Summer holidays are about to begin. Schools have already started marketing their summer camps and for children it’s quite exciting. I use to spend my summers completely with my grandparents as there were not so many activities. But now learning’s to children is not restricted to academic only. Summer camps are a good means for these learning’s along with fun. 
Many of the activities are new adventures for them and in group task even we too enjoy. For parents it will be an additional expense apart from the regular schooling expenses they bear.
But not all summer camps are cheaper. Professional summer camps takes a good outflow from your pocket and it’s difficult to resist for the children enjoyment. It can bring a dent in your cash flow if it is not up to your child expectation. Sometimes parents make mistakes of leaning towards too many activities and disturb the actual learning’s for the child.
How should you then budget these summer camps so that your outflow remains within your means and your child have fun along with wonderful learning’s.
Take these few steps to plan it more efficiently:
1. See Your Budget
The first aspect is to see what you can actually spend. For one child it may be easier but when there are two children the cost will be higher for you. Also, the activities for higher age group are costlier. Considering these factors you should first evaluate what is the limit beyond which you will be stretching your finances. This is the money you can spend on your children summer camps.
2. Consider Child Interest
There are numerous activities but not all will interest your child. Any activity which does not interest him/her will be waste of money at the end. So ask your child what he wishes to do in summers. Does he enjoying swimming or some indoor games, adventure etc. etc… If your child spend his summers on what he enjoy the most it will help him generate interest to learn more.
3. Look At The Options
The options are also an evaluating point for finding a good budgeted summer camp. Sometimes rather than a professional summer camp if you look at activities near you they may be more helpful and budgeting. I have done it for my child last year when instead of sending him to such summer camp I helped him joined swimming, dance and taikvando separately . It proved to be more beneficial at the end as he wishes to join them again this summer.Evaluate it for your child and see what options you have nearby.
4. Work Out The Total Cost
In any summer camp it’s not only the camp but other extra cost which will cost you more. Transportation, dresses, eating’s etc. will add up in these activities. Work out what total cost you will have to pay for the camp. If you have the estimate you can plan to save more as you will come to know the total outflow for these summer activities. For example the transportation cost is saved if such activities are happening near your place or you plan to do it yourself.
5. See The Timings
The time you spend on these activities will also be a matter of consideration. For you it will be working days and so you will have limited time to spend. If both parents are working then the time management is quite difficult and so you have to work out how much time you can devote to your child summer camp. For me and my wife it was more helpful involving my child in different activities in a club near our residence. At the end it was a great learning for my kid and we were able to manage our time more efficiently.
6. Look At Funding
The most important part of the summer camp is paying for the cost. If you have budgeted from your expenses you would have arranged it by now. If not then you will have to work around your finances to budget that. There can be monetary gifts from grandparents for the child. For better utilization it can also be a viable option to ask them to gift for the summer activities or camp for the child. Whatever means you adopt you need to arrange for the expenses now.
7. Free Camp
This will not be in every area but in some you might see free activities probably funded by some agency. Although there is a huge rush towards them but if it’s happening near your vicinity it surely is not a bad idea. Evaluate if there is any and see what your child will learn in it. If it’s acceptable not hesitate in enrolling your child in such camp.
8. Restrict Activities
Too many activities spoil the enjoyment. There is a limited learning which will happen and you would not like your child to get overburdened by these activities. Restrict to 2-3 activities which interest your child more and make him/her join the same. The child should not feel it’s another school for him. I did it last year with only 3 activities- swimming, dancing and taikvando which he continues till date. So find out what are the good options for your child and make learning fun for him/her.
Budgeting is healthy for your finances. Summer camp is no more a cheap affair and in most areas it take up a good amount of money form yours savings. So you need to budget it well. More than that the summer holidays have to be learning and enjoyment both. When your child will go to school he will be discussing with his friends what he did during the summers much like we do. I am sure if he has enjoyed well he will feel a pride in telling his friends what he did. Prepare for this great enjoyment for your child but with pre-planned finances.
Have A Great Summer!
Have you budgeted for summer camps? Where are you planning to send your child? Share some thoughts in the comments section…
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