Summer holidays - kids upset

[summersbysea]

I'm taking the kids for most of the summer as the ex is away on his hols and other stuff he's got on.
Just managing the food costs is impossible let alone anything else nowadays. Bills coming out my ears and uniforms they need as the school has changed its bleedin design again !
Kids being kids are saying they want to go to the beach, Alton towers that's impossible! We have a gym that does activities in the hols but they want more ?
Any advice like where to go on hols ?

If you have a friends and family Railcard it pays for itself quite quickly. £30 for a year, 30% of adult fare and 60% off kids. Up to 4 adults and 4 kids can travel on one card.

Could you book in advance and get cheap coach tickets to the Beach? I remember getting tickets for a few £s if I booked at the right time. Then take a picnic.

If you do go somewhere you need to be stricter with them about what you will/won't buy. They should be old enough to understand that you don't have endless cash. We always take picnics in days out so DD doesn't have expectations of buying lunch but she might use some birthday/Christmas money to buy a souvenir

Martin Lewis is on new round on Tuesday talking about the cost of living crisis, watch it with them and talk about it.

Their dad needs to give more ££ if you’re having them for the entire summer break

I just get them from 'the trainline'. The trick is to book in advance. And it's only and hour and a half from East Midlands parkway so doable as a day trip. We spend hardly anything when we are there.

You need to just say no to the food requests.

I’m also suggesting Tesco club card vouchers, they were great to use when struggling. Does Alton Towers still do a free ticket via certain cereals and sweets, it use to be a thing?

Set up a six week diary

Add in all the free stuff - have you been to the Coventry motor museum? Free and huge! The museum in Birmingham is free
Library trips - look at the summer reading scheme - add those in,
Swimming Add that in along with park trips
throw in some time with friends - have them round for a few garden parties cheap and fun! Put their games outside.

Look at Tesco vouchers X3 face value for park tickets we went for £25 of Tesco vouchers - bargain

Are you anywhere near any of the Commonwealth Games venues? There will be a lot of free stuff going on connected to that.

There are usually free fan zones with loads of DC activities etc

Summer can get so expensive with kids.
So you need to ask your ex for more money.

I always look out for new parks and free museums. Also if you shop at Tesco you can use your points to convert to theme park vouchers. Also buy one get on free vouchers on cereal boxes

Do you have any beach alternatives closer for you like shallow river or lakes etc? agree with a pp that you need to be a bit stricter with the extras. They may well want fish and chips on the way home but that doesn't mean they get it. Make it clear before leaving that that won't be happening. You can pop to shops and get a multipack of ice creams for less that you'd pay for one from a van or even for individual ones in shops (soleros come in packs of 3, handy to know as a single parent of 2).

Tbh I don't think one theme park trip and one beach trip is a nice ask throughout the holidays though and with planning can be done cheaply. Look now for trains further in to the holidays and check individual days as prices can vary a lot. Check cereal boxes, snack boxes etc for theme park tickets. Also sites like groupon, Wowcher etc can have great deals ( check the small print that it can be used in peak/holiday times). Be clear that they will be having placed lunch and will need to carry own backpack etc

But kids being kids they always ask for stuff like a stop at the chippy on the way back, all adds up.

Tell them straight, the deal is that if you go out for the day it's packed lunch (inc some extra snacks you take) and then (oven?) chips when you get home.

How old are they?

I live in Nottingham and have not managed tickets that cheap for years. The coach is very cheap though.

What about Water world or what ever it's called In Stoke. That's quite good.

I live on the south coast so much nearer London than you. Cheapest I have ever been able to get a return to London (booked 5 months in advance) for 1 adult and 1 child is £65 so it's not always a cheap as you say! It was actually cheaper to drive and park on that occasion (that cost me £45 all in).

I don't think there is anything wrong with telling children that something just isn't affordable.

I have got to say that when I was a child - and it was a very long time ago - parents felt no compunction to amuse us and were deeply unsympathetic if we complained we were bored. We visted friends and read books and might go to a local swimming pool once a week and got a one scoop icecream.

This is a lie. Nothing is truly free and taking kids to London is expensive. I mean honestly, who would think the capital is going to be cheap to eat, drink and enjoy yourself in?

I just looked at my last booking at it was eleven weeks in advance if that's any help.

Tesco clubcard vouchers will buy your Family and Friends Railcard for £10 instead of the usual £30. That will give you 1/3rd off all train fares after 9.00am weekdays and anytime at weekends.
Have a look at split ticketing sites for train tickets as well as the ordinary sites for cheap advanced tickets. DS uses it to get cheaper fares.

So pay for parking, petrol, ice creams, underground, no doubt some cheap plastic toy as they are everywhere. All adds up.

Much nicer places locally, just got to look.

Lol 😂 this must have been a real long time ago. With kids now wanting the latest gadgets, phones and things their mates have

Doesn't mean they have to have them! Under 10s are old enough to understand that not everyone has the same amount of money.

I was going to suggest friends and family railcard too. It makes such a difference.

How old are your children? If you can get the train to London cheaply the museums are free, walking around looking at the sights is free and children under 12 are free on the tube. Take a picnic to Hyde Park. Go back on a late train using a pizza express voucher to eat at Euston.

I am taking my two in August for £40 return on west coast mainline.

Kelloggs have the 'adults go free' voucher at the moment. Could you do Alton Towers with a friend to split the petrol and parking?

Not sure if those ideas are too much for a 'big day out'. Failing that I'd concentrate on train trips to cities with free museums. Are you on a train line to Shrewsbury? Amazing park, Aqua park and free museum...

Your library will have free events....

*So pay for parking, petrol, ice creams, underground, no doubt some cheap plastic toy as they are everywhere. All adds up.

Much nicer places locally, just got to look.*

No, we don't pay for parking, petrol, ice-creams or plastic toys. We have lunch though and we use the buses in London as children are free.

Of course we do things locally as well, that doesn't mean you should never travel. We have lived all over the world.

Hi op, I'm in Birmingham and there's loads of free stuff going on this summer for the commonwealth games. I've got the train pretty cheap to Nottingham before, think you need to just need to book in advance. Or I think coach is about £6?