As a mother of two, Kate Sorenson knows the costs of annual summer camps for kids and this informative piece could help out consumers. It certainly isn’t cheap and Kate is always looking to see where she and others can save her hard earned buck.

Summer camp is an annual ritual in some places, and you don’t want your kids to miss out on the fun. You might also want a little time to relax. Camp is a great time for you to recharge your batteries, knowing your kids are safe and getting some exercise. Sadly, not every kid gets to go to camp, because the costs rise every year and the experience isn’t cheap – but it can be done with a little planning. Look for some great deals at money-saving sites, and use these insider secrets so your child won’t have to stay home.

Check out the discount list.

• The Cozi website suggests checking out the discounts that different camps offer. You may be able to save money depending on your profession – some camps offer savings for teachers, police officers, and other people in public service.
• You might also send all your kids to the same camp, because you’ll often get a bulk discount on camp registrations. That saves you time and money, because it’s easier to keep track of the details for one camp than multiple locations.

Pay attention to the registration process.

• You can sometimes save big money by registering early, and some camps will also give you a discount for registering online. The camps want to know that they’re going to be full during the summer, and you’ll be more relaxed if you don’t wait until the last minute. Why not reward yourself with some savings, too.
• If you pay with cash, you may get even bigger discounts, so be sure to ask the camp what its policy is. There’s often more room to negotiate than you might think.

Check out scholarships.

• Even with all these deals, the prices might be too high if your paycheck is getting smaller. The Bargainist says that many camps have scholarships that will pay for some or all of the costs. Camps associated with churches and charities are the most likely to offer these deals.
• Take some time to research it, because there are many organizations that help low-income families to provide this opportunity for their children.

Summer is a time to make memories and to get outdoors. Your kids will treasure the times they spent at camp, and you’ll feel good knowing you provided them the experience on a budget. You’ll also enjoy a little summer leisure of your own while they’re away having fun. Life is good.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want to send their kids to camp and still maintain the budget.

Image courtesy of Photographic Poetry via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.

Tags: budget, camp, discounts, expensive, parenting help, savvy