King Swings crafts swing sets from premium materials, resulting in a playset that will last for 15, 20, or more years. Our craftsmen are skilled, our delivery teams are consistently praised in our Google reviews, and the quality of our products is unbeatable. You understand all of that, yet you are still hesitant when calculating the cost.
We get it. A vinyl swing set for your backyard feels like a big investment. But what would it look like if we break down the cost per use? How will it compare to getting a latte a week? Or a streaming service you keep forgetting to cancel?
Let’s assume a few things starting out:
1) Getting outside is a priority for your family, so even on cold, rainy days, the kids are kicked outside.
2) Your family consists of two kids, ages 4 and 2. We will assume they will use the set consistently till they hit 12 years old.
3) We will assume, all said and done, you spent $8,500 on your swing set.
With these assumptions out of the way, let’s determine how many times the kids will use the swing set on an average day. Watching how my kids play, moving from one thing to another, I would argue you can count on two long play sessions plus a few shorter ones throughout the day. For simplicity, let’s say they play on it for a long time, twice a day.
So two kids, twice a day, equals four uses per day.
Now, how many times a week? Five times a week allows families who prioritize outdoor play to avoid really foul weather or factor in vacations.
Therefore, each week, your swing set is used for 20 extended periods. Let’s figure out how many times a month that is by taking 20 * 30, which gives us 600 uses per month. For a year, we multiply 20 * 52. Your swing set should be used approximately 1,040 times per year.
The older child is 4 years old and will use the set for another 8 years, totaling 8,320 uses. The younger child is 2 years old and will play on the set for ten years, resulting in a total of 10,400 uses. Combined, you should expect 18,720 uses.
Now, let’s divide your $8,500 investment by the uses.
That comes to $0.45 per use or $1.80 a day, $9 per week, about $36 a month, or $468 a year.
The value only improves as you add more children to your family or consider your children’s friends playing on the swing set or in the playhouse.
A wise man once told me that people have money for what they want to have money for, so don’t let me tell you how to spend your money, it's a losing battle.
But let's consider the initial upfront investment of a high-quality, vinyl swing set versus some of the little pleasures and quick dopamine hits we all fall for, and compare that to the 10+ years of value a swing set brings to your backyard.
For comparison, consider that a latte from a specific big-name brand that rhymes with “Marducks” costs anywhere from $5 to $7, before tip. We get at least one of those a week, right? So…yikes…I don’t want to see this number…that is $20-$28 a month. In ten years, that is $2,880.
The average amount we well-caffeinated Americans spend on coffee per week is $10-$15. Taking the high end, that is $60 a month! That is almost twice the cost of the uses of your vinyl swing set in our scenario.
Let’s compare the wholesome entertainment of a swing set to any streaming network right now. They start at around $10 a month and increase from there. Netflix Premium is $25 per month. In ten years, that $3,000. That is approximately one-third of the cost of your vinyl swing set.
By the way, the average American pays $77 a month in subscriptions, or $924 annually. You drop that in half with the intent of helping it pay the cost of your swing set, and suddenly you save $4,620 in the next ten years.
Guess what: that is over half of the cost of your vinyl swing set or playhouse.
Even if you go as simple as dropping one $10 digital subscription to help pay for your swing set, in ten years, that is $1,200 saved. Maybe Spotify Premium isn’t as lovely as a vinyl swing set.
Let’s be realistic; ticket prices for various kid activities have increased. Eating out at fast food is no longer a cheap option for a fun stop. Nearly everything now charges an entry fee; free events are becoming increasingly scarce.
Alternatively, consider the cost of taking your kids to the local water park, which can be as high as $26 just to get in, plus all the other expenses that the trip incurs. Don’t get me started on fancier Big Name theme parks and their prices.
We parents want our kids to have a great time, so we all (I am no exception) spend a lot of money on things that are only used once. Sure, it's great once in a while, but that $50+ you spent on going to the movie theater is gone, and you got one night out of it.
You can go as simple as deciding the family is trading the big vacation this year for a swing set. That cost is about equal once you factor in airfare, food, lodging, and attractions.
Comparing what a swing set or playhouse can do to your family’s rhythms and the memories it can create to the cheap thrills that we are faced with every day really isn’t that fair of a comparison. I get it; I have been accused of being a raccoon, I like the new, shiny thing that is right in front of me so I understand how this calculus can feel cruel and even joyless.
Yes, it is an investment, but then the swing set is there in the backyard for the rest of their childhood. It's still there if you have to tighten your budget and stop going out for fun events, and it remains there if things are great and you head off to Europe with the family. Unlike many cheap toys or one-time thrills, your investment provides value day after day.
And if cared for, it will bring value to your grandkids. Imagine those memories.