Ok, so we all know ballroom is expensive... so what things do you splurge on, and what things do you save on? I know I splurge on lessons and dresses and comps, but I try to save on not getting DVD's at every comp, not getting photos at every comp, not entering every heat I could enter, not buying super expensive shoes and I usually have a roommate at comps. So what things do you do?
How do you splurge, how do you save?
- Thread starter debmc
- Start date
Gorme
Active Member
I don't hesitate on money when it come to lessons and shoes. I also buy the video for all of my heats as it's important for my own record-keeping. If the practice clothing cost around the price of the shoes, I don't hesitate to buy it, otherwise, I will mull over it a long time.
I save money by not staying at the comp hotel and even then, try to find other people to share the room cost. I rarely eat out. If I go out with friends, I try to find recreational activities that are inexpensive. Fortunately, most are dance friends and we'd hang out at a social party.
I save money by not staying at the comp hotel and even then, try to find other people to share the room cost. I rarely eat out. If I go out with friends, I try to find recreational activities that are inexpensive. Fortunately, most are dance friends and we'd hang out at a social party.
danceronice
Forum Master
I splurge on dresses, while making shoes last as long as possible. I take privates, but limit coaching. And I try to stick to competitions that I can drive to and don't do a lot.
etp777
Active Member
local competitions or ones I can split costs on (that applies to ones I just attend to watch too, try to find competitions other friends are going to so I can carpool). I try to make sure regular clothing I buy is functional for lessons too so I dont' have to always have practice clothes (I go to lessons during my lunch breaks). I ask friends who are teachers, along with my pro, for recommendations on which coaches are likely to be most helpful for my dancing, and which dances they give the best coaching on. Same rule for choreography, do research to find out which dances I like their style best in, and won't askt hem to choreograph a dance that I know I don't like their style in
When I take lessons or coaching I make sure to follow through on whatever the subject was by practicing until it is in body memory and/or doing follow up lessons to make sure I understand and incorporate. I find that skipping around too much on subjects or taking many lessons without time to get things in body memory is not conducive to improvement. I guess I try to make each lesson count.
itsthisgirl
New Member
things i cut cost on: steak dinners are officially a no go! I dont eat out anymore, i cook for myself, and eat alot of soup (which is quite healthy and great for weight loss). I pretty much have nix'ed my social life. i hang out at socials since they are cheap and fun and a work out (dancing yay). So its really like killing many birds with a cheap stone. I stay at hotels that arent hosting the event, sometimes the price is substantially different. Last place i went i saved 75.00 a night, and my room was VERY nice. For practice clothing, use something you would work out in that looks decent. I've been a dancer my whole life so i have dance clothes. I dont get rid of them until they are ripped, in fact i have one pair of dance pants that have been with me for 10 years and still going strong and looking nice. SHOES, find something that fits good for you and price around...its time consuming but works just fine. Also when traveling, its nice to have a roommate to split the cost. But find someone you are ok with, i've had one that drove me insane and had no respect for my belongings (literally stepped on one costume) and dove into my jewelry (even though it was costume jewelry) and mixed it all up. She was lucky to walk out alive, i was lucky to not have had to ask someone for bail money. *pats self on back*
Things I splurge on: lessons, competitions, costuming (within a budget) although i tend to make my own so its MY creation and still more cost effective (one day i'll be rich)
Things I splurge on: lessons, competitions, costuming (within a budget) although i tend to make my own so its MY creation and still more cost effective (one day i'll be rich)
mindputtee
Forum Master
I save money by going to competitions with my college's team so that cuts a lot of the costs by having shared costs. I also skimp on costumes, I'm making my own and for the syllabus levels I wear dresses I already own or that cost less than $50. Practice wear generally is just workout clothes except for this really nice practice skirt my (ex)boyfriend (also a dancer) got me. It just makes me want to twirl.
I go all out when it comes to shoes though. A good pair of shoes is invaluable and saves your feet tons of pain. I do save on shoes though because I have a practice pair I wear for general practice and socials and they have a much sturdier construction than my competition pumps. I also go all out when it comes to the materials for my costumes. It's much more pleasant to work with good quality fabric and materials and the end result is so much nicer.
I go all out when it comes to shoes though. A good pair of shoes is invaluable and saves your feet tons of pain. I do save on shoes though because I have a practice pair I wear for general practice and socials and they have a much sturdier construction than my competition pumps. I also go all out when it comes to the materials for my costumes. It's much more pleasant to work with good quality fabric and materials and the end result is so much nicer.
fascination
Site Moderator
I do my own hair and make-up...I never buy a dress without having sold one first...I wear my shoes until they are falling apart...I only get dvds twice a year now and simply a few sets of each style ....I always calculate whether it is better to go on or off package...and I rarely buy tickets to sessions I am not dancing in...I will room with others when that is possible
and, I spend virtually no money on anything but ballroom the rest of the time...other than replacement gym clothes and the spoiling of little chilrdren in the family, I do not shop....I own one purse, no watch, maybe two pair of pajamas, have had the same phone for 7 years, have not done a home repair or bought things for my home in that time...other than the sunday trib we get no paper, we have one tv with no premioum channels...I don't have designer anythings...I didn't have a camera until this week....my husband and I have not had a haircut that I didn't do for the past 20 years.....I stopped having a house cleaner and a regular massage when I started dancing
as to splurging; yes, if I see a high end gown that is just right, and I need one, I am likely to buy it because I am not a common size...I do go large on the jewelry...and, I confess, if I am at a hotel with room service, I have eggs benedict every morning at comps when it is available...obviously, I do not skimp on lessons but I do spend the night which saves on gas
and, I spend virtually no money on anything but ballroom the rest of the time...other than replacement gym clothes and the spoiling of little chilrdren in the family, I do not shop....I own one purse, no watch, maybe two pair of pajamas, have had the same phone for 7 years, have not done a home repair or bought things for my home in that time...other than the sunday trib we get no paper, we have one tv with no premioum channels...I don't have designer anythings...I didn't have a camera until this week....my husband and I have not had a haircut that I didn't do for the past 20 years.....I stopped having a house cleaner and a regular massage when I started dancing
as to splurging; yes, if I see a high end gown that is just right, and I need one, I am likely to buy it because I am not a common size...I do go large on the jewelry...and, I confess, if I am at a hotel with room service, I have eggs benedict every morning at comps when it is available...obviously, I do not skimp on lessons but I do spend the night which saves on gas
This is great advice! I probably should try to apply it to other parts of my life outside of dancing.
