Free & Affordable Homeschooling: A Gentle Guide for Budget-Conscious Families
As a homeschooling momma with limited income and a heart full of love, I understand both the joy and the challenge of giving our children an education rooted in truth, beauty, and faith—without breaking the family budget. Over the years, through trial, prayer, and many, many ink cartridges, I’ve gathered some of the best free and low-cost homeschooling resources.
This is what I like to call a living list. I’ll continue to update it often, so feel free to bookmark it, print it out, and share it with your homeschool friends, parish groups, and online communities.
Let us remember: our goal is to raise saints, not stress. 💛
🌿 Complete Curriculum Programs
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool – Free online Christian curriculum (PreK–12). No books required. Open-and-go!
🔗 allinonehomeschool.com - Mater Amabilis – Free Catholic Charlotte Mason curriculum with book-rich lesson plans.
🔗 materamabilis.org - Under the Home – Free K–5 curriculum using public domain texts.
🔗 underthehome.org - Ambleside Online – Free Charlotte Mason curriculum based on classic literature. Some books need to be sourced.
🔗 amblesideonline.org - Old Fashioned Education – Classic Christian-style program using free public domain books.
🔗 oldfashionededucation - Seton Home Study School – A full, accredited Catholic program (paid), rich in Catholic teaching.
🔗 setonhome.org
📖 Reading & Language Arts
- McGuffey Readers (Project Gutenberg) – Timeless, phonics-based readers.
🔗 Project Gutenberg - Progressive Phonics – Free phonics and handwriting books to download and print.
🔗 progressivephonics.com - ReadTheory – Free, adaptive online reading comprehension practice.
🔗 readtheory.org - Catholic Icing – Free Catholic printables and faith-based literacy ideas.
🔗 catholicicing.com - The Good and the Beautiful – Language Arts – Levels K–8 available free as PDFs.
🔗 goodandbeautiful.com - Reading Eggs / Reading Eggspress / Fast Phonics
Engaging, gamified reading programs. Free trial available.
🔗 https://readingeggs.com - Night Zookeeper
Creative writing program that makes writing fun. Free trial available.
🔗 Night Zookeeper - WriteBright
Writing instruction program with lessons and templates. Some free samples available.
🔗 https://writebrightstation.com - LearnEnglish Kids (British Council)
A treasure trove of free resources to help children learn and practice English: stories, games, songs, grammar, and writing activities. Perfect for younger learners, ESL students, or for extra practice in reading and language skills
🔗 learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org
✍️ Handwriting, ➕ Math, 🌍 History, 🔬 Science, 🎨 Art & Music, ✝️ Catholic Religion
Click the section titles below to expand and see the resources. 👇
✍️ Handwriting & Copywork
- WorksheetWorks.com – Create custom handwriting practice sheets for free (no account needed).
🔗 worksheetworks.com
➕ Math
- Khan Academy – Free math lessons from early math through calculus.
🔗 khanacademy.org - The Good and the Beautiful – Math – Levels K–8 free as PDF downloads.
🔗 goodandbeautiful.com - Math Mammoth (Free Samples) – High-quality free worksheets.
🔗 mathmammoth.com - HomeschoolMath.net – Free printable worksheets and math teaching tips.
🔗 homeschoolmath.net - Mathseeds – Fun, interactive math program for younger learners (trial, then paid).
🔗 mathseeds.com - IXL Math – Comprehensive math practice (subscription required after trial).
🔗 ixl.com
🌍 History & Geography
- Heritage History – Free, classical history books organized by time period.
🔗 heritage-history.com - Story of the World – Beloved history series (not free, but affordable used copies).
🔗 welltrainedmind.com - Enchanted Learning – Some resources free; full access is low-cost.
🔗 enchantedlearning.com
🔬 Science
- Mystery Science – Some free science lessons (subscription for full program).
🔗 mysteryscience.com - The Good and the Beautiful – Science – Several free unit studies (others for purchase).
🔗 goodandbeautiful.com - CK-12 Foundation – Free interactive science lessons and virtual labs.
🔗 ck12.org
🎨 Art & Music
- Art for Kids Hub (YouTube) – Free, step-by-step drawing tutorials.
🔗 YouTube Channel - Classics for Kids – Free online lessons about music and composers.
🔗 classicsforkids.com - Happy Saints – Free saint coloring pages and posters.
🔗 happysaints.com
✝️ Catholic Religion & Catechism
- CatechismClass.com – Solid Catholic formation (samples free; full is paid).
🔗 catechismclass.com - St. Anne’s Helper – Free printable Catholic prayers and catechism audio.
🔗 catholic-supplement.com - My Catholic Faith Delivered – Paid online catechism program with free samples.
🔗 mycatholicfaithdelivered.com - Holy Heroes – Free Catholic activities and audio adventures.
🔗 holyheroes.com - Catholic Brain – Faith-filled kids’ videos & activities (7-day free trial).
🔗 catholicbrain.com
✨ Final Thoughts
The best homeschooling doesn’t come from flashy sites or expensive kits — it comes from prayer, patience, and a mother’s love. There are treasures hidden in these simple resources. Use what you can. Print what you need. And always ask the Holy Spirit to guide your homeschool.
📖 For the Heart of the Homeschool Mom
Homeschooling is more than academics — it’s a daily walk of faith. If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, comparison, or the feeling that you’re “not qualified,” I wrote a little ebook to encourage you:
✨ You Were Chosen: Homeschooling with God’s Help, Not Your Credentials
Inside, you’ll find:
🌿 Strength to replace doubt with confidence
🌿 Grace to lay down perfection and comparison
🌿 Simple, faith-filled steps for a peaceful homeschool
💝 Bonus Included: The Grace of Letting Go — a gentle guide with prayers + reflections to keep your heart anchored in God’s will.
This book is my way of sharing what the Lord has placed on my heart: that He truly equips those He calls. 💛
👉 You Were Chosen: Homeschooling with God’s Help, Not Your Credentials
🌼 A Note on Living Books, Writing, & Homeschool Resources
If you choose to homeschool using the Charlotte Mason method — such as with Mater Amabilis, Ambleside Online, Old Fashioned Education, or any curriculum that relies on “living books” — you’ll often need to purchase high-quality literature.
When you're ready to shop for these beautiful living books, please consider using my affiliate link: LIVING BOOK PRESS. It costs nothing extra for you, but I receive a small commission that helps support our family’s homeschooling and printing ministry. 🙏
Another wonderful place I recommend is Homeschool Resource Co.. They regularly offer deeply discounted homeschool curriculum, unit studies, and printables from trusted creators. It’s a great way to build your homeschool library without stretching your budget. 🌿
And if your children are creative writers or reluctant to write, I highly recommend Night Zookeeper! It’s fun, inspiring, and has helped thousands of children improve their writing skills.
Your support means the world to me — spiritually and practically. Thank you for helping our little Catholic business and family grow! 💛
💌 This little book is my way of walking beside you, reminding you that you are not alone—and that God equips those He calls.
Comments
Post a Comment