Extracurricular activities are a great way for your child to socialize, build confidence, and take a break from electronic devices. They can also be dealbreakers on college and job applications. However, having your kids in many afterschool activities can be costly without going into debt. Children with divorced parents spend 277 days out of the year with their custodial parent. If you’re in charge of your child for the majority of the year, here are ten ways you can afford all of your child’s extracurriculars.
1. Ask for Discounts
It never hurts to ask! The worst that could happen is you’ll get a no. Sometimes, you can get discounts for military service, being a teacher, or having multiple kids enrolled in the same activity. Many programs are reluctant to publicize discounts because they can get more profit.
2. Register Early
Many programs have the best prices if you are one of the first to register. Getting in quickly is important, especially for popular activities for kids and teens like swimming. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 40% of kids between ages seven and 17 swims six times yearly compared to only 15% of adults.
3. Try Music
Music lessons are usually a less expensive (and educational) alternative to other extracurricular activities. You can rent instruments or negotiate music lessons for a lower price.
4. Try After-School Activities
Afterschool activities are usually more cost-effective than other programs. Plus, they might help with your child’s homework or other school projects. Parents also like afterschool activities for convenience. They are already familiar with the school, drop off and pick up, and the employees who work there.
5. Foreign Language
Another unconventional extracurricular activity is learning a foreign language. There are many ways to learn this skill at a lower cost through private tutors and educational software. Plus, it’s a great skill for your child to learn. According to Healthy Children, about 20% of U.S. children speak another language other than English, while Spanish is the most common non-English one.
6. Borrow Materials
There’s a good chance someone you know has shoes, dresses, sports equipment, or other miscellaneous items not being used. They wouldn’t mind repurposing it to benefit someone else instead of giving it to the Salvation Army. Also, avoid the temptation to get unnecessary equipment. It will not only kill your pocketbook, but many items are probably not even used.
7. Create a Budget
Give your kids a strict activity budget at the beginning of the year. Your kids can pick which activities they prefer and track their spending.
8. Get Involved
Many leagues or after-school programs offer discounts or scholarships for volunteers or coaches. It’s a great way to save money and engage in your children’s activities. You have to spend time taking them to the activity, so why not get involved?
9. Look for Financial Assistance
It’s also not a bad idea to ask the program director for any scholarships or available financial help. The coach or director may offer you a discount or connect you with other small businesses that can help in exchange for promoting their business with bumper stickers or a t-shirt.
10. Try a Non-Profit Organization
Non-profit organizations like the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts usually have cheaper programs than the alternative. Plus, they have a great moral fabric to teach your kids strong ethics and cooperation with others.
Getting your child involved in extracurricular activities doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Extracurriculars are beneficial to your child’s growth and development, but you’ll also be teaching them to budget and prioritize. You can also help your child contribute to the costs by doing extra chores, babysitting, or selling baked goods. Keep these tips in mind for getting the most of your money from extracurricular activities.