Summer Camp - how much is too much to pay?
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
December 11, 2006 12:48am CST
Yes, I know it isn't Christmas yet, but I am thinking ahead. My son usually goes to a summer programs at his school. They charge $600 for eight weeks and you have to pay extra for a lot of the activites they do and pack a lunch every day. The mainly go to the movies and go skating. I just found a much better summer camp, but it is $1125 for eight weeks. They do many more activites (computer lab, art, rifle range, etc) and they have swimming lessons daily (last year I had to pay $125 for lessons).
My question is, how much is too much? $600 is an excellent price for summer care, but they don't really do anything and I ende dup putting out at least $5 a week on the other activites plus the cost of daily lunches. Is $1,125 too much to spend on one child for summer care if it is high quality (the program is run my a very prestigious private school)?
1 response
@pookie92 (1714)
• United States
11 Dec 06
I have three kids, and that seems to be a lot of money for a summer for one kid. Of course, it is for 8 weeks, and it is better than a baby sitter costs. You'd probably do a lot better for your money if you used the boys and girls clubs, or your local YMCA, most cities have summer programs too for less money.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
11 Dec 06
There is no YMCA where I live (there is one in the city, or there used to be, but that is a 30 minute drive). The school does havea summer program, it is about $600 for the summer, but it closes down a week before school starts, you have to pay extra for some of the activites, and I am still paying out of pocket for swimming lessons. I would end up spending about $725+activites for the summer using the cheaper summer camp. Last summer I stayed home with him, but I just started a new job that I really like and right now cannot afford to quit since my fiance just swicthed to a lower paying job (they pay a few thousand less, but it has paid benefits and it s better working environment).
