School holidays are so expensive

[singingismypassion]

I feel I have literally shredded money so far these holidays. Children seem to have had a nice time but we haven't even done that much...
Sports camp for 3 days for one child
Riding for 4 days for one child
Two day trips to NT houses

Hey, I like geocaching. Anyway you have to buy the app to that’s not a no spend thing.

I know re geocaching - it just makes me giggle that it’s always suggested as some sort of panacea for school holiday boredom/ poverty.
Most teens will find the suggestion quite hilarious.

I have young dc who find it exciting as I do. It’s taken us to parts of our local,area we didn’t know existed.

But yes, I agree, it’s not going to cut it for teens.

One of mine has been to two days of holiday club and three of football. The other 3 days of holiday club. So that's £100 on holiday club and £35 on football. DH tried to take DS swimming but the pool was shut. We might go swimming or trampolining tomorrow or the next day, we went to a local mini beast place too but we have an annual pass.
Oh and we spent £4 on a kids fairground ride today. That was the most overpriced of the lot!
We are away next week so that is probably going to be a bit more purse-stretching.

I don't understand this. Our main expense is DD has done 2 or 3 days of holiday club - £23 a day but covered by childcare vouchers we save for exactly this. And then she has pottered at home with DH, ridden my horse, been to a friend's for a play date and today DH took her on the train to a city where he bought her a Burger King and some pink slime. She had asked to go to the park which would also have been free.

Tbh I think I can count the amount of expensive days out she's had her whole life on my fingers. Am I doing it wrong? Maybe just easier as I have only 1 DC.

I know re geocaching - it just makes me giggle that it’s always suggested as some sort of panacea for school holiday boredom/ poverty

The equivalent for younger children is den building! That probably takes up 12 minutes of your day...rest of the time spent folding up the sheets they used for it and moving the chairs back!

And then she has pottered at home with DH, ridden my horse

Actually dying...only on mumsnet!

@formerbabe why?

Yes, you're doing it wrong. There's a little bit of smug that fell off that post. Do put it back. Or ask your horse to do it.

Easier if you have 1 child but also it becomes much harder as they get older and want to be independent. A fiver just about covers a hot choc in a cafe where they want to meet friends.
Public transport, cinema etc- it is just a kiler!
Especially when they’re preteens/ early teens.
Too young to earn but old enough to spend

Oh. Ok sorry I didn't mean to sound smug. I'll go away.

Maybe because not everyone has access to their own horse and so, if their DC wanted to ride a horse, would have to pay for a riding session ...?

Trains though, they're free. If you get your dd to keep lookout while you leg it to the bog when the inspector comes round.

Ridden my horse...that's made my day.

At least, I'm guessing that's what the dh did? Before scranning down in the bins at the back of burger king? Look kids! A day out! And it didn't cost us owt!

@Ewitsahooman should I have said she rode my bicycle. Would that have helped? She's not horsey it was just easier than making her walk while I took him out. I wasn't boasting. I'm sorry if it came across that way.

rest of the time spent folding up the sheets they used for it and moving the chairs back!

Then you aren’t doing it right! Ours used to be up for days til they lost interest. Camped in there ate in there, played games etc

£400 for sports clubs for 3DC for the whole fortnight. Much less than the cost of unpaid leave though.

"You can feed the children on bones and dust."

Bones and dust??!

No need for such extravagance. I just open the hoover bag up and let them at the contents.

When it's empty I send them round to the neighbours to see if anyone else has any going spare. Much more fun than geocaching. We make it educational too by trying to identify the different types of dust and fluff.

I was always too stingy to pay for days out, just took them to the park, or they had friends over, watched dvd's or I just let them get bored. This was 10-15 yrs ago though. Times have changed...?

I am not sure why parents feel under pressure to entertain their kids all the time

Do you think it's pressure from social media, to be seen to be doing exciting stuff with them all the time?

Or am I just an olden day grump

Even the teens spend a lot of time either happy in their room, in the park or river (if warm!) Or wandering into town (so they can spend bus money on McD) or at friends' houses...

We've been off school for 2 weeks now and dd2 (9yo) has had a fabulous time, but even though we've limited the expensive days out its been more expensive than a week of school.

We've been to the cinema to see Dumbo (£20 for 2 tickets and drinks), visited my sister (£25 on petrol), had 2 sleepovers (one here, one at friend's house, £0), been to the park with friends, had a couple of PJ days, and had a couple of playdates (here, to repay the ones I can't do on school days, don't cost anything though).

It's been nice but yes it's more expensive.

sounds like you spend money by choice. You could do it much cheaper.

Its so much tougher for working parents who are forced to spend £££ on childcare because they have to work (I spend more than my earnings which means we have to cut down on basics (food, heating). Not really sure what you are complaining about.

puppymouse no that’s still wrong. You can’t call yourself a dickhead. You must justify yourself with something equally damning
“DD building a rope swing over the stream at the bottom of the garden” perhaps. Maybe “building the pool has proved itself really cost effective for school holidays”.
Anyway try harder; it’s AIBU.