singndance
Forum Master
Big splurge when a good coach comes to town, because we are not in a hot spot, so they don't come very often.
Big saves on other things in the rest of my life...I drive my car forever, and watch what I spend on everyday clothing and shoes. And thank goodness I have boys.....they are pretty low maintenance.
Big saves on other things in the rest of my life...I drive my car forever, and watch what I spend on everyday clothing and shoes. And thank goodness I have boys.....they are pretty low maintenance.
Splurge, taking my parents to see a ballroom show in the evening, especially if they come to see me during the daytime matinee. As well as paying for hotel lunch or dinner with them.
(father is 80 years young!! and he gets a kick out of it).
I weigh a package vs singular payment of just hotel.
I do not go to every "evening show" that a comp has, and most times - I don't attend any evening ballroom show.
I do not get a DVD of every comp. But I do get a DVD 2x a year about 6 months apart.
Shoes. I will not skimp on high quality shoes. Too important for my feet.
I do skimp on ...get this....air fare. yepper. If I have to travel, call dear brother, check the loads on the jets....and figure out which flight, out of what airport, has the most empty seats that I can fly stand-by family. HUGE SAVINGS. while husband drives (he loves driving) and takes my "stuff" with the exception of my costumes and shoes,,he refuses to be responsible for those.
So, also save on "car" at comp since DH meets me there at end of his drive. Weird I know, but TC understands!!!!
(father is 80 years young!! and he gets a kick out of it).
I weigh a package vs singular payment of just hotel.
I do not go to every "evening show" that a comp has, and most times - I don't attend any evening ballroom show.
I do not get a DVD of every comp. But I do get a DVD 2x a year about 6 months apart.
Shoes. I will not skimp on high quality shoes. Too important for my feet.
I do skimp on ...get this....air fare. yepper. If I have to travel, call dear brother, check the loads on the jets....and figure out which flight, out of what airport, has the most empty seats that I can fly stand-by family. HUGE SAVINGS. while husband drives (he loves driving) and takes my "stuff" with the exception of my costumes and shoes,,he refuses to be responsible for those.
So, also save on "car" at comp since DH meets me there at end of his drive. Weird I know, but TC understands!!!!
bia
Forum Master
Splurge:
Instruction, both with our own teacher and with visiting coaches. That said, our teacher is a good drive away, so we don't go all that often, and high quality coaches don't come through here all that much. But whenever we get the chance, we get as big a chunk of instruction as our brains can handle and don't count the cost.
Competition travel. We don't have any local comps, and only one drivable (5 hours), so competing means flying. We fly as cheaply as possible, but that's not very cheap. We don't compete all that much, but we limit based on time and energy, not money.
Competition hotels. We look for the best deal, but convenience wins.
Save:
Costumes. Syllabus am-am -- not allowed bling anyway. So I've got my nice simple syllabus dress, which I'll wear until we make it to open (or compete only in senior, whichever comes first), at which point I hope to have saved enough pennies to move this to the splurge column.
Practicewear. Rotate the same 3-4 skirts (mostly from Ross) with nice enough T-shirts/work tops. Haven't bought anything new in years.
Everything else. Cheap mortgage and tiny commute (both luck, based on where we got jobs), most basic cell phones & plans, old computer, antenna TV, drive the car until it falls to pieces, work clothes only when absolutely necessary and only on big sale, brown bag lunch, etc.
Instruction, both with our own teacher and with visiting coaches. That said, our teacher is a good drive away, so we don't go all that often, and high quality coaches don't come through here all that much. But whenever we get the chance, we get as big a chunk of instruction as our brains can handle and don't count the cost.
Competition travel. We don't have any local comps, and only one drivable (5 hours), so competing means flying. We fly as cheaply as possible, but that's not very cheap. We don't compete all that much, but we limit based on time and energy, not money.
Competition hotels. We look for the best deal, but convenience wins.
Save:
Costumes. Syllabus am-am -- not allowed bling anyway. So I've got my nice simple syllabus dress, which I'll wear until we make it to open (or compete only in senior, whichever comes first), at which point I hope to have saved enough pennies to move this to the splurge column.
Practicewear. Rotate the same 3-4 skirts (mostly from Ross) with nice enough T-shirts/work tops. Haven't bought anything new in years.
Everything else. Cheap mortgage and tiny commute (both luck, based on where we got jobs), most basic cell phones & plans, old computer, antenna TV, drive the car until it falls to pieces, work clothes only when absolutely necessary and only on big sale, brown bag lunch, etc.
Terpsichorean Clod
Forum Master
:notworth: