DY,
If you have 5 children in a school that costs $15,000 that’s $75,000 in AFTER TAX money. Assuming your spouse works, you are in the 28%+ tax bracket, that means you need to earn over $100,000 to pay just for Yeshiva. If you homeschool, chances are you will come out WAY ahead unless you are a high paid lawyer, businessman or doctor.
My husband and I have actually considered homeschooling because Yeshiva is so expensive.
My husband is also in danger of being laid off at the moment (his company announced layoffs but not specifics yet) and we have an austerity budget. It includes rice and beans and beans and rice for most meals.
Is it ideal to have to eat that way? No. But you can’t claim that its so expensive to be frum. Its very expensive to be frum and maintain an upper middle class lifestyle.