XP is the biggest scumbag

[nutcracker]

He just text me '£1000 if you christian my new bed with me, or any bed anywhere'

I wanted to know if he was joking or if he meant it, so sent back 'Seriously ?'

He has text back 'God I thought you'd go mad at me. I mean it though'

I am so fucking mad, I mean what hell sort of person does he think I am ?

[LIZS]

gilly , nutty is a lone parent to 3 kids and doesn't drive - CA would not be an inexpensive or practical option imho !

Be careful about being overly extravagant . You can't afford to raise your dc's expectations too high or they will expect more each year and be disappointed . Passports for them alone may set you back at least £150. A simpler holiday , maybe to DLP ,or you previously mentioned relatives in France is probably a good place to start if you want ot go abroad. Better to pace yourselves and maybe have some to set aside for a future trip.

btw have you got an EHIC card yet requested for your end of March trip ?

[nutcracker]

Had already got one of those Liz, because I had to get one to get Dd1 one for her trip to France with school.

Thanks for your post gilly but Calafornia will be out of my reach.
Have looked at DLP and tbh I doubt we will go there as it is coming in at nearly £2000 for me the kids and my mum. Thats not alot I know but there is loads of stuff the needs doing in the house, and debts to pay off, plus I want to pay for my driving lessons.
Me being able to drive would benefit the kids hugely so this will be a priority.

So long as the kids get a holiday somewhere then they will be more than happy with that.

[Aimsmum]

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[ladytophamhatt]

That is a bloody lot nutty!!

We looked for all of us, it was less then that but we still thought it was too much.

[LIZS]

DLP can cost thought especially over holdiay periods. We drove and think the hotel alone still cost us over £500, and dd was under 3 at the time. Not so easy to do it cheaper without access to a car or staying on site plus you've got to travel from the Midlands. You codul look into one of the coach trips that headline cost much less, travel would t ake a whiel though.

Had overlooked dd1 already being accounted for but you need separate EHICs for everyone and they can take longer than 2 weeks.

[Aimsmum]

Message withdrawn

[singledadofthree]

hey nutty - just knew it'd get better, didnt reckon on it happening that quick!!
glanced at your to do list a few posts up - sounds good to me, so well done, but dont follow advice and run me down in your van/car

oh, and youve made my day - once i got over the initial shock of the proposition that is - every cloud and all that

[gillybean2]

I don't think Disney CA is 'out of her league'. She is getting this pension windfall from her ex, and the children will understand about it being a once in a lifetime things not to be repeated.

In our case I felt that 12 days in CA compared to 5 days Paris was much better value. With more children of course the economies of scale kick into play, and in both cases there are savings and expenses with more people.

In USA you pay per hotel room, in France like the UK you pay per guest, so a saving right there. And she wouldn't have to drive. I've been to CA three times with my son, and once on my own before he was born, this last occassion is the only time I hired a car, and as I said I wouldn't bother again.

For the two of us the whole 12 day holiday was at most £2,000 including flights, insurance, hotel, car hire, park tickets (6 days in Disney/California Adventure, 1 at Knotts Berry Farm and 1 Universal) and all our other expenses, food etc. I splashed out of clothes and shoes for my son as they were so much cheaper there too, that is all included in the £2,000. With three children you are adding another £450 for flights (I stress you must get the rock bottom prices in the sale), assume car hire will be replaced by bus/taxi, and then another £500 is more than adequate for park tickets and food. Hotel will cost the same for 4 as for 2, get one that includes breakfast and is close to the Disney park so no travel costs and you're away. SO I reckon that it would cost under £3,000 for 1 adult and 3 children for a 12 day holiday to California including everything.

What i'm saying is, if you're looking to splash £2,000 on 5 days at DLP then seriously look at a couple of weeks in California for not a lot more.

Balance up the costs, if you can't afford it then don't do it at all, the kids will have just as much fun at Butlins/Pontins, but will it be that lifetime memory? I'm saving up now to take my son to Disney CA again. It will be 4 or 5 years from now before I can consider it, but i can't wait!

[Judy1234]

I suspect it can be wiser as a single parrent to salt lump sums like this away and take the children and a tent away for a fun weekend somewhere.

[Disenchanted]

Tell him wou WILL!

Say have the cash waiting.

Go, kiss him, tie him to the bed naked, put peanut butter on his cock and bring a dog in...take photos.

Send the photos to work collegues.

take the money

[nutcracker]

We won't be doing Disney, in either country.

I have never had a house that was anywhere near finnished. There has always been, a room without carpet, somebody with a bed that was in dire need of replacement or something, and so the majority of the money will go on debts and the house (or possibly another house).

I will take the kids away and it will be somewhere they will enjoy, but my kids are used to not having a holiday at all, so I am confident that a holiday anywhere that they can have fun and that we can spend time together will be loved by them.

I will also be having driving lessons and putting some of the money towards a car. That will benefit the whole of the family more than anything else.

[Mercy]

I missed this latest development - well done!

I think your idea is a good one actually.

[LIZS]

Very sensible nutty ! Any idea when you might actually see some money ?

[nutcracker]

Hopefully in the next week or so. The company paying out are sending him a cheque which should arrive tommorow.

He is going to see if he can pay to get it cleared quicker than the 8 days they have told him.

[WallOfSilence]

Nutty, can he read your posts on here?

[nutcracker]

No, he doesn't have a phoneline nevermind internet access.

[singledadofthree]

would agree with not bothering about disney. have took my kids to both and wasnt that impressed. last time was while staying in florida - had to give it a go - struck me that everyone seemed desperate to please their kids as if they really cared about all the fakery and hype. was glad to be back with reality, had far more fun in the camper.
is certainly a step in the right direction as far as getting your house in shape goes. you'll beable to choose an exchange with it, and have some left over to spend on a new place of your own.
stick with learning to drive, makes all the difference, can recommend a late 90's 5 door corsa, mines approaching 160000 miles and going strong - way better built than fords or euro trash - and a good low miles model for £800.
anyway - well done again - keep your head - am rooting for you