Comments on: Cutting Down on the “Hidden” Costs of After-School Activities http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Suzanne http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-441858 Suzanne Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:39:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-441858 Great post, Trent. I liked the range of alternatives, since one solution doesn’t fit all families.

]]> By: Marcia http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-431965 Marcia Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:48:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-431965 It’s amazing how much these things have changed. I was on the volleyball team in HS. We would take a team bus (so no parents) to our away-games.

If we won, we would stop at Burger King on the way home. If we lost, no stop.

We were poor, I didn’t get an allowance, but my mom REALLY did everything she could to make sure I had at least $1 to buy a serving of French fries. It meant a lot to me.

]]> By: Sara http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-431179 Sara Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:10:15 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-431179 I was on many sports teams as a child, and it was common for teams to assign post-game snacks to one person for each game (kind of like your suggestion #6, except that if the snacks are evenly distributed, I don’t see the point of collecting money; seems like it would make it more of a hassle).

]]> By: Chelo http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430982 Chelo Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:42:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430982 As a single parent of an active child I know exactly that costs for sports and activities can add up. But having the child be responsible for the cost of the activity may be a bit much for younger children. Maybe for high school kids that are at working age can work some how to assist in paying some of the cost but shouldn’t education be before making money??? We all want our children to be well rounded but again the same question comes to mind… Does my child want to participate in this activity or is this something that I as a parent want he/she to participate in?????

]]> By: Sandy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430942 Sandy Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:38:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430942 To me, it’s amazing how expensive High School activities can be. I imagine that any parent of a kid on a travelling team already knows about this.
Beware the cost factor if any activity your darling is involved in is asked to be on the travelling team….hotels, meals out and the above mentioned uniforms (including special shoes or costumes for the dance groups), photos, and the sharing of snacks. My friend’s daughter was on the girls’ tennis team, and for the 2 month program, it cost over $300 with the expected costs. Snacks (which wasn’t a granola and water, but a pretty bag, 3-4 items, and drink), plus “secret sister” gifts 5 times, plus the above. WOW. So, I think Trent’s last idea…the one about choosing the 1-2 activities that she really loves, is the best one. Then get ready to shell out a bunch.
One other thought. When your children are under, say 10 or so, they can do many things that are really cheap or free and love every minute. It’s not until Middle school and HS that the costs soar. If you raise your kids while they are young, knowing that the expensive stuff will happen, you can do really cheap stuff while they are young, and not feel as if you are cheating them out of something. Just start saving small amounts specifically for when they get older. It will get spent!

]]> By: Monroe on a Budget http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430888 Monroe on a Budget Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:10:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430888 When my daughter was in Girl Scouts, her honor guard and camp staff meetings were in several cities all over southeast Michigan.

So I learned to bundle up those trips with shopping trips to stores and other errands I wanted to run out of town.

]]> By: Mule Skinner http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430810 Mule Skinner Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:05:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430810 Kid sports are amazingly expensive! A year or so back we did “swim club”. I never knew that swim suits could wear out, but they regularly do when you swim competitively. And goggles get lost. Prescription ones! There is a participation fee of about $200 per semester, and insurance, which seems to be for the purpose of paying the swim club’s lawyer if you sue them. There is a cost to participate in meets.

And then, when the meets are held, there are vendors available with all kinds of swim stuff. And a photogrpher to sell you pictures of your child in mid-butterfly. But the most interesting was this: When our team was the host, we had a food canteen. Parents of our team members contributed the items that would be for sale (so the team had zero overhead in this profit center!). And parents were recruited to work at various jobs, including running this canteen. I asked to be cashier, and found that there was a credit system for the home team. I would just write the item and price on a page with the family name of the kid getting his latest snack. Some families had 30 or 40 dollars of this. Others just used cash so there was no reckoning how much they spent.

We have dropped out of swim club.

]]> By: Chris at BuildMyBudget http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430775 Chris at BuildMyBudget Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:56:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430775 I used to spend a lot on junk food before and after lacrosse games and it really added up. Some of these tips would have been great back then! Nowadays I think it’s best to provide healthy food which your child can turn into a good lunch. This way you’re still providing, and they are learning to take care of them self.

]]> By: Another Marie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430772 Another Marie Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:41:43 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430772 We are at the Y three times a week. Periodically the kids ask to buy something from the vending machine. But I tell them I refuse to buy expensive food from a machine next to a drinking fountain and 1 mile from our kitchen. Exception: I bought water when in labor so I didn’t have to keep getting up and down to drink at the fountain. (The child who had been told to put water in my bag hadn’t.)

We keep granola bars, drink boxes, and bottled water bought at a warehouse store next to our garage door for times we know we will need a snack while out.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430741 Bryan Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:41:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430741 I never thought about the cost associated with these activities. I guess it’s because I don’t have kids, but now that I read your post I realize my mother should have cut us off after all those baseball games.

It started with McDonald’s after a game, back when they actually gave out animal crackers, for a quick meal on the way home. Then it turned into collecting “this week’s new happy meal toy!” Such bad habits.

]]> By: Diane http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430676 Diane Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:22:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430676 I agree with Michelle. My son’s soccer team frequently stops together to eat after a game – parents & kids. Yes, it can be expensive, but part of the experience for us is what the coach calls “team bonding”~!

