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

DS(14) still enjoys geocaching, but he tends to combine it with wild camping on the moors now.

I just don’t get this.

Person doing expensive activities: aren’t activities expensive?
Me: erm, no-only if you choose expensive ones!

@DeftandGlory 😂😂😂

Just to clarify the horse isn't in the garden. DC does have a swing though but it came from a shop.

Having been put firmly in my place I think I will sell the horse. That should earn me enough for a Roomba and some Breton tops, both of which I will then start my own threads on.

Good for you. I don't have lots of family to visit or a dog.

We walked with out a dog before we got her.
Also don't have lots of family but a visit to the grandparents went down well.

Maybe I'm lucky that our children don't need lots of entertaining. I also don't feel the pressure to do something exciting every day if the holidays.

We are planning a cinema visit maybe at the weekend but that will cost £3.50 each as we will go to see the 'cheap film' and take out own popcorn/snacks.

Ride my horse comment wins the thread. I'm crying here although I love horses so that would be awesome. We pay £25 per day camp and 60 quid per day ft nursery. We eat beans a lot.

Puppymouse: tbf that is quite expensive if you factor in the cost of the horse.
Not many MNers have a horse available for holiday entertainment.

This is why I am against spreading out the school hols: we don't need more time off when it is colder, with shit wet weather, because for all the crafting and baking that can be done, it is so much easier to have cheap fun outdoors in better weather.

How can you not get it?
"Mum. Can I meet my friends today - everyone is meeting up for cinema and hot chocolate”
Are you really gonna make them stay at home and watch all their friends talking about it on Instagram/ snapchat etc?

If you have multiple children, especially older ones , it can get madly expensive .

Ds 15 has chopped and stacked firewood for us, also helped paint a celing. We store up jobs for the holidays to keep him out of trouble.

Hopefulhalf that’s a great idea

@HotpotLawyer you're right it's not cheap to keep them. But it's kind of a lifestyle choice (of mine, not hers) that eats up every bit of money and time I have beyond work so DD has to come with me in the hols when she'd rather be sat on her arse watching Waffle the Wonder Dog. She doesn't consider it entertaining hence me forgetting not to be a dickhead.

Only little ones here and we’ve managed to entertain them with playdates, a visit from Granny, various trips to the hospital and GP, shoe shopping, swimming and also riding my horse too!

dons Mumsnet unintentional dickhead hat Report yourself to 101 immediately.

Holidays are Expensive when DCs grow out of running around the park, making mud pies in the garden and baking.

I don't need childcare anymore, but they do like to go to a club for a sport they play so they do that. It's not mega expensive but still costs. If they go out with friends then they do something (cinema, bowling) which costs.

And I have to refill the fridge every other day.

I think you spend what you have.

I have done (children aged 1-9):
Park (free)
Woods (free)
Craft session at library (£1 a child)
Cinema (£12 for an adult & two children, took our own sweets)
Museum (£5 for an adult, children free)

The children have also played, baked, crafted, watched TV/played Wii at home, had friends over, gone to friend's houses.

And I have to refill the fridge every other day

Don’t forget the loo roll!

**

If you get your DC to craft the hat for you out of old cereal boxes and pipe cleaners then it doubles up as a free holiday activity

My youngest DC would also like to sit on her arse watching Waffle all day.

@Ewitsahooman I'll add that to the list for Monday.

I am certainly guilty of spending a fortune and then regretting it. I find it hard to stay in all day doing free activities, my dc are hard work if we are in all day. This week I have spent £150 which is a lot. That's on three days holiday club for ds, meet the Easter bunny, Easter event for ds, dd, me and dm. Swimming with dd. Looking back it's a lot. Holiday clubs are money well spent though as my son loves them and would drive me bombers if I had him with me all week. He's not an easy child!

I did one almost free day, £4 spent on two ice creams. Chill morning at home, ds on a play date and then dd free wildlife hunt and then Pre paid swimming lesson.

We have a week and three days left of the holidays so Next week Ds is doing more holiday clubs but I am going to try and do more free things with dd whilst he's there and free things when I have ds too. I don't want to do too much baking as I feel this time of year dcs have so much sugar anyway.

Ive been working some of the days so DS went to holiday clubs , Dd went to a friend one day and came to work with me today (in between age - too old for holiday clubs/too young to stay whole day on her own) Tuesday had no plans so gave the kids the choice what to do. Dd (tween) couldn't think of anything!!! So took DS to a museum and she stayed at home.

Yesterday saw my elderly relative and then went bowling with kids. It's hard as we live in quite a naice area and their friends are going to NY, skiing, disney etc.

And DD would eye roll if i suggested going to the park or going for a walk!

Re dens. They were a den for the 5 min the kids spent playing in there and then a random mess of household items that had to ne put away for the rest of the time!!

YANBU. Unless you have kids that are easily occupied they are very expensive. The alternative is whinging, fighting and complaining of being so bored for 2 and a half weeks.

Unless you have kids that are easily occupied they are very expensive.

I guess this really makes a difference. DD can easily spend days doing nothing (ipad,playing,chatting to the neighbours kids etc) with minimum grumbling. There's only just one of her as well.

Maybe could do just some activities and not so many?

I had a holiday job at 13...maybe some children / teens could benefit from that - some pocket money and out the house a bit...

It's very expensive.
We've stayed close to home and been to the park, local shops for a few snacks ( popcorn/cakes) and had friends over to play 4 days this week so today we have had a morning at local trampoline park and lunch out for a treat. DD,DS and a school friend (& myself & OH). £39 for 1 hour trampolining followed by £40 lunch at local pub.

Or volunteering but often need to be past a certain age. Ours have been helping DH a bit as he's self employed, They are 10 and 14.

Another plan is a yearly membership to something e.g. an interactive science museum which has stuff on on different days...this is our go to rainy day plan and works out as around £6 a month (monthly direct debit).