Inexpensive Travel Lodging

Airbnb provides a reliable marketplace for people to advertise their short-term, or sometimes long-term,  home or room rentals. Airbnb maintains certain standards and funds are exchanged through them.  I've seen camping places with just a tent advertised as well. You can sign up to rent your extra space and/or use Airbnb to find places to stay. 

We've been using Airbnb for the last three trips, and so far they have been pleasant frugal experiences. The first time we used Airbnb was for a trip to Philadelphia. We found a private room and bath in the art museum district within walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, Museum of Natural History, Fairmount Park, and the Eastern State Penitentiary Museum. The room was only $65 a night which was a great rate for the area.

The second Airbnb rental was a short trip to West Virginia  where we stayed in a newly remodeled vintage camp house for $35 a night. It was within walking distance of a river park and the old logging town of Cass where they have steam engine trains that travel up the mountain.

This last trip was to New York City. We usually stay at clean bargain hotel in the Chinatown area of Manhattan, but they were booked, so I found an inexpensive tiny apartment in the Lower East Side. It was a comparatively good deal at $150 a night. I would have liked to have found a lower rate, but there was nothing for a family of four (other than hostels) that I could find in Manhattan in September for less. This place was very basic and while clean, a little run down on the inside. Still, the location was excellent for inexpensive food and fun. We were able to walk as far as the Hudson River and up to Greenwich. We ate at all the places marked with one $ on Yelp.com. Our rental car was only $17 a day through Kayak.com! If you use it to travel to New York City from your home and back, you can drop it off and pick it up at the airport and hire a shuttle to get to your rental. I found a shuttle online.

We plan to use Airbnb for future trips as long as the price is right. 

Read the reviews carefully at Airbnb and check the pictures. Ask questions of the host before you book a place. I'd also check the area on Google to make sure it is well situated and safe. Some places have minimal contact with the host, and others have more interaction and extra services.

Check it out here. If you sign up with my link, you get $35 off your first rental. I also get some travel credit. This is not an affiliate link. Anyone who signs up can refer friends for travel credit.

Free Federal Park Pass for Children

Mentions fourth graders specifically, but pass rules indicate that this is good for children 16 and under.

See here.

Seven Ages of Britain - Season 1, Episode 1 - Age of Conquest

Rethinking Four Year College

My son was graduated from homeschool earlier this year and has been working toward passing a CLEP for English and math. He has only a vague idea of what he might want to study. So, instead of spending $30,000 toward a random four-year degree, I think he's going to pursue an applied associates degree in either IT or Accounting, two areas where he had some general interest. This way he can gain employment with a decent salary in two years for less than $8000 tuition. He can CLEP some classes the first year, so this reduces the cost.

Upon graduation, if he decides he likes his chosen field and wants to advance, he can always return to school. If he finds it's not a good fit, he hasn't wasted his time. He'll have a decent salary, no student debt, some savings, and the ability to return to school for another degree/training in the evenings.

Both two-year degrees are practical with medium to high demand and a decent entry level salary.

Times have changed. Getting any four-year degree was a door opener and tuition was affordable when I was in college, so one could afford to get a degree in just about anything. I remember large corporations were recruiting English and political science majors when I was close to graduation. Employment in the corporate world was relatively easy to obtain as long as you had your degree. Now there is less of a guarantee that a job will be available after graduation. I figure it is better to let him figure out where his interests lie before we spend $30,000 on a four-year degree.

At this point, he will be happy to find almost anything where he can excel. He's taking an accounting course
free online, and so far likes it. He'll try some free IT classes as well.

Update: Rethinking the applied degrees as they are non-transferable. I knew this, but was thinking they lead to more immediate prospects. For instance, the applied accounting degree prepares the student for the Certified Bookkeeping exam, but what they neglect to mention is you need two years of training in the field before you can sit for the exam. So, transferable associates degrees are the way to go for him. The other route wastes too much time and money.

Image source.

Free Interactive Learning App

Make your own interactive game or quiz, or browse the ones that others share. See here.

CLEP Progress and Homeschool

Oldest is still working on his CLEPs. We decided to work through Time for Writing to give him some review. It seems he has forgotten a lot of what he learned through Rod & Staff English, which was excellent for language mechanics, but weak on writing papers.

