Kids Ain't Cheap

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10 Extracurriculars That Are Draining Your Wallet (But Totally Worth It)

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10 Extracurriculars That Are Draining Your Wallet (But Totally Worth It)
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Due to inflation and high demand, extracurricular activities for kids have become much more expensive in recent years. According to Yahoo Finance, 52% of parents say they spend more than $1,000 per year on their children’s hobbies. Sports like horseback riding and karate help kids burn off energy and develop self-confidence and discipline, so the expense is definitely worth it. Although these 10 extracurricular activities for kids will drain your wallet, you’ll love watching your child play or perform so much that you won’t mind! 

Horseback Riding 

Horseback riding
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According to the Louisiana Federal Credit Union, horseback riding costs an average of $2,000 to $5,000 per year. But speaking from personal experience, that estimate may be on the low side if you plan to buy your child a horse. Between lesson costs, farrier and vet visits, and boarding and competition fees, owning a horse costs at least ten thousand dollars per year. Ouch! 

However, if you can afford it, this hobby is a wonderful way to teach your kids responsibility and help them stay active. Students learn to care for their horses by picking out their feet, grooming them, and bathing them. English-style riding and dressage are difficult to master and require a great deal of discipline and physical exertion. Plus, riding and bonding with a horse is very therapeutic and can help your child cope with stress. 

Figure Skating 

Figure Skating
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Figure skating is one of the most expensive extracurricular activities for kids, especially if your child has dreams of competing on the national stage. Competing in the sport can cost upwards of $35,000 per year according to Money.com. Specialized, experienced coaches often charge $60 to $120 per hour for lessons. Skaters also have to pay for their practice time on the ice, competition fees, costumes, and choreography. Some skaters even cross-train as dancers to improve their technique. 

If you can afford these costs, figure skating can be an incredibly enriching endeavor for your child. It’s both an art and a sport, allowing kids to express themselves creatively while building self-confidence and physical ability. When your child steps out on the ice with confidence and flair, the financial outlay will definitely feel worth it!

Ice Hockey 

Hockey is one of the most expensive extracurricular activities for kids
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If you’re looking for cheap extracurricular activities for kids, unfortunately, ice hockey doesn’t fit the bill. If your child wants to play competitively, you’ll likely spend $2,500 per year or more on equipment, travel, lessons, and other costs. Player registration alone, (which is required to participate in competitions) costs over $600. Although ice hockey is a pricey activity, it will help teach your child how to cooperate with others and manage their time. Balancing competitions with homework will help your child learn to prioritize and work efficiently. 

Skiing or Snowboarding 

Skiing
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Skiing and snowboarding are popular options for winter extracurricular activities for kids, but did you know on average it will cost $2250 per season? Your child will likely outgrow equipment like skis and snow pants every other season. Lift tickets can also be pricey depending on your location. Some resorts have free tickets for kids under a certain age or offer early bird specials, helping families save money. You may also spend a lot of time and gas traveling to ski resorts unless you have a hill nearby. 

Fortunately, there are upsides to snowboarding and skiing. Your child will need fewer lessons than in most other activities, potentially just one or two a season. Plus, this sport is a great way to keep kids active after most summer and fall activities have ended. 

Karate

Karate is one of the most common extracurricular activities for kids
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Karate and similar martial arts are very popular options to keep kids active while teaching them self-control and personal strength. However, keep in mind that instruction costs can vary, ranging from just $50 per month to over $200 depending on the dojo. And if your child becomes interested in pursuing martial arts on a competitive level, private lessons and tournaments can quickly inflate your annual costs to $2,000. But the values that karate instills, such as respect and perseverance, are definitely worth the cost. 

Piano

Piano
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Piano is one of the most common extracurricular activities for kids, and for good reason. Learning to play the piano pushes our brain, and studies have shown that children who play music have higher IQs and improved performance in math and reading. Playing the piano is a skill that will stay with your child for life and is a very fun talent to show off. Before signing your child up for lessons, it’s important to understand the costs associated. 

Your child will likely need weekly lessons to progress, which can add up to $3000 per year or more. Your child will also need access to a piano to practice outside of lessons. An upright is usually best for serious young pianists but can cost upwards of $3,000 to $10,000 depending on the brand. Upright pianos also require regular maintenance and tuning, so don’t forget to factor piano servicing fees into your cost estimate. 

