A third of parents predict debt due to school holidays...

[MrsPlugThePlumber]

...Um... WHY?

We're on a budget, so accordingly won't be doing expensive activities.

Link from NM - it appeared on my weekly email from them.

I imagine that paying for childcare will be a lot of it for many people.
Ours is costing a bomb over the hols.

They also talk about increased food costs - a lot of children get free school meals.

All of this is in the article that you have liked to.

Or are you imagining that parents are pawning their jewellery in order to take their kids to alton towers

Unfortunately some people don't get budgeting.

Then they are people like me that may put some stuff on credit card towards end of holidays to be payed of in September with that months money. As September when they are back is a quiet month.

It's still debt but will be payed off fairy quickly and the money will definitely be there.

Sorry - my OP sounded a bit scathing - am obviously in a grumpy mood this morning.

Food - yes, I get that for those on free meals.

I'm really surprised that childcare would tip people into the red, surely people work because it makes financial sense over the year.

Again, sorry for the phrasing of my OP - I'm much too grouchy.

"Parents expecting to finish the kids? summer break up to £500 in debt due to increased food and entertainment spend."

Sardine it's this bit that has me going .

Yes, I find the article surprising too.
Other than for those on FSM, where I can totally see the holiday must be very expensive, surely the cost of food is broadly the same?
Childcare is a big expensive, but everyone I know budgets for the summer holiday across the year, it's hardly like it come as a big surprise.
Again, most families I know will be doing mostly free or inexpensive activities. Certainly no very expensive days out!

mrsplug that is the headline if you read the piece the cost of childcare etc is included in that amount.

Well, if the weather is crappy all summer then entertainment costs will be more expensive.

The cost of childcare is rocketing near us and would be approx £235 for a weeks full time.

With a combination of annual leave and grandparents helping with childcare we'll be OK for childcare and the associated costs - but there are plenty of people that won't be.

yes jareth
also childcare (and food, entertainment etc) costs are going up and up and wages are not increasing or are reducing in real terms, child tax credits have gone for a lot of people are so on.
It is very very hard for a lot of people at the moment.

Well I work from home and get most of my work done while DS is at school, so the school holidays means a big dent in my earnings and I will be overdrawn for the next couple of months.

We don't do expensive activities either but I don't want to be stuck in the house all the time and even the cheap things can add up over six weeks (especially when you're starting off skint).

In an ideal world I'd have put money aside for the holidays, but it's been an expensive year so far and that hasn't been possible.

We both work so DS has to attend OOSC, I have taken one day pw annual leave but we are still paying £700.00 in fees. Have rung tax credits to see if we can get any help?