Very sad because of all the budgets cuts going on everywhere

**imagine** · 01-25-2010, 09:36 AM

First we cut out budget at home has to be done when you make the same but the needed basics are costing more. The fun frivolous stuff has to go.

Then I hear the school has to cut nearly three million dollars from their budget next year and they are trying to decide what has to be cut. You know it has to be the fun "frivolous" stuff like sports, after school activities, fine arts etc. It also looks like it might be teachers and elementary schools too. At least we aren't having to pair up with neighboring towns to teacher our children. Neighboring towns are talking about pairing up with their rival schools to become one school.

Then the church has to cut it budget and that means the fun frivolous stuff has to go yet again along with some not so frivolous things. They got rid of the program I use to help with. So now I'll left to find a new niche, place to be. Still so many unknown on what else will need to be cut there.

It just feels like the activities for little ones are going away. They have to leave the home budget, the are leaving the school budget, not sure what will happen at church. So many things my youngest was looking forward to when she was old enough (like her brother) and now that she is old enough they aren't there or can't be afforded. Even though she is only four years younger. It feels like she was born into a different world with far less opportunity.

Yes all the budget cuts have be very sad.

**frugalfoster** · 01-25-2010, 10:32 AM

It's a new world that we live in...and just maybe our children will benefit from it.... with all the activities that our children enjoyed for little or no money....they gained a sense of entitlement. Please don't take this wrong...but I think it would do all of us some good if we had to go back and "earn" those priveleges... I think we would appreciate them more...

**imagine** · 01-25-2010, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfoster

It's a new world that we live in...and just maybe our children will benefit from it.... with all the activities that our children enjoyed for little or no money....they gained a sense of entitlement. Please don't take this wrong...but I think it would do all of us some good if we had to go back and "earn" those priveleges... I think we would appreciate them more...

I don't understand what you mean by go back and "earn" those privileges.

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-25-2010, 11:06 AM

It's happening here too. Our two local rival high schools will be one next year. Not enough students, tax revenue has dropped, they just can't run them both.

I think the kids will be fine. My generation grew up without all those sports and dance programs around, and we still found plenty to entertain ourselves and enrich our lives.

**frugalfoster** · 01-25-2010, 11:08 AM

I mean...as in the example of the church...let the children who will benefit from the special treat...( i'm thinking like field trips) fund raise for them...they'll benefit from being part of a team and they will feel accomplishment from obtaining their goal... I was a youth group leader for our church and we fund raised for anything special that we wanted to do... our church simply didn't have the funds available to subsidize... that's all

**frugalfoster** · 01-25-2010, 11:12 AM

As far as the school activities are concerned... I agree with the above poster...although it is sad when schools have to join together...it's a fact of life..the one we live in... for years there weren't the activities that are available today...but we survived..

**JanieD** · 01-25-2010, 11:17 AM

Its hard to adjust to all these changes at once. I do think its important for everyone to make cuts as needed. Not sure how you explain all this to children. Maybe just spending extra time with them doing free, fun things together would help. I remember trips to the library & park as special outings as a child. These cost very little (gas to drive there) & were often part of our errands for the week or month.

Here many seem to have their head in the sand about the whole situation. They continue to spend or expect others to (local government is in complete denial). I'm waiting to see how it will play out, hoping thing won't unravel around me.

**imagine** · 01-25-2010, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfoster

I mean...as in the example of the church...let the children who will benefit from the special treat...( i'm thinking like field trips) fund raise for them...they'll benefit from being part of a team and they will feel accomplishment from obtaining their goal... I was a youth group leader for our church and we fund raised for anything special that we wanted to do... our church simply didn't have the funds available to subsidize... that's all

oh, I understand that you mean now.

Our youth group parents pay for the yearly trip to the big city for a fun day (pizza and games) or the students can earn money by working at the youth group garage sale and the more hours they work the more of the money made from the sale they can earn to pay for the trip.

