Kids' Competitive Activities Lead to Debt for 79% of Parents

Rhea-AI Summary

According to a LendingTree survey, nearly 80% of parents have incurred debt to finance their children's competitive activities. The study, which included over 1,000 parents, reveals that 70% of children participate in these activities. The financial burden is significant, with 24% of parents spending over $4,000 annually and 46% expressing stress about these expenses. Many parents view these activities as future investment opportunities, with 87% anticipating returns. Despite financial strains, 65% continued spending during the pandemic, often relying on stimulus payments.

Positive

• 87% of parents expect a return on investment from their children's competitive activities.
• 70% of families with children engage in competitive extracurriculars, indicating a strong market for these activities.

Negative

• 79% of parents have incurred debt for their children's competitive activities, a notable increase from 62% in April 2019.
• 24% of parents spend over $4,000 annually on these activities, causing significant financial stress.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While it's probably not a shocker that kids' competitive activities are expensive, you may be surprised to find that nearly 8 in 10 parents have gone into debt because of it. That was one of the major findings in a recent LendingTree survey of more than 1,000 parents with children ages 18 and younger.

Key findings

• The majority of kids take part in competitive extracurriculars, especially those from higher-income families. In fact, 70% of parents say one or more of their children participate in at least one competitive activity. That jumps to 80% among those earning $100,000 or more, compared to 49% of those with household incomes below $35,000.
• Competitive kids' activities are pricey, and those costs are causing parents to stress. Nearly 1 in 4 parents with a kid enrolled in a competitive extracurricular spend $4,000 or more yearly on that activity. About half (46%) of parents say they're often stressed about paying for those programs.
• Kids' competitive activities and debt often go hand in hand. Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) parents surveyed have been in debt in order to pay for a child's activities, a big jump from the April 2019 edition of this survey when 62% said the same.
• Parents place big bets on their kids' future. Many parents (87%) are hoping for a return on investment for their competitive extracurricular spend, believing that the activity could lead to income for their child. That's up from 80% who thought the same in the April 2019 survey.
• Most parents say the pandemic didn't pause paying for kid's activities, and stimulus payments helped. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they kept paying for activities during the pandemic at the normal rate. However, 69% of parents had to rely on their economic impact payments as a source of funding.
• It's a summer of spending for many parents as they try to make up for lost experiences from the pandemic. Eight in 10 plan to spend money on summer programs for their child, and 73% of them may take on debt to do so.

"There's an awful lot of spending going on to make up for lost time," said LendingTree's Chief Credit Card Analyst, Matt Schulz. "And now that vaccinations are on the rise and life is opening up more, many parents are trying to give their children a great summer — no matter the cost."

To view the full report, visit: https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/study/kids-competitive-activities-may-lead-to-debt/. 

Methodology
LendingTree commissioned Qualtrics to field an online survey of 1,006 parents with kids aged 18 and younger, conducted April 8 to April 15, 2021. The survey was administered using a non-probability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. All responses were reviewed by researchers for quality control.

About LendingTree
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) is the nation's leading online marketplace that connects consumers with the choices they need to be confident in their financial decisions. LendingTree empowers consumers to shop for financial services the same way they would shop for airline tickets or hotel stays, comparing multiple offers from a nationwide network of over 500 partners in one simple search, and can choose the option that best fits their financial needs. Services include mortgage loans, mortgage refinances, auto loans, personal loans, business loans, student loans, insurance, credit cards and more. Through the My LendingTree platform, consumers receive free credit scores, credit monitoring and recommendations to improve credit health. My LendingTree proactively compares consumers' credit accounts against offers on our network and notifies consumers when there is an opportunity to save money. In short, LendingTree's purpose is to help simplify financial decisions for life's meaningful moments through choice, education and support. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of LendingTree, Inc. For more information, go to www.lendingtree.com, dial 800-555-TREE, like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @LendingTree

MEDIA CONTACT:
Morgan Lanier
morgan@lendingtreenews.com

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SOURCE LendingTree, Inc.

FAQ

What percentage of parents have gone into debt due to their children's activities?,

Approximately 79% of parents have incurred debt to finance their children's competitive activities.

How much do parents spend on kids' competitive activities each year?,

Nearly 24% of parents report spending $4,000 or more annually on their children's competitive extracurriculars.

How has the pandemic affected spending on children's activities?,

Despite the pandemic, 65% of parents continued to pay for their children's activities at normal rates.

What are parents hoping for regarding their investment in competitive activities?,

87% of parents believe their children's competitive extracurriculars could lead to future income.

What are the findings of the recent LendingTree survey on children's activities?,

The survey found a significant number of parents facing debt and stress due to high costs associated with children's competitive activities.