooling, I tried to do it all and burnt out quickly. I agree that we are not Wonder Woman and should focus on making sure the children are educated. That is critical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-83069114233228481602014-05-02T12:45:32.454-07:002014-05-02T12:45:32.454-07:00I have been a homeschool teacher (Mom) for 23 year...I have been a homeschool teacher (Mom) for 23 years, and homeschooling becomes less expensive every consecutive year. Although part of that has to do with passing down hand-me-down materials and curriculum, I have used less and less packaged curriculum every year. <br /><br />Free Internet resources weren't available to me early on, but now there is so much free information, lesson plans, etc. that a lot of my older curriculum has been sold to the local homeschool exchange store, and I am using more online materials. I have kept all the really good stuff, of course -all our Christian materials and reading resources (real books) and in-depth books for research. <br /><br />I now teach a science class to other homeschoolers and am able to get most of our ideas and information -and often times even whole lesson plans for units - from reliable sites online with lots of hands-on projects and craft ideas to reinforce ideas. <br /><br />I have not purchased a boring science textbook in the last five years! But what we have purchased has been found at used local and online booksellers and at our homeschool exchange store -oh, and lots of books at thrift stores across our local area.<br /><br />Invest in some construction paper, glue, and recyclable objects, and "oh the things you can think"! <br /><br />Not only can you do it, but you will have fun and know exactly what your children are learning -and that they ARE learning! <br /><br />God Bless!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-62385993945102516932014-05-02T12:07:59.051-07:002014-05-02T12:07:59.051-07:00I live in Alaska, and $35 K per year barely cuts i...I live in Alaska, and $35 K per year barely cuts it here. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-65925098243611649302014-05-02T10:29:38.202-07:002014-05-02T10:29:38.202-07:00Before moving I'd strongly suggest considering...Before moving I'd strongly suggest considering a state's 'retreat ratings'. James Wesley Rawles' ratings really helped us. Mr. Rawles used home schooling regulation as one of the factors in his ratings. Go to: http://survivalblog.com/retreatareas/<br />Montana GuyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-23437819138664530642014-05-02T09:44:29.220-07:002014-05-02T09:44:29.220-07:00And may I add that food in NW Montana is expensive...And may I add that food in NW Montana is expensive<br />Succotash RoseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-5507522484423047942014-05-02T06:36:32.321-07:002014-05-02T06:36:32.321-07:00check out Christian Light Education for a workbook...check out Christian Light Education for a workbook type subject approach. I use it for our math and for some of the children's language arts. About $35 per subject per year. www.clp.org worked well for my dyslexic son as we didn't have to copy math problems from book to page. (an extra step that was too much for him) He did well with it. <br /><br />Another good inexpensive curriculum is Rod and Staff out of Crockett, KY. They have the traditional textbooks. I use them for science. They recently revised the science series and it is awesome!<br /><br />both have free catalogs used books easy to find especially in the summer months on ebay, and used home school book sites onine<br /><br />We probably make less $$ than $35K Sure it is tough but life is tough. I just want to be there to raise my children. They are better off home schooled with Biblical values then in the public school. We have children that have been home schooled, Christian schooled and public schooled. Home school is the best choice.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-61227989248523009672014-05-02T05:56:14.085-07:002014-05-02T05:56:14.085-07:00We made a significant lifestyle change a few years...We made a significant lifestyle change a few years ago. I think back on the person I was before and like myself so much better now. The light bulb for me, and I know this is probably obvious to everyone else, is that I need to stay home. I don't spend money and I get so much done when I just stay home. I've learned to love my home and have found taking care of my family to be such a satisfying career choice for me. Lorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980302086485685222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-32871308971760192512014-05-02T05:51:50.341-07:002014-05-02T05:51:50.341-07:00I check in on that blog often and I'm not awar...I check in on that blog often and I'm not aware that they keep animals. Some really helpful info available from that family. I don't come close to doing even a fraction of what that family does to save money but some really good ideas. Pick and choose.Lorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980302086485685222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-49213014368863417132014-05-01T19:58:49.126-07:002014-05-01T19:58:49.126-07:00Check out Prudent Homemaker's Blog.Check out Prudent Homemaker's Blog. