Finding Used Homeschool Curriculum in South Carolina
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Homeschooling gives families tremendous freedom to choose educational materials that fit their children—but buying curriculum can add up quickly. Thankfully, you don’t always have to buy everything new.
Families looking for used homeschool curriculum in South Carolina have many options, from local curriculum sales and homeschool bookstores to online marketplaces and homeschool groups. With a little patience and some careful shopping, you can find quality homeschool books and materials while stretching your curriculum budget.
And remember: inexpensive curriculum is only a bargain if it works for your child! Before purchasing curriculum, take time to consider your student’s needs, your teaching style, and the homeschool approach that works best for your family.
Where to Find Used Homeschool Curriculum in South Carolina
One of the best places to begin looking for used homeschool curriculum is within the homeschool community itself.
Homeschool families regularly buy, sell, trade, and pass along curriculum they no longer need. Because these materials were actually used in a homeschool setting, you may also have an opportunity to ask another parent what they liked—or didn't like—about a particular program.
Check the SCAIHS Bookstore
The SCAIHS Bookstore in Columbia, South Carolina, sells used homeschool curriculum and educational materials and is open to the public.
Shopping for curriculum in person gives you an opportunity to look through a book before purchasing it. Sometimes seeing the lessons, teacher instructions, student pages, and overall format tells you far more than a publisher's description can.
Look for Local Homeschool Curriculum Sales
Homeschool curriculum sales are another excellent place to find affordable materials.
Check with homeschool groups, co-ops, resource centers, churches, and other homeschool organizations in your area to see whether they host used curriculum sales.
These events can be especially helpful because you may find curriculum books, manipulatives, readers, teacher editions, educational games, and other homeschool materials all in one place.
They also give you something online shopping cannot: the opportunity to pick up a book, flip through it, and decide whether you can actually imagine using it with your child.
Ask Other Homeschool Families
Don't underestimate the homeschool parents you already know!
Families who have been homeschooling for several years often accumulate shelves of curriculum. Ask friends, members of your co-op, or families in local homeschool groups whether they have materials they are ready to sell or pass along.
You may even be able to arrange a curriculum swap, trading books your family has finished for something you need next year.
Where to Buy Used Homeschool Curriculum Online
If you can't find what you need locally, there are many online resources for buying, selling, or trading used homeschool curriculum.
The following websites and groups are included for informational purposes only. Inclusion in this list does not imply a recommendation or endorsement from SCAIHS.
Paperback Swap
Paperback Swap allows members to trade books with one another. Although the site isn't exclusively for homeschool curriculum, families may find textbooks, literature, educational books, and other useful materials.
Homeschool Curriculum Free for Shipping
The Homeschool Curriculum Free for Shipping Facebook group connects families who have curriculum they're willing to give away in exchange for the recipient covering shipping costs.
Homeschool Buy Sell Trade
The Homeschool Buy Sell Trade Facebook group provides a marketplace specifically for families interested in buying, selling, and trading homeschool curriculum and resources.
Homeschool Classifieds
Homeschool Classifieds is an online marketplace specifically designed for homeschoolers looking to buy and sell curriculum and other educational materials.
Second Harvest Curriculum
Second Harvest Curriculum specializes in used homeschool books and curriculum across multiple subjects and grade levels.
Half Price Books
Half Price Books isn't homeschool-specific, but its selection of used books can make it worth checking for literature, reference books, textbooks, and other educational resources.
ThriftBooks
ThriftBooks carries a large inventory of used books. Homeschool families may find literature, educational books, textbooks, reference materials, and individual curriculum components.
AbeBooks
AbeBooks connects shoppers with booksellers offering new, used, rare, and out-of-print books. It can be particularly useful when you're searching for a specific title or edition.
These resources range from homeschool-specific marketplaces to general used-book sellers.
What to Check Before Buying Used Homeschool Curriculum
Buying used curriculum can save money, but not every used book is a bargain.
Before purchasing, make sure you know exactly what you're getting.
Check the Edition
Publishers periodically release new editions of their curriculum.
An older edition isn't necessarily a problem. However, make sure the student book, teacher's manual, answer key, tests, and other components you're purchasing are designed to work together.
This becomes particularly important if you plan to buy some pieces used and other pieces new.
Find Out What's Included
A curriculum program that originally contained six components may not be very useful if the used copy includes only two of them.
Before buying, determine which pieces are necessary to teach the course successfully.
Ask the seller what's included and compare the contents with the publisher's description of the program.
