Parents urged to plan now for summer camp savings amid rising costs
Registration is open, prices are climbing — and financial experts say a little planning now can save families hundreds of dollars.
PHOENIX — It’s mid-April, and for parents, the summer scramble is already here.
Camp registration is in full swing, and the costs are adding up fast. But financial experts say a little planning now can save families hundreds of dollars before June ever arrives.
“Just like inflation with everything else, summer camps are going up — and unfortunately parents don’t have the option to take the summer off most of the time,” says Rachel Caballero, a mom and financial professional at TruWest Credit Union.
Camp prices typically increase as the start date gets closer, which means the earlier you register, the more you save. Caballero’s advice: Don’t wait to see if something better comes along. “Getting in at early bird pricing is essential to saving as much money as you possibly can,” she says.
Mom of two Grace Hernandez learned this firsthand. She now starts researching camps as early as possible, balancing what her kids enjoy against what fits the budget—even if that means a 45-minute drive for an affordable Minecraft camp in Scottsdale.
“We first try to figure out what the kids like to do,” she says. “But cost is definitely one of the things we have to keep in mind, so we shop around.”
Once you’ve found a camp, Caballero recommends breaking the cost into manageable monthly or weekly savings goals — starting now. And if your employer offers a dependent care FSA, use it. “Summer camp qualifies — along with private school tuition, books, and more,” she says.
On the spending side, small cuts add up quickly. Skip a dinner out. Hold off on the next salon visit. And always ask about sibling discounts. “Even a $6 difference per kid adds up pretty quickly,” she said.
Smart strategies to save on summer camp:
- Register early — prices rise as camp dates approach, and early bird rates can save significant money.
- Use a dependent care FSA through your employer — summer camp is a qualifying expense.
- Ask about sibling discounts if your kids share interests. Even small per-week savings add up over the summer.
- Check city programs, school districts and your local library — many offer free or low-cost summer programming.
- Reuse gear from last year or borrow from friends and family rather than buy new.
For Hernandez, adding summer camp to holiday and birthday wish lists also helps offset a surprising chunk of the cost. When relatives ask what the kids want, she points them to a camp they’ve been eyeing.
Free and low-cost options exist in most communities — city recreation programs, school district resources and library summer programming are all worth a look.
But the single biggest advantage any parent can give themselves is time.
“There are options,” says Hernandez. “You just have to do a lot of the footwork. But if you start ahead of time, you can probably get them to what they like.”
If you have money-saving topics you’d like us to look into, email money@12news.com.
