To use the kids Christmas money to get me through January?

[darkmorning]

In a way I don’t know why I’m asking as I don’t have a choice really, but if the overall consensus is absolutely not I suppose I can use a credit card or something.

PIL gave both children £50 for their savings accounts. I’d have to put the cash in my bank account and transfer to their savings accounts: plan is to do this after I’ve been paid in January. Should I? Or is this just horrible?

I've borrowed from the kids before. Needs must, I think it's fine. I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.

If it's just a cash flow problem then absolutely fine, pay it to the kids after you get paid. If you are generally in financial difficulties you need a real solution but if you have to have the money for January then needs must. But sit down and do a proper budget going forward and talk to someone about how to manage your finances and check if you might be due any help.

Nah don't blame them. You've chosen to give them £50 a month you can't afford.

If it’s your PIL you are going to visit why can’t you just ask DH to put a bit of fuel in to cover the journey?

I agree. The OP has already put 50.in each account this month anyway, and I refuse.to believe that there are this many obtuse people around in real life.

There's a lot of talk about travelling as if the OP is planning a Caribbean trip, when they're visiting family at Christmas...hardly an unreasonable request.

O only thing I would say OP, is that if December hosting etc has caused an issue, it is your husband's issue as well. It isn't something you have caused and therefore need to sort, it is a family problem. So don't feel ashamed of it, or that you have to hide it... enlisting his opinion or help may lighten your load. Unless you think he will kick off, in which case that is a whole other problem.

So your husband invited them and were then forced to buy their food? Are you saying you’re in an abusive relationship?

howver I note you say we can’t afford, so clearly this is your husband can’t afford it either. And no it doesn’t balance out. As your kids can’t eat so much in a day that it offsets 70 quid in fuel.

Some people are so nasty. OP - use the cash, have a nice Christmas period forget it about it until January's pay comes in.

I can bet they're like my kids and get Christmas and birthday money but never spend their own anyway!

Oh, drip drip.

So you earn well, you have a credit card and your kids are small and not allowed the money.

Put it on the credit card, come on.

You say you're not comfortable talking about your husband but is there a reason why he can't pay to fill the car up? It's his parents he wants to see and his children who need to get to nursery. And, presumably, if you didn't invite your Christmas guests, he did, yet you're the one left short as a result.

Not unique to OP, but I doubt many families can afford to save that much routinely each month.

In OP's situation, I would be adjusting the monthly amount of savings for each child from £50 each per month to £25 each per month so that there is money left should a situation like this arise in future.

Why are you saving money for very young children when you have credit card debt? Put a pause on that and don't use your children's gift for family spending.

It doesn't work she has 3 credit cards yet is saving £50 a month for her kids. That's at least £600 a year to pay off a credit card

I have done this before and paid it back in over a couple of months which was manageable. ❤️

Those of you saying "just use the kids' money" and think the rest of us are being picky and negative.
Yes that's fine, but why is she so alone with this problem? Why doesn't her husband know? Why can't she ask him for help? Why is she the one filling up the car to visit his parents when she's so short of money? Why did he invite people over and expect her to have the extra money to feed them?
Why is her husband's position in this something she's reluctant to discuss? I think this temporary borrowing of some money the kids don't need right now is the least of her problems and you're all missing the point.

£1200 if it's 2 kids

He can fill it with fuel.

I think OP has made clear she doesn't want to discuss this though but yes there's is clearly a winder context as with most things in life.

I've read the comments.
My posts might not make sense to you but they absolutely do make sense in general.

I think people are being harsh in their responses and say yes, use it and repay. You’re clearly trying to improve your financial position which is admirable and there is stuff said re hubby but that’s your business.
I would however suggest you think again about the regular saving for preschool aged kids now if is a struggle as that will not be earning more interest than you are paying on debt (credit cards) so makes better sense to use to reduce these now.
The early years with kids and nursery fees are harsh so perhaps put saving for them each month on hold until in a better position to do so and just keep adding birthday and Christmas money gifted to them for now.
xx

If you are this skint all the time but still working, it sounds like you might be eligible for Universal Credit. You'd be surprised. You get extra payments for children and housing costs. Please put your numbers into a benefits calculator like on the websites Turn 2 Us or Entitled To (or contact Citizens Advice).

As for your question, no doubt you should spend money in hand on food and keeping a roof over your head before putting into savings or going into debt.

There is no point in paying into your children's savings accounts for a probably very small amount of interest when you are pay interest at 20% plus on your credit card debt. There is a lot of stuff about wants here - you hosted Xmas and now you're going to spend 70 pounds on a trip to visit family.

I don't mean to sound critical but you're carrying debt on a couple of credit cards. You need to make real sacrifices to get those credit cards paid off - each month interest racks up. I am guessing you have no emergency fund saved which I would find quite frightening. You have either lived above your means in the past or you are now or probably both. Making financial sacrifices to pay off debt is never fun - no eating out, no holidays, no treats.

The pay off is financial security. Sure my children had secondhand toys, clothes and furniture when they were little and holidays away were rare. We drove cheap but reliable cars and we didnt upgrade. I bought work clothes at a consignment place. But my children got a very expensive university education, private tutoring and had trips when they were older and we were financially secure.

I really think you might need some professional help about budgeting and debt repayment.