All the extra costs for school kids!!!!!

[nelson84]

Just a few off the top of my head:
hot dogs on Tuesday
pizza on Thursday
snack concession daily
penny drive for haiti
can food drive around Christmas time
swimming fees
down hill skiing fees
judo
soccor
tee ball
skating
dance class

and soon to come will be:
basketball
hockey

One thing you can't go cheap on is your kids.

 

[descovy]

Remember the days when you said, "Thank God I don't have to pay for more diapers? or formula? "

Nope, we keep paying... Next it will be "yay! no more soccer, lunch money, etc..." but we will be paying for colleges, weddings, etc...

That said, it's okay to say "NO." My kids have survived that word a time or two. Some of that stuff we pick-n-choose and choose not to do, and they survive

 

[elgerber]

Just this morning I wrote 3 checks. $20 yearbook, $35 foods class and $5 tech class. That $20 yearbook was better then my sons $70 yearbook I paid for last month! I hear ya!

 

[taximomfor4]

Just a few off the top of my head:
hot dogs on Tuesday unless chid uses own money, we don't participate
pizza on Thursday Same as above
snack concession daily same as above
penny drive for haiti same as above
can food drive around Christmas time
swimming fees basic YMCA lessons for us
down hill skiing fees only if they are giving up their chosen activity
judo same as above
soccor same as above
tee ball same as above
skating same as above
dance class Their chosen activity to the exclusion of others

and soon to come will be:
basketball only if they are giving up their chosen activity
hockey only if they are giving up their chosen activity

One thing you can't go cheap on is your kids.

Sure you can! We let each child choose ONE activity per season. Since the 3 girls dance (year-round), they don't get another. EXCEPT swim lessons at the YMCA, so they can be safe around water. DS doesn't dance, so he does baseball in the spring (cheapo city rec league), and basketball in the winter (not league basketball, just YMCA drills and skills).

I let the girls try YMCA gymnastics, since it was free for members anyway. They did it for a while, then one at a time gave it up.

Having to make choices has worked for our family. It keeps the kids' schedule reasonable, and doesn't drain the family finances.

 

[DCbride]

Just wait until high school- then you will wish you were just buying diapers and formula again! (yearbook for example: elementary school- $20, high school- $90)

 

[mjkacmom]

Let's see - we have 4 who play soccer (1 who plays on 2 teams) 3 who dance (1 four nights a week, plus a private each week, 2 who take gymnastics, 1 who takes tae kwon do, one in theater, 2 with a voice coach ($50 an hour), 1 in brownies, 1 in daisys, 1 in cub scouts, 2 in baseball (1 with two teams), 1 in basketball - I'm estimating close to $1000 a month.

Ds11 is going to Cooperstown this summer with one of his baseball teams ($700), Dd13 is auditioning for theater camp ($2000), and dd8 made irish dance nationals, and will be flying to Orlando in July. Can't wait for the spring, for all of the summer clinics/camps to write checks to! I pay over $500 for VBS alone!

 

[taximomfor4]

Just wait until high school- then you will wish you were just buying diapers and formula again! (yearbook for example: elementary school- $20, high school- $90)

If my kids want a yearbook, it's as a birthday gift. None of them have ever chosen the yearbook. Well, wait, each kid's Kindergarten year I buy the yearbook. And Senior year (although dd opted to have that money applied to a family vacation as a graduation trip, instead, along with the cost of all the other senior year "expenses".)

 

[mjkacmom]

Just this morning I wrote 3 checks. $20 yearbook, $35 foods class and $5 tech class. That $20 yearbook was better then my sons $70 yearbook I paid for last month! I hear ya!

Dd13's JH (2 year) yearbook was $65!

 

[taximomfor4]

Let's see - we have 4 who play soccer (1 who plays on 2 teams) 3 who dance (1 four nights a week, plus a private each week, 2 who take gymnastics, 1 who takes tae kwon do, one in theater, 2 with a voice coach ($50 an hour), 1 in brownies, 1 in daisys, 1 in cub scouts, 2 in baseball (1 with two teams), 1 in basketball - I'm estimating close to $1000 a month.

Ds11 is going to Cooperstown this summer with one of his baseball teams ($700), Dd13 is auditioning for theater camp ($2000), and dd8 made irish dance nationals, and will be flying to Orlando in July. Can't wait for the spring, for all of the summer clinics/camps to write checks to! I pay over $500 for VBS alone!

