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Extracurricular activities are very suitable for children. They help children learn new things and improve their skills. They provide opportunities to connect with their peers and use their time constructively. They look great in college and scholarship applications.
But all this abundance comes at a price. And these unnecessary increases to the family budget can be expensive-especially when you have multiple children with multiple interests.
Huntington Bank and the school community 2019 backpack index It is estimated that the average extracurricular expenses for elementary school students are about US$150, middle school students are US$250, and high school students are US$350. Of course, there are also parents who spend more.
If you are worried about the cost of extracurricular activities, please consider using these methods to make them more affordable.
5 ways to save extracurricular activities this school year
These money-saving tips will help you make your kids happy without affecting your financial situation.
1. Switch to government or non-profit programs
Before registering your child for a private music course or travel sports league, please check if there are similar products or sponsorships in your local area:
- School
- church
- Library system
- YMCA
- Boys and Girls Club
- Police Sports League
- Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts
- United Way
- Salvation Army
- City or County Parks and Recreation Department
- Community college
2. Ask about discounts
By asking event providers for discounts, stay frugal and save as much as possible. Is there a trial period for your child to take one or two lessons for free before registering for this season? If you are a return participant, register more than one child, or recommend another family to register, can you get a discount?
If you register before a certain date, if you sign up for a package of courses or if you volunteer as a coach, some courses will offer discounted prices. Others provide scholarships or set prices based on income in a floating proportion. You may want to ask if the organization allows you to make a payment plan instead of requiring all payments upfront.
Check discount sites such as Groupon or Living Social for current event offers.
3. Reduce other costs of extracurricular activities
The cost of registering your child for an event is rarely the only cost you will encounter. Equipment, supplies, uniforms, fundraising events, travel and performance tickets can greatly increase your investment.
Try to find ways to reduce these additional costs. Arrange carpooling with team members. Buy second-hand equipment and clothing. Restrict family members who participate in small shows throughout the year, and save money so that everyone can participate in large shows at the end of the season.
4. DIY your extracurricular activities
Your child can benefit from participating in activities without you having to pay for a formal plan. Consider your child’s interests and find out how to pursue them personally.
If your child likes music, please visit YouTube for free tutorials. There are a large number of cooking blogs that provide detailed recipes for those who want to master baking. Your library may provide free access to software to learn foreign languages.
Use your network of family, friends and neighbors to expose your children to different pursuits. Committed to teaching their children the skills you have acquired as an exchange. For example, your friends can teach your kids how to play the guitar while you teach them cooking lessons.
This may be a larger time investment, but you can save a lot of money by creating your own way to cultivate children’s interest.
5. Talk to your child about making sacrifices
Sometimes you may just need Say no Participate in another extracurricular activity at the request of your child. If you have no funds and have to pay with a credit card, you should reassess.
Parents never want to put financial pressure on their children, but it is okay to understand the budget constraints in advance. This might mean asking your child to choose one sport over two, or asking them if they would prefer a dance class to a beach holiday next summer.
If you have teenagers, ask them to pay for extracurricular expenses through babysitting, lawn mowing or part-time work. Depending on the activity, you can challenge your children to turn their hobbies into entrepreneurial pursuits-such as selling handmade bracelets at local festivals or giving piano lessons to young children.
Not only will this help your teens afford the extracurricular activities they want, but you will also teach them valuable lessons about personal finance, which will hopefully continue into adulthood.
Nicole Dow is the senior writer of The Penny Hoarder. She is a parent who is always looking for ways to save money.
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