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.

180 quid a week free cash for 1 adult and 1 child? Yeah you'll be fine. You can't have days out with bought lunches every day but you can take a picnic and feed yourselves easily. Buy a box of ice pops and ice creams instead of buying them out. Use water bottles filled at home. It's plenty.

Because it isn't any fun!

Yes, very fucking easily, as I have less than that for the next 3 weeks for 1 adult, 2 children, 2 dogs and 2 cats. 😅

Are there any cheap/free activities on over half term? Are you working so need childcare/holiday clubs?

Genuinely @CrumblyCookie I don’t see the issue here.

If you literally are only covering food and some petrol for three weeks for one adult and one 6yo – surely it is plenty.

You ask how – OK, let’s say £20 pw on petrol (that’s a small amount – I use a lot and spend about £40-50 pw). Then food – for just two people, one a child, surely doesn’t need to be more than about £80 pw. That’s with cereal and fruit for breakfast, sandwiches and fruit for lunch, pasta, rice, jacket potatoes, chilli, shepherd’s pie, veg and salad for dinner. Make your own meals from scratch, sandwiches with tuna mayo or cheese and pickle or cold chicken and salad, make a big chilli and use it for two days. You have more than £10 a day for the two of you which is plenty.

That would add up to just over £300. Even if you spent £100 pw on food (how? I spend about £120 on food for four adults) and £30 on petrol that would still be less than £400, leaving some ££ for a couple of nice days out if you want.

Yes I could for out 2 adults 2 children (3 and 8) including half term. Is there something you have planned that you don’t think you can do?

To top it up, have you thought about selling things you don't need? ebay or Vinted might be the way for old clothes/toys/unwanted gifts. Or sell at a car boot sale one day this weekend. It will be quite good fun, and you will make some money. You'll be surprised what people will buy in the middle of a warm field in Spring!

Various newspapers are giving away free Family passes fir English heritage sites... might be an idea for a Day Out.

Any parks with splash pads nearby?

Seaside can be cheap once there... so depebds on transport.

Free museums

So actually plenty of options for days our that wont hurt the budget

Yes easy. I do that every week. I spend £60 a week on food for me and ds17. So three weeks would be £180. Then about £60 of diesel makes £240.

Leaving £300 just for galf term fun.😊

Really? She's got plenty of money!

Yep easily and I have two older children. Also I hope the weather is good where you are next week? Loads of free stuff to do when the weather is good. You can do a picnic every day, get other kids round to play etc and your dc will have a great time.

What is your definition of fun?
A 6 year old would love a day out in a local park with a picnic. Maybe invite some other parents with their children too. Cost of petrol only. With £180 a week, OP can probably even stretch to an ice cream.

Not for any fun she hasn't!

I think it’s much easier to keep children entertained when the weather is good as you can just be out at parks/seaside with packed lunches.
DD would mostly be happy with play dates at that age.

I mean there isn't a single definition.

Yes easily. I live alone and my food and petrol budget is £270pm

Well, what is your definition? Since you think OP won't be able to manage it on her £180 a week.

Yes, that's plenty, especially as it looks like it's going to be dry so you can get out and about on a low budget. What things have you got to do in your area - play parks, beach, forests? Take a picnic and have lovely days out.

Of course you can have fun without spending a lot of money.

Loads of ideas here:

Things to do with the kids | MoneySavingExpert

Things To Do & Family Days Out In The UK | Day Out With The Kids

Also look in local libraries/council website
The weather looks good for the next week or two at least, so make the most of this with picnics, beach, parks etc.

Look for any deals for local attractions where you can often buy one ticket and return as often as you like for the rest of the year - will be invaluable in other school holidays.

Sometimes you can go places on the train for very little, even if the destination isn't particularly exciting, it will be an adventure for a 6 YO.

Expensive days out aren't even necessarily more fun. Imagine the horror that somewhere like Legoland is going to be over half term and even more so if you decide to buy food at the cafe. You're essentially going to be spending the day spending a lot of money to queue.

I mean it's not a lot, a car can cost £100to fill up these days.

There is a big chunk there.

Of course she has
small amount of petrol say £40
food at £80pw - £240
so £280 leaving £260 for fun stuff

This has to be rage bait! It’s loads for three weeks and one child.

£40 petrol for two weeks, yeah if she is driving from her driveway to the end of the road!

I think you'll have to be mindful of your spending, but I don't think it would be especially difficult to keep yourselves comfortable and amused with that budget.

The OP has said she needs 'a small amount of petrol', so she's not going to be putting £100 in the car. Wherever she is, she can drive to the coast and back for about £30 or less.