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school trips and finaces

5 replies

Ldnmum2015 · 27/12/2015 19:27

Hi all hope you had a good Christmas. A few years ago I became redundant from a well paying job, i am now working, but on alot less than before, for the last two years it has been a real battlefield with my teenage daughter, when it comes to money, just before Christmas she put her name down for two school trips,one is £180 and the other £145, I felt a bit pushed into it as its for educational purposes etc, plus it seemed a good idea as i am not able to afford to take her away. I told my daughter at the time it would work out as £25 pw, and we agreed she would help out by making her own lunches, and not being fussy about food (she refuses food with certain veg), she was also supposed to help out on some regular chores and not keep asking for extras like make up Anyway, upshot is, it ended up a battlefield and she was constantly finding new ways to squeeze money out of me, from emotionally blackmail to tantrums etc. Offshot is today I have done my budget and the truth is I simply can no longer afford these trips, I felt terrible when I told her but we both agreed I can only afford one of these trips, I have already paid deposits, will I lose the money, has anyone else had to cancel trips and how well do schools take it. Thanks

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VintageDresses · 27/12/2015 19:31

Talk to the school first - they might be able to help

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AuntieStella · 27/12/2015 19:33

The school will be fine, so don't worry on that account. They may even have a waiting list.

But before it comes to that, it might be worth having a word with the school (perhaps start with HOY) to see if they have any discretionary funds they could use to underwrite your DD's place on the trip and then you extend your payment time.

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Ldnmum2015 · 27/12/2015 20:13

sorry I have tried looking up HOY, what does it mean?

To be honest, even if they did offer a reduced payment, at the rate my daughter is fleecing me I would have trouble getting the spending money to go with it anyway, I made it clear before Christmas if she wanted to go then we would have to tighten our belts a bit, but she took that as some kind of challenge to squeeze money out of me in as many sly ways as she could, from guilt tripping me to pay for her to go to a gig, to constantly wasting food from her fussiness, I made it clear money was tight and that I can't make any cutbacks anywhere else.

I also feel pressurised from the school, who like my daughter, also guilt trip me, once a few years ago I sent her into school with £20 for another trip, but, one of the teachers stopped her in the corridor rattling a children in need charity tin, and my idiot of a daughter put the £20 note in! I was too embarrassed to ask for it back, so had to find another £20, but after that I'm sure her teachers think I am rich.

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AuntieStella · 27/12/2015 20:15

HOY = head of year

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MrsPnut · 27/12/2015 20:17

HOY is head of year, but definitely speak to them about not being able to afford the trips.

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