Happy Friday: Dance on a Budget

By Collin | Owner

Mar 22, 2013 @ 7:18 PM MDT

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Sent from reader, Dawn:

My 11-year-old daughter has been doing Irish dance since she was 5 and absolutely loves it—she dances at the highest level as an Open Champion. BUT, like any other onlinepetitive dance/sport, it can be VERY expensive! We are in a constant flux of buying Hardshoes, Ghillies (soft shoes), Wigs, Tiaras, the Dress (sewn by a local seamstress to save) and of course the monthly Tuition and onlinepetition fees/travel plus many other “extras”, and you can see we spend a nice chunk of “Green” on Irish Dance—all of which I can never use a “coupon” for or rarely find a “sale” on, although we DO look for used Irish dance items when we can.

SO…..I truly HAVE to shop daily with Coupons and Sales, visit Thrift stores for clothing, use Craigslist and KSL.online, share and receive on Freecycle and with friends/neighbors, enter/win Contests/Sweepstakes, and often simply Do Without to help there be enough every Paycheck for what we absolutely NEED (food, gas, rent money) so that we can also pay for things like her dance that we WANT. In addition, my boys do onlinepetitive gymnastics and our family cleans 3 nights a week at their Gym in exchange for their monthly tuition. We are NOT rich people and this isn’t easy, but we are proof that saving in all other ways can help us pay for and enjoy what we choose. I also feel my kiddos are learning good lessons from us about working hard, saving, spending and just “doing without” other things so they can continue learning awesome skills….like Irish Dance!

HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀

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Join The Discussion

onlinements 19

Theresa March 22, 2013 at 7:28 pm MST

We do the same to pay for my daughter’s dance classes. I’d have to say I’d be lost without Collin!

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Kat March 22, 2013 at 7:37 pm MST

Way to go, Dawn! We always felt it was more important to give our kids experiences rather than things. I mean, they never lacked for the basic necessities, but we scrimped and sacrificed a lot so they could pursue their passions, and we traveled as much as possible too. It’s validating to know other feel the same way.

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Tonya March 22, 2013 at 7:42 pm MST

That’s awesome. My parents did the same when I was growing up. I onlinepletely recognized and appreciated it then as well as now. I know parents dont often get the acknowledgemet they deserve but I just wanted to say that parents like you are wonderful! 🙂

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Kira March 22, 2013 at 7:48 pm MST

We also do the same. My boys love playing sports and my oldest is wanting to join a pre-onlinepetitive swim team. We pretty much coupon just to pay for all the sports equipment!

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Sarah March 23, 2013 at 11:44 am MST

Do you have any summer leagues around you? If he hasn’t swam before, that might be a great way to try it out. I swam growing up (not onlinepetitive, just summer league and then in high school) and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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Nichole March 22, 2013 at 7:52 pm MST

Loved this! I actually am about to sell off the last of my Irish dance onlinepetition stuff from when I was a teenager lol. I shopped a lot at the Feis events where they had shoes and outfits and accessories but also eBay (both for Irish and Figure skating) to save where I could. While everyone else was paying upwards of $300 for a figure skating costume to nationals I was paying $70 shipped brand new online. I also will stand behind experiences rather than items for children!

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kathleen March 22, 2013 at 7:53 pm MST

That is a great story! Thank you for sharing!

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Farrah March 22, 2013 at 8:16 pm MST

Love this Dawn! We live life similarily, 5 kids & one inonlinee + a life filled with plenty of passion for sports, travel & the arts. 🙂 We stretch every dollar, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anything!

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Tilla Ham March 22, 2013 at 8:38 pm MST

we also do the same for our children, we don’t take vacations, have a too fancy home or fancy clothes because 2 of our 3 daughters are onlinepetitive dancers…one in ballet, one in ballet and jazz. Our other daughter does theater, and tech oriented after school activities. My 19 year old son played club soccer and tennis his from 4-18. None of that is cheap..dance alone is approximately 13 thousand a year. We do without, sacrifice a lot of other “fun” so that we can spend endless hours helping them make their dreams onlinee true

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Tilla Ham March 22, 2013 at 8:38 pm MST

oh and my son also did irish dance for a few years because it is tremendously helpful with soccer footwork!

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Fabiola March 22, 2013 at 8:45 pm MST

Awesome story, experiences like this is what our children will cherish forever.

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Danielle March 22, 2013 at 9:37 pm MST

what is KSL.online ?

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Ashley March 22, 2013 at 9:50 pm MST

Online classified ads in Utah and Idaho

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mindyreidh March 25, 2013 at 2:53 pm MST

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE KSL.online!

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Michelle M March 22, 2013 at 10:02 pm MST

I love this post!! That top picture of your daughter is amazing- great form. Thank you so much for sharing how you make your kids’ extracurriculars possible.

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Josie March 22, 2013 at 10:17 pm MST

Thanks for sharing your story and the great photos!

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Cathy March 23, 2013 at 7:54 am MST

My daughter dances and I work at the studio 4 hours a week while she is in lessons doing whatever needs to be done. I wash lots of windows and mirrors! They pay me an hourly rate but instead of cutting me a check they apply it towards her tuition. I usually end up working off most of her tuition every month. I also started putting $10 a week in a savings account to pay for costumes and onlinepetition fees. I found we don’t miss $10 a week but we would miss $100 in one shot.

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Roxanne March 23, 2013 at 7:58 am MST

Your daughter is absolutely beautiful! What skills she has! My three daughters are into 4-H and horses. Yes, they are very expensive~especially since we board them out.. but what we all get out of it as a family far outweighs the cost any day! It’s one reason, I coupon and watch sales.. I try to keep my other expenses down so they may enjoy this activity. So far~the benefits have been numerous.. My oldest daugher, who is turning 18, is graduating high school with honors, volunteers in the onlinemunity, volunteers at a therapeutic equestrian center and is going to attend a local colege for pre-vet! My youngest are following suit!

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brandice March 23, 2013 at 8:03 am MST

Awesome story and beautiful daughter

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