My daughter wants to go to this camp, but we can't afford it!?

Question

My daughter is 13 and she really wants to go to this camp this summer, but it's $2000! I really cannot afford to send her to that camp! I looked into it and there are no payment plans or scholorships! I really feel bad.

How do I break the news to my daughter that she can't go? She's been wanting to go for such a long time and now that she's old enoguh to go, I can't afford it!

HELP!

Answer 1

show her a picture of Paris Hilton ..Then show her a picture of herself..Tell her Paris can go to this camp but ..you cannot

Answer 2

You need to sit her down and have a real heart to heart. Explain that you truly would love to send her, but you don't have the money to do it. You can't "find" the money somewhere, and this is just not an option right now. Maybe you can look at other camps that do offer scholarships, etc? I think you need to just tell her the truth!

Answer 3

That IS alot of money for a summer camp, so don't listen to anyone else. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to afford whatever they want. I'm sure that your daughter will blow it out of proportion, as most young girls do lol. But the best thing to do is be honest with her. And maybe you can arrange a plan for her to save money to go next year. It's also entirely possible that if she saves up that much money, she won't want to spend it all on a summer camp! It's a great way to introduce her to responsibilty, and if she's raising the money herself, she will probably understand a little more just how much $2000 is, and not be so upset with you. I grew up in an extremely poor household, and yes, it really sucked at the time, but I have no issues about it now and I truly believe it gave me a great work ethic and sense of responsibility. Good luck, and remember, she may say things she doesn't mean when she's upset, don't get down on yourself for not being able to afford the camp. You're not doing anything wrong, you're simply like the rest of us working parents!

Answer 4

That's sweet that you want to send her and I'm sorry that they don't offer scholarships. It's really hard these days, because money is tight for so many.

I would just be honest with her. Speak from your heart. She'll understand. I would also suggest you come up with some activities you can afford and maybe do them together, even if it's just a picnic in the park, a trip to the beach/lake, a movie/drive-in, or grabbing a burger/ice cream together, etc. Looking back, she will appreciate the time spent with you far more than any trip to summer camp.

Answer 5

she's 13. shes got to learn about the real world, and the real world is money.....

try giving her different ideas for the summer. buy her a pool pass. take her to an amusement park. etc.

Answer 6

You sit down with her and tell her the truth. You simply can't afford it.

As a single mum of 2 I have had to do this many times for things a way lot less expensive than $2000 and my children are younger than 13.

She will get over it.

Answer 7

It is heartbreaking when you can't afford something that your kids really want.  Is there any way the camp will let her go for just a week or two?  I don't know what kind of camp it is, but maybe she could work there as a counselor-in-training, instead of being a camper.

If there's no way, you will have to break it to her.  She's 13, so she should understand.  She'll be upset and angry, but she should understand.  Give her some hope, though, and tell her that she can go next year if you both start saving now.

At 13, she's old enough to understand that money doesn't grow on trees.  If she doesn't, this is a great time to start teaching her.  She can get a job- babysitting, walking dogs, delivering papers, etc. and save the money towards camp for next summer.  She can ask for money for her birthday and Christmas.  If you can, offer to match her dollar for dollar.  In a year, you should be able to afford it.  

I can't imagine a camp that doesn't even offer a payment plan.  Not many people can afford to spend $2000 upfront. Are you sure this is even a good place to send your kid?

Answer 8

it is simple. The word is No. Kids don't hear it enough. Parents this generation are known as the yes generation. Explain you cannot afford it and you are sorry. Do not put yourself into debt for it. It is not worth it. She will manage just fine without it. Better to have food and a roof over your head.

Answer 9

What I did in that situation, is I wrote the camp and explained that and asked for financial aid. They usually give it. If not say, we can't do it thois year, but if you save up your allowence, we can help you pay for it next year.

Answer 10

there is programs out there that you can ask to sponsor her to be able to go to this camp or maybe tell her to babysit and earn money and she can go next year as you guys arent financially stable to send her there this year ive been there sometimes kidscant always have what they want i know us as mothers want to give out kids teh best lives but sometimes we have to say no hope it works out

Answer 11

I'm sure your daughter will understand if you explain it to her.

Answer 12

I must admit to laughing when I saw what qualified as "expensive".  You want expensive?  Try sending a kid to a Jewish summer camp.  Try a thousand dollars a week.  That's right.  To live in a frigging hut and sing songs outdoors and swim in a leechy lake.  (OK, and email everyone in sight and spend most of the summer at the computer.  Still.)

Since she's bright, I'd look for high-end camps that offer scholarships and sliding-scale arrangements.  Try the gifted-ed or academic camps.  She's old enough for some sleepaway.

expatinuk, nobody is suggesting the OP should get down on all fours and play horsie with the kids all day, or that she spend her retirement account so they can go hiking.  But in a world where summer does not mean bands of kids playing Indians in the parks and backyards and roaming the streets in bicycle packs, you cannot expect children to entertain themselves endlessly in the backyard.  They need other kids to play with.  When most of the women in a neighborhood work, and it is not safe or legal to leave the children unsupervised all day, we pay to send the children someplace -- day camp, sleepaway camp, other supervised arrangements.  It is the summer form of daycare.

Don't forget, either, that camp is not usually primarily for the child, esp. sleepaway camp.  Camp is for the parents.

Answer 13

Tell her the truth.

Answer 14

Just sit her down and tell her you can't afford it this year and you're sorry. But maybe tell her she could start a fundraiser so she can go next year. She will appreciate it more if she has to pay for all or some of it herself. At 13 she should be able to understand that money is tight and you can't always get what you want. Good luck. =]

Answer 15

Just tell her, she will be upset but she will be fine! Kids are too spoiled anyway. the ones that don't get everything they want will probably end up better, anyway

Answer 16

Just explain to her that money is tight. its okay, don't feel bad. see if there's something else she wants to do that cost less. maybe a shopping trip will be fun. you two can even go on your own camping trip or do some of the activities that occur at the camp she wants to go to. she'll soon understand.

Answer 17

That's life. If you can't afford, you don't get it. Period.

Answer 18

First off, I'm glad to see that chick's getting all thumbs down~~that answer sure deserved it!!

I grew up not going to camps or getting what I wanted, but I had food, clothes and shelter, so life was good. I do remember one year that my sister was scheduled to go on a school trip to Florida and my mom had to borrow the money from a friend & pay them back when possible. Just so the sister wouldn't feel left out. If THAT is not a route you can take (borrowing from a friend, family member or the bank), sit your daughter down and explain to her politely that camp will need to wait ONE more year. Then the two of you can start planning and saving.

At her age, she can surely baby-sit on the week ends and put the money aside for camp. She may be able to pay for the whole thing herself that way. She could also do lawns, dog walking services, and even help people with house keeping. I know you're the parent, but kids need to learn to contribute and this is a wonderful opportunity for her. You can always tell her that if she makes $20 baby sitting (just an example) that you will match that. Then you can set the money aside in a little safe in your home or start an account at the bank specifically for this purpose. You'd be surprised at how quickly $5, $10, and $20 can add up!

Good luck~~hang in there!!

Answer 19

It's heart breaking when you have to tell your child you cannot afford something he/she really wants, but it's also part of life. Is there another camp she can go to this summer? Then, next year, you can save up for the other one.

I'd call up the camp's office and see if they can help you out financially. Even if their website says differently talking to them may help you out.

Answer 20

Tell her the truth, that she simply cannot go because it is out of your budget. Then ask her if there is something else she'd like to this summer.