Dance Class = Give Me Your Money!

I grew up dancing. I took dance classes from age 3 until I was 20 years old, and I loved everything about it - my tights, my shoes, my friends, the music, the mirrors, learning a new routine, performing on stage, watching others at rehearsal... I can't imagine having lived my life without it.

My daughter - now 3 - is enrolled in her first year of dance lessons. She isn't always jazzed up about wearing her dance clothes, does not always look forward to learning more steps in her routines, and rarely (once a week at most), talks about wearing her costume and dancing on stage. Either she doesn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped that she would, or she is simply too young to connect the dots from week to week. I, am, however, ready to shed some tears or punch some walls in regards to the cost of it all.

Keep in mind that we're talking about a 3 year-old here, but this is what the year is looking like so far:
$45 / month in lessons
$90 / in costumes
$95 / in recital fees
$15 / each additional recital ticket
$30 / in picture fees
$50 / in dance wear - as she grows, the list grows

Part of me hopes that she'll continue to want to dance, but a part of me hopes that she'll choose a less expensive hobby for her free time. I mean, if we're spending ~$1,000 in dance this year, what will spend when she turns 10 and takes more classes, wears more costumes, and competes around the country?!

MWM Turns 30