Baseball Season Approaches

Even though we've officially only begun winter, the boys' baseball coach has already called, checking in on whether they will be doing traveling team again this year. Although I love the exercise it provides them, and the socializing with like minded parents it provides us (we are all, quite obviously, nuts), it is just so darned expensive, especially with only one full time breadEARNer in the family. New cleats and pants every year, plus replacement of other gear that has been lost or damaged (batting gloves, socks missing their mates......) really takes its toll financially. I know there are sporting goods stores where you can trade in or trade up last year's gear, but, unfortunately, none are near us. The best we've ever scored is a $10 off coupon from Hibbett Sports which we used in the fall of 2007. We found a bat marked down to around $20, so we all thought a $10 bat would be good. EXCEPT the bat had obviously been marked down even more, because, after the $10 was taken off, we only owed .86 :) How great is that?? Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to the length of the bat, because it was too short for either of our boys. It all worked out, though, because we were able to give it to another little boy. I would love to see an online forum for trading used sports equipment. Does one already exist? If someone knows of one, please post a comment or contact me at the link on this blog..