to feel sad that we could never go to the local fairs/fun days, of which there are many

[EleanorReally]

when dc were younger.
or if we did go we could hardly spend the money

who are these fun days for?
so expensive for families

even the local fun fairs?

but i still feel depressed when i drive by them now, and the memories of counting up the money to see if we could go - going in and not being able to go on the actual rides.

most outings are dear.

ten pin bowling is dear. themed display exhibits are stupidly dear. visiting a cathedral is dear. concerts are dear.

some things are not dear, or are even free, and it's worth identifying them. It just depends where you live.

English heritage is a fab deal for us and means days work out cheap xx

We can afford it and I still hate spending money on those fairs. We have one each year that we can’t avoid because dd is in a group that performs at the fair.

Mostly I hate that I don’t really trust the rides. I’m much more inclined to take her to a full-time amusement park, even if the admission price is higher because it feels safer.

Went to a fair the other week, £1 a ride and told DD she could go on 5, she was done after 3 so let her go on the hook a duck, she won a toy dog and was over the moon (she is 3, so an older child may not have been happy with 5 short rides, tbh). Not too bad, considering the fair my mum took us too when we were kids was £3 a ride... We could only go on 2. We weren't bad for money at all, but anything more than £12 for some crappy 2 min rides did, and still does, seem ridiculous.

We could afford to go but we don’t. They’re full of chavs. Not sure I trust the rides either, the people running them don’t exactly look trustworthy. If DC whinged I’d be willing to perhaps pay for something like dodgems or waltzer, but certainly not the big dangerous rides they seem to have nowadays.

The fair is so expensive! I do love the atmosphere you get but you can easily spend a fortune.

At Easter we went to a local egg hunt and the bouncy castle was £3 for 10 minutes, I had to say no as I have 3dc and spending £9 for 10 minutes just felt ridiculous.

Circus Zyair is brilliant, book early or look on goupon. And so much better than cirque du soliel which was overpriced and not great.

We live in a seaside town with a permanent fair on the seafront. Even half price in the evening costs £70 for a family of 4. We try to go once a year, but even with unlimited rides it is out of reach for most.

If we can afford to go all out we go all out, if we can afford to go but with a certain budget we go with that budget, if we can't afford to go we don't go. My DCs get told "no" sometimes. I don't feel mean for that. I think on balance they are pretty spoilt. But when they reach the limit there's a definite cut off, and no compromise.

So if I say they are having three rides they can have three rides. Or whatever. I don't feel guilty if I say no, though. They don't need to know that I'm saying no because we are poor or what the reason is. Because I don't give them a reason I just say no we are not going.

Those fairs are awful money.

And I'm saying that as a Merlin Passholder who has multiple Disney trips a year!

Paying per ride ends up so much money.

I'd rather pay a flat entry fee (often with BOGOF vouchers etc) and then your whole day is paid for.

We give our DC a 2 ride limit at fun fairs as it's terrible value and of course they need an adult with them a lot of the time so that's another £5/time gone.

Very expensive.

I allow them to each go on two rides, one competition and one food item.

I think days out and activities in this country are all ridiculously expensive. I'm dreading the summer holidays.

Travelling fun fairs are essentially a theme park that travels. They are not going to be cheap. The people that own them have to pay themselves and their workers a proper wage and maintain all the health and safety rules the same as any other business owner.
If a fair comes to your town/area once a year it will usually come at the same time each year. It will be part of your towns schedule. If you think your children will want to go then you need to save money - the same as you save for xmas and birthdays.
If you don't have much money (my family certainly doesn't) then you need to find other events to go. I have just spent the day volunteering at a small town festival. There were a few stalls selling goods and food, drink, ice cream etc but all activities were free and run by various volunteer groups. Travelling fairs are not run by volunteer groups. They are a business. I would expect them to be similar price to a theme park. And usually many of these fairs will have discount vouchers in local papers in the weeks before.

We rarely spend more than a tenner. We do only have one while though. That's maybe four rides and a go on a prize winning stall. We don't buy food and drink there (it always looks rank anyway).

While=child

I agree that those fun days are expensive, haven't been to them in years now. Instead for the last few years we have bought passes for a local theme park. It pays for itself in about 3 visits and we normally go at least 10 times a year so works out to be really good value. Far better value than the travelling fairs etc.

We have a Christmas fair here. Which reminds me, we need to start saving for it!! Because it’s bad enough having to deny your kids the fun of the fair, but at Christmas? Brutal.

Nope, don't see the appeal at all. Don't see the appeal of theme parks either though. I seemed to hit 20/21 and went from thinking they were the best thing ever to thinking they were hell on earth.

We have some lovely country fairs round here, but very rarely went to them
sigh,
kids are expensive.

on the whole, i think these types of country fairs are full of those with disposable cash, ie. no kids yet or any more

We go to fun fairs/theme parks and days out a fair bit, but we do set limits on spending, and I refuse to pay for the games where you get a bit of plastic tat as a prize, or any sweet treats/junk food. But we balance it with cheaper days out via Groupon etc, completely free days out at parks and museums, and free community events (which happen every week in the summer within travelling distance). We genuinely enjoy them as a trip out, as the dc have a fun time and that's what matters to us. We have a small family (2 dc, but large age gap so only pay for one) and cut back on other expenses like being car free, living in a small newbuild flat with no garden (so cheaper utility costs and less maintenance), no paid TV etc, living close to work so no commuting costs. We're comfortable financially so we can afford days out, but even when we were on a much lower income with our older dc, spending on leisure activities was something I always budgeted for.