5 Tips For Saving On Kids’ Sports

When it comes to your kids’ volleyball, basketball and everything in between, costs seem to be rising every year. This puts extra pressure on already-strained family budgets, and can sometimes lead to skipping the very activities that kids enjoy most. Before you scrap plans for putting Junior on the team, check out these simple tactics for getting more game time for your hard-earned dollar.

Keep it In the Family
While every child is unique, and there is no guarantee that all siblings will enjoy the same sport, a shared love of football, soccer or tennis has its financial benefits. In addition to the possibility of combining carpooling duties and saving fuel, there is the chance to hand down equipment and uniforms to younger brothers and sisters. Many class athletics, like karate and gymnastics, will give discounts of 5-40% to each additional family member that signs up for lessons after the first enrolment. Your mileage will vary for this “bulk buying” approach, but it has worked for many large families over the years.

Skip the Fundraising
Selling popcorn, greeting cards and holiday wreaths in an effort to fund athletic programs comes from pure intentions. Unfortunately, the time and effort involved can quickly drain a fundraising mom or dad (and is not usually welcomed by the family and friends you peddle to.) Before you sign up to market pizza coupons to your workplace, see if there is possibility to simply donate the cash equivalent of what the organization would net on the sale. Profit margins on fundraising items can be dismally low, and many people would rather just see that the child be supported – sans the overpriced gimmick.

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