How To Save on Children’s Activities: Sports, Arts, and Education

Introduction: 

Education, arts, and sports are one of the major factors that influences a child’s growth. While some parents focus on formal education, extracurricular activities are also equally important. However, all these activities cost a lot of money.

At Play & Prosper, we know it’s possible to give your child a proper education and accommodate other activities like arts and sports without sacrificing the other aspects. That’s why we’ll be providing you with some tips on how to save on sports, arts, and education without compromising quality or experience.

We’ve simplified this post into two parts, the first is on how to save on education and the second part is how to save on activities such as sports and arts.

So, let’s get started.

 

How To Save on Education

Here are some of the ways you can save money on your child’s education: 

 

Start with a Plan

Like with all major decisions, saving on education should start with the creation of a savings plan.

During this planning phase, you want to estimate and get a reasonable idea of the cost of education. The cost of education would vary depending on your child’s age, the level of education, public or private education, and so on.

Also, you want to make plans for school uniforms, trips, stationeries, books, internet and computers, extracurricular activities, and more.

 

Try Budgeting

After knowing what the general cost of education is, you can start adjusting your budget to provide room for saving towards your child’s education.

From your budget, you’ll be able to get a clear picture of how your income stands against your estimate. This realization would help you formulate a roadmap and decide how to proceed toward your savings goal.

Related Article: The Best Budgeting Tools and Apps for Families

 

Start Saving

Once your budget is set and on paper, you can then proceed to actually saving. Depending on your income and how much you can set aside, you can break your savings into smaller amounts to be saved monthly, weekly, or whichever duration works for you.

We recommend creating a separate savings account for education or getting a 529 plan. Using a separate account reduces the odds of you tampering with the funds, and it also invokes a sense of seriousness toward your goal.

You can also use tools like automated saving, and locking of accounts to ensure you reach your target within the time frame. We also advise opening an account in your kid’s name just for education and start saving from now.

Save on Supplies and Uniforms
You don’t have to get brand-new things when you can get them free. If you have older kids, you can recycle their old uniforms and supplies for their younger ones.

Alternatively, you can also ask family and friends who have what you need or something similar. The point is to ask around and get anything you can for free and save money while doing so. 

 

Shopping List

School shopping can easily get out of hand, especially if you’re buying as you go. Having a shopping list that’s ranked based on order of importance will help curb impulse buying

Also, try not to be swayed by the pleas and requests of your kids, you know what’s best. Ensure you have already cleared the necessities before succumbing to the wants of your kids. There’s no harm in buying a few extra things if there’s extra cash.

 

Choose Generic Brands

Generic brands are a blessing to low-income parents. These brands are much cheaper than their branded counterparts, and they work just as well. Don’t feel pressured to go for the named brands if you can’t afford them comfortably, be content with generic brands, and save cost.

 

Try Different Options

A great technique that will ensure you get the best deals on school supplies purchases is by checking and comparing prices from different stores. Check if your local store has an online presence as it would be easier doing the price comparison online without worrying about transport costs.

We’ve looked at the different ways you can save on your child’s education without compromising quality. Now, let’s see how to save on the extracurricular activities.

 

How To Save on Children’s Activities

Here are some ways you can save on extracurricular activities without limiting fun.

 

Early Registration

Most sports clubs offer lower prices for kids who register early. Try to register your kid in their sport of interest as soon as possible, this also gives a bit of negotiating power and you can haggle for a discount.

 

Family Bonuses

Some programs offer deals for parents registering multiple kids. This option is a good money saver for parents with more than one child.

 

Fundraiser Clubs

Clubs that are operated by fundraising are usually free or cost little to register. These clubs are funded by crowdfunding instead of private organizations. Examples of these clubs are Boy Scouts and Red Cross.

These often don’t require registration fees, and they teach kids proper values and service to the community. Kids in these clubs are tasked with raising funds in creative ways that contribute to their mental and emotional development. There are also reward systems for kids in these clubs.

 

Volunteer

You can volunteer in different extracurricular groups to enjoy discounts or free passes for your kids. You can volunteer to be a coach or assistant in some capacity. This option is common in sports like soccer, basketball, and more.

 

Bottom Line

The best form of education is well-rounded and goes beyond schooling activities. As much as you want your children to know their math, it’s equally important they learn valuable skills through various activities.

At Play & Prosper, we believe you don’t have to break the bank to give your kids the best of parenting. The tips mentioned in this article are sure to help you handle the expenses of catering for children’s activities.