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Original poster

Anyone else can't afford a holiday this year ?

31 replies

newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 20:07

There's no way we can cut back any further to allow it to happen
Very depressing as we only had a very short break in the UK last year
Really starting to feel like life is miserable for the kids

OP posts:
lancslass17 · 06/03/2023 20:09

How old are kids? I've booked Butlins £118 Mon to Fri (in paid in instalments). But know what you mean.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 20:09

lancslass17 · 06/03/2023 20:09

How old are kids? I've booked Butlins £118 Mon to Fri (in paid in instalments). But know what you mean.

Oooh that's good!
Kids are 17 15 and 5

OP posts:
lancslass17 · 06/03/2023 20:17

Do you have school hols outside the norm or an inset day for a long weekend when it's cheaper?

Could you camp, have an adventure in your own back garden?

It's all about spending time together.

purpleme12 · 06/03/2023 20:22

These threads always make me laugh.
We can't afford holidays any year but it certainly doesn't mean life is miserable for us!

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 20:24

purpleme12 · 06/03/2023 20:22

These threads always make me laugh.
We can't afford holidays any year but it certainly doesn't mean life is miserable for us!

It's not miserable for me either but surely you understand what teenagers are like? They see other people from school having lovely holidays and would love to go abroad to nice hotels and water parks /theme parks etc but year on year they can't because we can't afford it

OP posts:
Rayn22 · 06/03/2023 20:28

We have booked a holiday but I am now wondering how we are going to be able to afford to go. It is rubbish I agree. I love holidays and always need one to look forward to. I agree it is miserable without having one booked.
Where do you normally go?

AftersomeAdvice234 · 06/03/2023 20:30

I do feel for you op and I don’t mean this in a nasty way, so I hope it’s not taken that way but perhaps these teenagers need to be taken to a country and shown how most of the world live so they can be more appreciative of even having a bed, food, water and keeping warm.

Yes it would be lovely for them to have and perhaps this will motivate them to push hard in life to get all these nice luxuries but what you do for them is wonderful.

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 06/03/2023 20:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 20:42

Where do we normally go?
Thai country
Haven't been abroad since 2014

OP posts:
butterfly990 · 06/03/2023 21:05

I live in a cheap seaside holiday town. There are people who spend their summers in the local campsite and have a holiday job in the campsite or nearby. There are loads of seasonal jobs here and a shortage of workforce.

Satinthemiddle · 06/03/2023 21:09

I didn't go away last year.
I probably won't have a proper holiday this year
Chances are I won't have a holiday next year.

I've cut back as much as I can yet when I have a little bit of spare money yet another bill turns up that needs paying

If I'm lucky I might get a weekend away this year but I'm not holding my breath

Fairyliz · 06/03/2023 21:11

If your oldest is 17 can’t they get a job in the summer holidays and save up the money to go away with their mates when they turn 18?
Much more fun than going with boring parents.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 21:15

Fairyliz · 06/03/2023 21:11

If your oldest is 17 can’t they get a job in the summer holidays and save up the money to go away with their mates when they turn 18?
Much more fun than going with boring parents.

In theory they could but I feel a failure not being able to take them on a holiday

OP posts:
HorribleHisTories15 · 06/03/2023 21:17

Hopefully this will be taken in the right way, but the 15 could get a paper round and the 17 could apply for a job at a local adventure park (like chessington / Alton towers etc). Would they be interested in looking around already to secure something for later?

Asking regularly at a cornershop to help with the unloading of newspapers / milk early morning deliveries

Cutting the neighbours gardens etc (we have a few teens nearby who have left their numbers for such work)

Asking at a local bakery / take away

AndTheSurveySays · 06/03/2023 21:19

In theory they could but I feel a failure not being able to take them on a holiday

Why? Do you you think parents that have never been able to afford a holiday are failures?

Soproudoflionesses · 06/03/2023 21:19

You are allowed to feel pissed off about this op - yes l know koads of people don't get holidays but it is still a miserable existance if you can't get away once in a while.

MermaidMummy06 · 06/03/2023 21:20

I love travel. I'm struggling without a break but can accept we'll have to be creative and maybe take kids out of school last week of term or find a driving distance, not yet overpriced, beach town (not UK). Or just not go and do day trips etc. We find new things to do & places to explore. We can't do everything all the time. Kids need to learn that, too.

BUT what I am finding utterly miserable is my friend (whose ignored me for weeks) is on my dream trip, child free, and thinks I want a daily running photo commentary of her holiday. She's not being nasty, but I'm realising she is very self absorbed.

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 06/03/2023 21:23

Do you mean you can't afford a holiday at all? Or that you can't afford to go abroad?

AviMav · 06/03/2023 21:23

These holiday threads are laughable. I holiday yearly sometimes twice a year abroad. I book well in advance and I'm booked for next year already. I'm a single parent too.

However I only have 1 child to pay for and I make the choice to go in term time to be able to afford it. Comparing is what is miserable not the fact you haven't holidayed since 2014 OP.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 22:02

@AndTheSurveySays of course I don't
And I try and make my kids realise that they are worse off than some but better off than others
Still doesn't mean in an ideal world I don't wish I could take them somewhere nice for a week every few years

OP posts:
BadgerLovesMash · 06/03/2023 22:06

I havent ever taken my girls abroad on holiday. The furthest they've been is to the Isle of Wight which was fun and fairly reasonable. A few years ago we got a travel lodge for £29 for a night, stayed 2 nights in August. It feels like being on holiday as its sunny and has sandy beaches!

I prefer to do a few 'big' days out over the year rather than a week holiday once per year. I think my girls like it too as we try and do something each school holiday. There's lots of ways of doing free or cheap days out, the sun paper does days out offers sometimes, clubcard rewards, London has so much free stuff to do if you are able to get there, plus offers/cheap deals in some places if you claim universal credit. A few Local attractions to me offer discounts for residents and do heavily discounted/free days occasionally too. Also groupon occasionally has good days out deals.

We've also visited towns/cities close to us on the train. It's fun having an explore of somewhere new! We've found some great parks, shops, museums and beaches this way over the years!

knackeredmu · 06/03/2023 22:14

It's hard - and you do want your children to have nice things - so tough x
Do you have any spare funds you could use for a holiday, could you house swap or stay with friends / family somewhere different? I know it's not the same but it's just an idea so the older ones get to go somewhere different?

PolkaDotMankini · 06/03/2023 22:26

It's fair enough to feel like you're missing out or that you want to give your DC different experiences. Try not to think that you're failing them though. They have their whole lives ahead of them to travel and explore the world and it will be even more of an adventure if they're doing it for the first time as adults. It's ok if not everything is crammed into the first 18 years of their lives.

Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 23:00

knackeredmu · 06/03/2023 22:14

It's hard - and you do want your children to have nice things - so tough x
Do you have any spare funds you could use for a holiday, could you house swap or stay with friends / family somewhere different? I know it's not the same but it's just an idea so the older ones get to go somewhere different?

Sadly not
I'm hoping to find some extra work at some point though just so we can have some 'extras'

OP posts:
Original poster
newjobnewstartihope · 06/03/2023 23:00

PolkaDotMankini · 06/03/2023 22:26

It's fair enough to feel like you're missing out or that you want to give your DC different experiences. Try not to think that you're failing them though. They have their whole lives ahead of them to travel and explore the world and it will be even more of an adventure if they're doing it for the first time as adults. It's ok if not everything is crammed into the first 18 years of their lives.

True my parents never took us abroad

OP posts: