Should You Rent or Buy School Instruments?

Many of our public schools are still able to offer musical instrument instruction at various grade levels. If your school district offers lessons , then that's terrific. You now have choices to make. First of all you need to talk to your child about what instrument would be best to try. Then you need to decide where you're going to get the instrument. Should you participate in the school district's rent-to-own program?

Some of the school programs aren't bad. You make a monthly payment for an allotted number of months and when the payments are finished you own the instrument (sort of like a car payment). These programs generally supply the instrument and whenever it needs repairing or tuning up they provide your child with a loaner. This does, however, mean another monthly bill to pay.

There are alternatives. Of course you can go to a music shop and pick out the shiniest most modern version of the instrument and pay full price for it. This is not the best idea if you're trying to be frugal. There are others though.

Online sources like ebay are great you can purchase a slightly used instrument for a mere fraction of the full retail price. Craigslist is another option. People whose children have given up on or out grown their instruments sell them for next to nothing. One of my favorite places to find a great deal is yard sales. At the end of the school year, over the summer and any time in between people are always trying to get rid of all that "useless junk" hanging around the house that doesn't get used any more. Thrift stores are also great. People donate things that are barely used and in excellent condition. Used instruments can always be cleaned or polished, missing parts can be replaced and broken
instruments can often be repaired for much less than the cost of a new one.

Some parents organize 'swaps' so that they can trade or borrow slightly used goods. This works for things other than instruments, too. Sports equipment and uniforms, dance shoes, costumes and leotards, books and toys have all been successfully traded. If you don't know of a "swap" in your district you could even start one. Ask around maybe a fellow parent has just the instrument you want just sitting in their basement or attic.

So, before you sign any contracts see what other options are out there. Save money where you can children can be very expensive! Good Luck!