We’re talking budget. As in homeschool budget for next year. I won’t really tell you the number I work with because to some it will be a pitiful amount to others it will be an astronomically high number. But I’ll say this much it isn’t the $10,000 that I’d have to pay to put them in the local private school.
Budget talks make me look at what I’ve purchased in the last year and evaluate whether it was worth the money spent. Unfortunately there are many times that the answer is Nope Not Worth It!
This next year I am considering adding our Gym membership back. That’s a big chuck of money but this winter was long. Long and cold with nowhere to run (literally). I’m still a little surprised we didn’t have a major meltdown with all the excess energy that was stockpiled during the cold, snowy days of January.
Anyway I’m making my list and so far I have this:
1. Laser Printer ($$ not $$$$$)
2. Gym Membership (maybe)
3. Science Center membership??
4. Piano Lessons
5. Curriculum (duh)
6. Book Budget (support materials)
7. *this space reserved for some really neat and necessary thing that I have yet to think of*
This got me to thinking about what we use and love.
1. Whiteboard also known as a piece of Melamine board from Menards cut to fit our space (6ft by 4ft). We spent $20 three years ago and it’s still working fine. My only addition would be to magically make it magnetic because that is super cool.
2. Chalkboard table. Absolutely the best “stole it from a friend” idea we’ve done. It is great to just be able to write the word or problem right next to the child. Not to mention that the paint is black so it hides a lot of hideous paint splotches. A fresh coat will go on this summer and all the paint splotches from last years craft projects will be “erased”.
3. Stereo Microscope. Okay I didn’t really buy this one. It was a present. Or rather it is really grandpa’s but he’s letting us use it. Unless we don’t take care of it then he’s taking it back. Wouldn’t you know the boys take really, really good care of it. There is really nothing more fun that finding a speck – that moves – looking at the speck and finding another smaller speck on the speck. Did you get that? Well just know it was really neat.
What would you add to the list?
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