How far ahead do you buy?

[LoveBaby]

I'm wondering how far ahead you buy your children's curriculum? I've been buying a few things for 4th grade which we won't use for another year and a half, but it was such a great price I couldn't pass it up. What about you?

[Homeschooling6]

I tried answering you about LHTH throuh PM you but your pm is full.

Um, regarding this question, I just bought math for my oldest to last until 9th grade. My son s in 5th grade right now =)

[LoveBaby]

good to know, since i'm eyeing some items for 5th as well! LOL

[Homeschooling6]

My only advice:D make sure it's something with a strong resale value. The math program I purchased is Math-U-See.

I have already had purchase Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta new but missplaced my dvd (I know really unorganized) but I needed these now, so I purchased them used.

Well, I found my Delta so I posted the one I bought new and it sold the same day I posted it. Now to find the rest of my stuff.

Same thing with Pre Algebra. I actually purchased two used. One was only the TM & Dvd. After I paid I saw another set for the whole bundle so I bought that too. When everything arrived I sold one set (TM & Dvd) and it sold withen a day.

HTH,

[my4boysmom]

Well we bought a few years because of the great deal we got however we ended up changing so I'm not buying as much in advance. I did buy IEW since we can use it for two kids. I don't need it for my younger son but thought I would use the younger version for my older one. He's at the boarder for grade level so you could say I bought ahead. I have some 4th grade stuff for next year but I don't buy too much in case it doesn't work for us.

[Laura Corin]

I bought further ahead for maths: we are very committed to Singapore.

Laura

[She]

I'd only purchase ahead on a curriculum that we had used in the past and know we will use it again, because the children learned well from it. Or, if it was so low priced that I wouldn't be out a cent to resell it if I found something better!

[keroro]

About the farthest ahead I like to buy is a year. There are two reasons I don't buy farther in advance. The first is shelf room. It seems like we have too many books as it is, not that there really is such a thing. :D The second reason is the same reason others have mentioned, just in case something doesn't work out.

[kpupg]

I'm wondering how far ahead you buy your children's curriculum?

In the elementary grades, I usually only bought a year ahead on things that had a clear sequence -- like math.

Now that we're approaching high school, I am scanning for more items, and buying them as I see great deals pop up. DS13 has his general high school plan already, so I know what to look for in many subject areas. For instance, I already own most of the math books for ds's high school math curriculum. And I am actively scanning for the science and history/literature materials I think he'll use. For DD11's middle school curriculum, I have bought her science materials already (2 years ahead) and her high school algebra and geometry texts (2 and 3 years ahead).

When the kids were younger, their interests changed so quickly, and the world is so wide and vast, that I didn't like to buy more than a year in advance. And not even that far ahead for some areas. But for the high school level, I feel confident buying ahead since so much of the curriculum is constrained by college admissions requirements and focus.

Storage is starting to become a problem, though.
Karen

[djkapp]

If I'have had success with a program or know that I will definitely stick with it, I buy when I see a good deal. Two years ago before my daughters had even started Apologia Biology, I found Chemistry and Physics for a great price. This year, we're finally getting out the physics book.

If it is a "maybe" book -- one that I'm somewhat interested in for the future, I try to borrow or wait until I'm closer to the actual "use by" date.

Yvonne

[Mesa]

I had to learn my lesson the hard way. I now only buy 6 months to a year in advance.
My sons learning style changes from time to time... things stop working as well as they used to. Some curricula took up too much of my time trying to plan lessons out. Some books I just knew I'd love, ended up being total flops.. so lessons learned, and money wasted. I'm trying to be a little more cautious with my purchases now.

[beansprouts]

Last February my dh handed me a bonus he had recieved and told me to spend it on school. So, I purchased most of our curricula for this year 6 months in advance. So far I only regret buying Sonlight 5 before they updated the curriculum adding another book (one I wanted). I ordered the book later, but don't have the updated lesson plans, so I will just have to fit it in where ever it seems to make the most sense.

[labellavita]

I buy ahead, but its usually literature, books for history, reference books, things like that.

I peruse different book lists, and see what is typically recommended, and when I find good deals, I pick them up. Right now my children are in 1st and 3rd grade, but I have books up into the high school years. Nothing like a well-stocked personal library. :001_wub:

And since my children are still young I'm not tying myself to certain curricula yet, as we are still trying things out and getting our feet wet in some subjects.

HTH,
Ginnie
DD 8
DS almost 6

[Tree House Academy]

I am actually thinking of buying a set for 3rd grade English for my 5 year old who is doing 1st grade right now. LOL I know I really shouldn't, but the deal is incredible. I am trying to be rational, though, and think this through logically. LOL

[Gamom3]

If I find a good deal on it
I will purchase it

I use to purchase way in advance when my younger two were in lower elementary grades, but ended up not using half of it.
So I am very careful of what I purchase now.

