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Welcome to Homeschooling on a Shoestring

Our mission is to help you homeschool affordably – without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re here because you love a great bargain or because you’re homeschooling on a tight budget, we’re here to support you with free and low-cost resources that work.

Homeschooling

Find practical, budget-friendly support for your homeschool journey – whether you’re just starting out or looking to refresh your routine. This section includes lesson plans, educational discounts, and a growing library of flexible unit studies. Visit the Homeschooling Main Page to explore it all.

Explore a nationwide (and growing!) list of homeschool skate sessions. Whether you’re planning a trip or just need a fun, active break in your week – find a homeschool skate near you.

Featured Unit Studies

Health, Wellness & Fitness

Explore simple, affordable ways to boost your family’s health and energy – from smoothie bowls and infused waters to home workouts, juicing tips, and roller skating basics. This section is all about wellness that fits into real life, even on a shoestring.

Pumpkin Roll-Inspired Smoothie Bowl

Pumpkin Roll-Inspired Smoothie Bowl

All the flavor of a pumpkin roll in a breakfast bowl. This one is vegan and dairy-free, and it’s sweetened ...
Turmeric Root

Turmeric Health Benefits Inflammation, Joint Health & Golden Milk

Turmeric: A Little Spice With Big Benefits Turmeric is the golden-yellow spice that gives curry its color. It shows up ...
Cauliflower Rice Base

A Simple Cauliflower Rice Base You Can Take in Any Direction

This super simple dish starts with cauliflower rice, black beans, diced tomatoes, and chickpeas. By keeping the base neutral, it ...

Michigan Resources

In our Michigan section, you’ll find local homeschool support groups, events, field trip ideas, and special homeschool days at museums and other attractions. We also share practical tips and regional insights just for Michigan homeschooling families. It’s your go-to spot for discovering fun, budget-friendly learning opportunities throughout Michigan and making the most of your homeschool journey.

Youth Theater Photo by Jodi Robertson

Michigan Youth Theater

Whether your child is just beginning their journey in the performing arts or looking to grow their skills in a ...

Michigan History

Michigan History and Lesson Plans Government Buildings, Historic Buildings, Living History, Memorials & Michigan History Government Buildings - Michigan State Capitol Capitol ...
Mackinac Bridge Photo by Jason Brower on Unsplash

Michigan Social Studies

Michigan's state government is right in our backyard, and Lansing makes a great place to see it up close. Use ...

Planning & Organization

Stay on top of your homeschool life, routines, and goals with practical planning tools and organizing ideas. This section includes Erin Condren planner reviews, layout photos, and home organization tips that help keep things running smoothly.

Erin Condren LifePlanner 2025-2026

Erin Condren LifePlanner 2025–2026: Weekly vs. Daily Comparison

Planning for 2025–2026? Here’s Why I Still Use Erin Condren’s Weekly LifePlanner With so many digital calendars and apps promising ...
Erin Condren Homeschool Planner 2024-2025

Erin Condren Homeschool Planner 2024-2025

Erin Condren Books Of Wisdom Homeschool Planner - $48.50 Get the tools and inspiration you need to bloom in the ...
Erin Condren Homeschool Planner

Erin Condren Homeschool Planner

Erin Condren offers a homeschool planner that I like. The size is like their regular teacher's planner, it is the ...

Latest from the Blog

 

🎃 Halloween Ideas for Your Family

Looking for ways to celebrate on a budget? Here are Halloween ideas from Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Recent Updates

Forbes, Esther

Esther Forbes was an American historian and novelist who won the Newbery Medal for Johnny Tremain. It's the story of a young silversmith's apprentice in Boston who burns his hand, loses his trade, and ends up in the middle of the Boston Tea Party and the start ... Read More

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist who captured the glitter and emptiness of the Jazz Age in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby, the story of mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his longing for Daisy Buchanan, is one of the most-read American novels in high school. It's ... Read More

Faulkner, William

William Faulkner was a Nobel Prize-winning American novelist who set most of his stories in the made-up Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. His novels deal with family, race, memory and the legacy of the Civil War in the South. His style can be challenging, with shifting narrators and long ... Read More

Dumas, Alexandre

Alexandre Dumas was a French writer whose swashbuckling adventures have been favorites for nearly 200 years. The Three Musketeers follows young d'Artagnan as he joins the king's musketeers, and The Count of Monte Cristo is the story of a man wrongly imprisoned who escapes and plots his ... Read More

Exploration Books

Explorers like Ponce de León and Lewis and Clark make great reading for kids who love adventure. Pair your exploration books with these free sample coloring pages from Dover, which show the people, places and events of each journey. The original Dover pages have moved, so these ... Read More

Eliot, George

George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, an English novelist who wrote under a man's name so her books would be taken seriously. Silas Marner, the story of a lonely weaver whose life changes when a little orphan girl wanders into his cottage, is ... Read More

Edwards, Michelle

Michelle Edwards is an author and illustrator of picture books and beginning readers. Her Jackson Friends books, set at the Jackson Magnet School, show a group of classmates from different backgrounds working through everyday school-age problems together. They're a nice fit for early readers in 1st and ... Read More

💜 Looking for information about Lupus? Visit the Lupus Awareness Page to explore symptoms, infographics, and insights from Dr. Brooke Goldner.

Together, we can raise awareness, educate others, and stand in solidarity with those living with Lupus.