Our kids participate in numerous sports during the year, and the expense related to these activities can add up very quickly. One of the easiest ways to limit your expenses in this regard is to buy used equipment instead of new. Sports such as Hockey (we are Canadian after all), are very 'equipment oriented', and thus can require a substantial investment to outfit your child. Our son started hockey this past year at the age of five. Here is a list of the equipment and related costs incurred to get him outfitted:

• Helmet - Used (and safety certified) - $20
• Shoulder Pads - Used - Free (from colleague)
• Hockey Girdle - Used - Free (from colleague)
• Elbow Pads - Used - Free (from colleague)
• Shin Pads - Used - Free (from colleague)
• Gloves - Used - Free (from colleague)
• Neck Guard - New - $16
• Hockey Stockings - $15
• Skates - Used - $25
• Stick - New - $14

Grand Total - $90

At the first practice that my son had at the beginning of the season, I overheard another parent mentioning that he spent approxinmately $1,000 to outfit his son! This is obscene, if the child grows at a steady rate, most of his/her equipment will be obsolete every year or every other year. Especially at a young age, the fact that a child is wearing the latest in "Sports Technology" has absolutely no impact on his/her performance. Think of the additional cost over a typical 10 year participation in minor Hockey (not to mention the forgone compound interest).

Next time you look to outfit your child for their next sporting season, check ebay/kijiji/classifieds for suitable used equipment - you will save a huge amount of money, and your equipment budget will be a cheaperversion of it's former self!