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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

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

420 replies

MascalPascal · 14/02/2025 09:03

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
pimplebum · 14/02/2025 14:12

Ah just two of you …
yes doable
sounds lovely and 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 for planning !

wandatotherescue · 14/02/2025 14:16

@MascalPascal I'm so excited for you and DD, sounds like it's going to be so much fun!

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 14/02/2025 14:16

SpareBoxRoomForEmergencies · 14/02/2025 14:11

I got irritated by there being no relevant information that would help anyone answer the question even vaguely accurately. I've literally just seen that the OP did answer eventually, this morning, and I missed it.

And it's a single mum with one little girl so I feel a bit shit now for being so snippy and sarcastic. Sorry OP.

Given your update, I'd say it's enough. You can share a portion of fish and chips for a tenner or less and you don't need tons of money to have a nice time if the holiday park has some facilities on site. Self cater cheaply for your evening meal, make sandwiches to take out for the day and just have a few treats like ice creams or tea and cake in a nice tea shop. It doesn't need to be anything flashy. Just being away from home will be an adventure for her. Have a lovely time.

Edited
Show quote history

You can click 'see next' on the OP and jump straight to her update. She updated an hour after her original post, several hours before you replied to her.

Decent of you to apologise to the OP, however. Fair play.

wandatotherescue · 14/02/2025 14:18

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 14/02/2025 14:16

You can click 'see next' on the OP and jump straight to her update. She updated an hour after her original post, several hours before you replied to her.

Decent of you to apologise to the OP, however. Fair play.

Show quote history

Exactly, still baffling that people don't use the 'see all' button

Frostynoman · 14/02/2025 14:29

I’m terrible at budgeting but just wanted to say have a lovely holiday, it sounds really great fun!

Original poster
MascalPascal · 14/02/2025 14:31

SpareBoxRoomForEmergencies · 14/02/2025 14:11

I got irritated by there being no relevant information that would help anyone answer the question even vaguely accurately. I've literally just seen that the OP did answer eventually, this morning, and I missed it.

And it's a single mum with one little girl so I feel a bit shit now for being so snippy and sarcastic. Sorry OP.

Given your update, I'd say it's enough. You can share a portion of fish and chips for a tenner or less and you don't need tons of money to have a nice time if the holiday park has some facilities on site. Self cater cheaply for your evening meal, make sandwiches to take out for the day and just have a few treats like ice creams or tea and cake in a nice tea shop. It doesn't need to be anything flashy. Just being away from home will be an adventure for her. Have a lovely time.

Edited
Show quote history

Its ok. I was busy trying to multitask when I wrote my opening post so it's partially my fault for drip feeding too! Appreciate the apology and thank you.

OP posts:
Iloveyoubut · 14/02/2025 14:32

MascalPascal · 14/02/2025 12:08

I've already packed up a huge shopping bag of tea, biscuits, cereal, olive oil, herbs, pasta, sugar, cereal bars, crisps etc.. bringing all my cleaning stuff too like washing up liquid! I'm a caravan holiday pro as we regularly go on Haven holidays but this is the first time I've been Cornwall. I booked all the activities months ago as we're going out of season and nothing on park is open. I've booked a couple of Feb half term pantomimes too as we love pantos. I've done the best I can to give DD a lovely holiday and i know she'll love it. Crabbing is one of her favourite things to do! Xx

This sounds amazing! You’ve gone to so much effort planning and preparing. I hope you both have the most fantastic time! ❤️ Xx

Original poster
MascalPascal · 14/02/2025 14:33

Thank you for the lovely comments too. It's put me in even better spirits for our little holiday :)

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 14/02/2025 14:33

Sounds amazing

And kudos for you for having the foresight and planning skills to arrange amazing hols that your child will appreciate

✨

Bignanna · 14/02/2025 14:34

LastNightMyPJsSavedMyLife · 14/02/2025 09:44

Whoever said £20 on fish and chips. Are you having a laugh?

It would be £20 for one portion each these days!

Bignanna · 14/02/2025 14:35

I think I would round it up to £300.

Original poster
MascalPascal · 14/02/2025 14:35

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 14/02/2025 13:27

I'm overly invested in your holiday now op. Hope you have a wonderful time and let us know how it goes!

