When I first began to explore the idea of homeschooling my kids, I first thought of my kids: what is best for them socially, spiritually, educationally. When my husband first thought of homeschooling the kids, his first thought was $$$. After the emotional decision was made, I began to realize why his first thought was $$$. Homeschooling can be so expensive. Oh sure, many will point out that it is less than private school, but that is little consolation for me..I am not, nor did I have, putting my kids in private school.
Last year, I was able to get Daniel his core materials for about $150 while Sierra cost us close to $500. This year, Daniel was going to cost closer to $300-400 while Sierra was staying in that $500 range (and that does NOT include the formal art class we are putting her into this year). My heart palpitates as I want to give my kids the best curriculum for their abilities that I can and I spend HOURS on the internet searching for the best options (as well as scour our local homeschool store which is CHAOTIC to put it nicely and dark and overwhelming).
I have heard a couple of my homeschool friends talk about buying their curriculum on ebay. Now, I have never been much of an ebay fan. I get nervous about getting what I think I am getting in the condition I want to get it in...plus paypal just seems like such a hassle.
BUT, then I started pricing things. For example, Daniel. I wanted to get him started on Shurley Grammar this year. Shurley Grammar, online at their website was $70 plus shipping. On Christianbook.com, it was $55.89, but you could bet you would add another $10 in shipping. However, on ebay, I was able to get the exact same items (teacher book, student book, practice book, and cd) for around $23 with shipping...the teacher's book has SOME highlighting in it at the very front of the book, but it is in otherwise pristine condition. This was HUGE savings.
I recently tried purchasing American History for Sierra. I have decided to get her Abeka's America Land I Love history which is not too bad new on Abeka's site...I could buy the whole kit for about $90 which includes the text book, and several other books. BUT, looked on ebay and found a seller selling the whole kitten caboodle for $30. I asked, before purchasing, about the condition and the seller gave me a detailed description of exactly the condition of each book and I was pleased to pay what she asked.
Now, that is not to say that I have not been bamboozled. I recently decided that Sierra needs help with writing. So, while I found a grammar set for her to do, I wanted to get her a seperate set for writing. I decided on Wordsmith which came highly recommended on homeschool review sites. The student book, new, is $20, but I wanted to see what I could find online. I found a woman selling it for $8 plus a couple dollars in shipping and thought YES!! When it arrived in the mail, it was the Teacher's manual, not the student book, which is naturally cheaper brand new. In fact, when I got turned the book over, it had a $6 price tag. I was pretty upset because the title said "workbook" and the picture was a picture of the student book, not the teacher's guide. Now, I did find the student book, also on ebay, for $10 and I ordered it (hopefully it will be what I ordered). AND, making lemonade from lemons, I found that the teacher's guide has been helpful.
So, I love ebay now. I have bought some things new and kept to ebay for others. I have not been disappointed with the transactions, shipping time or the like....and I have saved TONS of money. If I can get my kids ALL that they need and save $$$ in the process...why not. I think Sierra's went from about $500 to now around $200. LOVE THAT!!
Last year, I was able to get Daniel his core materials for about $150 while Sierra cost us close to $500. This year, Daniel was going to cost closer to $300-400 while Sierra was staying in that $500 range (and that does NOT include the formal art class we are putting her into this year). My heart palpitates as I want to give my kids the best curriculum for their abilities that I can and I spend HOURS on the internet searching for the best options (as well as scour our local homeschool store which is CHAOTIC to put it nicely and dark and overwhelming).
I have heard a couple of my homeschool friends talk about buying their curriculum on ebay. Now, I have never been much of an ebay fan. I get nervous about getting what I think I am getting in the condition I want to get it in...plus paypal just seems like such a hassle.
BUT, then I started pricing things. For example, Daniel. I wanted to get him started on Shurley Grammar this year. Shurley Grammar, online at their website was $70 plus shipping. On Christianbook.com, it was $55.89, but you could bet you would add another $10 in shipping. However, on ebay, I was able to get the exact same items (teacher book, student book, practice book, and cd) for around $23 with shipping...the teacher's book has SOME highlighting in it at the very front of the book, but it is in otherwise pristine condition. This was HUGE savings.
I recently tried purchasing American History for Sierra. I have decided to get her Abeka's America Land I Love history which is not too bad new on Abeka's site...I could buy the whole kit for about $90 which includes the text book, and several other books. BUT, looked on ebay and found a seller selling the whole kitten caboodle for $30. I asked, before purchasing, about the condition and the seller gave me a detailed description of exactly the condition of each book and I was pleased to pay what she asked.
Now, that is not to say that I have not been bamboozled. I recently decided that Sierra needs help with writing. So, while I found a grammar set for her to do, I wanted to get her a seperate set for writing. I decided on Wordsmith which came highly recommended on homeschool review sites. The student book, new, is $20, but I wanted to see what I could find online. I found a woman selling it for $8 plus a couple dollars in shipping and thought YES!! When it arrived in the mail, it was the Teacher's manual, not the student book, which is naturally cheaper brand new. In fact, when I got turned the book over, it had a $6 price tag. I was pretty upset because the title said "workbook" and the picture was a picture of the student book, not the teacher's guide. Now, I did find the student book, also on ebay, for $10 and I ordered it (hopefully it will be what I ordered). AND, making lemonade from lemons, I found that the teacher's guide has been helpful.
So, I love ebay now. I have bought some things new and kept to ebay for others. I have not been disappointed with the transactions, shipping time or the like....and I have saved TONS of money. If I can get my kids ALL that they need and save $$$ in the process...why not. I think Sierra's went from about $500 to now around $200. LOVE THAT!!
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