Have you ever heard someone say they homeschool for the money?

(I’ll let you stop laughing before I continue.)

We don’t follow this path for the life of luxury; we walk this road because we are called. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. Fulfilling, yes. Easy, no.

What is your idea of success?

Big house? Nice cars? Fancy vacations? This used to be my list, however subconsciously. When we decided to homeschool, I knew this definition of success would have to change. To make this work, we had to surrender completely. We had to trust God to provide for our family. And this would require sacrifice.

An unknown author said, “If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”

Now, my desires are for the eternal, lasting treasures. I want our family to deeply love God and follow Him wherever He leads. I want us to live a life of thanksgiving, through the lean periods and the times of plenty. I want to live for relationships.

But the reality is, even if you can transform your idea of success, refocusing on what’s eternally worthwhile, you still have to pay your bills, am I right?

If you’ve decided to drop to a one-income household in order to homeschool, there will be big changes in store. If you’re able, spend a year leading up to your new lifestyle tracking your budget. Where does your money go now? Which areas can be cut back? What’s really important?

This may mean a smaller home and older cars. It may mean you do staycations, camping adventure trips, or weekend excursions instead of full-blown beach vacation weeks. For us, it meant all of this, and that’s okay. We had to reconcile our budget with our priorities. Living with financial constraints has forced us to work together and get creative.

On paper, our budget doesn’t always work, but God’s provision ensures that we always have more than enough. Click To Tweet

It’s obvious, but worth saying: You’ll have to live with less.

The little expenses add up, too. Do you stop for a bagel or a coffee every morning on the way to work? That can easily add up to hundreds of dollars in a year.

Do you eat out often? Cross that off, and you save thousands (plus improve your health, which saves even more!). Instead of indulging in those small splurges, you can get creative with new recipes, spend time baking with the kids, and have picnics—just eating outdoors feels like a whole new adventure. Being frugal doesn’t have to mean dull culinary choices.

The money that once went to more expensive clothes now goes to our curriculum and supply fund. Aldi, a discount grocer in the South and East, has become my grocery store of choice. I do my hair at home these days. We’ve made it a fun challenge to shop secondhand (though I draw the line at underwear and sheets–ha!). We cut out cable completely and shopped around to lower our cell phone bills. I even wash my clothes in cold water most of the time to reduce utility bills.

We stick to a budget and try to minimize extra expenses. About a third of the money we’ve earmarked for homeschooling goes to extracurricular activities. For example, we join homeschool groups for support and opportunities. Cutting expenses wherever we can allows me to spend a little more, here and there, on things I find really worthwhile. For instance, we do extra classes through the co-op, and I buy curriculum I know will benefit all of my kids.

These things are worth every penny to me. It’s a balancing act.

Financial constraints force us to choose wisely.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had our fair share of struggles, but with each struggle, there is consistently matching provision. The alternator goes out…and suddenly a medical reimbursement check comes in the mail. A tree falls on our chicken coop and trampoline…and insurance covers the amount. There are medical struggles… but FMLA covers time off, and our paycheck seems to just stretch and stretch.

This life requires trust.

I believe we’re following God’s calling on our lives, and He honors our obedience. We go through hard times, but always come out on top. I’ve come to refer to this provision as fishes and loaves. We live carefully, responsibly, and our money and supplies seem to multiply. On paper, our budget doesn’t always work, but God’s provision ensures that we always have more than enough.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33