#25 Planning to homeschool for free...
If you are on a tight budget, and just don't have money to spend on homeschooling, the last thing I want to do is make you feel bad about that-- you're doing the best you can, and I'm sure your kids are doing well. This post is for people who are making up a homeschool budget for the first time-- if you are able to set aside some money for homeschooling, please do.
Over the years I've heard people say over and over again that you can homeschool for free, but I think it's largely a myth, and sometimes a harmful one.
Don't get me wrong, it's possible to homeschool VERY cheaply, but unless someone gifts you a big box of curriculum, it's going to cost something, and its better to be prepared for that. Even if you use the library and free stuff from the internet exclusively, you're going to need paper and printer ink-- sometimes buying a workbook can be cheaper then printing out the equivalent as "free" worksheets, and piecing together lots of free resources isn't for everyone.
I think in the best-case scenario all homeschoolers would have some money available to pay for a class or a field trip from time to time. And sometimes you want to own the book, instead of borrowing it from the library, or the curricula you can get for free isn't a good fit for your family. If you can manage it, having a little money set aside can let you splurge on stuff that makes homeschooling easier and more fun.
If it makes you feel better, sending kids to public school isn't free either-- take a look at the supply lists that will be popping up at your local Walmart or Target in the next month or two. I'm shocked every year! 
