Hidden expenses of family life in US?
Mar 24th 2014, 7:26 pm
#31
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 583
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
I remember when I first moved to NJ that I was going to join the gym at a YMCA/YWCA (mostly just called 'the Y' as far as I can tell).
I remember being shocked at the annual fees - so I didn't bother joining.
The biggest sticker shock was the price of Summer Camps....my son went to one in MA - we thought it would be nice to immerse him in American culture, even though I wasn't working, but it's like a ghost town in our town during the Summer as all the kids go away for a few weeks.
It was cheaper for my daughter (during her Gap Year) to spend nearly 5 months in India & the Himalayas - including flights from LHR, domestic flights, accommodation, food etc. than it was for my son to stay at Camp Half Moon in the Berkshires, MA for nearly 5 weeks!
Btw - the 'camp counsellors' were all British university students on a BUNAC work programme in the US and one was from my hometown lol! 
He didn't even like it that much, they were basically staying in wooden huts which weren't much bigger than our garden shed!
http://www.camphalfmoon.com
http://www.camphalfmoon.com/sleep-away-camp/rates-dates
http://www.ventureco-worldwide.com/asia/india/
I remember being shocked at the annual fees - so I didn't bother joining.
The biggest sticker shock was the price of Summer Camps....my son went to one in MA - we thought it would be nice to immerse him in American culture, even though I wasn't working, but it's like a ghost town in our town during the Summer as all the kids go away for a few weeks.
It was cheaper for my daughter (during her Gap Year) to spend nearly 5 months in India & the Himalayas - including flights from LHR, domestic flights, accommodation, food etc. than it was for my son to stay at Camp Half Moon in the Berkshires, MA for nearly 5 weeks!
Btw - the 'camp counsellors' were all British university students on a BUNAC work programme in the US and one was from my hometown lol! He didn't even like it that much, they were basically staying in wooden huts which weren't much bigger than our garden shed!http://www.camphalfmoon.com
http://www.camphalfmoon.com/sleep-away-camp/rates-dates
http://www.ventureco-worldwide.com/asia/india/
I agree with your point about the expense of the summer camps, especially if the child is not really that into the whole thing anyway. The sleep away ones are still very expensive in this neck of the woods - around 6k for 5/6 weeks. As I do not work it is pretty pointless forking out that amount of money for something that our daughter would absolutely hate. I would rather use the equivalent amount of money to plan a 5 week trip around the US, or go even further afield. DD is very keen to go to Florida though as all her US school friends have been there!
Mar 24th 2014, 7:55 pm
#32
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College Pa.
Posts: 1,585
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
http://www.bucksrockcamp.com/
I wish I could afford to send my two.
Mar 24th 2014, 8:33 pm
#33
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
Yeah but you emigrated to the US not India. There's probably a good reason for that.
Mar 24th 2014, 9:23 pm
#34
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Joined: Oct 2003
Location: My Old KY Home!
Posts: 6,498
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
I'm wondering if the whole summer camp thing is more regional? I don't know anyone that went to summer camp for 5 weeks during the summer. The only summer camps I even heard of in my area only lasted around 1week, and not many of my friends (if any) went to that. I would say this isn't a normal expense for many US families.
Mar 24th 2014, 9:26 pm
#35
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,015
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
I'm wondering if the whole summer camp thing is more regional? I don't know anyone that went to summer camp for 5 weeks during the summer. The only summer camps I even heard of in my area only lasted around 1week, and not many of my friends (if any) went to that. I would say this isn't a normal expense for many US families.
Mar 24th 2014, 9:46 pm
#37
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,015
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
My daughter or her European friend didn't go to camp. In her junior year at high school she went to Penn State Uni for a 6 week forensics course...but she spent most weekends with us in a nearby hotel. She was glad to get a comfy room and bathroom of her own.
Mar 24th 2014, 10:05 pm
#39
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Location: State College Pa.
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Mar 24th 2014, 10:15 pm
#40
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Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Was Virginia, now Yorkshire.
Posts: 2,333
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
good quality second hand cars
car insurance
Spectacles (if you don't go online)
Bank charges
car insurance
Spectacles (if you don't go online)
Bank charges
Mar 24th 2014, 10:27 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
Sales tax on second-hand goods. Surprised me the first time in the vintage market.
Mar 24th 2014, 10:29 pm
#42
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Joined: Jun 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 10,678
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
Mar 24th 2014, 10:31 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Hidden expenses of family life in US?
I suspect the big problem is that it is seasonal but the facilities have to be maintained and paid for year around. If they could find someplace where they could pitch tents, have everyone bring their own equipment, and do simple things where kids had to rough it and pitch in, I suspect the price would drop significantly.
