To ask if you could make this amount of money last 3 weeks and how?

I could live like a king on that!!

I think this is more a reflection on you, than anyone else.

You're essentially saying YOU and your children struggle to have fun without spending a lot of money.

That's actually quite sad, in the 😞 way.

We don't struggle for money, we travel a lot, dd has an array of hobbies, we don't watch what we spend - if we want it, we buy it, and my nails are always done.

But we also have a lot of fun doing things that cost very little, and always have. We could eat well, and have a great time on £540 for three weeks for three of us.

It's the people who make the fun, not the purchases. It's a shame you don't know how to have fun with your kids without spending money. They're going to grow up thinking happiness is material.

I've never been to a theme park unless on Tesco vouchers. And I would not consider going to one in a hot school holiday week to be "fun".
however, I just picked Chessington as a random theme park that a 6 year old might like and I see it is £78 for 2 people. Plus petrol and parking? Say £100.

I don't get my nails done; they can surely wait a week or 3? And is that considered "fun"? Isn't it just sitting in a shop and holding your hand still while the nail stylist does whatever it is they do? However, I have just googled a random nail place near me (south east England) and it looks like this is about £30.

A 6 year old is going to think a McDonalds meal is an amazing lunch out. Say £15?

so total of your fun activities is £145.

I still think OP could manage those (with the theme park obviously being a one off in her 3 weeks) and afford her food and the small amount of petrol she thinks she needs.

Yes, particularly with a 6 yo as they are generally happy with fairly inexpensive pass times

Set aside your food and petrol money then split what is left. I’d probably allocate 50% to half term with the other 50% split over the other 2 weeks. Half term is hot and sunny = free days out to the park/beach and picnic. Ice creams in a multipack on the way home with leftovers in the box for the following day

Seems absolutely plenty, even if you weren’t being too careful.

When dd was little, we had an annual pass to a theme park a fair amount and used to take a picnic. Having just checked, entrance is £20.49 each peak times, an annual pass is £94.95 per person. It’s obviously not one of the big places, but dd loved it, it wasn’t heaving with hours of queues and they also have a splash zone in the summer.

We also used to go to various different parks around and about, free activities etc. It really doesn’t have to cost much for littlies.

This has to be a joke, because yes that’s not difficult at all, many people manage on less

This is plenty!!! I gave this sort of money left over each month after bills and do just fine. People's lifestyles are the problem - they think you have to spend loads and have loads of subscriptions to be happy

I think too many people are quick to jump on the op with "it's loads."

Can she survive for 3 weeks on that? Yes of course she can.

Will it be much fun? I doubt it very much.

I consider food shopping a bill, but I just spent £120 on food shopping for 5 days for 2 adults, a teen and an 8 year old. Would be half that if just 2 of us.

I have about £800 left over after bills and food shopping each month. Out of that, I pay £400 in livery charges for my horse! So about £400 a month left after that. It costs £110 to put diesel in my car. I don’t spend much on anything else though. Parking, medicine, the occasional coffee or snack out or some incidental thing I need to buy. For example, just spent £40 on hot weather clothes for me and one dc as he had nothing to wear except trousers and jumpers.

We’re going out to dinner on Sunday, just me and one dc, and that will cost £50 plus parking, but that’s a rare treat. Our days out are mostly walks, river swims, beach days, cycling with a picnic.

@coulditbeme2323

You are entitled to your view obviously, but don't make assumptions based on your pov and very limited information from the OP

As is usual on MN, this thread is a mix of empathy, questions and RL comparisons

I could definitely do this, and I have teens. Plus the weather will be good. But our half term when kids were little we just lived in the park with a picnic. Just a lot of sandwiches and snacks . Never bought anything out. Kids will be back in school for the final two weeks . My food bill now is still only £60 a week which covers mine and their packed lunches too. I don't run a car so can't comment on the petrol. But if all other bills are paid you should be grand even if school throw a sudden expense in there.

That would last me 2 months, although it's only me! I walk a lot, am in the centre all today so took in a packed lunch of sandwiches, crudités, an apple and a vegetarian sausage roll after a filling breakfast of porridge, chopped nuts and seeds and fruit.

I naturally like things like lentil, potato and vegetable casserole. It helps that I live in the city so a lot of free food is given out.

You should be fine on that?

Lots of trips to the park, local museums and library or friend's houses. Take a packed lunch when out and about. Having aactivities in the park is always good e.g. nature walk, sketching, Frisbee etc so it doesn't get boring.

Pasta bakes, jacket potatoes, curries, fritters and frittatas are all good to eat and quite cheap. So are stews and soups but weather might be a bit hot for it.

There are always items on sale in all shops if you feel things are a bit tight as well as Facebook marketplace etc but that amount is fine for one adult and one child.

Of course we have less than that for a family of 5 to live off for food and petrol!

Because I disagree with the race to the bottom mentality on MN?

Yes that would be fine.

I mean it sounds like it’s a one off 3 weeks. So it’s one half term, not every half term until they finish school on same budget.

Just use this half term to relax.

Aside from if we have a larger holiday or weekend away booked, I don’t think I ever spend that much on my 6 year old every week. I take him out somewhere every weekend and holiday.

@breadedchickenlips That crossed my mind too

Or @coulditbeme2323
is enjoying the attention

This is a reverse yes?

I absolutely could and I'm assuming someone in your life is telling you they couldn't.

Wow! Genuinely I spend £50 and like I say, my commute is 60 miles round trip so that’s 300 miles, plus at least another 100 on a hobby that takes me away or just picking ppl up etc.

Amazed someone spends £120 on petrol to cover 200 miles! That’s 60p a mile just in petrol, nvm wear and tear. If you ever claim mileage you must be seriously out of pocket.

Anyeay @coulditbeme2323 rest assured that neither your petrol consumption nor your assessment of how much money is needed for fun are stall usual.

More fool you. I can drive 200 miles on about £20 of fuel.

AMG

@coulditbeme2323 you spend £120 a week on 200 miles worth of petrol? That's obscene. About 12 miles per gallon. Do you drive a bus?

Ok say-
£100 petrol
£80 x3 food
£100 half term week for outings/ ice cream etc
£50 each week for the other two weeks