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9009 West Loop South, Seventh Floor, Houston Texas
1-866-889-9347 |
CCCS of Lehigh Valley
A Division of Money Management International |
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Regional Headquarters - 3671 Cresent Court East, Whitehall Pennslyvania |
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Managing Your Budget Gets Harder During Summer Vacation |
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Many parents don’t realize just how active their children are all day until they have to keep them occupied during summer vacation. Right now, you’re probably used to sending your kids off in the morning for five days a week, then having six or seven hours before they’re in your care again. Well, guess what? Summer vacation is here!
If you have kids in school and you don’t have someone who can stay home during the days, your biggest priority is finding adequate day care while you’re at work. And depending on where you go, it could cost you between $60 and $140 per week.
For those of you who can stay home with your children, you now face the challenge of planning their activities and meals every day, and that can get expensive, too.
In addition to the adjustment you’ll have to make simply managing your time, summer vacation also means facing a greater challenge managing your budget. For starters, you have to provide lunch every day, and not just on the weekends. And believe me, there will be quite a few days when you’ll be tempted to jump in the car and buy lunch at a drive-thru just for convenience.
The problem is that those drive-thru trips can add up, especially when compared to the cost of making your own lunches. The key is planning. Organize your lunches in advance over the weekends and do your grocery shopping accordingly. Buy nutritious food that they enjoy, and you’ll find that saving money is an automatic result.
Summers also get expensive in terms of finding activities that keep children occupied. For some reason, they love to do things that cost you money, like going to movies – which with concession trips and tickets can get pretty costly. Factor in a few weekly trips to the video arcade, and an occasional new toy or video, and pretty soon you’re spending so much on the kids, you can’t keep your budget in line.
The good news is that there are a lot of activities, oriented specifically to children, that cost very little, if anything at all.
Some organizations, such as your public library, churches, the YMCA, and the Boys & Girls Clubs, provide programs that include regular activities for kids of all ages. And in addition to being very inexpensive, they benefit the children by involving them in reading, crafts, exercise, sports and swimming.
Also, many state parks offer such activities as hiking, canoeing, and swimming for a reasonable price. And all of these activities are a great opportunity to organize the neighborhood and get your kids more involved with your neighbors’ kids.
Other ways to keep the children from getting bored is to encourage them to be creative around the house or neighborhood. Many child development experts say that children learn the most when they are playing. Provide them with art supplies and put them in the backyard or garage, where it’s all right to get a little messy, and encourage them to make paintings or sculptures.
Or they can stage their own puppet show or circus, using their newly developed artistic skills to make the stage, props and costumes. Not only will you find that you’re spending less on their entertainment, but they’re learning and having fun at the same time.
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CCCS, A Division of Money Management International
Regional Headquarters - 3671 Cresent Court East, Whitehall Pennslyvania
Corporate Address - 9009 West Loop South, Seventh Floor, Houston, TX 77096
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