To ask, do I ask the parents for money?

[BrightonBelleCat]

I've booked for dd and a couple of her mates to go to this convention thing for her birthday. I've paid for the tickets and will take them up there by train, which I will also pay for.

Do I ask the parents to provide lunches, or is it assumed I will pay for the lunches as well.

I need to budget for this well in advance (am skint) so would you/do I?

It would only impact in that she can get quite stressed in crowds however I think if her friends are there she might be more aware of herself.

It would also be worth looking at split ticketing for the journey if it's quite long and/or over a time change from peak to standard...

Money Saving Expert have a site that will do this for you if you look at it - but there are others out there that do it too. I've found it can significantly cut the cost of a journey down - but the apps/websites can sometimes be a bit funny if getting across London is involved - one journey I did went through London but didn't need to and it got in a bit of a twist as it couldn't cope with a tube journey between two london stations so sent me a much longer/more expensive way around avoiding London. But it was easy to play around with journeys and times to get the best deal for myself - you can often half the cost of tickets and still use things like family railcards on top.

I think taking a basic picnic bits but asking them to bring some stuff they like along too, along with something they like to drink (and in a bottle they are happy to throw if necessary!) to pad it out would be lovely.

Hope you all have a great day!

You could always make a mass packed lunch for all or them, maybe cheaper than giving cash?

I'd expect to pay for lunch as the host, it shouldnt cost guests anything to accept an invite.

I've been to conventions, and it's actively preferable for the kids each to bring their own packed lunch. The food outlets will be nightmarishly busy, the choice restricted, and the food very expensive. A shared picnic is also difficult because there is less likely to be the sort of space where you can spread out.

I think if you have a whole day's activities ahead of you, with a train trip either way, then asking each kid to bring a packed lunch is the only way to go. You can have treats - cake, cereal bars, whatever - as extras for them all, and if it's a very long train journey back after what will be an exhausting day, you can always get them all a hot chocolate at the station before you board to carry on the train.

Packed lunch would be fine with me. Many parents like to have that control over what their dc are eating any way. Packed lunch is just easier all round.

ArcheryAnnie said in more detail what I meant. :)

I agree just ask for parents to send packed lunch. I wouldn't think you were odd asking for me to send my child with a lunch esp if you were paying for enterance and travel to somewhere.

You could always take a packet of chocs/sweets cheap from supermarket to share with the kids

I would generally expect lunch to be provided, however I would send enough money to cover lunch just in case it wasn't, and enough for icecreams or a treat for everyone. I'd have no concerns sending a packed lunch either.