Utah Money Moms
  • HOME
  • RESOURCES
  • About
  • Contact
  • Online Course

6 Ways to Save on Kids' Extracurricular Activities

12/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Guest Contributor: Callie Ward
​USU Extension Assistant Professor
Picture
Picture
Guys, it is WRESTLING SEASON at our house!! Wrestling was always big in my high school and with my family, and now with a son that loves it, the tradition continues. Like many sports or extracurriculars, wrestling has some cost associated with it: Registration / Team Fees, Uniform and Gear Costs, Tournament Registration, Travel, Concessions or food (This one is a HUGE cost!), Team Swag for the participant and the family support, Fundraisers (every parents favorite). These add up fast and so do the collection of team t-shirts too! (TIP: For a cheap and fun way to save your t-shirts here is a step by step guide for a t-shirt quilt.) As a parent, I can see the benefits of any kind of extracurriculars for my kids, physically, socially, and emotionally and make sure to plan for them each month within our budget. Researching how to save on this cost, I have come up with some tips to get you through the season: 

  • Volunteer: some programs may waive the fee if you volunteer, most larger events such as tournaments will not charge you an entrance fee and more likely give you a free t-shirt, then you don’t have to buy one!  
  • Register Early: Early bird gets the worm! In this case, a cheaper option for your budget. This might not be the case for everything but register early and avoid the late fees.
  • Thrift or Swap: Wrestling gear can get expensive and they always grow out of it so fast! Ask around to friends or family to swap wrestling shoes or singlets. Thrift stores are other great options! I always look out for this kind of stuff, especially if they are something my son can grow into. I found a pair of wrestling shoes once for $5 in a bin and threw them in the washer and they were like new!
  • Carpool: There are usually other parents that would love to carpool. This helps with gas cost, plus, to be honest, your kid will probably have more fun with his buddies (Haha!) 
  • Pack snacks: When traveling with kids or going to events, food costs rack up fast and are a budget buster for me way too often. If allowed at the venue, pack your meals, drinks, and snacks. Bring a refillable water bottle, that alone could save you a boatload!
  • Pick just a few: Sometimes kids want to do it all! We love wrestling and basketball, so that is what my son does. He is asked for soccer and baseball, but it is okay to say no if it does not fit into the budget or the schedule. 
Now, go throw on your team colors, get your best mom cheering voice ready, and stay on budget this season! 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    TAKE A FREE CLASS!

    Sign Up

    Host a Class

    Click Here!

    Picture

    amanda

    Sharing real-life money smarts to help you stay on track with financial goals while still enjoying life!
    Blog editor,  Accredited Financial Counselor &
    Extension Professor
    Utah State University 


    Follow the fun on Instagram


    AS SEEN ON

    Picture

    awards

    Picture
    Best of State 2022: Personal Finance Education
    Picture
    1st Place National Award in Social Media Education from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
    Picture
    Gold Award in Blog Site category at the 7th a​nnual Education Digital Marketing Awards.
    Picture
    Platinum Award in Digital Media, Web Design category at the International Marketing and Communication Awards.

      stay updated!

    Subscribe

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    2020 Census
    Allowance
    America Saves Week
    Book Review
    Budgeting
    Car Insurance
    Charity Fraud
    College
    Consumer Protection
    Couples And Money
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Credit
    Credit Cards
    Data Breach
    Debt
    Earth Day
    Education Expense Planning
    Emergency Savings
    Entrepreneurship
    Estate Planning
    Events
    Financial Binder
    Financial Education
    Financial Emergency Prep
    Financial Freedom
    Financial Goals
    Financial Health
    Financial Literacy Month
    Financial Paperwork
    Financial Peer Pressure
    Financial Security
    Financial Vision Board
    Flexible Spending Account
    Food Budget
    Gift Giving
    Holiday
    Holiday Budgeting
    Home Maintenance
    Homeownership
    Identity Theft
    Inexpensive Fun
    Inflation
    Insurance
    Investing
    Kids And Money
    Money Mindfulness
    Money Monday
    Money Personality
    Money Tip
    Mortgage
    Mutual Funds
    My529
    Net Worth
    Panic Buying
    Personal Allowance
    Personal Property Inventory
    PowerPay
    Renting
    Retirement
    Review
    Revolving Savings
    Roth IRA
    Saving
    Scams
    Singles And Money
    Spending
    Student Loans
    Taxes
    Tax Freedom Day
    Teens And Money
    Tracking Spending
    Travel
    Unemployment
    Utah Saves Week
    Vacation
    Women And Money

OTHER RESOURCES

finance.usu.edu
livewellutah.org
extension.usu.edu
powerpay.org

    STAY UPDATED!

Subscribe

FOLLOW US

  • HOME
  • RESOURCES
  • About
  • Contact
  • Online Course