Another aspect of this is that I’m making memories with my son, and that’s what life is all about… I don’t want him to remember that the team stopped for dinner as a group and he had a sandwich in the car!

As for cutting back on the number of activities, all he does is play soccer – but with club soccer August – October, high school soccer November – February and club soccer March – May/June it is a year-round commitment for several evenings a week and many weekends, including many overnight trips to tournaments out of town.

I spend more time with my son than most parents do at the age of 17… that time in the car is a great opportunity to talk and hanging around the hotel at tournaments is frequently family time.

That said, for practices he packs granola bars, fruit, water & gatorade for after school snacks before practice or snacks on the way home.

]]> By: cv http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430670 cv Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:18:11 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430670 I think the tough part isn’t so much dinner on the way home from a soccer game, which can be handled with a bit of planning, but the times when there’s a lot of social pressure to do what the team/club is doing. We stayed late the week before a show opened in the drama club, and we were all expected to contribute a few dollars for pizza at least a couple of those nights. It wasn’t a ton of money overall, and it was only a few times a year, but looking back it must have been tough on some of the kids and parents who didn’t have much money.

]]> By: GayleRN http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430623 GayleRN Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:07:37 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430623 One of the best things I did was only allow one extracurricular activity at a time. The boys had to make a choice, which in itself was a good thing. Even so with 3 kids there was always 3 activities at any one time. As far as extracurricular activities being “necessary” for scholarships and getting into a “good” college I found that quality won out over quantity in that process. None of my sons were athletic, so we concentrated on academics and music and scouting. Those hard won Eagle scout rankings weighed in for a lot on college apps. In other words depth of experience and proof of initiative and proved better than a variety of shallow experiences. That was given as one of the reasons that my son was given a full ride to a state university. He got a free education and no student loans!

]]> By: mary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430596 mary Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:10:22 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430596 Hi, I think that one mistake is to start paying children for “chores” around the house — the “tit-for-tat” idea. As the mother of a nine-year-old, we’re trying to send the message that helping around the house — most anything related to the family — is the responsibility of the entire family. Sharing in household labor is the responsibility of all members — not just Mom. Trust me; Paying kids for chores is a slippery slope. Parents today do way to much for their kids, and are frustrated, tired and resentful to prove it. Managing the workload so Mom and Dad feel less burdened is part of the “hidden cost” of parenthood — and teaching to follow through with requests and pitch in is character-building! Maybe you won’t have to pay so much for outside activities because the best “programs” start at home…Good Luck!

]]> By: Robin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430584 Robin Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:43:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430584 I really like this article, thanks. It always bothered me how much extra-curricular things cost – both explicitly and implicitly. Its crazy, I think, how hard it is to be frugal and still get the best for your kids. All the extra-curriculars are so important – they’re so good for the kids and general and basically are a necessity on a college application. Thanks for trying to find ways to make these things a little easier on the wallet!

]]> By: Nick http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430583 Nick Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:42:07 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430583 Carpooling works too, if you don’t mind missing a game or two, or just flat out can’t get there.

]]> By: Mike Sty http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430574 Mike Sty Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:19:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430574 “I never received allowance, and any serious money anybody gave to me was confiscated and put into my bank account, so of course my mom paid; but I think she was happier controlling all my spending.”

That’s pretty much how I was. In fact, my mom packed my lunch all the way through high school – boy was I a lazy bastard haha. I was also guilty of things like getting fast food if I went out somewhere, like went to shop for groceries.

Now that I’ve cut that out, I have complete control of my diet, and I’ve lost like 25lbs – it’s a lot HEALTHIER to avoid eating out, as well as less expensive. Also now that I have complete control of my finances (except tuition), I’m making lots of money :)

Hooray for personal responsibility!

]]> By: !wanda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430534 !wanda Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:47:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430534 This brings back so many memories. My last year in high school, in the fall semester, my Wednesdays involved staying after school for a little bit for some club, then being driven to my harp lesson that ran from 4:30-6:30pm, then being driven to my o-chem class at a college about 30 minutes away that ran from 7:00-8:30pm. That’s pretty much the only time we went to McDonald’s during my childhood (besides when we were traveling). It’s something that I think started through a lack of planning- the first time we did it, my mom belatedly realized that it was not good for someone who ate lunch at 11am (in school) to wait until 9pm or 9:15pm for dinner. And then it continued out of habit.

I never received allowance, and any serious money anybody gave to me was confiscated and put into my bank account, so of course my mom paid; but I think she was happier controlling all my spending.

]]> By: Craig http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430526 Craig Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:51:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430526 @sara: Haha, running was my sport too. Nothing is worse than knowing it’s your own fault that you’re starving and thirsty after running for an hour and you can’t do anything about it until you get home.

]]> By: sara http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430524 sara Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:43:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/02/cutting-down-on-the-hidden-costs-of-after-school-activities/#comment-430524 @Craig- my thoughts exactly- well put.

When I went hungry at track practice, even though I’d sometimes guilt my mom into bringing me a snack, I knew that I was gaming the system and it was my own fault for not making my lunch in the morning or packing a snack. Kids are smart, and are really good at acting like its someone else’s fault.

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