Join The Club

Have you ever stopped to consider the difference between paying for something each time you use it vs. a membership? I took my son to the Children's Museum today. Cost for a day pass: $5/per person. That's $5 for over 1 year old through adult. No 1 year old goes anywhere alone, so a day pass is going to run a family at least $10.

Cost for a membership: $65/per year. That membership gets 4 people in to the museum any/every day of membership ($20 per visit value), a few free parking passes (parking runs about $2), a family day pass to share with someone (another $20 value), some additional goodies, and the feel good feeling of supporting the local Children's Museum. No question, the membership is the way to go.

Another example is membership at a health club. As I page through the current classes at the local YMCA, swimming lessons cost double for non members, birthday parties are double the cost, teen activities cost 50-100% more for non members, adult classes for the most part are double. Granted, members incur a monthly membership fee, but using the facility and taking a few classes at the member rates easily makes membership a better deal. If you have children, a gym that offers 2 hours of free child care per visit makes membership crazy reasonable. AND, many times working at a gym, even part time, yields a free membership.

Do your homework, weigh the costs, and consider that sometimes spending more results in saving more in the long run.