How to make the day to day not seem mundane

[pancakes222]

After the last couple of years of lockdown, I would have thought I would have found new inspiration to embrace new opportunities and go out more places and do more things.... however I can't afford to go places and do more things and any savings we have we are now keeping rather than spending on holidays just in case everything goes even more downhill when our fixed rates are up etc. have DD7 and DS3 who I just seem to take to the same parks, the beach is up the road so although sounds lovely it's just our normal and we just seem to spend the days doing the same jigsaws/books/baking/grandmas/walk etc. I feel like I'm wasting their childhood but I just can't afford to go away on holidays or breaks to break up the every day mundane ness! To be honest the problem is probably me because when I feel down and sluggish and a bit low then im more likely to just stick on the telly and not be bothered with engaging with the kids either. Any tips on how to make things feel a bit more special? How to get out a rut? How to make the school week less like Groundhog Day? Anyone else feel like this?

Get some podcasts/audiobooks/playlists for the school run.
Get a few new recipe books and play recipe roulette when you’re making your meal plan (flick through the book and get someone else to shout stop!). Or have themed weeks for meals e.g. American week, French week, Greek, Spanish etc…..
Get a surprise snack/food subscription box. We get Snack Surprise which is only £14 a month and it gives you 10 snacks and 1 drink from another country.
Have a few Tv programmes which you watch as a family and look forward to each week. We all watch Strictly together and have popcorn or ice cream sundaes.
There are a few websites from which you can get free samples. Get ones which are completely new to you and enjoy experimenting.

Could you do things with another family with DC a similar age?

I have been there, I don't know where you live other than on the coast so most of my advice might not be worthwhile if you don't live near a big city. My Dh always plans all sorts of things to do and I was always "we can't afford that!", but he was just absolutely adamant that we couldn't afford not to do something with our family time. Our city has quite a lot of free stuff for families, but even travel seemed extravagant when you are skint. You need to carve out an entertainment budget. It can be low but it has to be something, because then you can work to create something out of very little. It's impossible to make something out of nothing. I look on Groupon/wowcher etc every payday and select an activity from it. I also have a family membership to the National Trust. It's worth it's weight in gold really, because it's good to have something. Start looking at what is going on in your local area. Things like doors open weekends and family nature walks are free and you just need transport and a flask of hot chocolate and sandwiches. You need to start getting creative. Things like treasure walks (create your own maps and clues) or orienteering are things you could plan for your kids between you and your husband and cost next to nothing.

Keep a massive empty box for crafting ideas and materials, watch youtube videos for inspiration and start making some of Christmas and birthday budgets into activities for the whole family. It's challenging but if you start seeing the fun in the challenge that in itself can wake you up a bit.

Join your local library and go once a week to pick a new book for the DC. This is something people have forgotten to do but it is a nice habit.

It sounds like your kids have a nice life already btw. Just don't give into the lure of the telly! I've been there and I know it is enticing but you will have loads of time for that in the future!

I feel same. I find most days out cost minimum £30 and that is with two very young children not including transport. There also isn’t a lot of decent free things either

During lockdown we started celebrating everything going which I found helpful to break up the routine with young kids.

So any National days, festivals, international day of bananas etc. we’d try to make lots of the days’ activities, music and meals relate to whatever the theme was.

Google free things to do with kids in your area and day trips from your area.

Local museums and libraries often have activities for kids.

Look on websites like hobby craft for craft activities.

Buy a kite for breezy days.

Board games

Look on groupon for offers. I've taken my dcs to cinema, wildlife parks, theatre and walking tours and various events using groupon or Wowcher.

A family railcard costs about £30 and gives you cheap train travel (or use Tesco clubcard vouchers if you have any). Take packed lunches and head off on an adventure.

Movie nights at home, library books, music, different food can all add variety.

I flipping love that idea! I'm going to start that. A great way to introduce the DC into ideas of what's going on in the world as well! And I can already think of so many ways to do things! Even organising crafts and decorations can take up time. That's brilliant.

I just had a thought as well... maybe a "This day in history"thing as well!

@GoingToGetInteresting - yeah it’s quite fun actually. Today is international octopus day (because it’s the 8th day of OCTOber) btw :)

We used to make dens or forts indoors when DD was little & she loved it. When she was around 5 we had a night’s camping at a site just up the road & she was so excited, bless her. Absolutely loved it & it cost less than £30 for 3 of us plus fish & chips for tea. We live very close to the sea & just used to go collecting driftwood or seaglass. DD was very “ green” & enjoyed litter picking with a hot chocolate or ice cream afterwards. Treasure hunts at home or out are good - make a list of 10 things to find or 5 tiny things to fit in a matchbox. Bubbles are always a hit. Another vote for The National Trust. Always things going on there. Do you have family centres near you? They’re great for activities & sometimes have a toy library.