Golf

Golf
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Golf.com has done a great job breaking down the costs for a child to learn to golf and become competitive at it. If your child just wants to learn casually and can find an older set of clubs, you are likely looking at about $1,000 for the season. This cost estimate includes start-up costs, tee times, and a basic lesson or two. If your child becomes competitive and attends tournaments, the costs can skyrocket. 

From weekly lessons to equipment and travel, parents can be looking at a $20,000 bill per season. With all of that said golf is a great option when looking at extracurricular activities for kids. It gets your child outside and encourages sociability while being less dangerous than other contact sports like football. Learning to golf at a young age can even lead to fun summer jobs like being a caddy in high school. Plus, knowing how to golf can benefit your child’s career as it’s a common networking activity in the business world. 

Tennis

Tennise
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Tennis is a great option when looking at summertime extracurricular activities for kids. It keeps kids active and improves hand-eye coordination, balance, and agility. Depending on how seriously your child decides to pursue tennis, you may not need to pay for too many lessons either. If this is just a casual summer sport, a single season of weekend camps can be enough to solidify basic skills. 

If your child starts to pursue tennis competitively, expect costs to rise. Growing kids will need new tennis equipment and clothing more often than adults. Altogether, the cost of private lessons, tournaments, travel, and camps can add up to $1,100 or more each season. 

Dance 

Dance is one of the best extracurricular activities for kids
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Dance is one of the most popular extracurricular activities for kids, especially girls. It’s a fun way for kids to burn off energy, improve their physical fitness, and express their creativity. Similar to horseback riding, mastering different dance styles and learning routines requires dedication and practice, teaching your child the value of hard work. 

However, the benefits of dance come at a cost. On average, parents spend between $60 and $150 per month on lessons. You’ll also have to cover the cost of footwear, clothing, and competition fees. But luckily shopping at discount dancewear stores can help you save money. Some dance studios also host fundraisers to help offset the cost of competing.

Sailing 

Sailing is one of the most unique extracurricular activities for kids
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If you live near the water and have a local program offering sailing camps for children, you may be able to get away with paying under $200 for weekly lessons and races spanning most of the season. Compared to some other options on this list, that is a downright bargain. Unfortunately, as your child progresses and gets older, these lessons quickly increase in price. Learning on larger boats with more rigorous programs like American Sailing can start costing over $500 just for a day or two on the water. 

While your child can then potentially crew on other’s boats for races and similar events, this may spark a desire to buy a boat as an adult, which is prohibitively expensive. From docking and seasonal maintenance to repairs and recurring costs, owning a boat can cost $10,000 per year or more. However, the health benefits of sailing make this hobby worth it. Getting out on the water is a great way to reduce stress, build muscle and bone strength, promote heart health, and learn to collaborate well with other crew members.

Do you think the cost of extracurricular activities for kids is worth it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

7 Unexpected Expenses as Your Kids Get Older

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Unexpected Expenses as Your Kids Get Older

My friend recently had a baby, and she has so much fun dressing him in cute clothing that she buys from Etsy. He has a better wardrobe than most adults! I understand her excitement in decking her baby out in adorable clothing (I did the same thing when I had my first child). However, I know her budget is tight, so I want to tell her, “Save some of that money for unexpected expenses as your kids get older,” but, of course, I don’t say that. Yet, parenthood has taught me that life will always throw you and your kids curve balls, which are often expensive!

Here are some unexpected expenses to plan for as your kids get older:

Larger Vehicle

You may think your current vehicle will suffice, especially if you only have one or two children. However, you may be surprised how quickly your family outgrows the car. We had a Toyota Echo when our first child was born, which I thought would be fine. However, we traveled frequently, and all the gear we had to bring for the baby didn’t fit in an Echo. So, in less than four months, we moved up to a minivan, which we still have 18 years later!

Don’t forget that your kids will likely want to bring friends to different activities, which is another reason you might need a bigger car.

Increased Grocery Bill

Everyone knows the grocery bill will increase when you have kids, but no one is prepared for the tween and teen years. Kids that age are growing rapidly, and they need a lot of food! When my son turned 11, I was shocked at how much he started to eat!

