Every parent has said they would "love to be able to afford classes" for their children, or "more for their children". Every parent wants to provide more for their children than what they had in their own childhood. Well, the reality is that classes are affordable, educational and a training that your child will benefit from for a lifetime. It is a myth that classes are too expensive when you stop and think about it.
What most parents do not realize is that we generally spend money on other "things" daily that could easily pay for classes that builds confidence, self discipline, creativity, problem solving, organization skills and much more, that can assist a young person throughout their lives. Best of all, an investment into classes can also lead to a successful career track or even scholarships to college.
So let's take a look at just where you might be able to find the tuition money that is hiding in your home or in your families habits. Listed below are just a few instances, but maybe it will help you to start thinking as to where else you can actually find the money for classes.
1. Soda has became a daily item in alot of family lives. The average cost in our area of a large soda is approximately $1.98 with out sales tax. One large soda consumed once a day (average of 7 per week) comes to $13.86 per week, $59.40 per month, $712.72 per year. Not to mention all of the sugar and calories!
2. Let's look at something that is better for us and costs less. Bottled water. We will use the example of the cheaper bottled water in the convenience stores that cost .99 per bottle, again with out tax. The purchase of five bottles per wek comes to $4.95. Not too bad of a out of pocket cost. $4.95 then translates to $19.80 permonth o $257.40 per year. If two people in your home makes the same purchase, then the cost out of pocket is now $514.80 per year.
3. Do you love Starbucks Frappacinos? Who doesn't! But just one frappacino once a week, comes to $200.20 a year! Two per week is $400.40 per year and worse, if there are two family members buying twice a week ( or one person buying four times a week) that is over $800.00 per year! And it all starts with just a $3.85 drink before tax.
4. Let's look at a cheaper alternative. McDonalds offers an extra large ice coffee for only $1.98 plus tax. Not bad of a price. But only one of them a week comes to $102.96 per year. A family habit of five times a week now becomes $514.80 per year. Two family members purchasing this drink five times a week, now becomes $1029.60 for the year. Again, not calculating sales tax here. Cheaper may not always be better for saving money!
5. Again, lets look at something even a bit cheaper. Our local Braum's offers a .89 ice cream cone ,plus tax. One cone a week for a year is $46.28 plus tax. If two cones a week are purchased, that now becomes $1.78 per week, $7.12 per month, but $88.40 per year. and again, you have to add the sales tax.
6. Everyone loves the convenience of the children's boxed/sacked fast food meals. Right? At $3.96 per, they are a bargin, fast and easy! But maybe not so. One meal per week can soon add up to $205.92 per year. Two children once a week is a monthly average of $31.68 per month or $411.84 per year (plus the tax and the extra calories!) Two childrens meals twice a week is $823.88 a year and three childrens meals once a week is $617.76 a year. BUT three children twice a week is $1,235.52 PLUS TAX.
7. Are you a daily coffee drinker? Based on a five day work week (we are not including weekends here but are including our local sales tax), if a person purchases a 16 oz,.96 cup of coffee once per week, that comes to $49.92 per year. But one .96 cup of coffee per work day now becomes $249.60 per year. A large percentage of workers actually grab a cup of coffee before work, then at least twice a day on break. Two cups of coffee a day during a 5 day work week is $9.60 per week, $38.40 per month and $499.20 per year. Three cups of coffee per day during a 5 day work week is $14.40 per week, $57.60 per month and $748.80 per year. If there are two coffee drinkers in a household that drink three cups a day during a five day work week, that now becomes $1497.60 for the year.
8. You are a coffee drinker but you save money because you supply your own cup at the convienence store? A 16 oz coffee at .42 seems like a great bargin. But one cup a day for five days (again, not including weekends but we are including sales tax) comes to $2.10 per week, $8.40 per month and $109.20 per year. Two cups a day comes to $218.40 a year and three cups a day to $327.60 per year. Once again, if two in the household are drinking three cups a day, it now comes to $655.20 per year.
The point here is that it is easy to say "we cannot afford it", when we may already be spending more money than we realized! Just think about this for a moment. Dad has his coffee needs and we will say he discounts by bringing his own cup to the convenience store. Mom needs that afternoon soda fix and she loves the crushed ice. And on busy days, it is easier to drop by and get the kids a boxed/sacked meal so you can get to your destination on time. The family is now spending an average of $1,460.16 per year.
Spending $1,460.16 per year can afford three children a class in dance, music, tumbling, cheerleading, gymnastics, or swimming lessons. And there is a super guarantee that goes with it! These classes will not add extra sugar, calories, fat or pounds to your child's life. The classes will add more value and skill to your child's life.
So, it just depends on how you look at things. We do hope that this has started a new thought process for you and that you will soon find ways to afford everything that you want for your children. Classes are not expensive. And the reason they are not is because they are an investment in your child and not just a cup of coffee or a boxed meal.
Just something to think about.
PS You might want to check with your health insurance company and see if your policy or health plan allows for preventative actions. Some, so we are told, offer a reimbursement for "healthy activities" such as gym memberships. We have had an instance where an insurance company allowed gymnastics as a "healthy activity". Dance could qualify too. So check it out!