Cheerleading sticker shock

[Vdubchaos]

VDub you live in the south western part of CT. It's expensive as balls the closer you get to NYC. $720 for cheerleading does sound a bit over the top, but when I played travel baseball in my teens, my parents paid $500 just for the summer. That money covered uniforms, any equipment, umpires and maybe some other misc. stuff.

Damn, my son is really good at baseball....thanks for the heads up. I might as well start saving now.....jesus

For hockey, it was not even an issue to spend over 2k a year. It's insane, but hey, it's better than your daughter learning how awesome sex is right?

She has already been taught that thanks to our great society.

Besides, we teach her about sex....more specifically LOVE and how great it is/can be WHEN done right/at the right time/age.

 

[momeNt]

I think musical instruments are probably in a separate category.

The people who play them are not paid enough to also be the patron of the arts that acquire world famous violins, cellos, etc. that are so expensive that only the very rich are able to afford them. With that being the case, what are they to do with them BESIDES give them to the people that are able to bring beautiful music out of them.

 

[techs]

Definitely do not click on the nsfw link I have provided.

Dr Phil: Cheerleader Junkie Hooker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cycTMOYF92I

 

[Vdubchaos]

I think musical instruments are probably in a separate category.

The people who play them are not paid enough to also be the patron of the arts that acquire world famous violins, cellos, etc. that are so expensive that only the very rich are able to afford them. With that being the case, what are they to do with them BESIDES give them to the people that are able to bring beautiful music out of them.

Yep

Classical Music is mostly a hobby rather than a career (although some make decent money).

What's really sad is that these amazing musicians don't get SHIT compare to these justin biebers and lil johns........sad world we live in.

 

[waggy]

it does seem high. though nothing insane.

my daughter is on the gymnastics team and that gets expensive.

we have monthly cost. just for practice. then for the tournament seasons is $1200. that covers entrance fees and coach fees. We then have to buy a leotard+warm up. we got her a set this season and it cost $250 for the leotard (cheap!) and $150 for warm ups. she outgrew her leo. bah.

though there is a booster club. You might look into that. last year we didn't get a full year to help offset the cost. even the 3-4 months we had reduced it $300

I think musical instruments are probably in a separate category.

The people who play them are not paid enough to also be the patron of the arts that acquire world famous violins, cellos, etc. that are so expensive that only the very rich are able to afford them. With that being the case, what are they to do with them BESIDES give them to the people that are able to bring beautiful music out of them.

agreed. though music is as important for kids as sports.

My daughter plays the clarinet and we have a old organ. She wants a picalo and a keyboard now though. heh

 

[techs]

Here's the deal. She ain't gonna appreciate it until she has kids of her own and one of them wants to do something expensive. Then a light will go on in her head and she will realize what you did for her.

So the question is are you willing to play the long game? How's your health?

 

[Zeze]

Did crap change since I went to HS in 90s?

When did extracurricular activities cost money? $700? wtf?

 

[jaedaliu]

Yep

Classical Music is mostly a hobby rather than a career (although some make decent money).

What's really sad is that these amazing musicians don't get SHIT compare to these justin biebers and lil johns........sad world we live in.

Just because you don't appreciate or understand their music, doesn't mean they aren't talented.

I would venture that the numbers aren't that far off. The peak salary of a classical musician is less than that of a pop star, but there are probably many more people making a living from performing classical music than from more modern music. Yo Yo Ma makes $12M/year (according to a google search) sure, that's a lot less than some pop stars out there, but you can be very well compensated at the top of the game.

 

[mvbighead]

Honestly, I don't remember this kind of crap as a kid. The fees sound a bit, um, outrageous?

Where I come from, teams do fund raisers. For our weight room for football, the team does a jersey auction where they rent out the away team jersey during home coming week which is then returned at the end of the week. Well to do parents buy their kids jersey for $200+ some times. Others go for anywhere from 20 to 100. Over time, you can build up quite a nice weight room.

Anyhoo, I just don't see how anyone can be expected to throw out $720 for cheerleading. A uniform is what, $100? A bus driver makes $10-15/hour for away games, which is then divided amongst the number of cheerleaders you have. I can't see that topping $300 total for the year.

Ugh, I really can't recall that type of stuff being necessary in my youth. Football that was run through the school didn't cost a penny. We had plenty of kids who lived in trailer park houses on the team with everybody else. Soccer is the only thing that was run outside the school, and I don't think that topped even 100.

I feel for you op. If I start seeing those types of price tags as my kid grows up, I'll be less than happy.

PS - TO those bringing up hockey, you're talking about the one sport that requires something not native to many spots of the US. ICE. A good rink is generally in a complex that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (or possibly in the millions). A soccer/football/whatever field is worth maybe ten grand.

 

[OutHouse]

700 is just the beginning, expect to be asked for more as the school year gets started.

"Dad I need money for lunch for an away game" it snowbakls from there.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Newsflash: Raising kids is expensive. $720 for uniforms and travel expenses? Be happy she isn't playing the cello. Write the check, cheapskate.

I don't think this as an appropriate response, but considering the overwhelming number of parents I've spoken to they didn't have any clue either as to the cost of raising their mistakes in the public school system.

