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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to blow my savings in 3 days?

63 replies

Insanityismymiddlename · 05/08/2014 00:32

AIBU?

I have worked my backside off for the last 6 months to be able to afford to have a fun summer holidays with my DCs, I am working the majority of the holidays so have only been able to take 3 days off work.

I have £900 saved plus £1500 rainy day fund.

My plan is to get up really early and pack the DCs in the car (as a surprise) and just go spend the £900 find a cheap hotel somewhere and go to the zoo and waterparks etc.

BUT £900 is a lot of money and I only have £1500 for emergencies and according to my PILS I should save it and just spend one day doing something or book a real holiday somewhere nice.

AIBU

OP posts:
Floop · 05/08/2014 00:33

It's your money. Spend it as you like.

It's not something I would do though, you never know when the dishwasher is going explode and big payout had to happen.

Days out sound nice though. Is there anyway you can stay at home and just do a few day trips?

Original poster
Insanityismymiddlename · 05/08/2014 00:34

In other words I want to spend 3 days out of 6 weeks completely spoiling my DCs buying lots of treats and doing fun things with them before I have to work stupid hours again.

AIBU?

OP posts:
AliceinSlumberland · 05/08/2014 00:38

Do it. In 10 years time, £900 will be a small proportion of the money that you've had, but the 3 days I bet will be a big proportion of their childhood memories. Go for it, and enjoy every second.

Namechangearoonie123 · 05/08/2014 00:39

Yanbu

You will still have savings for emergencies

'Blowing' the 900 is just the same as having spent 60 a week on crap for the last 6 months

greeneggsandjam · 05/08/2014 00:41

£900 to make memories sounds like a plan to me. Can you look on late rooms or last minute or something and book now, maybe saving you a little rather than just turning up?

Original poster
Insanityismymiddlename · 05/08/2014 00:46

Thanks everyone I think the DCs will love it I would book somewhere but have no idea where we are going yet I am thinking of letting them each decide one thing they want to do and just go do it.

Just wish my PILs can see what I am trying to do and support my decision or rather just not start thinking I have truly lost it and ask if I need sectioning.

OP posts:
Preciousbane · 05/08/2014 00:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

greeneggsandjam · 05/08/2014 00:57

Go with the flow, good plan. You could save by booking ahead but I agree that often spontaneity is much better. Don't update your parents in law for the next few days just go and enjoy yourselves!

Shonajay · 05/08/2014 06:11

Go for it, memories are worth every penny. And you still sensibly have £1500 for emergencies.

Sleepyfergus · 05/08/2014 06:21

YANBU, but with a little bit of planning your £900 might go a bit further. I know that might remove some of the spontaneity though but your kids could still take it in turns to call the shots on activities if you manage to secure a good deal on accommodation before you head. I get the impression this might be a bit 'last minute' so you should get some deals! Have a lovely time!!

LindyHemming · 05/08/2014 06:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

combust22 · 05/08/2014 06:48

It sounds a nice idea but with a limited budget you could get more fun from your bucks with some planning. You may be disappointed if you turn up somewhere expecting to find a cheap hotel- especially at this time of year. I would do some groundwork first and find a loose structure for your trip.

Having fun is not always about spending money.

KnackeredMuchly · 05/08/2014 07:00

Do it, it sounds great fun. You can still be thrifty on £900 but it will be nice not to count every penny

lanbro · 05/08/2014 07:13

YANBU we just spent the best part of £1k on a week in Scotland, not including the cost of a static caravan. Selfcatering was best for us with two very young children but I was damned if I was spending our only holiday in 3 years cooking and cleaning! The only meal we made was breakfast and ate out/bought sandwiches/takeaways every day. Did at least one paid activity every day, sometimes two. Absolutely no regrets, had a fab time and worth every penny! YOLO as the kids would say!

littleblackno · 05/08/2014 07:23

I would do it. You still have savings and you said you had worked hard to be able to do it.
However, I think I would do a little bit of planning and maybe book somewhere as others have said you may be dissapointed if you turn up and have to spend ages looking for somewhere to stay.
My friend and I have just booked a caravan for 3 nights quite cheaply but we had to do some searching for a deal some places wanted £600. We're not going to tell the kids until the day before so it will still be a surprise for them.

fuzzpig · 05/08/2014 07:28

As a compromise you could still have a load of fun for about half that. It doesn't have to be all or nothing!