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-82163581246338224512014-05-01T19:57:00.152-07:002014-05-01T19:57:00.152-07:00Check out Prudent Homemaker's Eat for 40 cents...Check out Prudent Homemaker's Eat for 40 cents a day <br />series. I've learned so much from those articles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-47022646612051281542014-05-01T18:38:56.295-07:002014-05-01T18:38:56.295-07:00Thanks! I needed to hear that! Thanks! I needed to hear that! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-31737888404541903602014-05-01T17:41:01.720-07:002014-05-01T17:41:01.720-07:00So true!!! We had school between breakfast and lun...So true!!! We had school between breakfast and lunch for elementary grades and that was plenty of time for everything. The older grades took a little longer but nowhere near the time in public school. Plus, most everything we did was a learning experience.Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-4891947851001226182014-05-01T17:36:09.090-07:002014-05-01T17:36:09.090-07:00When beginning to homeschool is NOT the time to al...When beginning to homeschool is NOT the time to also begin gardening and keeping animals, unless you grew up on a farm and know how to do all that. Concentrate on teaching your children both academically and what I always called "domestic science" (cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc.) We lived on my husband's enlisted military pay, shopping at thrift stores and cooking from scratch, but time-wise I didn't do all that other self-sufficiency stuff as I'm not wonder woman and having babies, homemaking, and preparing school for five children was about all I could do. Let's not overwhelm the poor woman!Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-24515890936302765062014-05-01T16:34:09.587-07:002014-05-01T16:34:09.587-07:00This is an amazing website. She walks you through ...This is an amazing website. She walks you through her frugal and beautiful life step by step. Prudent Homemaker and Rural are my two favorite sites. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-88287933942423233192014-05-01T14:01:57.396-07:002014-05-01T14:01:57.396-07:00We homeschooled our 2 children (now grown and marr...We homeschooled our 2 children (now grown and married with kids of their own) sometimes on $12,000 a year. My husband was self employed so things were not always financially stable. Of course this was a few years ago but the principles are the same no matter what you bring in money wise. Be frugal, be frugal, be frugal. The kids and I did clean our church each week and on special occasions so we got a little extra money then. Our kids helped their daddy in his construction business when they got older and our son learned many skills from repairing motors to all stages of house construction. All through his high school years he did roofing sometimes employing his sister to hand him shingles :) Our daughter and I always did the final house cleaning after the house was built or remodeled. It surely can be done. Look for jobs you and your children can do together for a little extra money. We live on 5 acres so we had and still have chickens for meat and eggs and raise a large garden and can. A lot of learning goes on outside the books. The kids have enough free time to pursue their interests too. Both our kids were good in art so they took lessons from a lady and won prizes for their work. Another gal from our church taught them Japanese for their foreign language in high school. She had been a missionary in Japan and taught them a lot about the country and customs too. I would watch her 2 little boys in return. Be creative. And enjoy the years with your kids. It goes so fast. NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-33376846710185938002014-05-01T13:53:05.539-07:002014-05-01T13:53:05.539-07:00I also follow One Hundred Dollars a Month, and the...I also follow One Hundred Dollars a Month, and the DeVries family. OneHundredDollarsaMonth is a website, she spends one hundred dollars a month on groceries, and gardens extensively. The DeVries family (I don't know if I'm spelling that right) I follow on Facebook. They grow enough produce in their suburban yard in Pasadena and have a produce stand on their front porch. They follow some pretty fantastic sustainable gardening practices. I also just discovered Keyhole Gardening... a pretty awesome practice for