{"id":12078,"date":"2017-11-29T09:32:13","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T14:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mayahoodblog.com\/?p=12078"},"modified":"2023-10-03T13:24:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T17:24:30","slug":"how-hockey-families-can-save-money-and-reduce-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mayahoodblog.com\/how-hockey-families-can-save-money-and-reduce-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"How hockey families can save money and reduce waste!"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the end of summer often marks the beginning of the school year, in our home it also marks the start of hockey season. I have a feeling that the same is true for many fellow Canadians who have kids playing the sport or those who simply enjoy watching their favourite NHL teams while betting on qqmacan<\/a>. This year, Ryan has joined his brother Kyle, and started playing in a hockey league. He is currently focused on learning hockey skills but it won’t be long before he plays full out games with his teammates. As a newbie hockey mom, I still have a lot to learn about the sport and the leagues, but there are a few things I’ve picked up in the last four years. Here are some of my tips for families who want to partake in hockey but also save money and reduce waste at the same time.<\/p>\n

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Tips for saving money and reducing waste<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Reusing and handing down equipment<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This might be an obvious one, but it’s been one of the main factors that has helped make hockey somewhat more affordable for us. With three boys who all love hockey, we have taken full advantage of hand-me-downs. When Kyle outgrows his skates, we pass them on to Ryan and then Nate. Once Nate outgrows the equipment, we either pass it on to friends or family or sell them. The boy’s school recently had a free up-sale where people donated their used but unwanted sports gear to other families in the school. I thought it was such a great idea to help others in the community.<\/p>\n

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Proper skate maintenance<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Keep your children’s skates properly maintained so you can make them last long enough until they outgrow them. This can be done by ensuring you get them sharpened on a regular basis. Also, ensure that while wearing their skates, your kids only step on rubber floors so they don’t damage the blades. If the arena or outdoor rink that you frequent doesn’t use rubber flooring, you can ask them to upgrade it. Recycled rubber floors made from used tires are not only good for the skates, but also for the environment.<\/p>\n

Play for free<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Playing hockey doesn’t always mean that you need to spend a lot of money to do so. Take the whole family for a day of fun at one of the local public spaces in your city. It’s a great way to explore your city while getting some exercise.\u00a0It’s become a New Year\u2019s Day tradition for us.<\/p>\n

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The Harbourfront rink<\/a>\u00a0in downtown Toronto is a perfect spot to do that. The entire space has been outfitted with recycled rubber flooring (8,600 sq feet!) through the Ontario Tire Stewardship, diverting 715 tires from landfills!<\/p>\n