Parent Tip: The cost of a kip
A friend left a copy of the September 9, 2017 issue of Time Magazine on my desk with a sticky note that said, “You’re not alone!”. On the cover, a little league baseball player at bat above the words, “Crazy travel, Crazy Costs, Crazy Stress - How Kids Sports Turned Pro”. After reading the article, I didn’t feel quite as “crazy”.
2017-09-12
A friend left a copy of the September 9, 2017 issue of Time Magazine on my desk with a sticky note that said, “You’re not alone!”. On the cover, a little league baseball player at bat above the words, “Crazy travel, Crazy Costs, Crazy Stress - How Kids Sports Turned Pro”. After reading the article, I didn’t feel quite as “crazy”.
Gym fees, travel costs, meet fees, camps, leotards, hair ties...it all adds up. According to the New York Times, families can spend 10% of their annual income on youth recreational sports with the price tag skyrocketing as athletes progress to traveling and elite level teams.
The benefits of kids sports are vast at all levels of ability. Whether your athlete competes little league, high school, collegiate or for Team USA, he or she will learn many life lessons along the way. For many, the cost of those lessons is way out of reach, or requires great family sacrifice to maintain.
It’s not a matter of should we do it, rather, how can we make it work? Consider these ideas that may help a little?
- Travel: As soon as I get the meet schedule, I search Air BNB or Home Away for reasonable options near the meet venue. Often I’ll find a great place that I can share with another family that is half the cost of a nearby hotel. I love that I can make healthy meals at our home away from home which saves on the high cost of restaurants or icky fast food options. Carpool when you can to save on gas!
- All those LEOS!: Set up leotard and gym clothes consignment. A simple rack with a tag system can help you recoup some of the cash from that special “Aly” leo from Christmas. Families with little ones will appreciate the savings on their next leo.
- Kid Fundraising: My daughters decided they want to go to a special gymnastics summer camp, so we came up with a plan to split the cost. They have been working doing odd jobs, babysitting, and selling old toys to raise some cash for camp. I love that this year long plan has helped to teach some financial responsibility and get them super excited for camp!
Team Fees: $550. Aly Raisman Leo: $64.99. One week summer camp: $900.
Confident, Strong Girls: PRICELESS.