Jackie M.'s comments

Summer and the Single Parent

25 May 2007 09:07 AM

I, too dread summertime. I have a 13 yr old dtr and 8 yr old son, both of whom have attended summer day camp each year since they were 2 yrs old. Summer camp costs me almost $2000 for the summer, which is a very, very reasonable rate for NYC....but it still makes quite a dent in my pocket (unfortunately I receive no child support from either father). I try to cut corners as much as possible by saving money wherever I can. This year, I have decided to buy a bike and ride it to and from work each day (it is about a 45 minute ride each way) to save money. My dtr gets a free bus pass during the school year, but during the summer, I must pay for her busfare to and from camp and I expect to have to start paying for my son to ride the bus each day also. In NYC, the busfare is $2 each way. At least if I ride to work each day, I will not have to pay for my own busfare. I am happy, though, that the children's summer camp takes them to all of the typical fun NYC places to visit-Coney Island, the Circle Line, Rye Playland Amusement Park, etc. Alot of these places can be expensive to go to when you are paying for 3 people. The cost of the trips with the camp is included in the fees, so my children get to do really fun things during the summer and I can take them to equally fun (but more economical) places on the weekend.

Good luck to everyone this coming summer!