How much have you spent this school year on extras?

[Anonymous]

I don’t mean things like aftercare or care for no school days, where you needed coverage because of work. I mean extras the kids really did not necessarily NEED, like rec sports, math acceleration, reading tutors, art class, music activities, swimming lessons.

I only have one kid, but from a time and money standpoint I don’t know how you guys with 2 or 3 kids are doing it! I am beginning to feel the time/money creep and feeling slightly overwhelmed already. Does it get better? Where do you get the energy after work? How are you finding time for yourself and for your spouse?

[Anonymous]

Probably about $6k.

[Anonymous]

This year, 2024? This is a lot. Paid by dad's child support, I don't earn enough to cover this.

For one child:
Around $1300 for one child. I signed her up for four art classes at about $275 each so she'd have somewhere to go on cold days after school. That's 6-8 weeks between late January and March. Plus $85 for a ticket to Shen Yun and $45 for a one-day class. But that's not regular spending for us. That was seasonal while sun sets early and parks unappealing. When current classes end and seasons change, class time will be replaced by free time out at the park.

P

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year, 2024? This is a lot. Paid by dad's child support, I don't earn enough to cover this.

For one child:
Around $1300 for one child. I signed her up for four art classes at about $275 each so she'd have somewhere to go on cold days after school. That's 6-8 weeks between late January and March. Plus $85 for a ticket to Shen Yun and $45 for a one-day class. But that's not regular spending for us. That was seasonal while sun sets early and parks unappealing. When current classes end and seasons change, class time will be replaced by free time out at the park.

P

This school year, August 2023 until now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably about $6k.

Can you break this down a little? Is this for one kid or more?

[Anonymous]

I think around $5k so far not including incidentals like paying for music fundraisers or buying sports balls for practicing at home. That $5k includes prepaying for several weeks of summer camps. I should start keeping a ledger.

[Anonymous]

Don’t want to think about it. 6-10k on one kid, maybe. This year has been far more expensive. But, two sports camps, one band camp, orchestra, private music lessons, group music lessons, summer sports, and another camp, plus a pricy school trip.

[Anonymous]

I probably pay $500/month right now for two kids’ activities- a travel sport plus another rec sport for one child, and rec gymnastics plus piano for the other. That’s accounting for gear and one-off purchases or fundraisers.

[Anonymous]

I budget 30k/yr for 2 kids. This includes music, sports, summer camp, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year, 2024? This is a lot. Paid by dad's child support, I don't earn enough to cover this.

For one child:
Around $1300 for one child. I signed her up for four art classes at about $275 each so she'd have somewhere to go on cold days after school. That's 6-8 weeks between late January and March. Plus $85 for a ticket to Shen Yun and $45 for a one-day class. But that's not regular spending for us. That was seasonal while sun sets early and parks unappealing. When current classes end and seasons change, class time will be replaced by free time out at the park.

P

Sorry, sent too early. In addition to the seasonal $1300 there's the summer camp fees. About $1k already paid and another $1k due.

I'm in the same boat as you in that this is very expensive. We have 3 kids. The older girl from previous marriage has dad to pay for her. But for our 2 younger kids, no way to keep up. Will probably move to a less expensive area when the federal contract I work for ends.

Re:
Does it get better? Where do you get the energy after work? How are you finding time for yourself and for your spouse?

Does it get better? I hope so

My hope with the younger 2 kids, we will be able to spend much less on activity and they'll be fine because as parents we have a peaceful, happy home and weekend trips and all that. Dad is an involved parent, knows much, great at explaining. Our weekend trips are usually supposed to be somewhat educational- farms, Shenandoah caves, that kind of thing. We try to choose movies and books and all that for quality, so aiming to raise well rounded without spending many thousands.

How are you finding time for yourself and for your spouse?

This is hard. Kids are 1, 4, 9. We aim for an "just 15 minutes a day" of alone time, but that's a wish. The way he and I spend time together is that he reads interesting articles to me when I'm busy in the kitchen. Or we call and talk on his long drive to work.

For self time, it's having a hobby and finding just a bit for this daily. I'm learning about gardening. Yesterday, read for probably 20 minutes, mostly while kids took a bath with the door open and I was in the next room within view. And then another 10 minutes to plant some seeds. So just eking out bits of time here and there has been the solution, and it works to keep moving forward.

Keep your head up. It's overwhelming but there are ways to make time for husband and self, to spend less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably about $6k.

Can you break this down a little? Is this for one kid or more?

2 kids, after school activities. Not including parties or camp or stuff bought for sleepovers.

[Anonymous]

~ $400 a month

Weekly swim lessons at rec center ~ $100
Dance class ~ $140
Music lessons ~ 140

[Anonymous]

I pay a crap ton for 3 kids. Kids activities are a huge part of my budget. Plus we send them to an expensive sleepaway camp for 2-3 weeks.

Not including sleepaway camp - I am paying appx. $1,400 / mo. for activities for 3 kids. Now, that doesn’t leave my checking account every month. I use YNAB so that includes saving each month so I have enough when the bill comes due. Some of what I’m contributing there isn’t billed monthly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pay a crap ton for 3 kids. Kids activities are a huge part of my budget. Plus we send them to an expensive sleepaway camp for 2-3 weeks.

Not including sleepaway camp - I am paying appx. $1,400 / mo. for activities for 3 kids. Now, that doesn’t leave my checking account every month. I use YNAB so that includes saving each month so I have enough when the bill comes due. Some of what I’m contributing there isn’t billed monthly.

Oh and I do a lot of carpools.

[Anonymous]

One rec sport per season per kid = $750
Girl Scouts = $300 includes new vests for both this year

That's it so far this school year.