Canadian parents go into debt, reduce expenses to pay for their children’s activities: Nanos

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Canadian parents are limiting other expenses and, at times, going into debt just to cover the costs of their kids’ extracurricular activities, according to a Nanos Research survey…

Canadian parents are limiting other expenses and, at times, going into debt just to cover the costs of their kids’ extracurricular activities, according to a Nanos Research survey commissioned by CTV News.

The survey, conducted between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, 2026, asked 475 self-identified parents across the country what actions they take to pay for their children’s activities. The survey found 30 per cent of respondents reduce other expenses, while 14 per cent said they go into debt.

“There is significant pressure in terms of trade-offs,” said Nik Nanos, founder and chief data scientist with Nanos Research. “What is really striking about the numbers is that it if you are under 35 years of age, all of those things and all of those stresses ramp up.”

About four in 10 younger parents reduce expenses to pay for their kids’ activities.

Jessica Wruck pays about $10,000 every year for her two sons to play hockey, which includes travel and hotel costs, registration fees, and equipment.

“If we want to put our kids in the sport and we understand the cost beforehand, something else has to give,” she said. “In certain cases, we will extend our debt a little bit.”

She tries to offset costs by buying used equipment, she said. If possible, they will stay with family during out-of-town tournaments instead of paying for a hotel room and they pack their own food instead of eating at the rink.

“All those things help to sort of reduce your costs,” Wruck told CTV News.

Some Canadians have found other ways to afford extracurricular activities. According to the Nanos survey, six per cent of respondents forego forgo savings for their children’s education and two per cent work more to afford the costs. In rare cases, parents will dip into savings accounts or sell assets.

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