We love having active kids who play sports, but not so much the financial cost of fees, equipment, and uniforms. Here are 8 tips we’ve learned for ways to save money on youth sports…
I never wanted to be the stereotypical suburban “soccer mom.” Yelling at her kids from the sidelines, spending all weekend getting sunburned while she swapped stories with other parents with one eye on the game.
As it turns out, I got my wish. And instead, I became a baseball mom… and all that it entails.
Weird tan lines from hours in the sun. Awkward social interactions with parents of my kids’ teammates. And lots of lip biting to avoid trying to coach from the bleachers.
What also comes with youth sports is a rather hefty price tag. In time, certainly. But also in money.
A study showed that the average American family spends about $1400 per child each year on youth sports. That’s not even counting how its costs can rise when extra equipment, travel, and tournament fees are added in.
So how do you keep costs down and save money while your kids are playing sports? From my own experience and tips passed on to me by other parents, here’s what I’ve learned…
8 Tips for Saving Money on Kids’ Sports
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Start slow
If your child is just starting out, don’t buy them top of the line, name-brand equipment. Make sure they are going to play past that first season before you begin sinking money into it. Otherwise, your child may land up playing beyond their interest as you try to get your money’s worth from all that you’ve bought.
For our first Little League season, they needed a glove, bat, helmet, and cleats. Going off our own experiences decades back, my husband and I took them to try-outs with only their gloves and one bat to share. Whether it was Covid precautions or just the times, they needed to have their own stuff. So we did so in the most frugal way possible, one piece of equipment at a time.
Buy second-hand
When you start looking for sports equipment beyond the basics, look for what’s available from other parents. Like kids’ clothes, cleats, bats, gloves, rackets, and sticks can be outgrown at a rapid pace, making used equipment still perfectly functional. Our son’s coach even offered an old bag he didn’t need anymore because we didn’t have one.
We love using sites like OfferUp, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Sideline Swap. When our boys needed catcher’s gear, we got sets that were slightly used for $15-30 that would have been in the hundreds new. We took hand-me-downs from other parents whose kids had outgrown their pants, cleats, etc. Every reduced expense helped.
Shop smart
Recently, I was talking to a mom who’s son was playing for his first season. She mentioned how she’d spent $55 on his pants. I was shocked… and then remembered when I, too, had overpaid because I just didn’t know better.
Look for smaller sporting goods stores or online for basic things, like pants, socks, belts, etc. They usually have better prices (though not as much selection) as bigger stores, like Dick’s. Keep an eye out for sales, check garage sales, and look in big box stores, like Walmart and Target. Her son’s $55 pants looked no different than my son’s $15 ones from Big 5.
Budget for the fees
Whether it’s tournament costs, club sports fees, or the regular fee per season, try to budget for it as early as you can. It hurts less if you set aside money ahead of time, in small pieces, than devoting a big chunk of your paycheck in one go.
If you haven’t had time to set aside money and have no alternative, you can usually pay these with a credit card. I don’t recommend this, but if it comes to that, choose one with perks like cash back so you at least are getting something to offset the expense. Then pay it off ASAP to avoid interest.
Go frugal with sports travel costs
If at all possible, keep travel costs down by driving when it’s close. If it’s far and you have to fly because of time-constraints, look into perks from your job, credit cards, or airline miles that will lessen the burden. Save money by only sending one parent (if you can bear to miss the tournament) or carpool with another family to save gas.
Skip the fast food and pack as much as you can to offset food costs. Look for economical hotels or Airbnbs that give you access to a kitchen. Pack travel snacks for the ride to avoid fast food stops that add up. And if your child is old enough and you trust the coach or another parent enough, you can also send them under another adult’s care.
(Check out this post for frugal and sanity-saving ways to take a family road trip!)
Skip the concessions at the sports field
My kids know that I will only buy concessions once a season because the prices are too high with 7 people to do it on the regular. I wait until the hot days arrive, when a cold ice cream feels like heaven. But the chances of candy and nachos every time we go? Pretty slim.
We pack drinks, energy bars, and homemade trail mix for every practice and game, just in case. On long days, we bring Spam musubi, soup in a thermos, fresh fruit, and homemade popcorn. This is partly because of allergies, but also to save money. I also pack electrolyte powder I can add to water for hot days when they’re sweating a lot. It beats the price and questionable ingredients and sugar in a concession stand Gatorade.
Do it yourself whenever possible
It’s tempting to want to give your kids every opportunity, no matter the cost. I love watching my kids play sports and would love to give them a membership to a batting cage to improve their skills. But the price is prohibitive.
So we bought a tee and a hit-away, as well as a net. They cost less than a month at the cages and can be set up in our backyard or the park for practice. By doing this at home, we save hundreds of dollars each month. It’s not perfect, but it works and helps them improve their skills.
My brother-in-law made an ice skating rink for his kids (they live up north) and you can get basketball hoops at a decently price (or free at a local park). Rather than pay a membership somewhere for your kids to practice their sports of choice, how can you set something up yourself?
Do your research
This is my number one tip: research. Youth sports can get really expensive when we make rookie mistakes because we don’t know any better. We’ve all been there. So ask around, get advice from veteran sports parents. They love sharing their secrets.
Before you buy a bat, glove, helmet, or set of clubs, go online and read reviews. Watch videos. Ask kids/parents who have that gear already what they think. Find out if it’s right for your child before spending the money to get it. Oftentimes, some piece of sports equipment is well rated, but further investigation shows it would not be a good fit for your child at the stage they’re at.
I hope these tips help you save money and act frugally while still enjoying the experience of youth sports. I love watching my kids play, the camaraderie of the team, and the life lessons learned. If your kids love and excel at a particular sport, know that there are many ways to keep the expenses down while still giving them great opportunities.
What are your tips for saving money on kids’ sports? Let me know in the comments or on social media #thejourneyathome!
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