I always knew I had it easy being from a small town. Gymnastics has been a part of my life my entire life. I grew up in the usag system from the time I was 3 in the preschool class, and started coaching as soon as I quit after my second level 9 season. I am now 35 years old and have a 9 year old dd who is an insanely talented power tumbler and a level 5/6 gymnast under the new system.
The hubs and I have been talking about it for awhile, and have decided to possibly relocate to further his career...this would mean leaving behind our friends, family, church, schools, swimming for ds, my job, and dd's gymnastics and tumbling.
After calling around to a few (3) gyms in the area (within 20 miles of our prospective new place) I was honestly not surprised to find out that gymnastics is more expensive than I thought. Disappointed? Yes. But surprised? Not at all. All well known gyms, all with level 10s, two with elites.
Currently, for dd to do power tumbling, she tumbles 2x a week (3hrs) on separate days from gymnastics days. Gymnastics is 3x a week (9hrs)...so dd is in the gym 12 hours a week. Currently, I pay 165 dollars a month for gymnastics & tumbling. We do 5 meets a year at 65 each. And then we do about 5 power tumbling meets at 40 dollars each. My annual team fee in 25 dollars and my annual membership fee is 50. We spend about 250 in gas for meet travel per year. So, for dd to live and breathe gymnastics at our little gym (where all of my gymnastics costs are taken out of my check because I work there) I pay a little over 3100 a year - most of which I don't miss AT ALL because it's all deducted from my check.
Anyway, a little over 3100 a year.
So after calling around to scope things out a little, I got a "humble pie" right in the face.
12 hours a week for level 4 = $365/mo
Team fee = 550/yr
Coaching fees = $670/yr (OMG)
Leotard = $325 for long sleeved, $68 for tank.
Warmup = $265
Gym bag $45
Meet fees = $625/yr
There might have been more, but my mind went blank as the VERY sweet lady was telling me about the team program after that....
So for that particular gym, I'm looking at forking out a little over $6100 a year just for team. Not for the leotard and warmup and bag and tank Leo...not grips not travel, not normal gym needs...just for tuition and competition.
The other two gyms were as expensive.
And then, I would be required to do the Booster Club. I have no idea what that entails, as our little gym does zero fund raising.
This increased gymnastics cost is doable for us, but geez...help? How do you guys make it work when gymnastics tuition is like another mortgage? We really have to find a way to keep making gymnastics happen for her - she loves it. Handstand walks, cartwheels and rolling are her regular means of transportation.
The hubs and I have been talking about it for awhile, and have decided to possibly relocate to further his career...this would mean leaving behind our friends, family, church, schools, swimming for ds, my job, and dd's gymnastics and tumbling.
After calling around to a few (3) gyms in the area (within 20 miles of our prospective new place) I was honestly not surprised to find out that gymnastics is more expensive than I thought. Disappointed? Yes. But surprised? Not at all. All well known gyms, all with level 10s, two with elites.
Currently, for dd to do power tumbling, she tumbles 2x a week (3hrs) on separate days from gymnastics days. Gymnastics is 3x a week (9hrs)...so dd is in the gym 12 hours a week. Currently, I pay 165 dollars a month for gymnastics & tumbling. We do 5 meets a year at 65 each. And then we do about 5 power tumbling meets at 40 dollars each. My annual team fee in 25 dollars and my annual membership fee is 50. We spend about 250 in gas for meet travel per year. So, for dd to live and breathe gymnastics at our little gym (where all of my gymnastics costs are taken out of my check because I work there) I pay a little over 3100 a year - most of which I don't miss AT ALL because it's all deducted from my check.
Anyway, a little over 3100 a year.
So after calling around to scope things out a little, I got a "humble pie" right in the face.
12 hours a week for level 4 = $365/mo
Team fee = 550/yr
Coaching fees = $670/yr (OMG)
Leotard = $325 for long sleeved, $68 for tank.
Warmup = $265
Gym bag $45
Meet fees = $625/yr
There might have been more, but my mind went blank as the VERY sweet lady was telling me about the team program after that....
So for that particular gym, I'm looking at forking out a little over $6100 a year just for team. Not for the leotard and warmup and bag and tank Leo...not grips not travel, not normal gym needs...just for tuition and competition.
The other two gyms were as expensive.
And then, I would be required to do the Booster Club. I have no idea what that entails, as our little gym does zero fund raising.
This increased gymnastics cost is doable for us, but geez...help? How do you guys make it work when gymnastics tuition is like another mortgage? We really have to find a way to keep making gymnastics happen for her - she loves it. Handstand walks, cartwheels and rolling are her regular means of transportation.