Is £230 enough spending money to go to Cornwall for 5 days?

[MascalPascal]

Going to Cornwall for Feb half term. Booked a lovely caravan which was very cheap owing it to it still being out of season. Going to St Ives.

Everything is booked and paid for, including all activities. Over the last 6 months i have been booking things slowly. Biggest expense really will be a food shop and petrol (I need to pay for return journey petrol from this money too).
Should that be enough?

How far you need to drive to get there is a critical factor. If you need to spend half on fuel to get there and back then not enough, Assuming its just you it will be probably be ok.

I would feel vulnerable if that’s all I had for 5 days.

Sorry. Just me and my 7 year old going. Travelling from East of England to St Ives. Full tank of petrol already in car but will obviously fill up on way too. Everything is pre booked and paid for. Booked Eden project, paradise park, swimming, crafts, chocolate making... will bring packed lunches in the day when we're out and cook when we're in for the evenings which is 3 of the 5 nights.

Leaving tomorrow morning, coming back Thursday evening.

Yes if you are going on your own and self catering, no if you are taking four children and/or planning to eat out.

I think it’s an ok budget in theory and you should manage fine, but there’s always extra expenses or emergencies. I assume you’ve got access to some more money in case you need it?

It’ll be tight especially if you want to buy a drink etc or snack when you are there

However if you go and you don’t have the money to spend on luxuries then I guess it will have to be enough as that’s all you have!

I live here and eating out is astronomical but there is only 2 of you and if you are planning on eating in and everything else is paid for then it should be doable. Just watch where you get your fuel from. Small villages hike the prices up as do the services but supermarket stations are more reasonable. Have fun !!!

It should be tight but manageable then, if you keep treats to small things like ice cream. Avoid the overpriced fish and chips/cream tea traps.

I would want that much per day for meals out and activities plus random spends for snacks, whatever the kids want.

Haha I thought this unless trip is for one adult and a toddler meal .

OP it's a lean holiday and I'm sure you can do it but for me I don't want to be scrimping on holiday . Let's hope it doesn't rain for the week or a week stuck in a caravan will be horrible .

I think it’s doable OP. We’ve had many budget holidays like this when the kids were little. Can you plan your 3 nights in today and take what you need from Lidl/Aldi? We’d sometimes take our slow cooker and bung a chilli or curry in for evenings (sometimes with a bag of chips if a chippy was local). Make sure the packed lunches and drinks are plentiful so you don’t get caught out.

Do you need to eat out for 3 evenings? We usually researched local Indian restaurants for meals out, they weren’t so over priced.
Your activities sound great! Good luck

If you hadn’t already booked I’d have said skip the Eden project, if used to be brilliant but last time I went I thought it was very over priced and a bit shabby.

Check if you can take a packed lunch there, I thought the food was rubbish and expensive.

I think that sounds absolutely fine and you already have some lovely activities booked in.

A 7 year old will be very happy footling on the beach for crabs and shells - more so if you wrap up and watch the sunset at dusk and eat your fish and chips on the beach. (We are in Surrey and a large cod and chips for £15.99 is enough for DH and me).

I think you will have a lovely time and hope the weather is kind.

I think it’s very very tight. I’m terrible at estimating petrol but depending on how far it’s easily £80. I spend £100 on a normal food shop without any treats. That doesn’t leave much leeway

Should be fine. Top tips for economic holidays include, buy a multi pack of haribo (or Lidl knock offs) to whip out of your bag for when they beg for sweet, ditto multi pack crisps. Cans of supermarket cloudy lemonade as a treat, make packed lunches, treat dinners for mine were things like fajitas, make your own pizza by going to a big supermarket and going to the build a pizza section. If you are using the m4/m5 fill up at cribbs causeway (junction 17 of m5) and there's McDonald's next to Asda petrol station if you want to indulge. Usually has cheap petrol or alternatively come at junction 25 of m5 and go to Sainsbury's (Taunton) who usually have the cheapest petrol of all, if you have sandwiches, there's grass at the far side of the car park

I would take some extra for unforeseen costs (say £50)

If your petrol was under 100 I would say you have enough

I'd bring as many snacks and stuff from home cupboards. Teabags etc.
Petrol is more expensive down here so have a lookout on your way down to top up your tank.

Bring jumpers, bring layers.

Xx

Just trying to remember some nice memories we made on the cheap.

• we had hotdogs on a cliff bench, cheap hotdogs in a flask and finger buns and ketchup in my hand bag
• having supermarket donuts and a flask of hot chocolate waiting in the car after a blustery beach walk and watching the huge waves
• found a little cave and set up a disposable bbq for more hotdogs 😆 not the same holiday.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with so little money on a holiday

Personally, I think it's tight. Have you got anything in cupboards / freezer at home that you could cook for meals now freeze, and bring down in a cool bag, assuming you have a freezer in the caravan. They usually do.

The petrol aspect would worry me. If you get caught in traffic which is highly likely on half term saturday and need more fuel on the way home do you have access to any more money? Was it your thread yesterday about the driving time and where to stop? How much it cost to fill up?

A portion of fish and chips is plenty for lunch for one adult and a 7 YO so even if that's £20 it's enough. They're £10 in Leeds for a massive portion that does lunch for two adults.

OP that sounds like plenty for a lovely break - it doesn't have to cover much above what you've already paid for so it doesn't even sound like you'll be needing to watch every penny. As long as you're not throwing money away left right and centre on crap then you'll be fine.

Leaving tomorrow? Lol bit late to be asking this isn't it? What happens if it's NOT enough?

I think it’s absolutely fine for 1 adult & 1 child with all activities booked, and a full tank of petrol to start with!
A 7 year old can be easily pleased with making your own pizza - making popcorn - pancakes etc, which will be seen as treats but are quite cheap to make.

Holidays are much fun by spending time together in a new and exciting place. Not by how much you eat out.

Your activities sound great and my dcs would be thrilled by staying in a caravan/access to beaches and your planned activities!
Have a great time.

If it's what you've got, it's what you've got. If all activities are paid for already, then it's fine. Food shop and dinners and breakfast in the caravan and keep the rest for treats like icecreams etc and maybe a nice lunch somewhere. Look for vouchers you can use for Zizzis or whatever.