Ski2Live Live2Ski

TFTI?

Elk it is. The Helicopter vid was the deciding factor for the holdout.

Thanks for the props for the music. I am not real good with videos but I did improve it some since I first posted it. https://youtu.be/cdDqqSyEtpc

Would you believe I also ask them to carry their own skis and poles from the car to the snow?

For taking 2 kids skiing 40+ times, buying them season passes to Blue, booking a ski trip to CO for them, and once asking them to contribute 10% of the cost of going somewhere other than where they have a pass I deserve to be insulted. Gotcha. Not sure if you have kids, but if you do, I suppose you pay for them to do anything they want at any time no matter the cost. And I would consider that poor parenting.

You really think saving money on the trip is something that is any way relevant to me wanting my girls to take part in a financial decision to spend more money for a unique experience? And why the insulting language?

Don't blame me, I just posted I was deciding between Blue and Elk, was not trying to start a debate on financial practices in parenting.

The only way to win is to keep skiing

Must have been more than a few years agp. When did they last allow skiing trees?

I take them skiing every weekend and I max out the time I spend with them every way possible. I definitely spend more time with them post Divorce than I did when we were together, when I would often prefer working late to coming home to an angry spouse. But if they prefer another day at Blue to spending a little to go to Elk thst is fine too. Winter Park for us all in another week.

They need to learn to spend as well as save. If I just wanted the money to all be saved, I would keep it in my own account and spend it on stuff for them. My idea is to get them to strike a balance, make financial decisions, and understand thst some good things they need to spend for rather than counting on Dad to provide. When the impulse to save is just to "not have less than sister" I do not see that as a good thing as they need to learn to decide what is worth something to them, not just to keep score with their siblings. I point out that I make a lot less than my siblings' families make, but it doesn't matter to me - what matters is that I can afford the things that are important for the 3 of us. So I see saving towards a goal as a good thing, but being afraid to spend on something you want just because it will give you a lower score than your sister a bad thing. May wind up skiing with just one of them and having the other spend the day with grandma if they can't agree on what to do.

Yep the twin factor definitely encourages hoarding and is one reason I am trying to break them of it. Real savings account and going from Daddy interest rate to real world interest rate will happen once they collect real money for Bat Mitzvah at 13. Not gonna pay 10% interest on larger sums like that. Mom gives them allowance, but less.

I do. I act as their bank and give them 10% interest on what they have saved each year to encourage saving. But I think they have gone too far in that direction (they each have saved over $300 from allowances) and am trying to give them occasions to spend money for extras rather than handing them everything on a silver platter. Learning to handle money involves making spending decisions as well as saving.

In which case we won't go. It is really to give them a change of pace, I don't need the extra drive for Elk myself. Haven't decided what it goes up to, one or the other. Ironically if they decide to spend the money, I am more likely to boost their allowance more. When they are just hoarding it it seems less like they need it.

Probably is their only chance to go to Elk, which I explained to them, because after the Ski PA deal is up we will more likely go to Catskills if we want to go that far. I barely ever go to Elk for that reason. But they go to Winter Park next weekend which should be quite an experience for them. My parents stopped paying for my skiing after my 3 group lessons at Spring Mt.

$5 a week at age 10. So they spend 2 weeks allowance to get to Ski Elk once.

And they have gone skiing over 40 times on my dime. A trip to Elk when you figure in all those things will easily cost me $100 more than a trip to Blue. $10 each is a token contribution, out of over $300 they each have saved from allowances. My philosophy is to provide the basics but ask them to contribute to do something more luxurious than normal. And given that I define the basics as including skiing every weekend, they make out ok.

Thanks for the parenting advice. I have spent thousands of dollars on my kids skiing and am taking them to CO in 8 days. It is not about me being cheap (where do you think their $ comes from? I could stop giving allowance if I want to be cheap, but no I am about to raise it again in 5 weeks on their bday). It is about giving them opportunities to spend money to enrich their lives as well and show that skiing is worth something to them, not just always a free gift from Dad.

Grew up with Blue shag and wood panelling, but not my current house

You are talking to a guy with a complete Partridge Family collection who performed 2 of their songs last month.

Nice, I am a fan of Hampton Inns. My go to place where one is available.

That's my thinking but I am asking them to put some skin in the game and contribute $10 each from their allowances if we are going to pay for Elk rather than skiing Blue for free. See where they come out.

I don't know for a fact, but I would guess so in some areas. Beach has always been pricier than mountains though, and there are some very upscale towns for rich folks to hobnob in, which Poconos have never really had. The whole heart shape bed champagne glass in room hot tub image does the Poconos no favor either. Screams tacky.

On topic of spending night near Blue, are there nearby options to the North? Seems like going South everything is at least 17 local road miles away.

Declining air fares mean folks who can afford second home are more likely to vacation further away than Poconos. And declining economy in NEPA reduces value of first homes.