YIKES! Mine only still get to Irish Dance BECAUSE we limit their activities. We make a "kids' activities budget", and have to stick to it. I am realistic to know that if dd7 ever qualifies for Nationals, or especially Worlds, we won't be sending her. She will have to feel honored that she qualified. It can be a far-too-expensive activity so we know we will end up placing tough limits. (Just ask my 3 girls stuck in older 3-panel dance dresses, they LOVE them but the other kids DO make comments).

 

[mjkacmom]

YIKES! Mine only still get to Irish Dance BECAUSE we limit their activities. We make a "kids' activities budget", and have to stick to it. I am realistic to know that if dd7 ever qualifies for Nationals, or especially Worlds, we won't be sending her. She will have to feel honored that she qualified. It can be a far-too-expensive activity so we know we will end up placing tough limits. (Just ask my 3 girls stuck in older 3-panel dance dresses, they LOVE them but the other kids DO make comments).

Dd8 is my irish dancer, and that's all she does, but it's 4 nights a week. She did graduate from her 3 panel dress (anyone need one - it's probably a size 5/6 and in great condition ) to a slightly used $1200 solo dress. I think this one will be easier to sell than her last one, and now that she's prelim, all the girls have really nice solo dresses! I wasn't planning to send her to nationals, but her bff is going, too, and everyone at the studio looked at me like I'm nuts not to send her (we have a few going to Worlds in March). Dd7 is now starting, only because she wanted to take a dance class (no natural talent in this area), so she's going with dd8 one night, convenient, and only $65 a month, cheap compared to other dance studios here).

It's funny - ds11 is my jock (2 - 4 teams each season), but auditioned for the town play in January, and got a solo! Dd13 is my theater/choir kid, but now he LOVES this (and their voice coach wants him with an agency). Crazy. Ds7 is most likely ADHD, and NEEDS his Tae Kwon Do, and additional sports. I actually put him on my treadmill!

 

[ShannonMB]

It seems like it's ALWAYS something. But I guess I'm lucky, because I only had to send $13 today for DD's elementary yearbook. Hoping that means the HS one won't be $90!!! I don't know how you all with more than one kid do it!! Seriously, just my one is breaking the bank!

We are definitely on a budget, so the sky (unfortunately) is NOT the limit on what DD can participate in. We decided she'd join the team at her dance school this year, and between how often we are there and the extra cost of costumes (custom-made this year ), required makeup, and competition fees, that's going to be the only activity this year.

She will be allowed to go to sleepover camp for a week this summer, and maybe do one or 2 other short-time activities while school's out. She has expressed interest in voice lessons, and we've done ice skating and drill team in the past. But unless she wants to go back to just a few recreational dance classes, the other stuff just can't be done.

I feel bad sometimes that I'm not able to have her in everything she wants to do. Sad fact is, not enough time or money. Whaddaya do? The bills have to be paid. And we HAVE to go to Disney every year!

 

[pweyl36]

Sure you can! We let each child choose ONE activity per season. Since the 3 girls dance (year-round), they don't get another. EXCEPT swim lessons at the YMCA, so they can be safe around water. DS doesn't dance, so he does baseball in the spring (cheapo city rec league), and basketball in the winter (not league basketball, just YMCA drills and skills).

I let the girls try YMCA gymnastics, since it was free for members anyway. They did it for a while, then one at a time gave it up.

Having to make choices has worked for our family. It keeps the kids' schedule reasonable, and doesn't drain the family finances.

My thoughts excatly!

 

[3boymthr]

YIKES! Mine only still get to Irish Dance BECAUSE we limit their activities. We make a "kids' activities budget", and have to stick to it. I am realistic to know that if dd7 ever qualifies for Nationals, or especially Worlds, we won't be sending her. She will have to feel honored that she qualified. It can be a far-too-expensive activity so we know we will end up placing tough limits. (Just ask my 3 girls stuck in older 3-panel dance dresses, they LOVE them but the other kids DO make comments).

Not a tight activities budget but we do limit what the kids can do simply because I want them to have time to be kids - and for me to not be driving somewhere

It still seems to cost me a fortune.

School Valentines Parties $3 for #3 (Just cards), $10 for #2 (Cards + Chips for 22) and $15 for #1 (Reese's Pieces for 19 teenage boys )

$4 for French Bread for oldest DS to get extra credit in French

$40 for Jr. HS Yearbook

$x for HS application - I haven't gotten the cost yet, we have to pay for the transmission of the grades to the prospective HS - and both are public schools - just different districts .

