This post is sponsored and paid for by SidelineSwap.com, a a youth sports equipment website where athletes buy and sell their gear. Their mission is to provide athletes with a more affordable way to get gear so that everyone can play the sports they love.
Youth sports equipment costs can slam you. Do you feel the hit to your wallet every season?
The costs of playing on a team, buying uniforms, and traveling can add up very quickly, but there is one area where you can save some money without sacrificing value. Youth sports equipment deals are out there if you are willing to take the time to look. Here’s some things to remember as you look for deals:
Buy used.
There are many ways to buy used: consignment stores, community swaps and even garage sales. But if you’d like to shop from home to find quality, lightly-used equipment, check out Sidelineswap.com, a website where athletes and parents buy and sell gear and where gear arrives as described, or your money back. They offer equipment for over 10 sports, as well as many miscellaneous sports items. Just to get an idea, check out their baseball, skiing and golf equipment.
Plan ahead to buy retail.
If you think ahead, you can cut equipment costs by buying when it’s cheap. Not only can you budget the for the expenses, you can save anywhere from 10-60% on deals. However, if you wait until the last minute you may end up paying top dollar.
Get on the email lists of your favorite sports organizations. Many of them will have discounts before the season begins and after the season is over. Some quickie sales may last only for a weekend, so jump on them right way.
Another good time to save money on sports equipment is during holiday sales. Of course, buying off-season can get tricky because you may not know what size to buy. You can, however, save money during this time on more expensive items. For instance, if your child has gotten serious about a sport, you may want to get equipment other than what he or she wears in the game, like a basketball hoop for the driveway, a soccer goal for the yard, or a volleyball net for the back yard.
Cheap isn’t always better.
In an effort to save money, it’s easy to get sucked into buying cheap. But often cheap doesn’t last as long. Sales give you a chance to get quality items that hopefully won’t fall apart so easily.
Look for Gender Neutral Gear.
If you have more than one athlete in your home and they play the same sport, try to purchase neutral colored gear. For instance, don’t buy pink cleats for your older daughter if she has a younger brother who will need cleats next year. This also makes the equipment easier to sell in a consignment sale.
Buy Bigger.
When buying a uniform that your child will be using for awhile, buy one size up. This gives you another season of use out of it.
Check Facebook.
Local Facebook groups can be a great resource for finding gently used equipment. Families often want to hand down equipment that is no longer needed and these groups are available in many cities nationwide.
No doubt about it, youth sports can be expensive. But organizations like SidelineSwap don’t want that to keep your child out of the game. The benefits of youth sports are too big to ignore: building confidence and self-esteem, increased physical fitness and emotional health.