What are you doing to save money on fall sports and actvities for your kids?

Do you limit the number of activities they partcipate in?

Do you get a discount for having multiple kids in the same activity?

Do you stick to sports through the recreation department which tend to be cheaper?

Are you looking for used equipment?

We are paid for fall and spring in soccer.

I saved a little by saving all the soccer shoes we have used for my older son hoping they would one day fit his brother if he played. Paid off for at least this fall!

We did buy the younger guy a new his only soccer ball as a rite of passage

Now I just have to remember to budget in the fees for next year by May! I am also setting money aside for our pool membership next year, that way I won't feel the hit in my wallet when its all due at once.

They are doing one activity and we get a 2nd child discount. The only thing they need for gymnastics are leotards which I get at Target.

We will also get snow ski passes, hopefully we will get some snow this year

I bought the snow ski clothes for the girls on ebay last year. Luckily I have two girls and can pass the clothes and pink equipment down to the next child.

dd will be doing two different dance classes( she did one class last year). since she is a return dancer we got a discount...20% off the lessons per month.

ds will once again join teams at school and they supply the uniform shirts for the teams( i just have to wash his). if they play out of town then i have to pay for the bus ride( i send food with him to eat so no fast food if they stop, unless he wants to pay for it out of his allowance...which he does not want to do).

DD is doing swim lessons at the Y, which is very affordable. She also wants to take karate this year. They offer a "bundle" of coupons at a very affordable price, so we will do that, as well. DS is very "skittish" and we don't think he's ready for swim lessons yet, so we'll just do free library classes and playgroups for him for now.

DD is 3 she will be doing library story time (free) and Play to Learn (a free pre-school program put on by the children's museum) We also will be doing play dates with friends. She is old enough for lessons I just don't want to spend the money quite yet.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

Right now I am ok with spending a little money for the kids to try out some activities. I figure the more they are out running around playing soccer (already signed them up for that) and basketball (no paperwork sent home yet) than the less time they are wanting to sit on their butts and watch tv or play video games, hence I am saving money on electricity. Beings they are young kids-1st and 2nd grade most of the activities are not too expensive. They do not need much for soccer just shine guards and long socks. Uniforms are furnished. Basketball all they need is shoes. I just bought them each one pair of tennis shoes that are strickly for sports only. Then that will save wear and tear on their tennis shoes for school. Ds 1 will do Cub Scouts again this year and as of right now, ds2 still wants to do it too. We have a family membership to the Rec so any other activities that that they put on during the year we will take a look at.
Now there was Pee Wee football sign ups a month ago that we said NO to. It was totally outrageous. It would have cost $330 per kid-two kids. Plus all the games were over an hour away. So it would have easily cost $75 or more each weekend that there was a game. Figure gas, fill up a cooler with snacks and drinks. So we guessed that for them to play football (9 regular games, dont know how many tournament games) it would have roughly cost $1300!!!

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