To be upset that we can't afford to take the kids on holiday?

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We have no mobile contracts just payg, don't smoke don't drink much (have never been to the pub since we moved nearly a year ago), but we never seem to be able to afford to take our dcx2 to nice places for a treat - no beach, no playhouse, no weekend away, not even camping. I see pictures of my ds1 friends (and parents obviously!) on Facebook and see their happy little faces and wish I could give those kind of memories to my own children. I feel we are sheltering them too much, they need more life experiences and I worry it will hold them back as it has me (only been abroad one day in my life with school) and they deserve so much more. Am I being silly in feeling this way?

I might be able to help you if you are able to take a holiday in the next few weeks in Devon. If that sounds good please PM me as I'm not sure how to do it!

I think you can make some fabulous memories without needing a holiday as such. We had the odd caravan holiday as a child and that was it. The first foreign holiday I had was when I was about 15 and went away with my Sister to Ibiza!! We had lots and lots of animals at home and my Father would always say we couldn't leave them, so we just didn't go away.

My sister does the Sun holidays that people have mentioned and her kids love them. Also If you shop at Tesco and accumulate the vouchers you can swap them at Boost time and set them against various holiday options.

House swaps are an idea but obviously it depends on your location and house. Moneysavingexpert always has people finding some amazing deals or with great ideas re. turning pennies into pounds and making things happen.

Even a tent in the garden and bacon sarnies in the morning or allowing the kids to have some sleepovers and let them have a midnight feast and a MacDonalds. Kids really don't need lots of money spent on them to have fun,very often it's the opposite that results in the best times.

Are you able to afford £7 a month? If so you could go to Haven with the Sun.

We use a Tesco credit card to earn Tesco clubcard points, and we don't always shop in Tesco. A £2.50 clubcard voucher is worth £10 online, (don't spend them in store) have a look at all the different things it can get you like days out and holidays.

My best childhood memories are going to my lovely Grandma's house, we each had an old handbag of hers and some old items of hers. Best days ever.

My children think a "carpet picnic" so basically food laid out on a blanket in the lounge is fantastic and we have been to Disneyworld in Florida!

There are loads of ideas on Pinterest for stuff to do with kids in the garden etc. That is what makes a summer.

Actually op if you wanted to you'd be welcome to stay at mine for a week while we are away. I have someone coming to look after the animals so you woudn't have to do that but they are all very child friendly (ponies, dogs, ducks etc), 6 bedrooms, fruit to pick if you wanted, huge garden, play room, no traffic and bikes to use in the shed. PM me before Friday if you are interested.

YANBU silly at all. Do you have any relatives who would put you up for a couple of nights or let you camp intheir gardens.
I would take them for a few days in termtime.If it is less than a week I don't think they issue fines.Or ring in sick

How lovely of people to offer their houses . We never had holidays as a child, but I really enjoyed going to stay with my grandparents.

any reason why money is so tight, OP?

if we know more about your situation it might be easier to help (e.g. there are charities who offer holiday grants to families with disabled children but no idea if that might apply to you).

Have you tried your local children's centre? Ours own family passes (2 adults 3 children) to 2 local attractions and you can hire them for £5. It's a cheap day out at an otherwise expensive place-just swerve the gift shop!

As I child I was lucky to go on many holidays aboard but to be honest the trips I remember most are the ones when we went an hours drive from home to a random place had a picnic at the boot of the car and went a walk.

Pmsl at "camping on the bus" yeah cos public travsport is cheap isn't it and buses go right to campsites? And you'd be able to lug all your camping stuff onto a bus!
We've just been camping for 3 weeks too and spent a small fortune so I've no idea what you are on about.
Op hasn't been back has she?

CHICS is a charity who offer free hokidays to chikdren from families who otherwise coukdbt afford to go.

You don't have to have all that camping stuff though do you? Maybe for long camping, but you can camp in a pop up tent with blankets for 2 nights. And not cook anything. Crossients for breakfast, basic snack lunches and fish and chips for dinner

Most farmers are actually open to the option of you camping on their land for free as long as you keep it tidy. You could offer to help on farm for an few hours in exchange.

No she hasn't and she has had an amazing offer To be put up in someone's house while they are away which I find to be e remedy generous and trusting.

No she hasn't and she has had an amazing offer To be put up in someone's house while they are away which I find to be extremely generous and trusting.

We once swapped our holiday cottage in n yorks with a London family's home.

They had a week at ours and we had three nights at theirs.

It was fabulous and I don't know why we didn't do it more often.

While our holiday home was quite empty their home was left just like the Marie celeste even down to all personal cosmetics etc on the dressing table.

I've only read half the post so sorry if repeating. Groupon have a few deals for holiday camps. I live in a touristy area, if you ring the smaller camps sometimes they will have cancellations and last minute vacancies you can get cheap. Also with the weather being shit most advertise on your local for sale swap sites for any free tents/camping gear.or wait a few weeks when winter feels closer. You'd be surprised how many people will be having a clear out and just want rid.(a colleague of mine does this every year and manages to upgrade his equipment/tent every time) then aim for a camping break during October half term-it'll prob be wet and cold but it'll be cheaper and if you research the area in advance you'll prob find lots of free activities.
Or stick a sheet over the washing line and make a "camp" in the garden, lots of blankets and carry the kids inside once their asleep if it cold.YANBU by the way, but remember for every "happy little face" on Facebook there's a screaming child and stressed out parent they haven't shown you.

where the bloody hell is the op?

Pmsl at "camping on the bus" yeah cos public travsport is cheap isn't it and buses go right to campsites? And you'd be able to lug all your camping stuff onto a bus!

well, I've been camping by public transport all my life, so you are just ignorant.

Every single camping trip I've ever taken my children on has either started with a bus journey to the train station, or been only a bus journey.

Obviously we only choose camp sites that are served by public transport, normally buses.

And yes, we take our camping stuff on the bus.

Camping can be done at many different levels, you can do it in luxury ( someone up thread mentioned chairs and tables!) or minimally, with very little equipment.

And yes, going a few miles to a local campsite is cheap, and at the same time can give you access to a different area.

My DC are now teens, and are planning our next trip to be back packing, they intend to walk with the equipment the whole way - obviously not suitable for little ones though!

Camping is what you make it. We have just returned from a three week trip that cost us about £200 in all, less than we would have spent at home, most likely. Some rainy, stormy weather in which we read books or played board games in the tent...

Anyone can afford to camp, but you have to do it cheerfully, even if you hate it, or it is no fun for the kids. I have got used to it now, and enjoy it, but it took a while - not that my kids know I have ever not loved every minute! But for many years it was all we could afford. Actually, realistically, it is still all we can afford... we could have maybe done a weekend somewhere cheap, but not three weeks.

Start with two or three nights only, though, until you get the hang of it.