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Original poster

To already be dreading the summer hols because of money

61 replies

Blueskiesandcherrypies · 08/04/2014 09:53

I love having my children home for the holidays but honestly feel I could cry today. I have 3 dc (9, 7, 18m) and one due in May. I know it was mine and dh choice to gave 4 dc and, for the moment, be a one income family and most of the time it's fine. We eat well, I don't think the kids feel they go without, we have one nice uk holiday a year. However, we have very little disposable income and it's in the holidays that I feel this most. With two weeks still left to go of the Easter hols I'm trying so hard to think of fun things we can do for little cost, or for free, and I have visions of DCs friends living it up at legoland, paultons etc. Whether they are or not I don't know. Ds has told me of THREE of his friends that are spending the Easter hols in Disney, Florida - how on earth do people afford these things!

There are only so many picnics and local park trips we can do! We're planning on a trip to Brighton tomorrow for chips on the beach and arcades - that's the highlight of our Easter hols and I'm already worrying about how much it'll cost in petrol to get there (it's one and a half hours away).

Doesn't bode well for the summer holidays does it!

Sorry just needed to vent in the hope someone can inspire me :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Blueskiesandcherrypies · 08/04/2014 11:44

^^ because I always thought it would be two costly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Blueskiesandcherrypies · 08/04/2014 11:45
  • too
OP posts:
Stinklebell · 08/04/2014 11:46

family rail card

It's a one off £27 which then gets you a 1/3 off adult fares, and I think kids can travel for a £1. Ours paid for itself on its first outing

Groovee · 08/04/2014 11:48

A family railcard allows up to 4 adults and 4 children. My friend and I often use ours with our kids.

Stinklebell · 08/04/2014 11:50

Sorry, it's not a £1, it's 60% on kids fares

We did a family day out in London for about £20 - did a load of free stuff and took a picnic. We had a blast

Ruprekt · 08/04/2014 11:50

Where in West Berkshire are you?

HolgerDanske · 08/04/2014 11:51

A railcard is well worth it and will often pay for its cost in savings the first time you use it...

So many good suggestions on this thread, it almost makes me want to have little-ish ones again so we could go off on adventures Smile

You will have a great summer holiday, don't worry about it!

Creamycoolerwithcream · 08/04/2014 11:59

My DC are older and we find doing a budget for the whole of the school holidays works well. My DS2 mentioned wanting to go to Pizza Hut for the buffet, I didn't say no but did point out if we did go that would use up a large proportion of our 'school holiday fund'. So he's going to make us all pizzas instead. I find meeting friends at parks with a picnic the most fun days out for the least money. Another good activity is buying a few new art bits from Poundland and doing crafty bits indoors. Cooking is another good activity. OP, it actually sounds as if you are doing lots of nice things with your DC.

Onsera3 · 08/04/2014 12:07

Honestly, just did Disney in Feb with toddler (it was more about the sunshine than anything) and it's hardly worth the hassle. The packing for different climate, airport transfers with car seats etc and pushchair faff, long flight, time difference/jet lag (meaning you wake up so early you can't even get breakfast at hotel), the transfers around parks and then the queues! Queues in the heat. Even with fast pass you still have a little wait that feels long to young children. And I've taken children school age and they all want the merchandise. Then you have a long flight to look forward to at the end. Waiting for your suitcases and probably damaged pushchair with tired kids.

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy holiday but it's a hell of a lot of hassle for a whole lot of money. I'm really looking forward to spring staycations!

Could you do some Easter baking? Saw cute decorations at poundland today.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 08/04/2014 12:13

OP Surely your DH will put some cash in the pot towards the summer holidays?

Mine love having some time at home in the holidays, to play with their toys and just relax.
We don't insist on a tidy up every night, so they can get a 'project' going. I have currently got a giant cardboard box in my living room which is masquerading as a boat, and they are busy inventing stories and building props from Lego, paper etc. That has kept them busy since Sunday morning.

Have you got a garden? Might be worth looking in the supermarkets for some cheap garden games?

We do the odd day out, but mostly that will be meeting friends somewhere with a picnic, or going to visit family for a couple of days. I sometimes take the DCs to visit my parents or MIL for a couple of days even if DH is working.
We have National Trust and English Heritage membership which are both very good value and can give you lots of nice days out - although I appreciate not easy to access if you don't have a car.

sezamcgregor · 08/04/2014 12:13

Travelling by train also gives you half price entry to some attractions in London - have a look at: www.daysoutguide.co.uk/attraction-types/2for1london.aspx

You can either get one year for £30 or 3 years for £70.

It gives 1/3 off adult fares, and 60% off children's fares

Mine paid for itself in just one journey.

You can also book train tickets 12 weeks in advance to get the best prices.

Curlygirly · 08/04/2014 12:41

Our local garden centre does a free Easter hunt. You find the clues and get a small Easter choc at the end.

Our cinema also does the £1show and also sneak in the drinks/snacks.

