Financial Limitations: Homeschooling Me - Learning to be Flexible (part 6 in a series)
Originally published in 2014
There were times during our journey when we experienced financial limitations and sometimes extreme financial stress.
I will admit that I did not always handle this type of stress well. In fact, more often than not, I failed this test. I kicked and struggled against the restraints that I felt God was putting on our family. In my mind, I told myself that I was struggling because I wanted to provide the best for our children. In many ways, that was very true. However, at the root of my kicking and screaming was the fact that I did NOT like being told what I could and could not do. Once I laid down my rebellious heart, I discovered that it was during times of financial limitations that I found my greatest creativity. I couldn’t afford the materials and books that I wanted to buy, so I had to think of ways to do the same type of activity or provide the same type of experience, but I had to do it without spending money.
Here are some things I learned to do during the periods of financial limitations.
I learned to use the library and reserve books well in advance of our needing them.
I learned to use Amazon, online used book sales, and used curriculum sales to get textbooks that I couldn’t do without.
I looked for free online resources.
I shared books, classes, and instructions with friends who had similar goals and interests.
I bartered services in order to allow my children to participate in various activities that cost money.
I even taught the group classes that they needed myself.
I borrowed from Peter to pay Paul. Let me explain. I took a look at the budget I had for various household and family needs. Then, I began to find ways to skimp in one area to be able to afford something we desperately needed for our homeschool.
We combined needs and wants when it came to birthdays and Christmas. For example, my son was interested in film and enrolled in a film class. However, money was tight, and buying a proper video camera was out of reach. So, we combined our efforts with those of grandparents and went together to buy that camera for a Christmas present instead of making a completely separate purchase.
We went without! Yep! There were times when none of these ideas worked to get what I thought was so desperately needed for our homeschool. Guess what? My boys still graduated and went on to college, and I can’t even remember that item that I thought we couldn’t live or be successful without.
I know these ideas are just simply common sense. I also know that sometimes in the middle of financial hardship, it’s hard to think through options and alternatives because stress has left you mentally and emotionally exhausted. I hope you will be encouraged to know that there are many, many others who have experienced the same thing you may be experiencing. You will come through on the other side testifying that God, indeed, supplied “all your need, according to His riches in glory.”
