Moms Talk: Can Budget-Bound Parents Support Children's Activities?

This week, we're exploring a question with which many St. Louis families likely wrestle: How can you foster your children's interests on a budget?

Suppose your fifth-grader comes home and says he wants to play trumpet. The school wants you to rent an instrument for the year, and that will cost hundreds of dollars under a contract. Your spouse recently lost a job, so funds will be tight for the foreseeable future.

So onto this week's question: What compromise can be worked out to make your child happy without assuming another expense?