To feel like I need to say I don't have much money?

[Myotherhusbandisgaryoldman]

DD (11) has a lovely group of 4 friends, and they've done loads together over the Easter holidays - various activities followed by pizza etc etc.
All supervised by the other mums - all who are married and with houses.
I'm a single mum, I work 30 hrs a week and I don't have a lot of disposable income after rent/bills etc.
I'm worrying that the other mums are wondering why I haven't organised a day for the girls. Not sure if they know my circumstances. I have a flat, not much room to entertain another 4 girls.
I've obviously thanked them for the all their generosity - i just feel very awkward about the whole situation. I'll have more money next month so I'm planning something for the may half term.
Am I being a dick?

Some people really don't have room. There are two families in our block where the parents sleep in the living room and the children have the bedrooms.

That or having autistic children who don't like others in their safe space, or parents who work shifts....etc etc etc.

Park trip and picnic sounds good, or make your own popcorn. A £1 bag of kernels does loads and loads.

My best childhood memories are of the many sleepovers I had with friends/cousins when I was young. My parents would always set up the living room with duvets/blankets/air mattresses. Mum would take us to blockbuster at the end of the road, then to the shop next door where we were allowed to choose a bag of sweets each. She’d get Tesco pizzas and garlic bread for under £5 and we’d be good to go.

Sleepovers are so much fun when you’re young. We’d also always have a ‘midnight feast’.

OP I agree with all the above posts. I am a single parent on a limited income and will often include DD's friends because it suits me. Generally it is reciprocated but I do not measure how much is spent. Most parents will be very grateful if you host a sleep over or just head out for a few hours to let the kids run free in a park etc. The children just love being together and in my experience this is more important than the activity or cost. The thing I do a lot is take them all swimming which is about £2 a child here with a free youth card. They splash about together whilst I swim and steam.

OP I think you sound really sweet and are worrying about a non issue! If they keep score then they're twats! (The parents I mean!) Just do what you can on your own budget- you could do sleepovers or movie night or make their own pizza evening and everyone brings a topping. Some really good suggestions on this thread already.

Try not to worry so much- some of the coolest things I remember doing as a tweenager were things round at my friends houses or out at a park etc, not seeing films and going out for food!

Just have them over for a few hours one afternoon. If you can. You don't have to prepare anything exciting.
I'm now in my late 20s but I remember very clearly being about 12 and I was invited over to a friend's place, with a handful of other girls.
We went over to her small (but v lovely) flat, I'm ashamed to say it was the first time I'd actually ever been in a council flat / tower block and I found it wayyy more exciting than any of my other friends large fancy homes. Her wonderful mum let us make our own mocktails, she helped us put sugar and lemon juice around the rim, use grenadine and crush ice etc. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And then we watched re-runs of our favourite show (Friends) sipping our mocktails and eating crisps! I've never forgotten because I had such a blast. Simple things.

I agree not to worry about relative income or house sizes. When DD was about a frenemy of hers came over. I knew the family in question (small community) and the dad is a builder, totally loaded and had recently bought a massive house and added an extension so all three of his DC had their own ensuites. When DD showed frenemy into her tiny box room with second hand cabin bed, Ikea wardrobe and various charity shop accessories and shelves that I had spray painted and stencilled in ivory and gold, the other girl spontaneously burst out “I would LOVE a room like this’. And it was a lovely room and very cosy. We eventually moved somewhere bigger (but no children’s en suites) but DD’s still talks fondly of her little box room where she could lie in bed and stare out at the stars. The relative value of real estate or rented versus owned passes over the head of most youngsters. What matters is making them feel welcome.

Thanks so much everyone! Xxxx