One of my favorite parts of homeschooling (besides spending my days with my kiddos) is that I get to make a curriculum specifically for them. I can take the time to consider each of them individually - their strengths and weaknesses, what has worked for them in the past and what hasn't, how I would like to see them grow and stretch.
I love that I can choose what we use to help us learn. And there is so much out there to choose from! As I start to list out my plans or least some ideas for next year, I also need to consider the cost of it all. While I want to provide the best options for each of my children, I also want to bless my family by finding the best deals I can when shopping for our homeschooling choices. So I shop around.
My local homeschool association has an annual expo featuring guest speakers as well as many homeschool vendors. With that expo coming up in just about a week, it's time for me to start some of my research. I have made a chart where I can list my homeschooling wants, with 3 columns to compare prices. I can start going to some of my favorite sites (Rainbow Resource, Amazon, Christian Book, etc.) and note the prices (don't forget to include any shipping costs). Then I can take my list with me to the expo and look for more deals. I won't forget the prices and mistakenly pay much more for something, because I will have my list!
I hope this idea will help you bless your family by organizing your homeschool wants and finding the best prices available.