We are going away for a few nights in a hotel, that plus train (2-3hrs away) is less than £400 and that's for 4 adults (2 16yos but count as adults for fares etc) and 2 DCs.

Plan it in advance to make the most of your money - if you decide where to go you could even start a thread for ideas with the place name in the title (I did this and got loads of great advice).

Search online for voucher codes or special offers, do you have clubcard vouchers for example? If you find vouchers for attraction entries and places to eat it'll save you loads. It doesn't have to feel like penny pinching, I find it really fun figuring out how to get the most from our money :o

I totally understand the urge to just think "fuck it" and you've got the rainy day fund too which is great (more than many!) but I think I'd try to leave a few hundred from your £900 a and not spend it all.

CarlyRichards · 05/08/2014 07:30

You don't have to justify yourself to your PILS. Go and have fun with your children Grin

combust22 · 05/08/2014 07:30

I agree with the others, "blowing" money does not always equate to maximum fun. ther are lots of places overcharging and with a little thought you could just as many jollies for half the fun, and still have some cash stashed away for christmas.

fluffyraggies · 05/08/2014 07:49

I say do it.

5 years ago i spent an eye watering amount on a holiday for all 5 of us for 2 weeks in Egypt. The money was an unexpected windfall. We stayed in one of the loveliest hotels, we had a private pool. We took extra internal flights and trips to see various sights such as the pyramids and the amazing museum at Cairo. We went into the desert on camels to see the sunset in the mountains. We dived in the warm water and saw the most amazing huge colourful fish all around us just a few meters from our room. DD1 and i swam over the 'drop off'. Stunning. All once in a lifetime stuff for us.

And that's the point. 99% of the time we're skint. That holiday will stay with DH and i until we die. Maybe the DCs will get rich and do it 100 times over, i don't know. But if we hadn't have spent that money then on that holiday it would have just gradually dribbled away on random stuff over a few years like MOTs, surprise bills or the odd meal out. It wasn't a sum of money large enough to be lifechanging, like a mortgage deposit, but used all in one go it was enough to treat us all to the most fabulous experience.

Sorry for such a ramble, but i feel strongly! :)

cozietoesie · 05/08/2014 07:53

Go have some fun and let the PILs moan if they want to. Just be warned that you may not find it as easy to spend money as they think. Working and saving can become such an ingrained habit that it's difficult to break even though you have some very good causes. (The DCs.)

Enjoy yourselves.

Smile

(By the way - is anyone else (eg the PILs) contributing to the holidays such as by giving the DCs some holiday fun money?)

amyhamster · 05/08/2014 08:02

Are you thinking of somewhere like Alton Towers hotel ? Let us know & we can help spend your money Grin
Chessington has just opened a new hotel
Longleat has fab accommodation overlooking the animals
Or go crazy and go to DLP!

whois · 05/08/2014 08:04

The idea of having an amazing three days with your DCs is lovely.

But I think you'd actually have a much nicer time if you researched a destination and booked some accommodation. August isn't exactly known for its empty beds and low prices!

Then the 'hassle' is taken care of; and you can say to your DCs 'adventure playground or beach'? What shall we do today? Water park? Biking?

Better to know where and what the fun things to do are.

IsabellaofFrance · 05/08/2014 08:09

Do it, you will still have £1500 as an emergency fund. Do your research though so you get the best value for money, you dont want to snap book something and then regret it.

Tinkleybison · 05/08/2014 08:20

Yanbu to spend the money, but dont just go. Ive done last minute things in August and it can be hellishly difficult to find accomodation. Just winging it could be chaotic and not as much fun as you think - start looking for somewhere to stay and plan something brilliant for them.

ohtheholidays · 05/08/2014 08:24

We've stayed at the Legoland Hotel in one of the themed rooms and had an amazing time.Planning on doing it again this year.