With school just right around the corner its time for cheer camps and try outs to start up. This can be a great end to the summer, but when it comes to purchasing all the items your child needs to enjoy this sport it might be a huge shock to your budget. From uniforms to field trips, there’s a whole lot of items you’ll need to fund during the cheer season, especially if your child is in high school or competitive cheerleading programs. Luckily, there are a few ways to avoid some of the initial cost. With these ten tips you’ll be able to keep your child happy and looking within the sport without having to break up some of your budget to do so. Now, you can cheer along instead of worrying about you’re going to fund the upcoming months.
1. Fundraisers
There’s nothing more classic than holding a fundraiser for a sport. This can be done in several different ways though, so you don’t have to get bored with one or jump into something you’re going hate doing in the long term. For starters, there’s the ever famous sales pitch where students go door to door selling items to help fund their team. This method works well, but if you’re not up for spending a lot of time on an activity then you might want to skip this one. You also have to have money to put down on it, which is not good for tight budgets. Another great way to earn some funds in to hold a yard sale, bake sale, car wash or any other idea that might pull in a little money. These items are usually very easy to organize and with a little help from the neighborhood you shouldn’t have to put too much money into them. You could also consider creating a competition. Ask people to donate at the door or charge an entry fee. This is great because it can be held in your child’s school, with permission, or an outdoor area. It will also give the cheer team a chance to show what they have!
2. Order Uniforms Early
Early preparation is always a good idea, so try to find a way to get your uniform orders in as early as possible. If you’re ordering for just your child then you may want to put in your order as soon as you find out he or she has made the team. This can be as early as the end of the school year or weeks before the new school year begins. You should always take into consider how much your child may grow throughout the year though, so order a little bigger if you’re concerned about your student having a growth spurt. One way to enjoy better quality uniforms is to order early from your local tailor. This will allow you to have one of the better quality uniforms and by ordering early you won’t have to pay as much as those who put their orders in during peak times. If you’re ordering for the entire team then make sure to shop around for a good deal. When you find the price you’re looking for go ahead and order because the longer you wait the longer it will take to get the uniforms back to you due to high demand.
3. Donations
One great thing about communities is they’re usually willing to give in order to see the youth in their community succeed. If you’re having trouble funding your team then you might want to consider doing a call for donations. You can cheaply and easily run an ad in the local paper for a donation drive in your area. If you aren’t sure the newspaper will do much good then take to social media. These pages will generally hook a wide audience and will allow others to share the call for donations. You can also have the squad make up signs to post around time. With a little effort your cause should be passed around town with ease. In return for donations try to other something fun, such as a free entry to a game or a free drink at the concession stand. You should also keep donations open. For instance, some people may not be able to give money but items like shoes, pom poms and megaphones are always appreciated.
4. Carpool to Events
Chances are your squads going to have to do a bit of traveling during the season. This can take up a lot of the budget, especially if you plan on taking buses or other larger means of transportation. Instead of renting vehicles try to have some parents chaperon the event so you can spend less on gas and rental fees. If each member of the squad chips in a small amount for gas then everyone should be able to get to the destination without burning too much money. If you’re worried about getting your child to games and other events locally then try to talk to other squad parents and see if anyone else is willing to create a carpool. This works out great for parents that might have to work during certain games and will ensure the kids get to their destination without spending a lot of money throughout the season.
5. Hand Me Downs
Although it might not seem ideal to your child, hand me downs are a great way to ensure your child can stay on the squad when money is tight. If you had an older child that was in cheerleading then this is idea. Make sure to tailor the old uniform to your child’s needs while also ensuring it suits the seasons standards. With the uniform out of the way you can knock one big expense out of the season. If you child had specific squad shoes that will fit your child then this is all the better. Usually, squads won’t care what your child wears to practice, so save the specific shoes for game day in order to keep their quality intact. Megaphones, pom poms and other cheer accessories are easy to restore for newer cheerleaders as well. If you don’t have children that were previously in cheerleading then you might want to ask other family members or friends if they have anything that could help your student ease into the squad without breaking the budget.
