Feeling really sad and guilty because i can't afford to let DS1 go on a school trip.

[GruesomeShellChillingTortoise]

DS1 13 brought home a letter tonight about a trip to France.
It is £150 but money needed by 1st Nov and 1st come 1st served basis. I just don't have that much money to spare plus he would need a passport which is another £49.
Trip in on the 27th Nov. Why can't they give more notice for something like this? I could have managed it if they gave out the letter in Sept!

DS1 said it's OK and he doesn't mind not going but i know he is upset he can't go. I am upset that i can't pay for him to go and feel guilty that i am letting him down and he will miss out. [hsad]

Does the school offer the opportunity to pay in installments?

I don't think so as money has to be in by the 1st Nov.

I would feel guilty too but if you really can't afford it, then he can't go.

The only thing I can suggest is that you put some money aside every week in savings for him so that if this happens in future you can do it for him. (I assume this would be possible giving that you could afford it if you had had more notice)

Or, (devious wellies are coming out) you could call the school, explain you feel that your son is at a disadvantage, that you can pay say half this month and the rest next month. If you don't try... Or send a cheque and accidentally put a month ahead on the date.

Saying that, you will be hard pushed to get a passport organised in that amount of time.

Your ds sounds like a lovely young man.

I would have put aside the £25 a week maintenance i get for DS1 and DS2. Good idea to start doing it for future events.
School expects it to be a popular trip so sapce is limited. I expect they would rather get the money from those who can pay rather than wait for my payment. [hsad]
DS1 is lovely [hsmile]. Hopefully another trip will come up in the future.

Talk to the school about it.

I would ask the school, most of them are very reasonable and understand that not all families can rustle up £150 just like that. You can call them if you don't want to ask in person. I am always owing the school money for something or other, i have a great relationship with the ladies in the office now!

Could you ask for maintenance up front for the next month? Maybe ask for it as a Christmas present or something?

I have asked XP if he will go halves but he has no money at the moment because he had to pay out a lot to have his car fixed!

Will think about phoning school. I am not good at asking for help or making phone calls though.

I think this is really unfair of the school TBH. That's no time at all to find the money, especially in the current climate and at this time of year. Plus anyone without a passport is going to struggle to get one sorted in less than 6 weeks.

Think you could still get a passport. The one week service or fast track doesn't apply for first time adults but first time children can apply and get it back (assuming you are both British). It's a quieter time of year as well.

Can you apply for a passport and pay a deposit in case someone drops out?

It's not asking for help it's stopping the school taking the mickey out of poorer parents.

Such a shame,feel for you both.

I don't like asking either but now i do (desperation) its been positive and discreet on the school part.
Theres no shame in being poorer, and our children should have the same opportunities...
good luck and hopefully bon voyage!

Check and send at the post office costs slightly more but both mine and my sons passport were back in a week. Photo booths now size and measure for passport photos.

Believe me, you won't be the only one in that position, lone parent or not, and especially this close to Christmas, passport, cost of trip, new clothes, spending money!
I think you will be in the majority tbh, so don't feel bad.

Ds will also have a french trip this year and tbh I'm surprised we haven't had any letters or installment plan offered to us yet. So maybe they're going to spring it on us too

Definitely speak to the school. And don't feel bad about it because it's your ds that is missing out here, so it's not you that you should be worrying about. Remind yourself of that when you speak to them and it makes it a tiny bit easier (but do know how you feel, isn't nice at all :( )

Most schools will offer some kind of scheme for 'disadvantaged' children, and should be able to offer subsidisation for children whose familys can't pay the full amount.
So if you can pay, just not yet, then definitely speak to them and ask what they can offer your ds. I would also mention that perhaps they could consider an installment scheme in future to enable children form less affluent families to take part.

And yes, definitely put the maintenance money aside for things like this if you can. That's exactly what I do now.

There is a option of a 'group' passport and school may well have one of these not sure how it works but a teacher at ds school mentioned it.

Ask and perhaps they will allow you to pay a little later.....its not just poorer parents that dont have 'ready' cash.

I'm with Sagger on this one. It's really unfair of the school to give you such short notice. I'd point that out to them when you phone them.

I'm not a lone parent. Both Dh and I work, but I would not be able to find that amount of money at such short notice. Especially with x-mas coming up.

Unless you live in really affluent area then I think a lot of people are going to be in your boat.

There was a letter about 2 weeks ago but no mention of cost etc. I phoned up then and asked about group passport but they don't do one.
I don't think i will have £50+ for the passport until next week. Think might be too risky to hope it arrives in time.

There is a German trip sometime next year apparently so i may sort the passport soon and save to be able to send him on that instead. He is fine with it luckily![hsmile]

sounds like he wont be the only one not going if limited numbers?

No, he won't be the only one not going [hsmile]. If only it was for limited place reasons and not money for him.