New York Parents Club Founder, Pam Wolf

Greetings New York Parents Club!
 
It seems every conversation these days includes some reference to the state of our economy.
 
Parents are just as likely to share cost-savings tips, as they are to schedule play dates.
 
Cutting our adult-related costs may seem painful, but we know what to do: skip the lattes, control the impulse shopping excursions, scale back the vacation budget, etc.
 
When it comes to our children, however, cost-cutting decisions are more difficult.
 
There are the obvious necessities: food, water, clothing and shelter.
 
But what about the other money we spend on our children for after-school sports classes, music lessons, tutors, summer camps, gifts, entertainment and even private school tuition?
 
When it becomes necessary to cut back on these expenditures, how do you determine what stays and what goes?
 
For example, I’ve always placed a high value on enrichment activities. (In fact, it was participating in classes with my children when they were very young that inspired me to found the New York Kids Club.) So, in my home, there are many other things we will do without (such as pricy gifts) before cutting back on extracurricular spending.
 
Your turn! Let’s talk about your child-related expenditures. 
 
What, if anything, have you cut back on in your home? How did you determine what went first?
 
LET IT OUT!
 
Pam Wolf