He's working through Khan Academy in preparation for his math CLEP.

Starbuck now pays for four years of college through ASU, so I am strongly encouraging him to apply there in the near future. He is still learning to drive, and will be going to a driving school to push him ahead toward a license.

For job experience, he is working as a volunteer with a cat rescue once a week. He's registered with Care.com as a pet sitter, but he needs a license to get to regular assignments. There hasn't been a lot of short-term offers.

For career exploration, he signed up for a free accounting class online, and seems to like it! I think he's found something he might pursue. Computer science may still be an option as well, but he seems more suited for accounting.

My youngest continues to use Time for Learning and Brain Pop for homeschool.

For learning adventures, we've been using Airbnb for inexpensive places to stay. So far it has been a good experience staying at people's homes. None have been shared arrangements, so we had the places completely to ourselves. Our next trip is to NYC where we will be staying near Chinatown(inexpensive food) in a small apartment. Good deal and much nicer than staying at a cheaper bedbug hotel.

Free ebook: Keep Simplyfying

See here.
HT to Annie.

Free Comprehensive Homeschool Program: Discovery K12

I'll add this to the sidebar. DiscoverK12 covers all subjects from grades K-12, free online. See here.

My daughter wants to continue Time For Learning(paid), but I will keep this program in mind for the future. Time for Learning seems to be good for her attention issues.

Free Algebra and Calculus Video Lessons

See here.

"My videos cover the entire year of Algebra 1&2 and AP Calculus AB."

Classic Novels and Food

See here,

The Little Library Café

Kate Young cooks and bakes food inspired by her favourite works of fiction. This is her blog, recipes included, as part of the Guardian Books Network. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram

College English Composition CLEP

I am helping my son with CLEP preparation materials. I'll be sharing information here as I find it. If any one wishes to add helpful links, please do so in the comments. No advertisements, please. Free resources only, unless it's for tutoring


CLEP® College Composition Book + Online (CLEP Test Preparation)

How to Write an Effective Essay: The Introduction

Trying this site out: Study.com(Not free)

Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success

A Writer's Guide to Powerful Paragraphs

Saylor Academy

And Then There Was One...

One little girl left to homeschool, and she's taken off with online school, so I'm not left with much to share in the homeschool department.

The fourth grader is working on Khan Academy and Time For Learning for her core homeschool. She does a lot of self directed learning where I help her with books and materials in her spare time.

I'll be signing her up for art class soon, and we've been taking day trips to museums, parks, and historical areas.

For some reason, it's not as exciting with the second child, and even a bit exhausting, but that might be my age. I think I miss the challenge which was invigorating. Homeschooling is old hat now, and the homeschooling community has grown and matured. We are no longer pioneers piecing together creative homeschool curricula and researching learning approaches. What was a homey grassroots endeavor is now big business, and educational materials are much easier to find. The internet has matured over the past 15+ years. Everything you need for school, almost everything, is accessible with a search. There's no longer the need for consulting and brainstorming with other homeschoolers. The ubiquitous tight knit communities have scattered. Those blog communities is what I miss.

Homeschool Graduate!

My oldest officially graduated earlier this week. Wahoooo! I won't miss accounting for his progress to the state. It is so pleasant to be out from under the education regulations. Not much has changed other than the legalities; he still continues to learn and work toward a career.

New short term goals are CLEPing out of Algebra, Calculus, and English Composition.  We take a tour of the local community college campus in April. He's leaning toward an Associate's in Computer Science with a transfer across town to the four year college to finish up with a Bachelor's degree. The community college is very liberal with accepting CLEP credits. He could CLEP out of as many as are available for his degree.

This link is super for finding free college classes online, then there's Khan Academy, and official CLEP study guides. All appear to be helpful for acing the CLEP.

All about the CLEP, only $80.00! This beats the cost of a class.

I'll be sure to update here with the CLEP experiences and results.

Free Saint Patrick's Day Old time Radio Shows

Check it out here.

Free Homeschool Video Lessons, TED Talks by Subject and Grades

See here

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Free Homeschool Stuff: 54 Videos Living History Greece

Ancient Greece For Kids

Free Printable Coloring Page Bookmarks

See here
More here.