Anyone here with a child in an expensive sport?

[KayleeZoo]

My 8yo DD has been in gymnastics for 4 years; the monthly tuition has been about $120 up till now, and it's been managable.

She made the competitive team last month and we had the big parent meeting last night, where they give us the fee schedule for the 2008 season. I've got till October 9th to pay $860, in addition to $120/month.

Some parents wrote checks last night, like it was no big deal; for us, this is a lot of $$ to come up with in roughly 3 months.

Does anyone have kids in sports/activities that are costly? If so, do you save all year for when fees are due, or try and brainstorm ways to pay once you're faced with it, etc? Next year will approximately double what we're paying now (assuming that she moves to the next level) and I need to figure out how we're going to afford it.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

yikes, that is a LOT of money. Is that $860 for yearly fees, competition fees, what? and on top of the $120 tuition monthly?

My oldest is finally old enough for ice hockey this year, and he desperately wants to play, but it's so insanely expensive. Between the equipment, ice time, travel expenses - it adds way up. the closest rink's team fees are $800 for the season (and that only includes uniform and rink fees!) needless to say, we're really (REALLY!) trying to encourage him to choose another sport. They all play baseball, and this year was on the expensive side because the older two were on the travel tournament team and we had tournament entrance fees upwards of $300, on top of the regular team fees (about $100 per kid) We had to buy the oldest next catcher's equipment because the stuff supplied by the league was literally covered with green mold.

Anyway, we do have an activites line in the budget that we save towards year-round for this stuff, but we've had to up that amount several times this year already, LOL!

[KayleeZoo]

Is that $860 for yearly fees, competition fees, what? and on top of the $120 tuition monthly?

The fee breakdown is:
$600 for meet fees and coach's fees
$150 equipment fees (every competitive gymnast in the club pays this per year- any time anything needs to be replaced in the building, the $$ comes from this fund)
$55 USAG membership (required by law for competition)
$40 competition leotard
$15 gym bag

The $120 montly tuition is separate. So really, I've got to pay $1220 total, by October 9th

I wish we knew this was coming; I would have been saving like crazy before now!

[enkmom]

My son just graduated high school, but he played tennis. He had a membership to the racquet club, private lessons, a new racquet every year, tennis- only shoes twice a year, uniform fees, grips, restringing, and on and on. Add on our travel expenses to watch his matches, and we easily spent $1000/year. I don't regret it, but it did pinch. I also think we got off cheaply when I found out how much the families with kids in traveling soccer had to pay!

[cassiemc]

I have 2 children in competitive cheerleading. It's 2K a child per year for fees. The monthly tuition is $300 for the both of them. We have tons of fundraisers and payment plans. I would talk to the gym owner if I were you and see what the options are. Most places will let you work in trade for some of the tuition or make payment arrangements that you can deal with. It's worth a shot, good luck!!

[mumkenna&lucas]

My dd is getting in swimming year round and it is sooo expensive! I'd say its comparable to your gymnastics..Yikes!!

[bobandjess99]

Intaht situation, i would probably have to prioritize any large fees out of our tax refund each year.

[aeramom]

Yes! Marching band ends up costing up around $3000/year when all is said and done. We have it as a monthly item in our budget now, but it was an unpleasant surprise the first year!

[Ruthiegirl]

Yep, swim team, lacrosse and soccer. Plus dance lessons and piano lessons. We spend a lot on the kids. We budget for it, try to buy used when we can and pinch our pennies to make it all happen.

And it is always a shock when I write out the check at the beginning of the season.

[my2girlz]

My 6 year old is in pre-team gymnastics and it's $234 a month right now. She goes 7 hours a week. Next year if she makes the team and goes to level 4 it goes to $285/month plus $450 for competitions and coach fees. Plus you would need to have the $185 comp. leo. Oiy!

[1growingsprout]

No and this is one reason we dont do sports.

Now you say these are the 'fees' does this include all the fees for the year or will there be more fees per each competition?

how long is the season?

what about travel costs, will there be overnight stays?

how far away are the meets? gas mileage, wear tear on the car, snacks, food etc

is there only the 'one' gymsuit? what if dd grows will you need to buy another?

you sigg shows 2 other kids... what about them?? will they get equal time and $$...

honestly i dont see how families do it... i know they do but i just dont see it...

**Kathryn was doing ice skating when she was 8 and just joined our family but it didnt work out, she is much happier doing open skate and working on her skills at her own pace.

[kkfum]

are you all serious? and i'm being completely serious, myself...

i can't believe it costs this much $ for children to participate in sports. are these sports through the public school system or through outside organizations?
i never did sports as a kid (lots of music), but i'd like our children to experience sports that they have an interest in and might enjoy. although, assuming we are in a similar situation as we are now, we will likely be able to afford these fees, i'm not sure that i will want to pay them.

even though we're a ways off from having to deal with this (our dd is only almost 3yo), i'd like to know what we will be dealing with later on.
thanks!