Newsflash yourself and be honest and let us know if you know what it costs to raise a child in the public school system on a per capita, per year basis. I'm not even a parent and I know what it is costing me.

 

[Slew Foot]

half is that is for condoms for the football players.

 

[SagaLore]

Pom poms don't pay for themselves!

 

[exdeath]

Props on properly raising children and not producing spoiled brats.

Dont kid yourself, the other parents likely couldn't afford it or didn't want to pay it either, but write the checks anyway to put on a face because they were in front of other parents and that kind of thing is always a pissing contest.

 

[KaOTiK]

Wow, back when I was in highschool I played on the football team and it was free. My girlfriend was a cheerleader and she only had to buy her uniform (I remember because we worked together as well and she was picking up extra hours to buy it lol) and it wasn't that expensive. My friend/neighbor was on the basketball team and he didn't have to pay for anything either.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Honestly, I don't remember this kind of crap as a kid. The fees sound a bit, um, outrageous?

Where I come from, teams do fund raisers. For our weight room for football, the team does a jersey auction where they rent out the away team jersey during home coming week which is then returned at the end of the week. Well to do parents buy their kids jersey for $200+ some times. Others go for anywhere from 20 to 100. Over time, you can build up quite a nice weight room.

Anyhoo, I just don't see how anyone can be expected to throw out $720 for cheerleading. A uniform is what, $100? A bus driver makes $10-15/hour for away games, which is then divided amongst the number of cheerleaders you have. I can't see that topping $300 total for the year.

Ugh, I really can't recall that type of stuff being necessary in my youth. Football that was run through the school didn't cost a penny. We had plenty of kids who lived in trailer park houses on the team with everybody else. Soccer is the only thing that was run outside the school, and I don't think that topped even 100.

I feel for you op. If I start seeing those types of price tags as my kid grows up, I'll be less than happy.

PS - TO those bringing up hockey, you're talking about the one sport that requires something not native to many spots of the US. ICE. A good rink is generally in a complex that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (or possibly in the millions). A soccer/football/whatever field is worth maybe ten grand.

Pretty much how I feel.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Wow, back when I was in highschool I played on the football team and it was free. My girlfriend was a cheerleader and she only had to buy her uniform (I remember because we worked together as well and she was picking up extra hours to buy it lol) and it wasn't that expensive. My friend/neighbor was on the basketball team and he didn't have to pay for anything either.

Yep, I was on both Basketball and Football team and never paid a dollar.

Mind you, I had a job at 14 and could have EASILY if I really wanted to. Instead I choose to purchase THOUSANDS worth of Home Theater audio systems (which I still have btw). :biggrin:

 

[PokerGuy]

I think it's a good opportunity to support your daughter and teach her how the real world works at the same time. Offer to pay for half of it if she does the jobs (babysitting etc) to make the other half. Everyone wins.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I think it's a good opportunity to support your daughter and teach her how the real world works at the same time. Offer to pay for half of it if she does the jobs (babysitting etc) to make the other half. Everyone wins.

Basically what I did. Not half but close to 1/3rd.

This is also assuming that she cleans up her act at home as well (past week or 2 she hasn't been exactly nice). But I'm assuming she will, we all have our moments.

But honestly I don't think she wants to do it bad enough to work few days here and there this summer......she's never really been into this shit and chances are she is only doing it because her friends are.

Just my gut feeling. But she does seem to enjoy it.

 

[CPA]

Just be glad she didn't want to join band.

also, time for Cheerleading and Tumbling classes on the side. Get ready to pony up $100/month+ for that.

 

[vi edit]

Plus if you want to show up and watch her at a game, you have to pay admission to the game. What's that cost now? $3-$5 a person? There's another couple hundred bucks over the course of a year for football and basketball.

 

[dabuddha]

That's strange. Growing up, I was in the marching band and played baseball and I don't recall paying much of anything. Marching band, I bought my own drum sticks and marching shoes but the rest was provided to me. In baseball, I purchased my own equipment (which I already had).

 

[Vdubchaos]

And now I remind myself why "pick up" sports are the best.

Which reminds me, I have to organize neighborhood baseball pick up games again! Even my son agrees that he has more fun playing pick up vs little league.

 

[CPA]

That's strange. Growing up, I was in the marching band and played baseball and I don't recall paying much of anything. Marching band, I bought my own drum sticks and marching shoes but the rest was provided to me. In baseball, I purchased my own equipment (which I already had).

Yeah, sticks are cheap, but if you want to plays, say, a saxophone, you're talking $100/security deposit, then $50-100 per month rent (unless you want to buy a used one for $1,000+), plus the cost of the reeds. And then pray do you don't dent it, lose it or break it.

And for the year-end trip, you either sell those fundraising products or pony up another couple hundred dollars. Then there's meals for the game, meals for summer practice, uniform costs, shoes, rain gear, huge duffel bag...I was sad and happy to see both my older boys quit band after a year. However, my youngest starts with a baritone next year.

 

[SunnyD]

Yeah, sticks are cheap, but if you want to plays, say, a saxophone, you're talking $100/security deposit, then $50-100 per month, plus the cost of the reeds. And then pray do you don't dent it, lose it or break it.

Two words: Flea market.