Spending on kids activities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

that’s insane to spend 108k on fencing of all things. All i can do is calculate how much down the drain that is for someone at your income
level. and the lost opportunity costs…ooof!

It's not down the drain. His son is having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

that’s insane to spend 108k on fencing of all things. All i can do is calculate how much down the drain that is for someone at your income
level. and the lost opportunity costs…ooof!

It's not down the drain. His son is having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills.

He's a single parent with take-home pay of 66K/year who is spending 27%+ of that on that activity. That is fiscally irresponsible. He's spending more than his mortgage should be at that income. The kid can take karate for $125/month and achieve the same "having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By the way, care is 3,500 for infant and ~2500 for preschool, so this feels completely fine since we are not so many years out of the childcare years

It's only "fine" if you are also saving enough for college. Otherwise, most of the infant/preschool care $$$ should be going towards college

Of course, there was savings going on the whole time - just saying child costs have gone down a lot, which leaves more room for activities. Plus we did some preschool age activities (swim, gymnatstics).

Also, depending on if one expects to work during college years, you can expect to cash flow some of the college costs. College costs roughly 0.75-3x/year the amount that daycare costs/year. But I don't want to count on needing/having the same cash flow until my kid is out of college age.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure our total, but it’s probably 2k/month (total for 3 kids). We can afford it, but I do think it’s pretty insane. I definitely don’t think it’s necessary, or the only way to do things. Each of our kids is in a roughly travel-level sport, and also takes music lessons. We have no illusion that anyone will get scholarships to college. We spend the money to allow them to stay healthy and follow some of their passions.

I certainly didn’t have this option as a kid, and I was happy. So we’d be ok if we had to give it up

[Anonymous]

Probably 2K/semester total (3 kids aged 6-13) plus more in summer for camps. This includes everything (sports, music lessons, speech copays, tutoring, etc). Lower COLA than DMV, though.

[Anonymous]

It's about ~$1,200 per kid per month, not including things like tutoring.

[Anonymous]

$800 a month on one kid. Not childcare. Other kid does not do any activities outside of school (her choice).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

that’s insane to spend 108k on fencing of all things. All i can do is calculate how much down the drain that is for someone at your income
level. and the lost opportunity costs…ooof!

It's not down the drain. His son is having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills.

He's a single parent with take-home pay of 66K/year who is spending 27%+ of that on that activity. That is fiscally irresponsible. He's spending more than his mortgage should be at that income. The kid can take karate for $125/month and achieve the same "having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills".

Fencing is a great sport. We spend more on activities and tutoring than our mortgage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

that’s insane to spend 108k on fencing of all things. All i can do is calculate how much down the drain that is for someone at your income
level. and the lost opportunity costs…ooof!

It's not down the drain. His son is having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills.

He's a single parent with take-home pay of 66K/year who is spending 27%+ of that on that activity. That is fiscally irresponsible. He's spending more than his mortgage should be at that income. The kid can take karate for $125/month and achieve the same "having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills".

Fencing is a great sport. We spend more on activities and tutoring than our mortgage.

Do you only bring in $66K/year total?

I get it's a great sport. It's also an expensive sport and not one ideal for someone at that income level. I too spent way more than our mortgage on our kids activities. We also had no mortgage after our oldest was 5 years old. It's all relative to your entire budget. But I highly doubt someone with $5500/month can really afford to spend that much on a kid's activity (unless it's medical/therapy that is desperately needed). There are much better and more affordable alternatives to give the same "benefits"

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing this. We switched clubs and the new club is definitely focused on wringing all money it can from its parents. If we go down this path, I can foresee that it’s going to cost a lot more $$$$.

While I am not expecting any scholarships given fencing is a no revenue sport, I’m hoping if the kids excel it could be a + on their applications to selective colleges. Not sure how unrealistic that is. It is too early to tell if the kids are talented and committed, also whether I want to foot the bill.

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

[Anonymous]

Foreign language tutoring is for the 1 kid that didn’t get the immersion lottery and for the 2 kids who did get the immersion lottery and needs to keep up their language skills during the summer. Parents don’t speak the language.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Averages to $2,300 on three kids monthly. Music lessons, math tutoring, foreign language tutoring, swim lessons, math competitions, fencing etc… I am astounded by the amount but we have the money and it is a small % of overall income.

Those are some boring activities. Are you immigrants?

Dp. What a weird comment. I am not an immigrant nor is my spouse. These are basically the same activities as my kids except swap chess for fencing.

Why do foreign language tutoring for your kids if you aren’t immigrants? Sounds like torture for the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

that’s insane to spend 108k on fencing of all things. All i can do is calculate how much down the drain that is for someone at your income
level. and the lost opportunity costs…ooof!

It's not down the drain. His son is having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills.

The main question would be whether all these kids who grow up without trust funds and whose parents spend most of their disposable income on activities will even have time/money to practice these activities when they have to start seriously working for a living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $1500/month for my son's fencing. And I take home only $5500. I am a single dad. Some days I regret putting him in fencing because it's clearly too much given my take home pay. Other days I am happy that my son enjoys fencing and brings him joy.

My advice to parents like me who don't make a lot is to be plan well otherwise you will end up spending on a sports that won't give them scholarship for college instead saving that money for college.

But he has been doing it for 6 years now and he likes it.

It's okay. When I die it's not like I am going to be buried with my money. At least I have $0 debt.

My neighbor is from France and his son is amazing in tennis and swimming. He said it cost them very little compared to here.

America is fantastic at monetizing everything.

On a positive note, if you are wealthy and can afford it please support your child and give them whatever they need. They will be very appreciative. My son is really grateful and that alone is enough to keep motivated.

that’s insane to spend 108k on fencing of all things. All i can do is calculate how much down the drain that is for someone at your income
level. and the lost opportunity costs…ooof!

It's not down the drain. His son is having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills.

He's a single parent with take-home pay of 66K/year who is spending 27%+ of that on that activity. That is fiscally irresponsible. He's spending more than his mortgage should be at that income. The kid can take karate for $125/month and achieve the same "having fun and is exercising, making friends, and honing his skills".

Fencing is a great sport. We spend more on activities and tutoring than our mortgage.

formula one racing is also a great sport, doesn’t mean i’m going to go out and indulge my kid in a sport that’s financially irresponsible for my income level. All sports are great, but fencing is idiotic in his income. maybe pick up a tennis racket. It’s practically free and great.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html

And it's only going to get worse, probably.

[Anonymous]

Man - I can't believe how little you all spend on activities! My 8th graders travel soccer club is $2300 not incl the travel tournaments and uniform every 2 years. Her piano is another just shy of $4k annually for 45 min weekly lessons and that's not incl any tutoring at $100/hr - she's straight A student though my other kid a Soph has less expenses given HS sports but summer for us is being a nonstop ATM since he takes classes he likes and soon the car and insurance costs will kick in.

Our mortgage is nothing compared to what we spend on kids esp over summers.

We can afford it but let's just say that they take pretty much everything. But here's the thing - why wouldn't we spend it on our kids you know?

My soccer player plays at a high level and the piano is pretty serious so it's not like it's going to waste? She truly loves both and I strongly believe that while it's a lot, it's really helped her academically and socially. Money well spent to me is better than no down and no gain.