raising food in difficult environments. The idea was introduced in this country by Dr. Deb Tolman, who had seen it practiced in Africa. Patrice's tire gardens are very similar to the keyhole garden concept.Bettinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-5568964886556041352014-05-01T13:48:14.297-07:002014-05-01T13:48:14.297-07:00I was going to mention the Prudent Homemaker also!...I was going to mention the Prudent Homemaker also! I love Brandi! I always find something new, and I've been at home with my kids for a long, long time. Don't forget to check out the Tightwad Gazette from your library. She takes thrift to an entirely new level!Bettinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-2997402032689036032014-05-01T11:44:51.481-07:002014-05-01T11:44:51.481-07:00I stay at home and homeschool 5, while pregnant wi...I stay at home and homeschool 5, while pregnant with my 6th. We also make 35k a year. Except I feel like I'm the queen. What I've come to realize that it's not about how much money you make but what you want. If you want the world, you're never going to have enough money, by default. Recently, I made a list of the things the world tells us we need. The hooks she has in our noses, so to speak.<br /><br />http://thebucketwoman.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/i-have-the-most-fun-when-im-being-bad/<br /><br />Then I went through and made sure none of them even touched me. In fact, it's not even a point of sacrifice. My heart is elsewhere. In any case, I think that's the dipstick you need to check first. Because you can't have it both ways. But once you're free, I think it's easy to find we have more than enough.<br /><br />*mMavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146308279578831215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-5583178821375419552014-05-01T11:30:24.535-07:002014-05-01T11:30:24.535-07:00We are thinking of doing this same thing. Public ...We are thinking of doing this same thing. Public school is not working for our family. What are 5 things that we should stock up on or do while we have two incomes?<br />My thoughts are:<br />Pay off or pay down any debt, as much as possible.<br />Fill up freezer with meats (as much as we can afford).<br />Stockpile some fuel treated with Pre-G/Pre-D.<br />Buy whatever curriculum / school supplies that will be needed.<br />Put aside an emergency fund.<br />Any other ideas? Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-1233429469726930052014-05-01T11:08:30.656-07:002014-05-01T11:08:30.656-07:00This woman has a family of 9, an they live on that...This woman has a family of 9, an they live on that much. She is amazing an has tons of tips:<br />http://theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-42413057548268294392014-05-01T10:55:00.130-07:002014-05-01T10:55:00.130-07:00Exactly! Sally Clarkson's homeschooling book ...Exactly! Sally Clarkson's homeschooling book talks a lot about how silly & wrong it is to try and force the world's pagan public school model into the home. HOMEschooling is a whole different animal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-4822794366595291782014-05-01T08:22:10.303-07:002014-05-01T08:22:10.303-07:00Me Three (In my parts, that means I agree, too.)
...Me Three (In my parts, that means I agree, too.)<br /><br />I was too afraid to say it.<br /><br />Just MeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-76529350532387035742014-05-01T07:03:10.618-07:002014-05-01T07:03:10.618-07:00All of the comments thus far have failed to mentio...All of the comments thus far have failed to mention that kids can be an economic asset – yes, even the preschoolers. They can do household and garden and animal chores appropriate for their ages. Preschoolers can feed the chickens, gather eggs, pick tomatoes and kill garden pests. Grade schoolers can butcher chickens and rabbits and care for larger animals. High schoolers can do just about anything around the home and farmstead that adults can do. Kids of all ages can start learning cooking, cleaning, laundering, plumbing and electrical maintenance skills. <br /><br />I remember more than 50 years ago my mother-in-law becoming upset when my late wife “made” our oldest son, who was still in diapers, deposit the soiled diapers of his younger siblings in the diaper pail and carry the pail to the washing machine. He was very proud of his ability to help his mom. While still in grade school our oldest daughter was doing most of the laundry. Our youngest son, while in still in high school, was operating his own firewood cutting business. Kids can do much more than many folks think they can do. They can not only ease the work load of the parents (especially the mom) they can contribute to the family’s economic well-being.<br /><br />Hangtown FrankAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com