The YMCA is screwing me.........
When I joined two years ago, it was $68 a month. They have an indoor pool, racquetball, basketball, water park, etc. Bottom line, it's a nice place, and convenient.
My kids take swimming lesson there. If you are a member, it's $55 per session, and $140 if you're a non-member. Plus, as a member you get to register for the lessons a week before the non-members, so the chances of getting the class you want are much better.
Last year, when my membership was renewed, they went to a sliding scale based on income. I'm sure it helped some members, but if you have a household income of over $70,000 a year, you paid $92 a month. So I started paying $92 a month.
They now do an on-line registration for swimming lessons, but the system has crashed the last two sessions, and I can only get one child in. I have bitched to no avail.
Last month, our renewal notice was received. They have increased to $95 a month, and the swimming lessons are now $75 per kid per session for members................
I had a meeting with the membership director, and asked why the costs were rising so fast. She had no real answer for me. Bottom line, I decided to pay the $300 a session so my 2 kids can learn to swim. I have checked out private companies like Swimtastics and it's $600 for 2 kids for one session.........
Any other ideas?? I asked if I could join as a single person, and use my membership to get my kids in swimming, but that was no dice. Too bad, I could be at $63 a month.......
It's not a deal killer, and I can afford it, but belonging to a YMCA for $100 a month sounds a little high, when there are nicer private clubs for $60 or so..........
3 swimming sessions a year per kid, plus the membership, would be $1590 a year.............I think that's a lot............for us LBYM folks...........
