As financial fears mount, some Americans are "doom spending," or spending money despite their economic and geopolitical concerns, as a way to cope with stress.
It’s not just ‘doom spending.’ There is next to nothing to do without spending money anymore. Pretty much the only free things anymore are city parks in good weather and libraries all year around. I have a 13-year-old. She’s constantly looking for things to do. There’s so little for her to do for free. She’s in online school, so sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house and go to a cafe to do her schoolwork. $15 minimum every time.
Idk about you but every activity is about $100/month too. I have kids in dance, $100/month per kid. Same with swim lessons (yes at the YMCA too). Looked into ice skating lessons and it’s the same. I want my kids to be able to try things but there’s no way we can afford to do more than one activity at a time and that’s a stretch sometimes.
Yep. She has drum lessons once a week. That’s all we can afford. And that’s just her and a drum teacher, so it’s not even like it’s a ton of social interaction. I’d love to get her to do other classes and things like that, but we can’t afford them.
Yeah and that’s another barrier, start up cost. Instruments are expensive. I grew up playing hockey and if I want my kids to try it it’s around $2000 just for one season.
We were (somewhat) lucky on that end. Her drum teacher sold us a simple drum set for $500 a couple of years ago and we’ve just added bits to it since then. Considering how much drum sets can cost, that was a bargain.
But we also had two incomes at the time. We’re down to one now.
That’s kind of the sad part really. She doesn’t use Lemmy, but she basically spends her free time, when she’s not doing other solo activities like drawing, on social media so she has a way to ‘hang out’ with her friends. In her case, she doesn’t even get to see her friends in school anymore (pulling her out was very necessary and partially her choice). If she wants to spend time with friends and doesn’t want to do it with parents hanging around, and I don’t blame her for wanting that, pretty much the only free thing she can do at this time of the year with them is walk around the mall and window-shop. In other words, the main free thing for kids to do is wish they had money.
What about finding a band?
Even if she is still a very begginer I’ve seen that playing in a band can help you improve faster and learn other skills necessary as a musician (specially for drummers imo) also I made my best friendships and had the most fun while playing in a band.
PS: In case you havent done it; swapping the drum heads for good “brand name” ones can really improove a cheap drumkit, that and new cymbals (cymbals are the weakest part on any cheap drumkit).
It’s not just ‘doom spending.’ There is next to nothing to do without spending money anymore. Pretty much the only free things anymore are city parks in good weather and libraries all year around. I have a 13-year-old. She’s constantly looking for things to do. There’s so little for her to do for free. She’s in online school, so sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house and go to a cafe to do her schoolwork. $15 minimum every time.
Idk about you but every activity is about $100/month too. I have kids in dance, $100/month per kid. Same with swim lessons (yes at the YMCA too). Looked into ice skating lessons and it’s the same. I want my kids to be able to try things but there’s no way we can afford to do more than one activity at a time and that’s a stretch sometimes.
Pff. Piano lessons, guitar lessons… That’s about $300 a month if they’re going weekly.
Yep. She has drum lessons once a week. That’s all we can afford. And that’s just her and a drum teacher, so it’s not even like it’s a ton of social interaction. I’d love to get her to do other classes and things like that, but we can’t afford them.
Yeah and that’s another barrier, start up cost. Instruments are expensive. I grew up playing hockey and if I want my kids to try it it’s around $2000 just for one season.
We were (somewhat) lucky on that end. Her drum teacher sold us a simple drum set for $500 a couple of years ago and we’ve just added bits to it since then. Considering how much drum sets can cost, that was a bargain.
But we also had two incomes at the time. We’re down to one now.
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A snare drum can cost $500, easy.
Yeah, this is definitely not a high-end drum kit, but she’s a kid and she’s not going to be playing gigs any time soon.
No I mean, you got a deal!
For sure. I just wish she’d practice at home more often. Sigh. Kids.
As a percussion instructor, it makes me happy that you are investing in your child’s talent by getting them lessons!
Thanks! She really likes it. I think it’s a good way for her to get aggressions out that she has trouble getting out in other ways.
Only $100/mo? You’re lucky! My nephews’ tennis and violin lessons are way more than that. Like multiple times more. You must live in a LCOL area.
And then, there’s Lemmy that’s free! 🧐
Just kidding, I’m not disagreeing with you
That’s kind of the sad part really. She doesn’t use Lemmy, but she basically spends her free time, when she’s not doing other solo activities like drawing, on social media so she has a way to ‘hang out’ with her friends. In her case, she doesn’t even get to see her friends in school anymore (pulling her out was very necessary and partially her choice). If she wants to spend time with friends and doesn’t want to do it with parents hanging around, and I don’t blame her for wanting that, pretty much the only free thing she can do at this time of the year with them is walk around the mall and window-shop. In other words, the main free thing for kids to do is wish they had money.
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There are a lot of hiking trails and things, but we never seem to find anyone for her to be friends with on them. She’s very shy, which doesn’t help.
What about finding a band?
Even if she is still a very begginer I’ve seen that playing in a band can help you improve faster and learn other skills necessary as a musician (specially for drummers imo) also I made my best friendships and had the most fun while playing in a band.
PS: In case you havent done it; swapping the drum heads for good “brand name” ones can really improove a cheap drumkit, that and new cymbals (cymbals are the weakest part on any cheap drumkit).