While making learning fun can be expensive it certainly doesn't have to be. Consider, for instance, that big tub of math manipulatives that would make your math curriculum ever-so-much more interesting. Awesome, right? Until you look at the price that is. Talk about sticker shock! Don't panic yet. With a little creativity you can save yourself the $55 - $65 (plus shipping!) and still have tons of fun. Here are a few of our common substitutions:

*We use small, square Legos in place of linking cubes or unifix cubes.

*Hundreds charts can be printed off the internet for free. Just do a search for "printable  hundreds  chart" and  laminate with contact paper.

*Why buy play money? Use the bills from your Monopoly set and use "real" change.

*A simple Geoboard can be made from a square piece of wood and 25 finishing nails. Draw a grid of  five evenly spaced vertical and horizontal rows and place nails on the intersections. This is a great  homeschool project in its own right!

*Color Tiles can also be replaced with square Legos. Another alternative is to laminate sheets of colored construction paper and cut into squares with a paper cutter.

*Mini clocks can easily be made with a circle, two hands and a brass fastener in the center.  Better yet,  use a "real" clock.

*Counting bears can be replaced with many things. We've used poker chips, Legos (again!), checkers,  beans, whatever is handy, really.

*For stringing beads purchase macrame-type beads from your local craft store and string on a  shoelace  or string pasta on yarn. Use a computer or just color your own patterns for your  children  to copy.

If your heart is set on owning these wonderful manipulatives rather than "making do"  I highly suggest checking out your local Walmart and Dollar Store. Walmart consistently carries most of these manipulatives for only a few dollars each. Buy your own Rubbermaid tub and lower the cost from $60 to $20. Though inconsistent in what it carries, the Dollar Store is worth keeping your eye on. Just yesterday I was able to purchase a pack of  Linking Shapes and Stringing Bears for $1 each. Did we need them? No, but for that price it's worth the added fun. And don't forget yard sales! Dominos and poker chips can regularly be purchased for a mere 25 cents.

Happy learning!

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