Fun things to do with £100 spare each month?

[EttaJames29]

Single mum with two children, 5 years and 17 months old. Currently on universal credit and hoping to start university next year to train to become a social worker. We don't have much spare cash, £100 a month after bills/food shopping is paid for. That is to include clothes but I'm now an expert at finding decent secondhand things and buying in the next size up in the sale throughout the year. It is going to be like this until I qualify and get a job, which I am determined to do. Their father isn't around and doesn't contribute at all. £100 isn't a lot but it is more than some people have spare and I'm trying to think of things to do that don't cost lots and my children can still have a good life? :) Thanks for reading

I love how organised and positive you are! Lucky children for sure. £100 a month can do a lot for children, especially at that age. Feeding ducks, soft play and an ice cream will be about £10 and that’s a day out. You can teach them about the types of birds too. Teach them to swim at your local leisure centre. Science experiments at home (especially with 5yo), and baking. Picnic. In our country, you can ask to visit the fire station and police station for a tour (not sure if you can still do that in the U.K.?) Volunteer with park management. Family Tree. Local History. Learn an instrument together. All of the outdoor sports you can think of. Learn a language together (Arabic and Mandarin often have free places to do this within the community). Museums. When you enjoy something too, not only is it good for your mental health, but they enjoy it more too.

We recently joined the National Trust. It's about £10 per month via direct debit (we have family membership). Nice to visit lots of different places, most of which have play areas for the kids, picnic areas etc.
Not sure if that's the kind of thing you're thinking of.
Swimming?
Annual pass to a local farm or other fun family-friendy venue close to where you live?

You could split it: £50 for treats/trips and save the other £50. After a year, you'd have £600 to put towards a few days away.

Awww you sound lovely OP. Like the above poster said, I think I would save 50% and spend 50%. Save for a week away somewhere. Have fun......

budget for baking and cooking ingredients. Great fun and teaching life skills.

make sure you're saving for school trips or £1 charity days

We love swimming as a family. not too expensive.

I've done a list of places to visit, free/cost, inside/outside. so depending on budget and weather always something to do.

we have NT membership, plus local museum has cheap annual membership and at different times have paid for annual membership for the farm (money towards for Xmas presents) and parking to local country park.

Well done OP. You're doing great.

Play in garden with sand / water /toy cars.
Play at park
Go to soft play but go home for lunch or picnic lunch in park or go after lunch
Park
Playground
Local museums

If you drive(or could go by train)
Further museums
Beach
Zoos
Parks further afield
Local towns can be fun day out. Eg Hastings (?). Buy one icecream each child (£3). There's often parking on outskirts and walk in.

Children's fairs and festivals. There are usually 100s (non covid times) and they're a good cheap day out. Take picnic.
Stately homes etc. Take picnic.
Swimming
Kids hour at 8.30 am at a lot of cinemas for 99p. Take own sweets.
Feed birds. Take own seed. Ponds.
Fishing with nets.
Walks in woods.
Church groups. Messy church etc.

Clubs and societies but these are more expensive.

Cinema pass?

Great plan. I would use at least one month's worth to buy an emergency gift card each, for somewhere they like. In my DD's case it would probably be a toy shop, but whatever might offer a fairly wide choice of things they do like. I quite like the One4All card but its downside is that after 18 months it gets reduced each month by about 20p (ie they start charging you if you still haven't spent it).
Save emergency gift cards for a point that the DC need cheering up. This has come in very handy over the years, I often put a bit of birthday money into these.

Please don't buy gift cards, many shops and restaurants will go bust over the next year or two, so you'll lose your money. Just put spare money in a savings account.

Some good suggestions on this thread, like national trust etc if there's sites near you that you're likely to visit often. Or annual passes to petting zoos or whatever you like that you'll be able to go to regularly. Remember to take a picnic where possible to avoid spending £££s on shit food.

Also agree about saving for a trip away each year if possible. Plus make sure you have money put aside for other unexpected expenses like broken washing machine etc.

Thank you so much for all the amazing advice :)

I Have a similar amount to spend. Cheap days out and having a little spending money for an ice cream or a toy is really nice. There were times where I felt we couldn't afford anything extra at all so £100 a month really makes a difference. Also, what are your kids into? Maybe you could buy a bike for your 5yo and later a balance bike for the little one. If you don't already have them. That will be endless fun for them. Also things to make the house more fun like a little indoor trampoline would be great :-)