Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

My sons 3rd birthday

77 replies

Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 15:31

Hiya
i dont know what to do, it’s my sons 3rd birthday tommorrow I can’t afford anything for it he’s only asked for a Spider-Man birthday cake but I have 42p in my account not even enough to buy the ingredients let alone buy one.

bit of back story his dad left me 2 weeks ago out of the blue. I had to give up my job as I then didn’t have childcare to continue as I have no family around me. I’m paying a bailiff of weekly every Friday and I can’t afford to pay them either tommorrow as I was already living pay check to pay check

I just don’t know anymore I feel like such a failure

OP posts:
Mosharella · 19/09/2024 15:43

This sounds really tough op, do you have any supportive friends locally?

Prisonpillow · 19/09/2024 15:48

I’m so sorry OP. Three year olds are very changeable though, can you try to make his birthday special with lots of fun and attention instead?

We do things like put a birthday candle and sprinkles on DCs porridge in the morning. Have you got anything like that to jazz up daily routines? Cutting sandwiches into shapes.

maybe dancing and have a kitchen party with homemade decorations.

When we go away on holiday we play shop or picnic but draw and colour in the food to save space. Could you maybe try something like that?

Statsworry1 · 19/09/2024 15:50

Do you have anyone close you could borrow some money from?

EverybodyWantsTo · 19/09/2024 15:52

Can you just postpone it a few days? 2 year olds don't have a great grasp of time.

poppyzbrite4 · 19/09/2024 15:55

Can you contact the National Debtline regarding your debts? They might be able to help.

Try Turn2us regarding extra money, they can check if you're entitled to anything.

Visit a foodbank if you've got nothing in.

There are organisations that make free cakes for children such as this:
https://www.freecakesforkids.org.uk/

There are quite a few organisations online if you do a search and you might get one for the weekend if you're lucky.

Baking a difference | Free Cakes for Kids UK

Free Cakes for Kids is a movement of local volunteers and community groups, who share a simple belief: every child deserves a birthday cake.

https://www.freecakesforkids.org.uk

Tryingtohelp12 · 19/09/2024 15:55

Don’t add to to your current debts with further debts for a birthday your child will barely remember in a few weeks.

Blahblah34 · 19/09/2024 16:07

Just don’t tell him it’s his birthday and do it later

Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 17:52

No I was moved by the council 80 miles away from my family and friends last yea

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 17:54

No I don’t really know many people where I live as the council moved me 80 miles away from my family and friends last year due to domestic violence and I’ve never really made friends

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 17:54

He knows it’s his birthday tommorrow already he has a good understanding and his nursery sang him happy birthday today for tommorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 17:56

I cannot afford candles or anything jazzy

yes i can will deffo try to have some fun with him

OP posts:
GalaticalFarce · 19/09/2024 17:58

Ask a family member or a friend if you can borrow £10. They can transfer it to your account.

KittenOnTheTable · 19/09/2024 18:00

Have you got a printer? Or know someone with one? Print and cut out some spidermans to decorate?

MeMyCatsAndI · 19/09/2024 18:12

What do you have in the cupboards? Can use other ingredients to make a cake.

GalaticalFarce · 19/09/2024 18:20

What about his dad?
If he left only two weeks ago out of the blue then it sounds like it was a total surprise. Was he good dad? Will he be willing to help celebrate his sons birthday?

But if he's the reason why the council moved you 80 miles away and was a violent abuser then that's obviously someone you need to stay away from and he sounds pretty nasty.

Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 18:54

He’s can be nasty yes he did not work, i wasn’t moved because of him thou, he has sent me £5 for my sons birthday and I got him some nappies, I am better of without him but financially it’s crippling me. I can go with out which is fine just feel bad for my son…

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 18:55

I have tried that thank you but unfortunately they are skint atm

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 18:55

I don’t have ingredients for a cake plus I don’t have an oven I have an air fryer not sure I can make a cake in there

OP posts:
Halfscottish · 19/09/2024 18:56

Can you post on freecycle and see if anyone has a cake in the cupboard?

Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 18:59

I have posted not been accepted by admin yet

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 19:04

Also he will be 3 not 2

OP posts:
GrazingSheep · 19/09/2024 19:09

Are you in a refuge or housing association property?

Original poster
Lou9620 · 19/09/2024 19:11

I’m not

OP posts:
Chesta · 19/09/2024 19:17

I'm very sorry to read about this. Can I ask OP what you would like from this thread. You have very quickly established that there is no idea/advice that will help with the context you have set up or 42 p, no oven, no ingredients.

Since advice or tips are out of the mix - what else can people contribute, that you are expecting from this thread?