Tips for Sticking to Your Budget for Your Kids Sports Must-Haves
By Guest Writer: Dean Burgess
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, taken by Carol Highsmith, Title: Youth football game at Cardozo Senior High School, 1200 Clifton St., NW, Washington, D.C
Any parent with an energetic child knows what a blessing sports can be. It goes beyond tossing the pigskin around in the backyard or shooting hoops in the driveway (which, for busy parents, is great as part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance); playing a sport doesn’t just provide children with an outlet for their energy, it teaches them how to channel it into something productive. Sports teach kids about leadership, dedication, teamwork, communication, and respect.
Regular exercise is also good for their mental health because it helps build their self-esteem and confidence. Kids set goals, work hard to reach them, and cultivate valuable time management skills as they balance school and their sport. All in all, playing sports helps build kids’ self-esteem.
With all the benefits of kids playing sports, there is one drawback: the financial cost. Kids’ sports is a $15.3 billion industry-- a number that has doubled in the past decade. Depending on the program, purchasing equipment like elbow and shoulder pads and cleats for football may even be required. Families shell out big bucks to cover league fees, camps, equipment, training and travel that comes with their child’s sport. To make it work, it’s important to cut back on costs wherever you can.
Here, are some tips on how to save on the essentials.
Saving on Shoes and Cleats
The right shoes and cleats are essential for athletes. For example, football cleats keep players comfortable during long games, and the right pair can even make your child a better player. However, when your kid’s feet seem to grow bigger with each passing day, investing in sports footwear can become a time-consuming and pricey endeavor. Parents need to research online to find the best durability and fit for their child.
To save money on kids’ shoes, try one of the following ideas:
• Save your oldest child’s shoes, and give them to younger ones as hand-me-downs.
• Buy shoes a half or full size up, and let your child grow into them.
• Check children’s consignment stores for unworn pairs of athletic shoes.
• Compare prices with the help of comparison shopping sites like Nextag or Google Shopping.
• Make a trip to the outlet mall to find great deals on name brand shoes.
Saving on Sports Equipment
While you want to avoid buying shoes secondhand, used sports equipment is one of those things you should always search for before committing to buying something new. Sparring equipment, footballs , baseball bats, basketball hoops, and anything else kids need only get beat up when in use. Plus, buying secondhand when you can is good for the planet, so why spend more on an exorbitant mark-up on sports equipment?
While used sporting goods stores are plentiful, don’t limit your search to these shopping centers. You can find great used sports equipment in many places…
• Browse listings on sites like eBay, Craigslist, Nextdoor, and Freecycle.
• Join your child’s sports league or school social media pages.
• Reach out to friends and family to see if they have items they’d like taken off their hands.
• Garage sales are typically treasure troves for old sports equipment.
• Check your local Salvation Army or Goodwill for donated items.
Stuff for Moms and Dads
In addition to buying uniforms and gear for their kids, many parents need to purchase their own apparel or gear. Whether it’s for helping to coach a team, joining your child in sparring or practicing in the backyard.
• Look for regular discounts on athletic apparel through stores like Target, Old Navy and Kohl’s.
• Invest in quality pieces that will last like supportive undergarments, durable shoes, rash guards or even reusable jerseys.
• Buy used whenever you can, particularly for gear like cleats, shin guards and jerseys.
Sports are great for kids — and not just because they give them an outlet for all that energy they have. When kids play sports, they learn valuable skills , such as leadership, dedication, teamwork, communication, and respect. Being athletic also supports a child’s physical and mental health. However, the children’s sports industry knows it can make money, and parents end up spending thousands of dollars a year on their child’s interests.
To help cut costs, be diligent when it comes to finding deals on things you can’t buy second hand. Reduce the costs of sports equipment by tapping into your community to find free items, or spend the bare minimum by finding used pieces that fit your child’s needs.