Home ed is a little pricey!

[Thinking2014]

So I've realised the reason we haven't joined in on about 80% of the home ed events...its pricey! I'll list of a few examples:
Travel (I don't have a car) = traveling on public transport with 3 kids (3 yo twins & 8yo)
Now a bus or two is manageable but trains into London is a stressful journey for me to make on my own with them.... Putting that aside though....
Kew gardens (weekly home ed meet up) = £18 adult ticket + travel costs
Party man's world events = £5 per child (that's £15 for a couple hours for my kids to play...)
Log cabin is £5 but I have to catch 2 buses there and back
Other workshops usually cost over £5 per child too...

How do you all do it? I was planning a trip to Legoland this month but it would cost around £80 more or less (yes thats with the home ed discount) but I can't do it now...money just keeps slipping away from me whether it goes on clothes for the kids or bills....i just don't know...I've even decided Xmas is going to be seriously trimmed because A) the kids don't need more toys! But mostly B) lack of funds I'm just going to get them one toy each (from Santa) and the rest will be family fame boards & educational type things.

I did go to a park meet up but hardly anyone turned up & usually its not very convienant for me to get to most of them.

I only worry because my 8 yo daughter has expressed a wish to meet friends her age. Since leaving school she's only met up with one but because they're still in school its a little tricky arranging stuff! :-P

Sorry for the long winded moan! Just thought that maybe I'm missing something?

Sorry for all the typo's in above post! I'm in a rush!

We don't do other meet ups with H.ed groups as ours only has a few dc.
We socialise with people from all walks of life and dd attends lots of groups and clubs, sometimes meeting H.ed dc but mostly schooled.
You don't have to do lots of meet ups, but it is important to socialise.
Brownies isn't expensive, dance classes in community halls aren't either.
Music groups are cheap as well and can be accessed from your LEA if you are H.ed or attend school, as long as you live in the authority you wish to join groups. This is the same for sport clubs too.
Then there are Brownies and later cadets open to boys and girls.
Red Cross, or St John Ambulance have children's groups as do many other organisations.
Museums and Art galleries often run activity days or competitions, these are usually free.
look at your local leisure services and find what they offer, you will find details on their website. If you have a library they can be good for info too.
As for learning resources if you have a printer and can afford the ink you can print off much of what you need free.
It really can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.