The things I talking about being cut at church are Sunday School already don't have Sunday school for high schoolers. The youth group meets once a week for a lesson but the youth director might have to be cut so that might go.

At school things like orchestra, music, art, sports all on the cutting board. After school activities like clubs and tutors too. As well as teachers so class sizes are going to be big.

If the things get cut that they are planning (more at the younger level then high school) my children will have no activities. It will be school and home. Even brownies that my daughter goes to is so low funded that they aren't getting badges this year as they are to expensive and don't fit into the troop budget.

**fernykins** · 01-25-2010, 11:29 AM

I'm sorry I disagree. The schools need the sport and other after school programs........ It keeps the kids off the streets and out of trouble. My grandson is 14 and was heading for trouble. First he joined the water polo team and now he is on the wrstling team his grades have improved. I understand times are hard, but why don't our politicians take a pay cut instead of getting a pay raise. As far as things to do at church. When I was young we earned our money by car washes, bake sales after church. It didn't hurt us.
Fern

**imagine** · 01-25-2010, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by JanieD

Its hard to adjust to all these changes at once. I do think its important for everyone to make cuts as needed. Not sure how you explain all this to children. Maybe just spending extra time with them doing free, fun things together would help. I remember trips to the library & park as special outings as a child. These cost very little (gas to drive there) & were often part of our errands for the week or month.

Here many seem to have their head in the sand about the whole situation. They continue to spend or expect others to (local government is in complete denial). I'm waiting to see how it will play out, hoping thing won't unravel around me.

It is a fact of life that budgets have to be tightened everywhere. It is a current fact of life. It is just so sad to see the opportunities to learn and grow that ever available to my son just not being available for daughter who is just four years younger. I am quite sad.

**frugalfoster** · 01-25-2010, 11:32 AM

Hopefully the church will get someone to volunteer as their youth group leader...that's what we had to do... as far as brownies goes...i feel bad about that one...somehow the leader will have to figure out how to keep the group going...

**imagine** · 01-25-2010, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by fernykins

I'm sorry I disagree. The schools need the sport and other after school programs........ It keeps the kids off the streets and out of trouble. My grandson is 14 and was heading for trouble. First he joined the water polo team and now he is on the wrstling team his grades have improved. I understand times are hard, but why don't our politicians take a pay cut instead of getting a pay raise. As far as things to do at church. When I was young we earned our money by car washes, bake sales after church. It didn't hurt us.
Fern

The after school programs at our middle school and high school were scheduled to be cut this year but were saved when the police department volunteered to pay for it.

**frugalfoster** · 01-25-2010, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by fernykins

I'm sorry I disagree. The schools need the sport and other after school programs........ It keeps the kids off the streets and out of trouble. My grandson is 14 and was heading for trouble. First he joined the water polo team and now he is on the wrstling team his grades have improved. I understand times are hard, but why don't our politicians take a pay cut instead of getting a pay raise. As far as things to do at church. When I was young we earned our money by car washes, bake sales after church. It didn't hurt us.
Fern

I agree....the politicians have helped get us into this and with little or no consequences to them. BUT, no way will they take the hit themselves, so we are left to try and gather the pieces up and make the best life we can from them... I know the value of sports and after school activities...but how do you fund them when there is no money??

**frugalfoster** · 01-25-2010, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by imagine

The after school programs at our middle school and high school were scheduled to be cut this year but were saved when the police department volunteered to pay for it.

Ths is awesome... and a great message from the police to the area's kids...

**imagine** · 01-25-2010, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfoster

I agree....the politicians have helped get us into this and with little or no consequences to them. BUT, no way will they take the hit themselves, so we are left to try and gather the pieces up and make the best life we can from them... I know the value of sports and after school activities...but how do you fund them when there is no money??

If there is no money they can't. Those who are lucky enough to have parents that can pay to have them on a team or pay for private violin lessons will get to do so but those that can't won't get that opportunity.

Just a fact of life that I'm currently sad about, possible mourning the loss?