6. Sew Your Own Uniform
Most cheerleading uniform follow one basic pattern, so if you enjoy sewing then creating your child’s uniform might be the cheapest way to let your child enjoy the cheerleading squad. If you aren’t entirely sure about the requirements for the uniform then talk to the coach and ask to see an example of the uniform required. This will allow you to know the correct colors, fabrics, embroidery and other musts for the uniform. Once you have all of the supplies it shouldn’t be hard to recreate the required suit. It will also mean your child is getting a uniform that fits amazingly because it was just entirely for the student. Creating your own uniform also makes alterations later on a whole lot easier. You never know, after you send your student out in the uniform you may have orders from the entire squad for a personalized uniforms, which means you might actually make some money to put towards the season so the budget can relax a little more.
7. Yard Sales
Chances are, if you live in a small community then there’s going to be lots of cheerleading items in the yard sales. Make a point to check out any new sales whenever you can. People usually hold them on weekends, so make a day out of surfing the different yard sales. Sometimes you might be lucky enough to everything your student could possibly need after shopping a few yard sales. You might have to venture to other communities in order to find some of the items though, so make sure look online for notices before you head out. This will help you save on fueling cost and will save time since you’ll know where you need to go. You may also talk to the sale holders about battering for the cheerleading gear, which will help save even more money.
8. Compete
If your on a squad then try your hardest to get into some competitions. There’s a lot around the country, so chances are you’ll be able to find some awesome competitions in your local area. If your team is really good then you may even go on to state or national competitions, so keep up the good work and push yourself to advance when possible. Typically, entry fees aren’t too expensive for competitions and the price of winning will actually help fund some of your trips as well as the upkeep of your squad. If you’re not sure where to start then take to the internet and do a little research on the competitions in your area. Once you’ve competed the first time you’ll love the way it feels to show off your stuff. You may even want to start researching some of your own choreography moves to make your cheers all the more fun.
9. Talk to Your School
When it comes to cheerleading, the money can become too much for tight budgets. However, luckily there’s lots of support available through schools if you let them know if you’re struggling with the cost. Many schools will allot money for grants and scholarships to students who desire to be a part of the team but don’t have the money to do so. You may have to fill out a few forms based on income and need, but after that the school should help support many of the needed items. If your school is using cheerleading as an athletics program then chances are the uniform and other accessories will already be supplied for your student. Thus, most of the worry will be lifted from your budget. If you’re still having problems getting your student to games then talk to the coach. A lot of the time the coach will pick up students that need a ride or arrange a pick up with another student’s parents. So, stop stressing and simply ask when you need a little help.
10. Re-Use Last Year’s Items
If your students a veteran the cheerleading then don’t stress about the small stuff. At the end of the season make sure to pack away all the cheerleading supplies somewhere safe. When its time to start a new season then unpack everything and have your student try it all on. If the uniform doesn’t fit then work to make the needed alterations. The only item that might need to be replaced is the shoes, but if your child hasn’t grown much then this shouldn’t be an issue at all. If, perhaps, the colors for the pom poms or megaphone has changed then this is typically an easy fix. The megaphone can be painted with recycled paints to suit your teams needs. While, the pom pom strands can be replaced with cheap streamers of the proper colors. However, this item tends to be a bit cheaper just to repurchase. Spanks are another item that shouldn’t need replacing for the new season, just make sure there are no holes in the items. If you make sure everything is cleaned and stored properly during the off season you should be good to go for next year though.
Cheerleading can be a great adventure for your student, so don’t let the opportunity pass by because of the lack of funds. With these ten tips you’ll be able to save a whole lot of money on items that may normally cost a small fortune. With all of the savings you should be able to enjoy more games and cheer your child on throughout the seasons.