[KayleeZoo]

Now you say these are the 'fees' does this include all the fees for the year or will there be more fees per each competition?
**These fees cover the whole season, which runs from October through February

how long is the season?

what about travel costs, will there be overnight stays?
**For any out of town meets, we cover all of our own expenses (gas, hotel, food, use our own vehicles, etc)

how far away are the meets? gas mileage, wear tear on the car, snacks, food etc

is there only the 'one' gymsuit? what if dd grows will you need to buy another?
**If she outgrows her competition leo, we buy another one in the next size up

you sigg shows 2 other kids... what about them?? will they get equal time and $$...
**That's a tough one. Right now, our 5yo isn't interested in an outside activity. We had her in gymnastics, but she didn't enjoy it, so she stopped. If/when she decides to start something else, we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it. The 3yo doesn't need a paid activity, so we'll wait and see on him, too.

I was talking with a friend whose son's competitive soccer team is more expensive than our gymnastics expenses, so I'm feeling like this is a normal thing that most people encounter whose kids advance in sports. It sucks that some kids will be excluded from these opportunities, though, because of finances.

[superstella]

Originally Posted by enkmom

My son just graduated high school, but he played tennis. He had a membership to the racquet club, private lessons, a new racquet every year, tennis- only shoes twice a year, uniform fees, grips, restringing, and on and on. Add on our travel expenses to watch his matches, and we easily spent $1000/year. I don't regret it, but it did pinch. I also think we got off cheaply when I found out how much the families with kids in traveling soccer had to pay!

My dh makes a very decent living coaching competitive travel soccer.

To the OP - one thing I don't see mentioned that the parents pay for on my dh's teams is coach's travel. In addition to his monthly fees, the parents are expected to pay for gas and accomodations for the coach to any out of town tournaments.

I also have to agree that many kids are excluded from competitve soccer due to cost.

[Norasmomma]

I think that having fundraisers are a good idea. There are all kinds of fundraisers for kids to do different things where I live. There were 3 boys at the Farmer's Market today doing a fundraiser for baseball camp. It may not be ideal, but it does help with the finances.

[34me]

My son plays competetive (travel) ice hockey and competetive lacrosse. Our fees last year, just for ice and coaching were $1200. Then we had a "team fee" which covered such things as coaches expences for non parent coaches, one more tournament because the $1200 only covered 2.5 and we wanted to do 3, a couple hundred for extra ice because our city rink closes for two weeks for an ice skating show, etc. This does not count equipment, of course. Lacrosse it not as bad - only $250 for the 8 week season plus equipment.

My son does bust his butt doing fundraisers for hockey and our organization sells scrip which goes directly to his account. We sell QDoba coupons which cost us $1 and sell for $10. It's great for people that eat there because they really get their monies worth and they sell themselves. Not everyone does fundraisers but we do.

It is the first money that comes out of our tax return every year so that I can write that check in full in August. For us, it's almost not an option to do or not to do. He is a very high needs kid that if we could harness his energy the fuel shortage would be a non issue . He also eats a lot better when he's playing; otherwise he eats very little to the point it's dangerous.

Yes, I do have other kids. Luckily for us they are not interested in sports but other thing. DD is into art - pottery, photography, etc. She has a pretty good camera for a 14 yo. She paid half and we paid half. She takes pottery through parks and rec and it's close enough she can ride her bike. DS#2 is a bit of a free spirit who has tried a lot of organized activities but hasn't found anything he's passionite about yet. Luckily his best friend lives on a farm and he loves it. And the bonus is they live close enough to us to walk or bike over there and of course his friend is always welcome here too.

One thing that helps is that although we don't make a ton of money we have almost no debt (mortgage and one small car payment) and live in a small house (less than 1000 sq ft for 5 ppl and 2 dogs).

So that's more info than you probably want......

[mommyof3andcountin]

I was about to say yes, but DD's irish dancing looks downright cheap now .....I'll go away

[Sk8ermaiden]

I did competitive figure skating for 8 years and Lessons and Ice Time cost roughly $1,000 a month. Skates easily ran over $800 a pair and didn't even last a year. I shudder to mention the crazy cost of competition dresses (a couple hundred each - for simple ones) and fees. I paid the vast majority of it out of my own pocket (worked like a dog to do so) and it was worth every penny. I still miss it. It was my first love.

[dbsam]

not yet, but I was hoping my kids could take riding lessons. The lessons and corresponding costs are quite a bit - we may wait a while before they start.

I was also hoping they would take music lessons - strings. But my husband convinced me instead of purchasing instruments and paying for classes I should teach them piano at home.

[ILuvMyBaby]

I am a competitive dance teacher and it is very expensive with competition fees and costumes.

I am just surprised they are asking for it all up front. Can you speak to them about doing payments? or ask if there is any way to barter for part of the services? cleaning/working at the office/paperwork?

Have you thought about looking at other gyms? You might find somewhere cheaper.

Is she only doing it this one season? or are there more seasons this year? Is it $600 per season and there are 3 seasons a year or something?

The teachers fee just seems a lot to me and I am a teacher What is that going towards? paying teachers to go the meets, etc? I know it adds up but that just seems a lot per child to me.

Above all, I think it is wonderful that your daughter has found something she loves to do and that you are fully supporting her