Added extras on day out cost - ask first!!!

Your aunt was really rude and presumptuous to do this.
£60 to walk around a house and gardens for children?
Not a chance I would pay that.
My children wouldn't be interested.

They want you to pay to be company for them.
I wouldn't be impressed at all.

Not lovely at all.

Just say you are broke and can’t afford it and she should have asked

I understand that you might feel ashamed about not having the cash, but you don’t need to be. Many people have tight budgets. If you’re controlling your spends that’s a mark of responsibility. If you don’t draw some lines now, this problem could well reoccur on a future occasion.

Can you ask her “are you able to cancel the mini train? I don’t have the budget for that, sorry about that.” Keep it short and direct and be firm if she pushes back. If she offers to pay for the extras I’d accept the offer. If you continually pretend you have a higher budget than you actually do you’re going to face this again.

"I'm sorry, Aunt, but I can't afford more than just the gardens. Can you get in touch with overpriced attraction and cancel the stupidly expensive train ride. Oh, and I'll be bringing a picnic for me and the kids."

She is the one who fucked up, not YOU. She didn't ask - which if you're spending someone else money.

I'd either say nothing and pay as like you said, its done now and will be enjoyable

Or

Check on website and with venue and see if the tickets can be returned and refunded...if they can tell aunt that whilst its a lovely idea, you are just going to stick with the garden and play area so will return the extra railway tickets.

If can't refund, I'd just accept it and be explicitly direct in future when making plans!

If I couldn't change the extra cost, then I wouldnt bother saying anything to aunt about it, it seems to just be a misunderstanding

I think you have to suck it up now, as any comments about the cost will look PA and will end up spoiling the day.

Take it as a lesson in being clearer in future. If you had said you only wanted to do gardens and that’s all you were budgeting for, you could easily have kicked back when DA booked extras. She probably wouldn’t have done it, or would have booked as a treat.

I am sorry things are so tight and hope they improve soon. 💐

Afraid you made the mistake of trying to be polite in saying the house wasn't of interest instead of just being honest and saying you couldn't afford the whole cost. I think maybe you should now just be honest and say you hadn't budgeted for extras, and can she get a refund on that part. I think it is a bit presumptive to have purchased extras without checking if she was expecting you to pay for this rather than saying I added on the extra, my treat.

Also be aware if you have younger children and are going at Easter they will have an Easter trail on as well which is around £3 if you want to take part.

Oh dear, that is annoying. But you can't really say anything or do anything except tighten your belt on other days to make up for it. The added stuff is never that good anyway!
But the kids will enjoy. Closer to the time message aunt and say you're packing a big picnic lunch to make the most of the gardens just so she doesn't expect the tea rooms too! If she pushes back you could say you've budgeted out the holidays and can't swing extra treats today, I'm sure she'd understand.

Are you taking a packed lunch? Otherwise I’d be stepping straight in and saying I was now, as the day was more expensive than I’d planned. I imagine any refreshments will be expensive.

I think you need to be open and would just say that you were budgeting for ‘x’ amount hence not wanting to pay to access the house and going forward need to stick to pre discussed costings. Can she return the tickets?

You should have been more direct. “I’ll be happy to come but we can only stretch to garden tickets.”

You need to use your words now.