One income family in an high cost area..... - Page 2

[RainbowTurtle]

For skating, also check with various communitiy centres and schools.  Around here, many have rinks in their yards and they are free. 

[frugalmum]

We are one income in a high COL area.  We have never done lessons for the kids... it adds up so quickly plus with a lot of kids it's just prohibitive.  Also I believe where there's a will there's a way... if they want to learn something bad enough they can teach themselves.  We recently moved down the street from an art school that offers classes for children.  I was so tempted but opted instead to take the cost of one set of lessons for one child (about $120) and spend it on art supplies and distribute them between all the kids.  My older two now have an online web comic they started drawing with the supplies and my other kids are drawing well too.  They spend hours drawing and get very competitive with each other.  This is better than any art class IMO.

[redvlagrl]

I forgot to say - I teach violin and have done many barters in the past. I have traded my services (usually to the child) for yoga lessons, wholistic nutrition, gifts for friends. It is definitely worth asking if one of the activities is with a private teacher.

Maybe a skating instructor could meet you at a free outside rink?

I am sure there is something that you could trade - even babysitting.