Shall we go on this break?

[whatthehellnpw]

We have a cottage booked next week, all paid for and about 2.5 hours away. Last week we had a roof problem and have had to pay out 4 grand on it. This means we have nothing left at all. Probably be looking at £200 spare to take with us to spend Monday to Friday. This includes food, and days out etc. shall we still go or are we going to be sorely disappointed? If we do go please give me some money saving tips as my kids need a treat and some fun.
Luckily my husband had a fuel card on account so can pay for fuel next month once we've both been paid!

I’d try and resell it.

Go, it sounds like you could all do with the break. The £200 for food is more than doable, the weather looks to be holding out so parks, beaches etc with a picnic.

What's the weather forecast? Its difficult if we don't know where you're going. If its at least dry that's easier, beach, forest walk, Country parks, nature trails.

I would go achange of scenery can be s tonic in itself.

While I'm the type to get away as much as possible, this does sound terribly hard to pull off. Are you sure there are enough free activities to do there, at least one per day? You would have to do a weekly shop and avoid eating out the whole time I'd say.

We had something similar happen to us years ago. We went on the holiday but didn’t pay for days out. Google parks, beaches, free events. Take some games. Have a barbecue, a picnic.

Whereabouts are you going? Posters may be able to suggest free or low cost ideas.

You've paid for it now, that's the biggest expense.

See I think I’d still go because as long as accommodation is booked and paid for already, and petrol can be dealt with, you either have £200 to entertain yourselves for a week here or £200 to entertain yourselves for a week somewhere new. I’d choose somewhere new!

Even if all you do is some walks and park trips, it’s new parks!

Depends on your overall finances really. If the £4k was your holiday fund and you have other long-term savings and you could use a credit card to bump up the £200 a bit, and you'd be able to pay that from next month's wages then I'd still go. If the £4k was all you had spare and there is no leeway on the £200 then reselling sounds like the better option.

Is it somewhere where there's free things to do without travelling? E.G. Beach, museums, walks? Are your children happy without constant entertainment of Go Ape etc?

If there was I'd go, self cater (£80ish on food). Take outdoor games and indoor games/art stuff etc.
The children might need a holiday and enjoy it.

You’re going to have to buy food wherever you are. It won’t be a rest like it would if you were intending to eat out, but it doesn’t have to cost much more than if you were home.

Is it somewhere you will enjoy being? Good views for walks and beaches for picnics? What weather is forecast? Or is it somewhere you were going for activities, and without them, it won’t be enjoyable?

I’d probably go for the change of scene, but it depends whether you think you’ll enjoy it.

Where are you going and how many people / how old are the children?

I’d go, and get the kids involved in planning low cost activities if they’re old enough.

£200 is more than plenty for what essentially will be three days. There is no need to resell it (if it even would at this short notice)

Go and enjoy.

I would definitely go!

Check out the local authority pages for the location to see what free activities they have going on. Mine has loads.

If you tell us where you are off to I am sure we can find stuff to keep you busy for low/no cost.

Go ! Have you any supermarket points like nectar or air miles you could convert for groceries or activities ? National trust often have a free membership offer floating around to use , have picnics take packed lunches and cheap days out at the beach etc

Go to Poundland or similar and stock up on some cheap treats for the kids : rather than pay tourist prices - footballs , colouring in etc and take some board games

If you need to recoup the money then sell, if you’d be happy to cut your losses on it then go.

Take some good with you that you already have? If you already have something batch cooked take it with you.

We used to go in the caravan every weekend. I would cook a meal so it just needed reheating on the Friday evening when we got there, and quite often I would take something frozen for the Saturday.

It can be done very cheaply if you are able to take your own supplies.

Take your own lunches to the park too. Have ice cream back at the cottage too, flakes and wafers to make them eve more of a treat and it would still be cheaper than the ice cream van.

Where are you going and how old are the kids?

Go! Take your mind off the roof!

If you want to eat out, Tastecard currently has an offer for 90 days for £1 - there might be some restaurants there that work within budget for a treat (even if just Burger King!)

You would have similar food costs at home. Eat out less than planned, take flasks of tea, picnic etc. Look up free things to do in the area and maybe plan one paid excursion if funds allow.

I'd go. You have to pay for food whether you stay home or go away. Lots of walks, sightseeing, reading, family games - all free.

I know this isn't the point of the thread, but wouldn't your insurance company pony up for the roof problems?

Bring staples from home eg pasta rice all your vegetables any tinned foods. Make picnics for days out

It would be weather and location dependent for me.

We go to a cottage on SE coast and we could do things very cheaply (beach, coastal walks, local woods, good local parks) if the weather is good. In crappy weather you really need some money to throw at it though.

If there are local amenities and the weather is good, I'd go.

Crap weather and nothing much to do I'd try and cancel and get my money back.