If you are like me, you have a list of curriculum needs for the upcoming year. You may also be realizing how much these curriculums will cost if you purchase them at full retail price. While I recommend purchasing a few curriculums each year at full price to keep the companies in business, it is not always possible to buy everything new.
My biggest and most expensive needs are a Geometry curriculum, a Spanish curriculum, and a Pre-Algebra curriculum. Yes. Teens and tweens are expensive! For the curriculums I need for my kids, at full retail, these three items will cost $700.00. If you add the cost for the kids other books, It will all probably come up to $1000.00 or more. This is just not in my budget right now.
Apparently, the curriculums I want are quite popular and sell on EBay and other auction sites for just a few dollars less than full retail. Therefore, I really do not see the point in getting these items through these sources (but I will remember when it comes time to sell them). Still, I need a break on these books, so I started calling around.
So far, I have a deal on the math books. I know someone whose kid needs the Algebra math book my son just finished and is finished with the Pre-Algebra book my daughter needs. We would have an even trade, but the mother already purchased his Algebra book he needs. Next year, however, he will need the Geometry book that my son will be using this year, and his little sister will need the 7th grade math book that my daughter just finished. Therefore, I only have to math books for my son as between the two families, we will be passing books back and forth for the next three years. My son’s books will go to the boy, who will then pass the books back to my daughter, who will then pass the books back to his sister.
This leaves me in need of a Spanish Curriculum which so far, I have not seen a deal on. I have a specific need as well because I cannot be flexible with the curriculum as my son is taking a class locally. So far, my best deal is to go ahead and purchase Part and 2 for $300.00 instead of purchasing Part one only for $200.00. This way, my son has 2 years Spanish curriculum for $150.00 each. In addition to that, my daughter can use the same program lowering our price to $75.00 per year per course. That is much better.
As for coming up with the reading list, and other book requirements for the year, I went to Amazon.com and purchased many of the items new. I did get some of them second hand, but in most cases, it was cheaper to buy a $6.00 book with free shipping than to buy a $3.00 book with shipping of $3.99.
Of course, Amazon did not have every book I needed, so I plan to keep my eye out for them on other sites and am checking all of the homeschool boards for people selling books. I will purchase the science books from the publisher, but I just cannot afford to purchase every book new. I must sacrifice and get some books new.
In some cases, especially for the reading list, I plan to get those books from the library as we can keep them up to 9 weeks if we renew twice.
For anyone still looking for specific books at a discount for homeschooling this year, I have started a forum for a curriculum trade. You can list any books you need and/or are willing to let go and then make personal arrangements with other homeschoolers. Remember however that this is the internet and you have to use your best judgment when dealing with strangers.
Homeschool curriculum Glossary Index