[MLinAlaska]

I don't really buy ahead when I see a good deal, you never know what life is going to throw at you I think. But I do typically buy two sets of worksheets, activity pages etc whenever I buy something for dd.

I am always afraid that after having bought a book with a set of worksheets for dd, which I am then planning to use with ds a couple of years down the road, the publishers will have changed the books and I would have to buy a whole new set in stead of just the worksheets for my ds so I always make sure I have everything I need to use the same system for ds later on. If this makes sense.

[kristinatucker]

I usually buy the summer before unless Im in love with a specific curriculum and know I want it for the following year. So far every year we have used something different!

[Chocolate Lover]

For something I know works with DS I will buy everything I can afford that is a good price. For instance, in Singapore Primary Maths he is still in 2B but I just found Challenging Word Problems 5 at a good price on hs site, and New Elementary Math 1 at a used bookstore in my town, yoo hoo!! I have most of the SOTW CDs and just saw an ad for the tests for Middle Ages, and am trying to talk myself out of buying them.

The most surprising thing for me is that I could spend all of my time trying to find hs books and other materials. If I had unlimited funds, I could spend more time with DS, instead of shopping for the best deal.

[hihoboneo]

I buy a little throughout the year for the following year. I guess it really depends on what i can find used at the time.
Bonnie

[Homeschooling6]

It's the end of Jan. and I have 75% of next years school curriculum purchased :001_smile:

[Rochelleg]

Hi! I LOVE to shop and buy used curriculum! I started buying MUS and purchased stuff several years ahead when I found what I will need at a good price. So 4-5 years ahead was no biggie... I have Sonlight Cores about 1-2 years ahead. And I have been known to purchase 2 different Latin curriculums so that I can review them and figure out what I am going to keep and use then I sell the other. :001_smile:
What I will do when I am done HS'ing, I just don't know!! I'll have to shop for friends! lol!

[hsingscrapper]

Me shop ahead? Not usually.

Since ds9 always seems to be in a state of flux, I only buy something that has a proven track record with him. And then, not more than 6 months in advance usually.

[hitech]

Sometimes a year in advance!!! Sad huh!:lol:
Suzanne

[hitech]

There is a down side to buying a year in advance.....sometimes I change my mind and then have LOTS of items I don't need anymore!!
Suzanne

[kristinatucker]

I try and buy everything or at least know what Im looking for by the end of the year. That way where they are is fresh in my mind.
kristina

[homeschool_mom]

I also love to shop for used curriculum. I'm glad I'm not the only one who buys several years in advance!

[3browneyedboys4me]

I only buy a year ahead. It's too much to try to store it without it getting damaged or lost. It just seems like a waste. And, I only buy things that I KNOW we are using again. :) It seems most ppl are pretty committed to their math programs. So, I like many of them, buy these in advance. Or, I usually just have to buy the replacement workbooks b/c I have the TM. :D I'm *getting* settled on my LA and Grammar, but that's been a bit more difficult for me. However, I feel pretty good about our choices and will probably start buying these ahead of time for the other kids too.

HTH!!

[homeschooltoone]

I never buy early but this year I'm thinking that I should.

[Tree House Academy]

It depends on the curriculum. If it is something that is working for us and we plan to stay the course, then I will buy up to whatever grade if I get a good deal. If it is something we haven't been using very long or that I am not sure I really "love," then I pass. I made the mistake one too many times of buying because it was a good deal and then ending up not using the material and selling it for a bit less than what I paid for it. :(

[momo9]

I am constantly buying ahead. There are way to many cool things out there not to. I find myself always wanting to experiment....to do things differently from year to year so buying ahead is a great option if you tend to change your mind alot about curriculum.

[Teonei]

I just started homeschooling a year ago but have books we'll use into high school. Those are mostly used history and "real" books, not so much curriculum. Some of what I bought last summer turned out not to be what I wanted, but I am gearing up to use it next year. I try really hard to use everything I buy as supplemental, at least.

I have been tempted to buy some math and grammar in advance, but in case we change our minds about our current programs, I'm not doing it.

I have had most of what I want for next year for several months, at least. I just need to decide on a Latin program. :)

Teonei

[chaik76]

Um...I have enough to homeschool through high school
(my oldest is 7)...:leaving:

[dawnrm]

If I see a great bargain a couple years ahead I pick it up, and there is nothing like finishing a year and knowing you don't need to find much to start the next year. Kinda feels like Christmas.