Be Careful With Consumable Workbooks
Some student workbooks are intended to be written in and used by only one student.
Before purchasing a used workbook, find out whether pages have already been completed. You may discover that buying the teacher materials used and purchasing a new student workbook makes more sense.
Check Online Access Codes
Some modern curriculum packages include digital resources, videos, online assessments, or other content accessed through a code.
An access code included with used curriculum may have expired or may only be valid for the original purchaser.
Before buying, determine whether online access is necessary and whether you will need to purchase it separately.
Look at the Condition
A little highlighting or a bent cover probably won't interfere with learning.
Missing pages will.
When buying online, read the seller's description carefully and ask questions if the condition isn't clear.
How Do I Know Whether Used Curriculum Is Right for My Child?
The same question applies whether you're purchasing curriculum new or used:
Will this curriculum work for this child and this family?
A wonderful curriculum that worked beautifully for your friend's child may frustrate yours. And the program everyone in your homeschool group seems to love may not match the way you prefer to teach.
Consider your child's strengths, challenges, interests, and learning preferences.
You should also think about how you want your homeschool to function. Some families prefer a traditional textbook approach. Others gravitate toward Charlotte Mason, classical education, unit studies, online learning, or an eclectic combination.
Most importantly, don't choose curriculum simply because you found an incredible deal. A $100 curriculum purchased for $20 isn't a $80 savings if you abandon it after three weeks!
Can I Mix New and Used Homeschool Curriculum?
Absolutely.
Buying used curriculum does not have to be an all-or-nothing decision.
You might purchase a teacher's manual used but buy the student workbook new. You might find used textbooks for science and history while choosing an online math program. You may reuse curriculum from an older sibling and purchase only the components your younger child needs.
One of the advantages of homeschooling is the ability to build an educational plan around your family rather than trying to make your family fit a predetermined program.
How Can I Save Money on Homeschool Curriculum?
Buying used is only one way to control curriculum costs.
Before purchasing anything, take inventory of what you already own. You may have books, manipulatives, reference materials, or curriculum from previous years that can be reused.
Then make a list of what you actually need.
It is easy—especially when you're excited about a new school year—to buy resources because they look wonderful rather than because they fill a real need.
You can also consider borrowing books from the library, sharing resources with other homeschool families, purchasing reusable materials, and combining subjects or resources among siblings when appropriate.
Unexpected Costs of Homeschooling and How to Make a Yearly Budget
Should I Buy My Entire Homeschool Curriculum Used?
You certainly can purchase much of your curriculum used, but saving money shouldn't be your only consideration.
Sometimes buying new makes more sense. A consumable workbook, current online course, or program requiring a new access code may be worth purchasing directly from the publisher.
For other materials, buying used can offer significant value.
The goal isn't to create the least expensive homeschool possible. The goal is to wisely use your family's resources to provide an education that meets your child's needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Used Homeschool Curriculum
Is it okay to use an older edition of homeschool curriculum?
Often, yes. Before purchasing, check whether the older edition requires additional materials and make sure any teacher editions, answer keys, workbooks, or tests you purchase are compatible.
Where can I sell homeschool curriculum I no longer need?
Local homeschool curriculum sales, homeschool groups, curriculum swaps, and online homeschool marketplaces may all provide opportunities to sell materials your family has finished using.
Can I reuse homeschool curriculum with younger children?
Many non-consumable homeschool materials can be used again with younger siblings. Workbooks, online subscriptions, and access codes may need to be repurchased depending on the curriculum.
What if I don't know which curriculum to buy?
Start with your child rather than the catalog.
Think about how your child learns, how you teach, your family's schedule, your budget, and your educational goals. From there, you can narrow down the many available choices.
Internal link: Homeschool Curriculum
And if you're a SCAIHS member, you don't have to figure it out alone. Your SCAIHS counselor can help you evaluate curriculum options based on your individual student and family.
Finding Affordable Homeschool Curriculum Without Sacrificing Quality
You do not have to purchase a shelf full of brand-new books to provide your child with an excellent education.
Used homeschool curriculum can help families stretch their budgets, experiment with different resources, and put quality educational materials into the hands of their children.
Take your time. Ask questions. Look through materials whenever possible. And remember that the best curriculum isn't necessarily the newest, most expensive, or most popular.
The best curriculum is the one that helps you teach your child well.
Whether you find it brand-new in a box or gently used on another homeschool family's bookshelf, that's what matters.