Private School or Homeschool

Public school is a good option for most kids, but some need a different environment, so their parents send them to private school. Or, parents like us might decide that homeschooling is a better option. Unfortunately, you may have planned for your kids to graduate from public school, so you’re unprepared to pay for private school or homeschooling when public school doesn’t work out.

Therapy for a Disability

Unexpected Expenses as Your Kids Get Older

No parent thinks their child will have a disability. I didn’t, yet, I have three kids, and each one has two diagnoses—two with autism, two with dyslexia, two with ADHD. These disabilities have cost us thousands of dollars in therapy that insurance would not cover. Thankfully, the therapy helped and the kids are doing great, but we did not anticipate having to pay for therapy, let alone having to spend so much.

Psychologist

Likewise, many kids, especially during COVID, needed a psychologist’s assistance. While most insurance plans cover psychologist appointments, you will likely have to pay a co-pay. Even if your co-pay is only $20 a session, you’re paying $1,080 over a year if your child goes once a week.

Electronics

Thirty years ago, parents didn’t have to pay a lot for electronics unless it was for a Nintendo or Atari game. Now, kids need laptops for their schoolwork, especially since some of the work (or all of it) may be online. In addition, most teens and tweens have cell phones that you’ll need to pay for.

I bought my youngest two simple Gabb phones, but they still run $50 monthly for two lines. Electronics expenses add up quickly!

High School Fund

A wise parent will start a high school fund when their children are young. Many activities in high school are pricey. Consider saving for

  • Class trips,
  • Homecoming,
  • Prom,
  • Senior pictures,
  • College application fees,
  • ACT or SAT prep and test fees

Final Thoughts

If you have a baby or a toddler, pour yourself into them, but remember, there are many unexpected expenses as your kids get older that you’ll want to save for now. Even though it’s cute to dress babies in adorable clothes, make sure you’re also saving for the future.

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Low-Cost After School Activities for Kids

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More and more, parents are not content to let their kids stay home after school watching TV and playing video games.  Instead, they want their kids to be involved in activities that will help them grow and learn more.  Being involved in activities helps children’s personal development, but it will also help improve their college admission chances because colleges routinely look for well-rounded students who are not only strong academically, but are involved in a variety of activities.  However, most parents struggle to find appropriate activities because they are intimidated by the high price tag of some activities like playing an instrument or horse back riding.  If that is your concern, keep in mind that there are many low-cost after school activities for kids.

Low-Cost After School Activities for Kids

Low-Cost After School Activities for Kids

The following are great places to start when you’re searching for after school activities:

School Based Activities

The first place to look for low-cost after school activities for kids is at your child’s school.

Sports

Your child’s school likely offers a host of sports from football to baseball to volleyball to swimming to track and field.  Some of these sports will be completely free to participate in and others will require some equipment and perhaps some fund raising participation.

Many kids participate in one sport per season and stay very busy and active with that schedule.  Even better, they stay physically fit!

Clubs

Likewise, after school clubs are usually free.  When my son was younger, he participated in choir and art club, each of which met one time per week.  Now that he’s in high school, he joined the Model U.N. Club, which also meets once a week.

Depending on the size of your child’s school, there are likely to be a handful of clubs or many more.  Likely she can find one she wants to participate in.

Library Based Activities

Many people don’t consider the library when looking for low-cost after school activities for kids, but it’s a great place to look!  Our local library has many activities for kids and teens as I’m sure yours does also.

Games

Our library has a game night once per month, but there are also other get togethers for such things as Minecraft and Legos.

Chess Club

Low-Cost After School Activities for Kids

Photo by Wim van ‘t Einde on Unsplash

Once a month, our library has a chess club meeting.  Kids can bring a chess board and play against one another for two hours.  I’m always surprised to see how many kids are there.  Upwards of 20 to 25 kids come to play chess.

Teen Advisory Board

In our area, each local library hosts a teen advisory board once or twice per month.  All participants must be 13 to 18 years old.  Together, they help organize activities for the library, and they also have the option to volunteer when the library hosts activities.  Some weeks, they also do fun things such as receive specialized art lessons or do something good for the community like make cards for seniors.

Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts

Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts is another option.  You will have an initial upfront fee to buy the uniform and the book.  This runs about $80 to $100.  Then, there are fees for camping events and badges, so this isn’t the cheapest activity around.

However, by joining the Scouts, your child could keep quite busy between attending the meetings, going on camping trips and other outings, and working on badges.  Many adults fondly remember their time in scouting and say they learned a great deal that helped shape their lives.

Parks and Recreation Activities

Have you looked at your local parks and recreations or community center activities?  Depending on the area that you live in, you could find many activities from sports to arts and crafts.

My kids have regularly taken advantage of parks and recreations activities.  My son took swim lessons there, and my daughter has participated in several crafting classes as well as a gymnastics class when she was little.  What I love about activities through the parks and recreation or community center is that they’re low cost.  Depending on the activity, you pay $20 to $40 for a six-week class, and most supplies are included.

A word of warning, though.  Since these classes are such a bargain, they typically fill up quickly.  To be able to get a seat for your child, you may have to sign up early on the day that registration begins.

AYSO

One activity canvasing the United States is the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).  AYSO is open to both boys and girls from three to 19.  There is an initial joining fee, and you’ll be required to sometimes bring snacks for the team.  You’ll also need to buy the proper equipment such as shin guards and cleats, but these can be bought second hand at a used sporting goods store.

Once your child joins AYSO, you can expect him to have practice two times per week (perhaps more depending on his age), and to have one game a week.  My son joined AYSO and had a wonderful coach, but when we played against other teams, I saw some less than stellar coaches that berated their players.  Make sure you have a coach who encourages and supports the children.

Church Groups

If you belong to a church, consider having your children join some of the church activities.  My daughter sings in our church choir and attends practice once a week.  My son is part of the teen group.  The teen group meets once a week for 1.5 hours, and they also participate in service activities and weekend retreats.

Church activities are typically free except for special events like retreats.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to get your child in an activity or two but you’re worried about the cost, rest assured that there are many low-cost after school activities for kids.  You’ll be glad your kids are more involved, and your kids will likely enjoy being out with friends doing something fun.  Plus, you’ll be laying the groundwork for college admissions, if that’s something your child wants to pursue in the future.

8 Simple Rainy Day Activities For Kids

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rainy day kid activitiesAs a resident of the beautiful – but often soggy – Pacific NW; I am quite familiar with trying to come up with fun and creative ways to keep my kids busy on rainy days. I am incredibly happy to say that I have found some really wonderful – low cost or no cost – activities that you can do with your kids, when wet weather strikes. Here are eight rainy day activities for kids that are sure to cure the dreary-day doldrums.

1. Channel your inner chef

There is nothing better than comfort food on a blustery day, so why not whip up something delicious with your kids? Cooking is not only fun but very educational as well (shhhh…don’t worry, I won’t tell). Kids love to help out and no matter what age they are, there is always something they can do. For example, little kids can dump pre-measured ingredients into the bowl, stir things around, frost cupcakes, & lick beaters. Just watch your child’s face light up as you pull out their finished masterpiece. I promise that the look you will see makes all the spilled flour and broken eggs so worth it! Check out www.kids-cooking-activities.com to find recipes, cooking videos, and food facts, as well as fun craft and science recipes.

2. Can you build it? Yes you can!

Fort building is a family favorite in our house. We strip off the couch cushions, gather all the pillows and blankets we can carry, and then we start creating. If you use your imagination; you can make a fort out of just about any space in your home. Our boys have bunk beds; so I just put blankets up to enclose the bottom bunk and poof instant fort in no time flat! Forts are a great place for your kids to embark on all kinds of amazing adventures.

3. Lights, Camera, Action

Reading is a fantastic rainy day activity for kids but you can kick it up a notch by reading then acting out your children’s favorite stories. You can make it as simple or elaborate as you would like. It’s fun getting dressed up and using props but even just acting out the story can be quite entertaining as well. This is a great activity and you can really make some fantastic (and many times silly) memories in the process.

4. Let’s play dress-up

Playing dress up is a genuine two thumbs up, kid approved rainy day activity — guaranteed! Not only will your kids have hours of fun becoming princesses, superheroes, pirates, doctors, nurses, ballerinas, and moms, and dads; you’ll be happy that you didn’t have to spend a fortune for them to do it. All you have to do is raid your closets and after that — check out the second hand stores, where you can buy costumes and some really fancy duds at super low prices. Parents should get in on the act too, in fact I encourage it.

