Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by She Speaks/P&G. All opinions are my own. #LetsPowerTheirDreams
Seeing the buzz around the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the past few weeks has really been eye opening for my little girls. Ages 7,7 and 5, they have been tumbling across our backyard and swimming laps in my parent’s pool. I love to see the excitement on their faces. In the beginning of the summer, they would barely jump off the side of the pool with their life jacket on and now they’re swimming underwater without any helpers! My daughter Maddie can do cartwheels, back-bends and more–I’m pretty sure she would flip instead of walking if she could!
Gymnastics are a huge part of my girls’ lives and seeing the Team USA stun this summer has been so great for them. They realized that hard work pays off and that these girls were their age when they started out. Simone Biles was their favorite–plus her story was such an inspiration! Just yesterday, Gabby asked me if she could sign up for gymnastics again this fall.
As a parent, you want your child to be able to follow their dreams and try different extracurricular sports–but it can really add up! With three kids, even one activity each can be a big strain on the budget…especially when they’re so young. Until your child knows exactly what their favorite sport will be, there’s a trial and error period.
There are different routes you can go to save money on extracurricular activities so you’re pockets aren’t hurting each season. You know I’ll do anything I can to save a few bucks!
- Consider your local YMCA or gym. We are members at the Y and they offer discounted classes for their members. Even if you’re not, you can still take classes there–the rates are just higher. Even better, signing up you usually get a few coupons to save any more! We love the Y because they offer daycare while I work out and they have so many fun health and fitness related events. It’s worth checking into.
- Birthdays and holidays. If your kids are like mine, they’re at the stage where they don’t really NEED much for gifts on holidays. We’re always struggling to think of things they actually need when people ask. I love the idea of asking for donations towards an extracurricular activity. Beforehand, investigate how much it is to join the team/class and then start a fund! This could slash your price out of pocket significantly!
- Ask about discounts. Since we have 3 that are usually interested in the same sport, I always inquire about sibling discounts. You may also want to ask if there is any volunteer program, also. There might be a way you can invest a few hours of your time for money off!
- Local Parks & Recreation. Every season, we get our local Parks & Rec booklet in the mail. If you don’t receive it, try googling your area or checking the library! The prices are always SUPER budget friendly and your kids might even play sports with some of their school friends. Aside from sports, there are also camps, arts and other activities available! The girls played t-ball for only $5, plus a uniform jersey!
- Inquire about scholarships. I always ask if there’s any scholarships available. Most of the time, there are plenty of them left because people don’t use them up. It never hurts to ask!
No matter what activity your child chooses, there are bound to be messes on their clothing. From grass stains to paint, Tide has us covered! The new Tide Pods make laundry SO easy. Did you know that P&G is one of the brands that helps support Team USA? Pick up your favorite products at –or even better at Walmart.com. I love their new site to store pick-up!
The Tide Pods are 3-in-1: detergent, stain remover and brightener. I don’t even spot clean my girl’s clothes anymore with the Pods. As they are getting older, these are perfect to teach them how to do laundry too. Beware: I do recommend keeping them out of reach for little ones. They are pretty pretty looking, you don’t want them to think it’s candy!
[tweetthis]Kids are messy–from grass stains to paint, @Tide has us covered! #LetsPowerTheirDreams[/tweetthis]
I have found that sports have really helped my children learn so many life lessons. It’s truly an amazing thing to watch and see how they evolve each season! From learning a new gymnastics trick to hitting a “home run” in t-ball, they confidence they gain from sports is priceless. Plus, you can’t make too many new friends!
Have you been watching the Olympic Games? What’s your favorite sport?
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