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I can't afford my play group

October 4th, 2008 at 05:58 am

I joined a playgroup a couple of weeks after I switched to working mostly nights at my job, and pulling Juliette out of daycare. I just wanted to make sure that she got some decent kid interaction, and well, I could use a couple of "mom" friends. Seriously.

I checked the calendar last night, and well, I just can't afford these people. LOL. During the summer, there were LOTS of plans for dates at parks and the like. It's Florida, it's not cold here. This month, there is ONE date at the park, as we missed it because Juliette was sick. How lame is that? However, they have plans to go to the zoo twice and the aquarium as well. We did the aquarium earlier in the summer, and I spent close to $70 for the day. Sorry, I just can't afford to go to those sorts of things. I was looking for a group of ladies who wanted to take their kids to the park a couple of days a week to let them blow of steam ... I just can't justify going to the zoo/aquarium every week. And I'm not going to lie, I don't understand how they can keep going to the zoo/aquarium/Bush Gardens every couple of weeks, it would begin to drive me BATTY!

Sigh ... we'll stay on for a bit longer, hopefully I'm not the only mom who feels this way. They did introduce me to Barnes and Nobles on Monday mornings, so something good has come out of this. Which, by the way, is free. They had this listed ONCE .. Juliette LOVED it. We went, the lady read three books which Juliette loved and we stayed and read like five more together. She keeps asking when we are going to go back to the bookstore, so I think I am going to make it a regular activity, at least until Christmas gets closer, and then, as much as I love the kid, you can't get me close to that mall during the Christmas season. Those people are nuts.

Posted in Julie, Budget | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “I can't afford my play group”

  1. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 02:35 pm 1223130959
    1223130959

    B&N book reading days may give you a chance to meet some other kids and parents who are more thrifty in their kid centered activities. Maybe you can make connections to form a new play group.

  2. Personal Finance Student Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 03:29 pm 1223134189
    1223134189

    You might also check your local rec center for a Mom & Tots class. Our's is very reasonable at $10 for one day week and the session lasts about 3 months. It's nothing fancy, but my son loves it. They blow up a bounce house everytime, sometimes have a little craft project to do and they put out lots of toys. I have met about 5 other moms there and we get together outside of Mom & Tots now too. Oh, I also go to the library's weekly storytime (sounds like what B&N does); it's great and I don't have to worry about spending money on sales other than 10 cents for an old magazine. Smile Good luck!

  3. disneysteve Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 05:14 pm 1223140478
    1223140478

    Have you looked into annual memberships or passes for those places? I know around here, an annual family pass to the zoo costs about as much as 2 visits. If you plan to go periodically, it is well worth buying a membership, which also includes other perks, free parking, special events a discount at the gift shop, etc. Same goes for the aquarium.

    I just checked out of curiosity (and to make sure my facts were correct).
    Adult ticket to the zoo: $18
    Child ticket to the zoo: $15
    Annual membership with unlimited admission for one adult and one child: $54

    So an annual membership is $12 cheaper than going twice and buying tickets.

  4. princessperky Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 05:55 pm 1223142956
    1223142956

    Try going to the park on a particular day each week, you may be surprised to find other moms with kids there the same days as well. after a month if no luck try another day/time.

    Though the annual pass is also an awesome idea.

  5. reginaastralis Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 11:00 pm 1223161212
    1223161212

    I plan on buying an annual pass for some of the places, just not sure which ones I want. I was hoping to get our Disney annual pass this year, and then do the zoo/aquarium everyother year, but I think I am going to maybe get Sea World/Bush Gardens this year, and maybe the zoo. With the zoo pass, in September I can also go to the aquarium and MOSI. They all do this, let you switch back and forth.

    There's always next year for Disney.

    I'm going to go and price everything out ... and then work from there. I don't know if we're the type of people to go to the zoo monthly, which I know we'd do for Disney ... but it might still be worth it.

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