TheRedQueen · 08/04/2014 12:54

DVD days - to make it more exciting we close the curtains and cuddle under the duvet. We also make homemade popcorn and someone serves ice-cream halfway through (like at the cinema in years goneby!). Sigh. I love it!

Toocold · 08/04/2014 13:01

I am sure someone has mentioned it, (I have skimmed read for ideas too!) do you have a large library near by?, or have you checked you local councils website?, we have a play association thing that is free on various different days near to us.

Also, I have a penny pot going to save all of my pennies and five pence's and hopefully but the summer holidays it will have a good amount for ice creams etc in it. We are having a lazyish day today, popped to the local library and hired a few dvd's from them it cost three pounds. Later we will get the lego out, and I am going to try and bribe them with ice cream to sort the toys out.

Toocold · 08/04/2014 13:03

I do apologise, my English is usually much better than my last post! , another thought, do you have a local scrap store you can join to buy cheap craft materials from?

DIddled · 08/04/2014 13:06

Re the railcard- in June/July the Daily Mail ( please don't judge) do an offer where they give a good chunk off the cost of a railcard - I buy one every year - third off adult fare and sixty per cent off kids- if you go after peak you can travel vv cheaply!

TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 08/04/2014 13:12

You can't really have your cake and eat it. You've said that you're a one income family who go on holiday once a year.

Your options are to increase your income by both working or spend less on a family holiday so you can spend it elsewhere, throughout the year.

I would imagine that those who go on family holidays to Florida at Easter probably earn more as a family or have generous parents/grandparents.

DrCoconut · 08/04/2014 13:14

We have never had exotic holidays etc. and wonder how people afford it too, and thats with two of us working. I'm guessing they either have huge incomes or often use credit and worry about the cost after. As for cheap activities it depends what the kids are into, if they are home bodies or like going out. DS1 hates the outdoors and is happy to just spend time at home. DS2 gets cabin fever and needs to be exercised frequently! Our local museum does lots of free or very cheap sessions for kids. The art gallery likewise. There are parks, cooking/baking, making dens out of sheets and blankets, drawing and painting. Or definitely look for offers in papers, on boxes of cereal etc. If you have a suitable device you could make a home movie, DS1 was into that for a while. made monsters put of things and filmed them. Most if not all of these have probably been suggested already.

Ragwort · 08/04/2014 13:23

I have never spent a lot of money on holiday activities (mainly because I can't stand theme park activities myself) - there really is a lot you can do very cheaply and don't underestimate the fun of just having days at home with a picnic lunch and playing with toys watching tv just generally relaxing. Also invite other kids round and hopefully you will get some invites back.

Just going to the park, library, mooching around town (does your local town do a quiz sheet or similar - or you could make your own) is all different to going to school every day.

Look out for really cheap activities in the library, holiday schemes can be good value (years ago my child was the only one at a council run scheme Grin - fabulous value for 3 adults looking after my child for a day !!).

BucketsnSpades · 08/04/2014 13:27

Did you say you were going to Moors Valley? If so you cannot live too far away from me, for cheap days out we have battered sausage and chips from harry ramsdens on Bournemouth beach, if you are prepared to walk a bit there are places on the east cliff where you can park for free. Poole park also has free parking for 2 hours.

At home we do science experiments using bits from the kitchen, we do drawing and sometimes we do cooking. My son loves doing bug hunts in the garden while i do the weeding.

i need to be super organised with just 2 DC otherwise days just turn into TV days, bur that is fine too, because this is a break and if they want to chill that is fine by me.

if you can get your hands on a copy of BH life you will find put about allsorts of free events.

Creamycoolerwithcream · 08/04/2014 13:27

I think it's important to have realistic expectations for school holidays. When mine were younger I hoped for no broken bones, minimal moaning and not pissing down all week.

BucketsnSpades · 08/04/2014 13:32

Just realised you live in West Berks, ignore my post, or come and camp in the new forest.

Eastpoint · 08/04/2014 13:36

Our library runs activities throughout the school holidays. They usually cost between 25p and £1.50 per child, they hold craft mornings, have exotic animals visit etc.

RedFocus · 08/04/2014 13:39

I'm lucky as my kids don't like theme parks so holidays are always pretty cheap as museums don't cost that much and we take our own packed lunches plus the odd cinema trip. My kids love geo caching too and mainly love catching up with local friends and watching movies, playing games. I didn't go to loads of theme parks as a child and get spoilt rotten as my parents had a mortgage to pay and I used to enjoy staying at home or knocking about with my mates or baking with my mum.
Parents who have to fill the kids days with endless treats and days out seem like they are trying too hard and kids need to make their own entertainment too. They need to learn not rely on other people to entertain them.

ChillySundays · 08/04/2014 13:50

I used to let the kids take their time getting ready to go out - that way half the day is taken before we were ready to go any where. All of sudden that small activity only had to take up the afternoon. If you are going to do any baking with them can you take them to shop for the ingredients - again uses up more time. Our local cinemas do holiday specials. The most important thing is that they don't have to be going out everyday.