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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Lots of extra activities - how do you afford it all?

31 replies

Pinkspottyegg · 07/01/2013 16:39

Perhaps I'm just very naive but those with two or more kids whose children do tons of activities - how do you pay?

Seriously, I don't mean to offend but am genuinely curious. I have two kids. They each do Brownies/Cubs, one does guitar, one does tennis and we all go swimming once a week - this amounts to almost £100 a month averaged out over a year. There are families around with kids who do loads more than mine and/or have more kids doing more than mine. I've just lost all my child benefit and will now have to seriously budget each month so they can continue with these basics.

Are you all just minted?

OP posts:
RaspberryLemonPavlova · 07/01/2013 20:03

We hardly go out and the kids know their music lessons are instead of a trip to Disneyland. Luckily all 3 feel the same way.

DS2 has just come up trumps because he has just become a chorister and gets a grant towards instrumental lessons, plus an annual bursary, which means the budget stretches further. (He did want to do this though, the financial gain is a bonus!)

The hard part is the other opportunities that have come as they get older, school runs annual band trips. DS1 has been an an international scout camp and DD is going abroad with scouts this year. We have had to strictly limit those trips.

Original poster
Pinkspottyegg · 07/01/2013 16:57

Well we hardly ever go out. That in itself is expensive then you have to add in the cost of babysitters.

I don't think I'd actually want my kids to do more anyway as I think three things a week is enough and they need time to play with pals and just chill (oh and do homework!)

OP posts:
ThreeBeeOneGee · 07/01/2013 16:50

Sorry, I meant DS3 who does the drums. It's difficult to persuade DS2 to do anything.

angelinterceptor · 07/01/2013 16:50

I tok would rather spend on sports etc rather than a night out drinking or fancy dinner.
Agree it's very ££ though: my DD does tennis and drama/singing at nearly £50/ week and my DS does tennis and hockey at about £30/ week.

ThreeBeeOneGee · 07/01/2013 16:49

We give each child a weekly budget and explain this to them. They know they can only do the activities they can afford. DD and DS2 have only been able to start instrumental lessons (flute and drums) since they gave up swimming lessons, which they were allowed to do once they got to a certain level.

Now that DS1 is in secondary school, there are a lot more free activities. DS2 is very reluctant to do any activities, so has offered to "sell" part of his remaining budget to the others. Grin

Arisbottle · 07/01/2013 16:43

We have a higher than average household income and it us a priority. We probably don't have flash holidays in comparison to other families in a similar income bracket . We also use state schools and top up.