To ask if you could make this amount of money last 3 weeks and how?

[CrumblyCookie]

Around £540.
After all bills paid.. this has to last next week (half term) and then another just under 2 weeks after that. Also to include food for 1 child + 1 adult. And a small amount of petrol.

Yes absolutely? Seems plenty me unless you have lots of planned activities you need to pay for. Do a full sweep of your fridge/freezer/cupboards and see what meals you can make from there.

Put aside the petrol amount.

Split amount by 3, maybe add a but extra to the half term week.

How old is the child? Will they be happy just being out and about over half term? Parks / homemade picnics / walks / woods / local free tourist attractions. Or will you need to do 'something'?

Pasta bakes, jacket potatoes, salads for food over the next few weeks.

Yes very easily unless you’re planning theme park trips every day of the school holidays.

What do you think you will need to spend it on that it won’t cover?

Allow £60 for petrol, leaving you with £480. Over 3 weeks that’s £160 to spend each week. £80 should cover food for one adult and one child. That’s £80 left for other things.

How old is the child? Do either of you have dietary issues like allergies? Can you get to big or cheap supermarkets?

The menu might be a bit samey but many on here could probably help you meal plan?

Even with £100 on petrol that’s £20 a day to spend?

I think £180 a week is definitely manageable for food for a week where you’re feeding full time then another week and a bit where lunch will be at school for the child. I reckon if you’re careful you’ll be able to get out and about during half term as well as a bit of petrol.

For one child and one adult? Yes, very easily.

So three weeks all in all? Half term week then two more.

You will probably want to spend more next week as it’s half term so maybe budget more next week to cover activities and then less for the remainder.

But do you have any coverage for any unexpected expenses that might crop up in that time? As I doubt that food and petrol are all that will have to be paid for in that time.

Will they be happy?
Haven't got much choice of parents if haven't got the money have they?
Why do people need to keep going to places that cost money,?

God yes, easily! I was expecting you to say £100 or something

For 1 child and 1 adult? Easily! Even if the child is a hollow legged 15 year old boy!

Though it depends what your expectations are, what your child needs. Are they old enough to just hang out with friends at the park, or shopping centre for the day or something or are they younger and need constant supervision and entertainment?

Even if they need lots of entertainment there's lots of free and cheap stuff you can do, doesn't all have to be theme parks and zoos. And even if they are a hollow legged teenager there's lots of cheap and filling recipes out there.

No I couldn't ignore those who say its loads.

I hope you do okay, and all the best.

Why do you think it will be difficult? Do you normally spend much more?
For 3 weeks you can hold off making any large one-off purchases. £180 a week is plenty for food, petrol and miscellaneous day to day spending.

Of course

That's nearly £200 a week which is plenty of money!

What do you need apart from food and petrol and how much is a small amount of petrol?

I thought you were going to say £50 or something. I mean that is clearly plenty for 1 adult and 1 child unless you have massive costs to pay out of it which you have not mentioned.

Yes, as others have said put aside the petrol money, and draw up a meal plan, including using up the basic cupboard ingredients and contents of the freezer if you’re worried about feeling pinched.

In terms of half term activities: children are often enriched by different things than adults think they are or should be, and you really don’t need to feel pressure to be spending vast amounts of money on big activities to give your DC a great half term. I’m sure it used to infuriate my mum that she’d budget so that every school holiday we could have at least one or two “big” trips - to the zoo, or a safari park, or suchlike - per week; and then when we got back to school afterwards and did our “what I did in the holidays” write up, it would invariably say “I went to the park and me and my friend Lizzie made a secret den in the hedge” and “we had ice cream at gran and grandad’s house in their back garden and grandad got stuck in his deckchair and we all laughed.”

My child is 6. No other costs

Sorry I am going to rephrase my answer.

Yes you can make it last, but it wont be a lot of fun.

Sympathies OP.

Make a budget. Food shop, petrol, anything else you know you will need. Set £50 aside just in case. Then you can plan fun things for half term with the rest. It’s going to be nice weather, so lots of outdoor play in the park or garden. Make your own ice lollies. Whatever. You’ll be fine.

Say £40 for 'a small amount of petrol'

Split the rest 50/50 for groceries and that's being generous and £250 for days out and activities.

What am I missing? You've forgotten to mention that you're competing in a half term challenge to visit Alton Towers, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventure and the Eden Project and you have to stay at Center Parcs each night and none of this is yet paid for?

With no other bills? Just petrol and food?

Yes, not a problem and I'm an adult and 2 teens (I do have a plugin hybrid though). 60 quid for petrol would cover me for the month (and I drive 120km/day in term time). Leaving 480 for food - I spend between 120 and 200/week on food, so I just keep it on the lighter end and we can still go out to the cinema/do some bits/eat out at half term.

So food spend ? If nothing else then yes. For food for one child and one adult.
£180 each week. Gosh yes.

Children don’t need entertaining all the time. And not with things that cost money either.

6 year olds are very happy with low key activities over half term. So you can aim to spend virtually nothing (maybe a bit of petrol and parking) on entertainment.

It’s plenty. Why do you think it might not be?