A few months back, my family (and extended family) booked a cottage in the countryside.
Since booking it, my circumstances have changed somewhat. I can no longer afford to go. Of course, this is my problem and so I've struggled to pay my bit so as not effect anyone else going.
My mother is refusing to entertain me not going and laying the guilt on really thick. But I just don't see how it possible or fair to me or my children to go.
It's a dog friendly cottage so my parents are taking their godawful, untrained ball of fleas with them. My eldery, grumpy dog was supposed to be going into kennels. I now can't afford this.
The dog they are taking is aggressive (food aggressive, guarding behaviors and the odd bout of general, unprovoked aggression) towards other dogs. They make no effort to train or curb these issues. If it growls at my dog or attacks my dog, my dog, who is bigger, will kill it. It is that simple. While he's not as bad as their dog and will happily muddle along with well behaved dogs, he does have a mean streak.
I can control my dog but I am not confident that I can control both dogs or that they will put any effort into keeping their dog away from mine.
I also cannot afford to actually do anything while I am there. I am not relishing the prospect of sitting alone in a strange cottage while they're all on days out or at the pub.
It's bring your own alcohol. If I have 2p left in my bank at the end of the week, it's been a good week. I can't afford to bring any alcohol.
And then there's the slight fact that I actually have no clothes. I've been skint for a long, long time. At the time I agreed to the holiday I'd taken on a second job and things were looking up. Sadly, I then had to leave my first job and am back to square one. When I say I have no clothes, what I mean is I have one pair of jeans, three pairs of underwear and two t-shirts. I deal with this at home by washing clothes every evening after I've changed into my PJs and drying my clothes overnight on an airer.
I really do not want to go but every time I mention this I'm reminded how gravely ill my father is and how it is his last holiday and as his oldest child, he desperately wants me there.
AIBU to think I'm going to have a miserable time? and that we're going to set off with two dogs and come back with one
AIBU?
To be dreading this holiday?
MotherOfBleach · 17/06/2017 21:59
We often go on a weeks holiday with just enough money for essential food, one meal out maybe and the kids have their own spending money from grandparents. The kids love going on walks with a picnic and we've made so many memories together doing simple relatively cost free things like that. We've also seen more of the area we're in than if we'd have spent loads of money on activities etc. It doesn't have to cost much to go away if you've already covered accommodation. Have you looked on freecycle for some clothes maybe? 
I'm a size 20 
crap and stodge is cheaper than salad. I live mainly off fried eggs and bread.
No-one has offered to buy me/take drink/pay for me at the pub but in all fairness, when they go on other family things (meals out locally etc) they all chip in for me.
On the BBQ night my high earner Aunt is going. She's extremely generous, so I imagine on that the entire family will be catered for by her that night.
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