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Days out and pop concerts!!

3 replies

peppajay · 07/06/2014 09:47

Feeling a bit deflated this morning as my dd's behaviour isn't the best at the moment - what set it off this morning was that quite a few of her friends are going to the one direction concert this evening and 2 of the girls from her younger brothers class went yesterday. Another of her friends has been to see 2 west end shows within a matter of months and someone else we know has just got back from an all inclusive holiday to turkey and I agree these friends seem to have so much more fun than her and I do feel so guilty that I can't give her the life they have. I do loads with my Children but stuff like walks and visits to parks. We did look at going to London to see Matilda but I think the price they charge for a ticket is criminal and add in the cost of travelling and a meal and food when we are there it costs more than a weeks holiday at my sister in laws holiday flat. However we have no loans or credit card and live within our means and I know most of these people who earn similar to us or less have credit cards and loans so they can give their kids the best! Lots of her classmates go to the cinema every week and a meal afterwards but we honestly cannot afford it. She is really being affected by my weekend on a Monday because it is always concerts and theme parks and cinema. Yes she has been to the cinema but only for a film she really wants to see and we go to the panto at Xmas. We are going to legoland in a few weeks but we have saved as costs almost £100 even with discounts some of her friends have been 6 or 7 times!! I just feel that she is missing out but we do try to do lots with them just free or cheap things if we got a credit card or loan we cod do so much more!! She is just so down this morning coz she says we never do anything exciting and I have said that we can start saving for 1D next time round!! I mentioned to one of my good friends who went last night and are going tonight as well who always does everything to excess and she says she doesn't like at the price just puts on the card and pays off minimum each month but I couldn't live like that and now feel guilty. We usually go butlins once a year but now because of the no term time rule we can't afford it this year so are going to my sister in laws holiday flat in Devon. I have said she can choose what to do this afternoon and she says it had be something exciting so she feels ok at school on Monday. She is deciding between swimming and ice skating!! I see something like a pop concert or a theme park visit as a treat not a weekly occurrence! I have even been looking at evening jobs on the web this morning as I feel so guilty!! :0(

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NotEnoughTime · 07/06/2014 10:47

You poor thing. It's horrible isn't it?

Thing is you are def doing the right thing by not putting treats on a credit card (different if it was essentials ie food) IMO that would be crazy.

By the way, how old is your daughter?

The only thing you could think about doing (which could work out quite cheaply in the long run) is buying a Merlin pass for you both. Obviously the initial outlay is £££ but if you managed to use it a lot (esp over the summer holidays) that would be lots of different outings for you both.

I agree that the cost of days out are very expensive. I tend to buy my DC a small present when it is their birthday and Christmas (ie £10 max-just so they have something to unwrap on the day) and a ticket to a theme park/theatre/concert so they have something to look forward to.

MozzchopsThirty · 07/06/2014 11:36

I'll probably be in the minority but I disagree with you.

I have a cc which I often use to put days out or tickets on.
My thinking is that they are mine and little for such a short time, I love doing concerts or shows or holidays with them, they are memories we will always remember.

When they get to leave home do you want them to think wow I didn't get to many concerts or films but my parents don't have a credit card bill? Don't get me wrong, I say no on many occasions but family stuff together is fun and quality

Btw am not rolling in money, I'm a single parent but I work and save so we can do holidays and other stuff.
I'm not in any great debt.

Sorry I appreciate my view may not be shared by most

peppajay · 07/06/2014 17:06

My daughter is 7 and really wants to be like everyone else she loves having the same shoes as all her friends and even gets excited having the same yogurts in her lunch box! I think alot of it is wanting to be like everyone else!! We have just back from swimming and she enjoyed it . In my opinion we do a lot with them just free or cheap things because we cannot afford to do the big expensive things but they are still being taken out! Going to look for a second job though so I can at least afford to give her one big treat!!

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