How do you say “nickel and dime” in French?

For the record, we love Claire’s Ballet School. We do. We also knew that when you choose an “extracurricular activity,” there will be some costs not presented (or fully itemized) up front. We also feel these costs are worth it.

Whether it be sports equipment or uniforms or whatnot, the benefit of the activity far outweighs the cost.

(And it’s the whatnot that will get you every time…)

She loves her school.
She really does.

And, that’s a good thing, because there are times when I feel like we’re being nickel & dimed.

Again, I mean no disrespect to the school.

Still…why tiptoe around some of these fees? We’d still participate in the school; I promise.

Case in point…

We picked up her packet for her participation in the End of Year Gala Celebration. Participation in this event is free. “There is no fee to be in this show.” I’m quoting a sentence out of the packet.

However, everyone needs a costume to participate in the Gala, and those are NOT free. Those, in fact, are far from free. (Granted, they are cheaper than other schools charge, but anything greater than ZERO is indeed a “fee.”)

Again, I love this school. In an effort to help the parents justify the cost of costumes, part of the costumes used in the Gala can be used in her regular classes. That’s awesome. That’s a good use of fundage. Those are nickels and dimes we would have been paying eventually anyway.

But, to say there is “no fee” on one page of the packet and then turn around and tell me the price I need to pay for the costume, in order for her to participate in the Gala, on another page leaves me a little bewildered.

I hate to break it to them, but if one of the requirements costs something, participation in the overall activity is not free.

Why not just say that? Or say it in French, at least. It would sound so pretty then.