To use DCs Xmas money for a family holiday?

[Ooooophhh]

Last year we stayed in a fantastic holiday cottage in our favourite place to hide away which had to be unfortunately cut short.
We have booked our 2 week summer holiday this year so it is not that we aren't going on holiday this year.
However, I have been snooping online and discovered a brilliant deal on the cottage for 1 week over half term. It will cost us in the region of £300 for 1 week in the 5* accommodation-money we don't have at the moment . But, DCs who are toddlers, received money for Christmas totalling this amount. They don't need anything so we were planning on paying the cash into their bank accounts, but I'm now wondering whether to use the money for a family get away instead.
Am I being selfish and indulgent to use their money for this? I just want a change of scenery and nothing to do for a week!

A child would sacrifice some of the "niceness" of 5* accommodation for activities and treats. So instead of spending £300 on accommodation, they'd be perfectly happy with £200 accomodation and £100 on other stuff they don't normally get to do (say going to an aquarium)
The parents can't afford the £300 for accommodation so I'm assuming that the activities are based on free stuff like nature.

I think Beach11's suggestion is the best compromise.

doritosdip I think the OP said the money for half term activities was already saved so could be spent at home or on the holiday.

But that’s why it doesn’t add up - if the OP has the means to save 200 for the children each month then it seems very odd that she needs to use the kids Christmas money to fund a holiday.

Just wondering if there is more to thIs.

Re children not caring about log fires, I'm old and I can remember visiting an elderly relative who had a log fire, we didn't. I can still remember the fun of making toast, cinder toffee and toasting marshmallows. I bet there are loads of things I can't remember but I can't remember what they are! I do remember that log fire though.

With one year olds you'd spend a lot of time keeping them away from the fire or is it just my kids who are daredevils at that age?

Unless OP is a teacher, I wonder if she'd get a better deal term time?

I raised a similar point @ArabellaDoreenFig. The OP is claiming she can't afford it, but her posts say otherwise.

@ArabellaDoreenFig it is simple budgeting. It's not that difficult to comprehend.

There is nothing in the budget for the extra holiday as we have budgeted already for
Bills and mortgage
Savings for summer holiday
Savings for day trips over half terms and easter
Savings for Christmas presents
Emergency money for broken white goods and cars
Children's future
Children's clothes and shoes

DH and I have a little money each after all of this for hair/clothes/ date night etc.

The reason there is no £300 is BECAUSE we prioritise our DCs ultimately at every opportunity!

Surely you budget? Jesus wept.

That's actually quite laughable. You absolutely could afford it yourself.

"There is nothing in the budget for the extra holiday."

Then you don't go.

OP have a great holiday, I'm sure the people who gave the money will be happy to know the kids have had a lovely time.

With one year olds you'd spend a lot of time keeping them away from the fire or is it just my kids who are daredevils at that age? We used to use fireguards, don't people have them now? I can't remember when I last saw one.

With respect, what the fuck is a toddler going to spend 300 pound on theirselves? Seeing as you could get an experience for them with the money, i would do it.

If I'd given your kids money for Xmas, I'd be happy for it to be used for day trips over half term and Easter.

Clearly you aren’t very good at simple budgeting though are you?

The reason there is no £300 is BECAUSE we prioritise our DCs ultimately at every opportunity

I'm sorry, I thought you said it was money given to them as Xmas gifts. I don't understand how you prioritising your kids enabled others to give them money, which you're now entitled to?

I think you should go on the holiday! You are saving for their future, and a family break in my view is a very good use of Christmas money. They are unlikely to need more clothes/shoes/crayons/plastic etc. When they are older they may well prefer a trip to a theme park (as others have said is a better use of the money) but at toddler age they will very much enjoy the countryside and to me there is little difference. They are doing what they enjoy, in beautiful scenery which is different to the norm. Book it and enjoy. I'd welcome parents using money I gift to their children to go on holiday! But then I love holidays :P

I'd sack off my own haircuts, clothes and date night before I used my kids Christmas money for a holiday.
You said the children don't need anything so you could take their clothes and shoes money out of the budget, you say they have more than enough money from Grandparents so stop their savings for a couple of months and there's your £300 and more.

Some very odd responses!

I would go in a heartbeat!

Can you PM the cottage, sounds fab!

Notso what is the difference is stopping their savings and using the present money? If the OP stops saving £300 for them there is still £300 less in their savings. It is just playing with words.

Troll hunting is against talk guidelines. And disagreeing with you isn't trolling.

@small2018 I will once I have booked it- don't want us clashing and booking the same week!

It was an xmas present.
People get holidays as Xmas presents. I’d say spend it on the holiday.
We get money for the kids occasionally as presents. It is spent on nice things for them. We do the boring job of saving for their future.