Every September, millions of kids across the country sling a backpack over their shoulders and head out to catch the bus for school. While these children are sitting in a classroom or waiting in the lunch line, an estimated two million kids are learning from their comfort of their home, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. Homeschooling is a great way for parents to bond with their children while taking a more active role in their education. But one of the challenges of homeschooling is trying to keep costs down. Even without spending money on loads of school-based expenses, the costs of homeschooling can quickly add up. It’s easy to spend a lot on things like school supplies, curriculum materials, books, craft supplies, field trips, and activities if you’re not keeping an eye on the bottom line. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, keeping your budget in check is crucial for every homeschooling parent. This article details how to save money on supplies, curriculum, and field trips.

If you are feeling burned out or need encouragement, this forum is for you. Share your struggles and get help, ideas, and support from those who have walked in your shoes.

Robin Bray shares the story of innovation and creativity in approaching homeschooling burn out, and how these creative ideas led to the creation of a co-op.

If someone offered you a million dollars in exchange for not homeschooling your children, would you take them up on it? Whether you’ve been homeschooling for a while, or just started recently, you’ll miss out on a substantial amount of earnings over the time you homeschool. Economists call this an “opportunity cost,” meaning what something costs you in lost opportunities. Each time you make a choice between two or more things, you incur some opportunity costs.

A look at some of the reason not to buy used curriculum. What and where you purchase your curriculum (and any other homeschool-related books) will have a much greater impact on the homeschool market than it would in any other only because of how small this market is.

There are now so many resources available for free or very low cost that money should not be a deciding factor.

This newsletter aims to help you provide your children with a high quality homeschooling education at the lowest possible cost.

Raising a family on a single income is tough. When you're a homeschooling family, it may seem like another added cost. But that doesn't have to be the case. This list is for homeschoolers to get together and discuss ways to cut the cost of homeschooling without cutting on the educational and learning experience for our children. This is the place to share all kinds of ideas and tips on budgeting homeschooling costs.

Do the math: Home schooling is cheaper than private school, but can cost more than you think. There are ways to cut the price.

The Dollar Stretcher is a website with lots of money saving and frugal living information. They offer tips and suggestions for making the most of your budget. You can also sign up for their free money saving newsletters.

When parents are considering homeschooling, they need to count the cost because there are many expenses to consider when contemplating educating their children. The costs are not just financial, but also emotional and physical.

So, how much does homeschooling cost anyway? As much as you can afford. That isn't a very comforting answer, but it is a realistic one. Some families reportedly homeschool on as little as $50 a year. Most likely you will spend more than that. How much, exactly, is going to depend on the resources you have available and your children's needs.

Although a credit or deduction could be helpful for homeschoolers, HSLDA opposes any tax break legislation that could come with governmental regulations. Homeschoolers have fought far too long and much too hard to throw off the chains of government regulation that hinder effective education and interfere with liberty. It would be inconsistent and foolhardy to accept tax incentives in exchange for government regulation. However, HSLDA supports tax credits that promote educational choice without threatening any regulation of homeschoolers. - See more at: http://nche.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200504150.asp#sthash.tvLv2ItR.dpuf

How much are supplies for unschooling? It ranges somewhere between nothing and everything--the whole budget. Once a family starts to consider everything educational, even groceries and cleaning supplies are educational. For beginners, though, part of the trick is working on the definition of "educational."

One of the basic housekeeping rules is to keep it simple. Roxanna Ward shares some simple tips for getting housework done without the hassle.