5. Take a walk down memory lane

Rainy days are the perfect time to pop some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch and look at old photos and watch old home movies. Kids love seeing old photos of themselves and hearing stories about when they were younger. This can even stir up some memories that you may have forgotten about. This is not only a great rainy day activity; it is also fantastic bonding time for you and your kids.

6. Get Crafty

That’s right parents, get out the glue, markers, paints, pens, and glitter; then let your kids make something craftastic! There are so many wonderful things that your kids can create. Just put some things out for them and let ‘em go. Fall is also a great time to get started on homemade gifts for Christmas. Some of my favorite web sites to glean ideas from are www.amazingmoms.com, www.familyfun.com, and www.freekidcrafts.com. Once you have enough art pieces assembled; you can invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends over for dinner and have an art exhibit. Your kids will love it!

7. Get the heck out of dodge

Before you all go stir crazy; pack everyone up and head over to your local library. There is almost always something fun (and free) going on there and if not, you can still find lots of great books to read. Many libraries have story times, craft times, and other fun activities for kids. Trust me when I say, this is a sanity saver on rainy days. If you are looking for something else to do, call some of your friends with kids and take turns hosting play dates. This will get you some nice adult conversation and the kids will enjoy playing with their friends.

8. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

Go puddle jumping! Slap on your galoshes and rain coat, grab an umbrella and get outside. This is probably – by far – my kids’ favorite rainy day activity! They have a fabulous time getting wet and muddy and when all the fun has been had; you all can head inside, get everyone in warm dry clothes and have some hot chocolate.

Looking for more things to do with your kids? Check out these great articles.

The Importance of Reading to Your Child
The Learning Tower, a Review
7 Screen-Free Activities for Preschoolers

Whatever you decide to do when bad weather strikes — have fun and enjoy your kids.

How do you keep your kids occupied on rainy days?

Fun and Inexpensive Outings with the Kids

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Enjoying the outdoors is a great free family activity

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Fun and inexpensive outings with the kids are not hard to find if you know where to look. With the prices of pretty much everything on the rise an outing can become very expensive if we are not careful. Of course doing new things with the kids that will not break the bank can be just as fun.

Using your imagination and being creative can find a lot of fun. Many times at the end of the most inexpensive outings the family will have spent quality time together and probably learned a few new things along the way.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Enjoying the outdoors is one of the things that many families enjoy and the wonders that can be found by a child’s eyes are endless. Nature walks can be a very rewarding outing. Enjoying the trails with the family and actually getting away from the rush of everyday life can be relaxing. Watching the little ones marvel at things they find along the trail can sometimes make us adults see things like they are new again. A child picking up a leaves and actually studying it is amazing. As adults we are often so busy that we miss a lot.

Visit the Library

The local library is also a great place to bring our children. Many libraries hold classes for the kids that are free of charge. Although the class may be once a week and only last an hour it is worth it. If your child is older the class is done without the parent. Again, it may only be an hour but an hour of free time at the library can be worth it for Mom and Dad!

To the Beach!

For those families that live near beaches but do not want to pay the parking or costs to enter the best time to go is at dusk. The beach is nearly empty and there is no charge to get in. Pack sandwiches and snacks and you are ready for a beach almost all to yourself.

Bus Station

Little boys (and some girls) love buses and trucks or pretty much any type of transportation for that matter. Imagine the little ones face when you roll into a bus station and go to see the buses. Pure delight, cost free.

Build Something Fun

Anyone have a builder on his or her hands? Many of the home improvement stores have free classes for the tikes and for the parents too (hate to have Dad feel left out). The classes may be held mainly on the weekends but again the cost can’t be beat.

Quality time with our families does not have to be expensive. The things that cost the least can be the best and smiles are flowing freely. How we spend our time with our children is not how much money we spend to have fun with them. Childhood memories are not made of how much money parents spent occupying us. Childhood memories consist of loving moments that were spent together knowing we were and are cherished.

What free and cheap family activities do you do with your family?