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Whether you have one kid or five kids, when it comes to extracurricular activities, it can really add up. We all want our kids to be stimulated emotionally and physically, and things like music lessons or sports leagues have a lot of value in teaching kids important life skills.
Even if you limit each child to only one activity, it can eat up a lot of your budget. Here are all my tips for how to save on activities for kids. The key is: ask around and get creative! You never know who might be willing to offer their expertise.
How to Save on Activities for Kids
Online Deals and Coupons
Websites like Groupon and LivingSocial often offer deals and discounts on various activities and lessons for kids. You can find discounted rates for things like art classes, sports activities, music lessons, and more.
Membership Discounts
Check if any memberships you already have offer discounts on kids’ activities. This could include memberships to museums, zoos, or local community centers. Our local zoo offers kids classes for only $12 to members!
Local Community Programs
Many local community centers, libraries, and parks and recreation departments offer affordable or even free activities and lessons for kids. These can include sports leagues, art classes, STEM workshops, and more. With sports, for example, joining a rec or church league will be considerably less expensive than a more serious sports league. Especially for younger kids, these options tend to focus more on building skills and have much less pressure and require less time commitment.
Seasonal Promotions
Keep an eye out for seasonal promotions and sales. Many businesses that offer kids’ activities and lessons may have special offers during certain times of the year, such as back-to-school season or holidays. Sometimes there may be times when they offer free classes for a trial period, which is a great way to try things out before spending money on them.
Group Discounts
Some businesses may offer discounts for group bookings or if you sign up multiple children for the same activity or lesson. If you are a homeschooler, you can ask around with friends and see if anyone is interested in chipping in together for art classes or sports lessons.
This can also apply for siblings. We’ve gotten a discount for years on piano lessons having three kids at the same teacher. If you are looking for lessons and the kids are happy to all play the same instrument or do the same activity this savings can really add up!
Ask for Discounts
Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts or inquire about any available promotions when signing up for activities or lessons. Sometimes businesses may be willing to offer a discount, especially if you’re a repeat customer or if you refer friends. Some places offer discounts if you are a military family, a ministry family, or if you already receive assistance like Medicaid or food stamps.
Volunteer or Trade Work
Some organizations may offer discounted rates or even free participation in activities or lessons in exchange for volunteer work or other forms of assistance. A friend I know volunteered to clean a local karate studio once a week in exchange for her boys going to karate class for free.
Another friend was wanting her daughter to take piano lessons. One of her friends was an accomplished pianist, so they traded piano lessons for babysitting!
Utilize Social Media and Email Lists
Follow businesses and organizations that offer kids’ activities and lessons on social media platforms and sign up for their email lists. They may share exclusive discounts and promotions with their followers and subscribers.
See my list of free things to do across the Southeast in the summer!
