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

Huh? Only if you choose to do these things but yep kids cost money. My dc summer holiday will be extremely expensive... we're travelling across Canada for 2.5 weeks. This holiday has been really cheap as dd2&3 have had tummy bugs so haven't eaten much and not been able to go out until today.

Threads like this make me question why so many people have children. They just seem rather an expensive problem that get in the way of wodk/life instead of a pleasure to be enjoyed

No one I know in RL keeps their kids at home all holidays. Most people strike a happy balance and try to find as many free activities as possible.

We have a NT membership and a English heritage one lots of places to visit for free and we pay monthly so over the hols can visit lots of different places for free and just take a picnic 👍 also during the hols a lot of EH do event days we have also started getting memberships for places for Xmas and birthday presents or any money we get we put towards them which gives us a bigger range of activities to do over the hols :)

• Sunhill4

Threads like this make me question why so many people have children. They just seem rather an expensive problem that get in the way of wodk/life instead of a pleasure to be enjoyed*

I think this is a bit harsh. I love my kids and spending time with them. As they get older simple things that kept them amused when they were younger (walks/trips to the woods/baking etc) are not always enough to occupy them and juggling work, childcare and activities, things can get expensive. That doesn't mean i wish i didn't have them!

instead of a pleasure to be enjoyed

Have you met actual children?

@Sunhill4

Do you have dc?

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

What about free stuff (or vaguely cheap) for teens. Join YFC, guides, volunteer at the church kids group

Oh dear my DS14 has had a chavtastic week hanging out at GOALS

Some pearlers on here

It’s ok for kids to be bored sometimes. I keep reminding myself of this! I was often bored in the holidays, and that was fine and normal.

Where did this pressure to keep kids entertained and engaged in fulfilling activities every waking minute come from? It’s nuts, but I’m definitely feeling it.

Also, I get people using holiday clubs when they have to work, but is it really necessary at other times? It’s become the norm, and I have sent my dd to some, byt there are more popping up all the time, and they cost a fortune. We are doing two cheapish days out and the rest of the time it’s park, dog walks and playing with toys etc...

@Ilovetolurk you sound very defensive. I don't know what GOALS is but if your DS enjoyed it what else matters?

Over the past week we have been:

To three theme parks
Trampolining
To the library
Dog walking
To the farm
To the theatre
To two country parks
To two NT places
To an arts and crafts event

I have annual memberships for the theme parks and the NT. They work out at about £25 per month altogether and give us endless days out where we just take a picnic and don't spend a penny. The theatre I booked 6 months ago so that doesn't feel like an expense right now, so the only money I've spent is on admission to the farm and trampolining - around £40. I don't think that's expensive for a week full of activities.

@HipHipHippoo I got tired just reading all that

but is it really necessary at other times

Some kids might need the routine.
Some kids might want to continue with an activity/sport that only runs term time.
Some parents might take advantage of heavily subsided clubs so their kids have something to do,meet with their friends and get fed.
Some parents might just want or NEED a break...either to do something specific or just breathe in peace.

If you can afford it it's no issue.
If you struggle but necessary then no issue.
If you can't afford it but do it just to keep up with others..then that's an issue but we all have them.

Yes, i had 3 children under the age of 3.5 and spending time with them in the school holidays was something i looked forward to. They grow up far too quickly & you will wish you had enjoyed every minute of it.

Think it depends on your dcs. My ds wants to stay home and play often and is quite a home bird. This works ok for a morning or afternoon once in a while but the majority of time it means endless moaning, wanting me to play with him, squabbling and annoying his sister on purpose and silly behaviour. Or hours of me playing football with him. I don't know why he wants to stay in so much when it leads to stress. So I tend to prefer taking him out, much less stressful but this costs money. I put him into holiday clubs for my own sanity and because I know he enjoys them and he needs things to occupy and wear him out.

On the other hand dd is happy to stay in or go out and plays beautifully for ages independently, colours, draws, bakes or enjoys helping me with jobs around the house.

Yes, at 4 and 6 parks and bike rides, library trips occupy them more than older children but at the same time I think younger dcs can find it harder to amuse themselves.

Some people are lucky and have dcs who happily spend hours amusing themselves with very little, love crafts etc others have dcs who need a more active life.

Is this holiday expense a new thing? When did it start, that you had to pay to keep kids entertained? It costs nothing to take your children out to a park, or invite a couple of their friends around to do some cake baking. However, I suppose there are kids who are not happy with that and are more demanding

It definitely gets harder as they get older, my dd is 13yo and going for a picnic/farm shop/ park visit etc would not interest her at all!

I've spent £110 on 3 days childcare, we went to the beach one day and spent £20 ish.

Will be doing nothing this weekend, dd will occupy herself.

I seem to spend extra money on food... it’s like they have a bottomless pit whilst on holiday 😩 we’ve only been to bowling As everyone’s had the bug going around. Making up for it now though. They are going Thorpe Park next week but luckily we have passes so only need to pay for food.

I've spent £15 so far and that was on a McDonalds lunch. Ok slight lie, spent £20 to send 2 dc on a beavers/Cubs activity day. But otherwise we've either chilled out at home,gone to play parks or woods or visited friends/family. Holidays don't have to cost money, most children just look forward to spending time with parents

most children just look forward to spending time with parents

My DC obviously didn’t get that memo! When I picked them up from their childminder the other day they were most annoyed and asked why they were not spending more time with her over the holidays and why I wasn’t working more . She is amazing but still!

Sorry meant to bold that not strike through.

you will wish you had enjoyed every minute of it.

No parent ever (or even Mary Poppins) enjoys every MINUTE of it.

Just to add though.. I love having them at home for the holidays. It’s my greatest joy
Even though they cost a fortune !

I love my NT membership card in the holidays!
DD is 10 & so far we have just done parks, with my grandchildren. Next week we have a big day out, taking her schoolfriend. Only expensive one I'm doing as I'm skint.
Easter weekend we have relatives staying. So the shopping will be pricey.
I'm lucky in a way though that DD10s dad has decided he wants to see more of her through the hols, he doesnt take her for big days out but they live near the beach.
I'm so used to having her in the hols I miss her, but it gives me a chance to do my school work & catch up on jobs in the house which don't get done during term time.
Holidays always cost more than term time...but how much more depends on the weather & what we plan to do

Oh I do love a bit of competitive mumsnet frugality.

Well my 3 DC have enjoyed stitching a patchwork quilt together. We've done this for a week and it didn't cost anything as we had the needle and thread in and for the material DC used their own duvet covers.

Cost of food was £5 as a large chicken does tend to last us 2 weeks. Drinks were mainly water.

We definitely spent less than you.