Aww. Thank you. I might post a few pics too :) lovely to be receiving so much support and love from you all

OP posts:
CremeBruhlee · 14/02/2025 14:39

You will have a wonderful time! We camp in St Ives every year and our kids love it. I would take things you have in the house that will create extra memories like battery powered fairy lights, marshmallows and forks for roasting, hot chocolate and squirty cream. And maybe make up penny mixups for if your kid makes any friends. All these lovely things have made memories for us in Cornwall and cost next to nothing. Sounds like you’ve already paid a lot for Eden etc. St Ives does have lots of little shops and sweet shops and also an arcade on the front (and hair wraps and glitter tattoos in season) so might be just worth managing expectations around those xx

Floralnomad · 14/02/2025 14:39

Get some bacon to take crabbing it’s always worked wonders for us when ours were kids . Enjoy your break .

Original poster
MascalPascal · 14/02/2025 14:41

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 14/02/2025 10:38

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?

Yes that was my thread. I changed my username for this one. I was basically asking owing to budget constraints BUT I of course have access to emergency monies should I need it. £230 was my overall budget which I wanted to try and stick to. We went centre parcs two years ago and I spent £210 that week so hoping it would be doable. It's pretty annoying I get paid the day after we come back!

OP posts:
Jom222 · 14/02/2025 14:45

I haven't rtft but I think its enough cash. Hopefully you do have a credit card in case of an emergency.

The only thing you might want to do is tell your daughter that you don't have money to spend on many souvenirs or meals out and if she has any pocket money saved maybe she should bring it in case she wants something. That also helps teach the value of money, budgeting and not needing to buy every trinket you see for sale.

I love the memories of fun inexpensive vacations others have shared and I think you can borrow a few ideas to make the trip more memorable. Have a great time and please update how it went 😍

edit to add how smart it was to pay for the small excursions etc ahead of time! Really good planning there

Fencehedge · 14/02/2025 14:45

RosesAndHellebores · 14/02/2025 09:10

You have said the activities are paid for, so no spends on top of that?

As its for 5 days I'm assuming not a monumental drive so £60 whilst there and for getting home petrol wise.

£170 for food and treats. Say £70 at the supermarket, £20 on fish and chips, £40 on a burger type meal, £40 for incidentals - ice cream, ride on a funfair thingy.

You won't find any riding on a funfair thingy in west Cornwall this time of year 😂

Bollindger · 14/02/2025 14:47

Do not do a full shop.
Buy as you need it. Your not away long.
No need to do washing. Just pack a lot more clothing. So you save £10 on washing.
Take a couple more towels.
If you find a supermarket they offer free children's meals....
Cereal and milk for breakfast.
You can find pubs that do 2 evening meals for £12. Drink water if you have blown the days budget.

Give yourself a holiday as well....

Comedycook · 14/02/2025 14:49

Sounds like a lovely trip. I reckon it will be tight but doable. If you take a load of food and self catering anyway, then I can't see how food wise it's anymore expensive than being at home really.

Oioisavaloy27 · 14/02/2025 14:50

Bignanna · 14/02/2025 14:35

I think I would round it up to £300.

Maybe she can't afford too, what she has is sufficient given that she's booked everything and paid for it already.

Fencehedge · 14/02/2025 14:51

There's cheap swimming at Ayr Holiday Park, quite a walk up the hill though, stunning views and good drinks in the cafe / restaurant

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 14/02/2025 14:55

YesHonestly · 14/02/2025 12:23

You sound like a wonderful mum, your daughter will love it!

Have a great time 😊

I agree! OP it sounds like you've put so much thought and effort into this holiday and all for your little girl. She is very lucky Smile I hope you both have a wonderful time it certainly sounds like you will!

EcruCardigan · 14/02/2025 14:56

Not read the thread, but take waterproof coats and shoes.
Most of all, have a wonderful time.
☀🏖

BigSkies2022 · 14/02/2025 15:01

You sound super-well-organised, OP, and you're going to have a ball. Your DD will love the caravan and the beach, and all the activities you've organised. If you get weather like we're having in London today it will be amazing, but even if wet, you'll have a blast. I was a single parent and well remember that determination that we weren't going to miss out on experiences and fun.

It's a long time since I"ve been to St Ives (my last Cornish holiday was a caravan in Polzeath, about 15 years ago, and we had some surfing lessons) and it's much schmancier nowadays, I gather. I now want a caravan holiday in Cornwall!

ReignOfError · 14/02/2025 15:01

From a former skint single mum: you sound lovely, and your daughter is lucky to have you as a mum. I think it’s doable on that budget, and I hope you both have a great time.