When trying to decide if homeschooling is a viable choice for you financially, the first question you need to ask yourself is, “can we get by on just one salary?” While it is perfectly possible to work at home part time while homeschooling your child, one of you will likely have to give up full time work outside of the home.
Homeschooling often means cutting back financially, but for most families, this is well worth it. The very fact that one of you (usually the mom) doesn’t have the expenses of professional attire, commute and daycare, will save you a lot of money. Other “sacrifices” may not be sacrifices at all: going back to a simpler lifestyle, cooking at home, having family dinners together and focusing on spending time together and on strengthening your family relationships are all very good things indeed regardless of whether you homeschool or not.
Before you commit to a homeschooling program or purchase a homeschooling curriculum, it’s important to make sure that the learning style of that program fits your individual child. It makes no sense to invest in a program that you would have to abandon just a few months later and start looking for a different one, essentially doubling your costs.
So, if your child loves technology and video games and is highly intelligent, creative and inquisitive, a 3D homeschool such as WiloStar3D would be a great option for them. A “mainstream” homeschool curriculum that resembles traditional education would likely be a poor fit for such a child.
Before deciding on a homeschooling program, make sure it is an accredited homeschool – even if it costs more, the accreditation is well worth it. It’s also important to talk with the school about their refund policy prior to making the first payment and to see if they offer a sibling discount, or a discount for prepaying the entire annual tuition.