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Can't afford summer camp

January 15th, 2011 at 04:11 pm

We picked up the enrollment forms for summer camp at kid 1's preschool. We pay $200 or so a month for two half days of preschool. Summer camp, for the same days and basically the same activities with the addition of swimming, is $520 a month. I was shocked. Why does it cost so much more?

I think these places realize parents are desperate and need child care so they can work, especially in summer. Schools let kids out but jobs don't let parents out.

So, hubby and I talked about it and it's going to be a rough summer. I'll have to find some other way to keep him occupied so I can do my freelance jobs, because $520 in addition to what I already pay someone else to watch him 8 hours a week is just too much.

7 Responses to “Can't afford summer camp”

  1. MaryB26 Says:
    1295109742

    When my son was young and I was working full time the local YMCA had a youth program during summer. During the school year they also had a after school program, had a bus to pick them up after school and take them to the Y. I hope you find affordable care in your area because the $520 a month is outrageous for day camp.

  2. scfr Says:
    1295111325

    Thrift-o-rama: When schools are on vacation, ALL the kids are out, even the older ones. Have you thought about hiring a neighborhood high school student to come in a couple days a week to be a "mother's helper?" Granted a teen probably wouldn't do as good of a job as the preschool does, but you would physically be there to keep an eye & ear on them, in case anything goes wrong.

    My husband travels a lot in the summer. I hire a HS school neighbor boy to mow my lawn when he's gone. He doesn't do the same job that a professional landscaping company would, but he's much less expensive and he does the job well enough to keep me in the HOA's good graces ... And I don't have to mow in these hot Texas summers. Smile

  3. Looking Forward Says:
    1295113985

    That's crazy!! For two half days?!
    When DD was in preschool the rate was the same for summer or school year. It seems wrong they would jack the cost up so much. Maybe a mis-print?

  4. ThriftoRama Says:
    1295115729

    There aren't any high schools kids around. We are the only young family in the neighborhood. Everyone else is elderly retirees. I'm just going to have to rely more on grandma and my other sitter.

  5. Looking Forward Says:
    1295133847

    How about one of the "elderly retirees"? Like a third grandma/grandpa? Many older folks love to be around young kids. Of course some don't, but it might be worth a try??

    I would still check if they made a mistake on their price. Hopefully.. Smile

  6. MonkeyMama Says:
    1295134430

    It seems to me there should be some other options out there. Good Luck!

  7. ThriftoRama Says:
    1295216406

    It's not a typo or a pricing mistake. And this is the "lower" price for signing up early.

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