My six-year-old’s dance recital is coming up. Olivia came home with her costumes recently and couldn’t wait to try them on and admire herself in the mirror.
If Olivia had her way, she would be running from dance to swimming to T-ball to karate …. day after day, week after week. And would then still be asking, “When am I going to learn to play the violin?”
For reasons not just financial, we limit her activities to what we can handle and judge to be reasonable. I place a lot of value in these opportunities for children to learn and grow and “dabble”, if you will, in various activities that allow them to explore the world around them while gaining confidence in their abilities and developing passions of their own.
But make no mistake about it: dabbling comes with a price, one that needs to be measured against the benefit.
- Nine months of lessons (dance and tap): $570
- Practice leotard and tights: $15 (at least) (little dancing girls can really go through tights)
- Ballet and tap shoes: $40
- Recital costumes: $101
- Approximate Total: $726
- **Update: Dance photos added another $64.20
- New total: $790.20
Not to mention time spent and gas needed to chauffeur daughter back and forth to weekly lessons. (And coffees indulged in at Panera Bread during lessons each and every Saturday morning — thanks Hubs:)
For us, for now, the benefit out-weighs the cost. Olivia loves dancing — loves performing, to be exact. And the concept of working hard for the reward of dressing up (and wearing makeup!) and performing on stage is a valuable lesson.
Dave Ramsey would probably say that, to be truly serious about getting out of debt, we would cut out every expense not deemed necessary for breathing. I suppose we are not “gazelle-intense”, because I do want to do a little more than just breathe during this debt-free journey of ours. And that includes letting my daughter dance. I do think it’s worth it.
More from Jolyn
Yakezie Posts
- Friday Night Links Pinched Nerve Edition, Part Deux By Krantcents
- BI 011: Inspiring Travel Destinations By Buck Inspire
- Can Debt Hurt a Relationship? By Robert
- My Tax Return As A Resume By retirebyforty
- Big Giveaways, SPAM and Random Thoughts By bigcajunman
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
She is just adorable…and must I agree, I think it is worth it.
We need to get on a journey like this too before we get into debt….our CC is too high for my tastes. I’m from a country where there is no such thing as a CC – so I freak when I see things just being put on the card.
[Reply]
Oh she looks so precious! Yes, the prices are ridculous. My friend’s daughter is in dance and was talking about the costumes once. But her daughter loves it!
[Reply]