Extracurricular activities don’t have to wreck your wallet — or your weeknights
When the school year rolls around, you’re not just managing your kid’s schedule — you’re running a full-on side hustle with cleats, carpool lines and concession stand duty (or some version of it!). As a mom of three, I get it. The school-year grind is real.
Don’t get me wrong. I love cheering my kids on at their games. But I don’t think I ever realized just how much time my parents invested in me until I became one myself. Sports and activities are wonderful — but if we’re not careful, the time and money side can get out of hand.
That’s why I want to share five tips to keep your family’s sanity and budget on track this school year.
Budget for Activities Before You Sign Up
Okay parents, this is a big one. Before you sign your kids up for anything, you’ve got to sit down with your spouse and crunch some numbers to figure out what you can afford.
Using a zero-based budget will make it easy to see where your money’s going — and what’s realistic for your season. Then check in at the start of each month to adjust as needed. Trust me, setting aside just 30 minutes can save you hours of stress.
When it comes to extracurriculars, it’s easy to overlook the small charges — like registration fees, uniforms, team photos, recitals and travel. But they add up fast! So go ahead and make a dedicated line item in your budget just for activities, then give yourself an additional cushion for those surprise expenses.
Keep It to One Activity per Child
From the ball field to the dance studio to karate class, your calendar (and your wallet) can take a serious hit when you say yes to every opportunity your kid wants to try. Instead, let each child pick just one extracurricular at a time.
And no, your kid doesn’t have to be on the travel team that takes up every weekend and half your bank account. That kind of schedule wears everybody out. A simple rec league or community class can still be fun (and way more affordable), while giving your family some breathing room.
Now, if you’ve got multiple kids, this still takes some coordination with your spouse. For us, it looks like sitting down with our calendar each week and figuring out how to divide and conquer. For instance, if you take your daughter to ballet, have your husband take your son to baseball practice. And if a new activity pops up? Perfect! Put it on the list for next season once it fits in the schedule and the budget.
Don’t Feel Pressured to Buy New
Just because your kid’s pumped about something doesn’t mean you need to spend like it’s a lifelong commitment — at least not yet. For now, grab used gear like cleats, tap shoes or a baseball bat. Trust me, they’ll outgrow it (or lose interest) in a year anyway.
If they’re starting music lessons, see if you can rent the instrument from a local music store first. Then if they stick with it, buy used.
Some of my go-to spots for used stuff? Facebook Marketplace, resale shops like Play It Again Sports, or local parent groups. When you shop this way, you can score really solid stuff — sometimes even name brands — for way less than buying new.
Meal Prep for Busy Nights
Extracurricular nights are total eating-out traps — because let’s be honest, it’s hard to say no to a Happy Meal when you’re in a rush! But feeding your crew doesn’t have to mean hitting the drive-thru and blowing your restaurant budget. Just plan ahead with easy meals for busy nights, like sandwiches, slow cooker dinners or prepacked lunches you can grab and go.
And when you’re headed to the ball field, don’t forget the siblings. Bring snacks so you’re not forking over $5 for candy every 10 minutes. One of my go-to hacks? Keep a go-bag in the car with granola bars and other snacks. My kids are big fans!
When you’re not spending every night cooking and packing lunches, you create more space for the things that matter — like some actual me time, a real conversation with your spouse or maybe even five whole minutes without being interrupted by someone asking for a snack.
Look for Discounts, Scholarships and Deals
Many leagues, studios and organizations do offer financial help — you just have to ask. Some have sibling discounts, scholarships or early bird pricing for sign-ups. Others might knock a chunk off your bill if you volunteer (like assistant coaching or working the concession stand). If you’re already spending hours at the field, you might as well put that time to good use and save a little money in the process. That’s a smart use of your time and your budget.
Churches and local nonprofits may also sponsor kids’ sports or activities at a lower cost. So if you’re looking for a more affordable way for your child to play, check those out too. Don’t assume full price is your only option.
The Bottom Line: Take Control of Your Schedule (and Sanity)
These tips have made our school year a lot more enjoyable — and less stressful — for everyone. When you’re juggling schedules and a tight budget, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But you can manage this. And you’re not a bad parent for saying no to things that stretch your family (or wallet) too thin.
Instead, use moments like these to teach your kids smart trade-offs — like choosing used cleats so there’s money left for a field trip. Lessons like that will last way longer than new shoes ever could anyway!
Rachel Cruze is the daughter of financial guru Dave Ramsey. She is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and also has her own finance program called The Rachel Cruze Show. Growing up with a dad like Dave Ramsey, Rachel actually hated budgeting for a long time. Eventually, she found out how freeing having a budget can be. Now, she shares practical ways you can transform your finances. You can find more about Rachel, or her nationally syndicated radio show at Ramsey Solutions.