$7 because youngest DS' lunch leaked and got all over his library book.


As far as activities go -

Oldest DS - Afterschool Basketball $25 for season; Guitar Lessons $100/month

Then all three are in scouts. Just for the last month or so...Cubscout overnight trip this year - $55/person x 3. Blue & Gold Banquet - $30. Klondike Derby $16. Professional Hockey Game $36. Equipment for Klondike Derby $50. February camp out for Boy Scouts $100.

 

[prncess674]

If my kids want a yearbook, it's as a birthday gift. None of them have ever chosen the yearbook. Well, wait, each kid's Kindergarten year I buy the yearbook. And Senior year (although dd opted to have that money applied to a family vacation as a graduation trip, instead, along with the cost of all the other senior year "expenses".)

Yearbooks are a great memento. I was so happy that my parents bought one for every year from kindergarten to college graduation. My sister and I were only one grade apart and we each got our own. Granted I graduated from college in 1996 which was before all the digital cameras, so yearbooks were a great reminder of school memories. I lived in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina and was devastated that my bookcase collapsed and they were all destroyed.

 

[everylastbreath]

Just wait until high school- then you will wish you were just buying diapers and formula again! (yearbook for example: elementary school- $20, high school- $90)

LMFAO.... wait until college, you'll be wishing for those HS days.....

 

[DawnM]

None of those is mandatory, each is a choice. If you can't afford it, don't do it. If you WANT to do it, then I don't understand why the complaining.

Dawn

Just a few off the top of my head:
hot dogs on Tuesday
pizza on Thursday
snack concession daily
penny drive for haiti
can food drive around Christmas time
swimming fees
down hill skiing fees
judo
soccor
tee ball
skating
dance class

and soon to come will be:
basketball
hockey

One thing you can't go cheap on is your kids.

 

[deerhart]

my oldest started twd last fall through the Y, its like $40 every 8 weeks. He also did art club after school for 8 weeks ($30). My youngest is to obnoxious for activities yet.

We are looking at soccer this spring ($70 per kid) and baseball ($70-$100 per kid depending on which league). We may end up splitting them up, my oldest in a developmental league, my youngest n a competitive league.

We also do swim lessons 1-2 times a year.

My oldest is taking Orchestra next year, so we will have the expense of renting a viola, purchasing music books, supplies, etc. That will probably run us about $250.00.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just a few off the top of my head:
hot dogs on Tuesday
pizza on Thursday
snack concession daily
penny drive for haiti
can food drive around Christmas time
swimming fees
down hill skiing fees
judo
soccor
tee ball
skating
dance class

and soon to come will be:
basketball
hockey

One thing you can't go cheap on is your kids.

I don't get "complaining" out of this post, merely the ramblings of a mom whose checkbook never collects dust... We are all in the same boat and I personally found myself chuckling thinking about all the expenses that crept up through the years...

My mom always taught us the smaller the child the smaller the problems, the bigger the child the bigger the problems.. BUT SHE NEGLECTED to tell me...

The older the child the bigger the check!!

Smile everyone, we gotta love our kids

 

[Avonlady1001]

Just as pre-K for child #1 is coming to an end & I was doing the happy dance that in April I make the final tuition payment...

Thanks for the reminder that I won't have that extra money per month after all... LOL

DD5 currently takes Irish Dance ($50/mth paid by MIL) & soccer ($90/yr)...and swimming lessons thru the town ($40 per 3 week session in summer - 5 days a week! A good bargain in my eyes!!)

Kindergarten can't be too bad with all those extras, right?

 

[goosedwn]

Yearbooks are a great memento. I was so happy that my parents bought one for every year from kindergarten to college graduation. My sister and I were only one grade apart and we each got our own. Granted I graduated from college in 1996 which was before all the digital cameras, so yearbooks were a great reminder of school memories. I lived in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina and was devastated that my bookcase collapsed and they were all destroyed.

I agree with you 110% that yearboosk are great memento. Dd is only in 3rd grade but we bought her yb every year so far. I didn't plan to buy her yb every year after her kindergarten year originally, but then I found out how much she enjoys looking at the pictures of herself and friends, I changed my mind. I think it is so worth it. She still takes her ybs out once in a while and look at them. She looks at her Dad's ybs too. She always asked where are mine because I have none for her to look. Once she heard that, she hugged me and tried to comfort me. ).

Wen