How do I cope with the school holidays and no money?

Penelope_Penguin

lilly81 wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I am a lone parent and I recently lost my job. its going to take until January to get any income support or housing benefit.

I know it's not what you asked, but you may be entitiled to a loan from the social fund - you apply at the same place where you applied for IS.

We have an exisitng thread on budeget activitoes for children - I'll add this one to it tomorrow

Penny. x

Jacks_xxx

Hi Lilly,

I'm ever so sorry you're struggling a bit chick.

I just wanted to thank Old Stylers for being so incredibly fab in a crisis and also to recommend your local churches. They have all sorts of events on at this time of year which can help pass the time and make Christmas special. (A free mince pie and a cup of tea is just a bonus?!) Kids love the Christingle - and sunday school is just basically story time to little kids isn't it?

The library will probably run some fun (and free) activities too.

Failing that, kids are happy if they've got someone to play with and space to run around in so thank goodness the park is free!

If you let all his friend's Mums know the situation he'll probably get invited to more things, and maybe they could lend you their DVDs etc as well.

I guess what I'm saying is let people help you, don't turn down a single invitation, and remember there are more valuable things in a childs life than money. (i.e. YOU!)

Love Jacks xxx

IWannabedebtfree

Hi Lilly,

Just wanted to say that when I ask my oldest child(16!) what he enjoyed most as as child, it was always the time we spent together, playing silly games(eg: me being a crazy 'dog' and giving him rides around the room, or the times we made things together-especially the cookies that I let him ice all by himself, that turned out navy blue-they were grotesque but hilarious!! He doesn't remember a single present he ever got, under the age of about 11, so all of that time spent agonising over 'will he have less than his friends?' was a waste of time. (Back in those days, I thought that toys would make kids happy!)
This year I think most people will be cutting back anyway-even my better-off friends perceive that they are poorer, because of the media attention on the credit crunch.
I know it can be hard to be a 'fun mum' if you are under pressure, though, so it's definitely a great idea to take up offers of help so that you can get time for yourself, as other posters have said.
Hope it all works out well for you.

Uniscots97

HI, not sure if anyone else has mentioned it but you could ask on freecycle for games etc? Also Lovefilm do free trials, I got a 3 month free trial recently through this site (can't remember where abouts, so if anyone does can you post the link), they send your chosen dvds out to you, you watch them and send them back. Just remember and cancel before they charge you.

gairlochgal

Have you got any pound shops? You can make a lot of fun out of a budget trip to the pound shop - he has to find himself something cool for £2 and choose it and then come home and use it! We have 99p shops where I live and my DDs will browse for ages and come up with pretty good stuff like boxes of chalk or pencils/colouring books. We do also come with with the odd toy that breaks in 5 mins, but that's all good experience for the budding money saver!

Fruball

Chalk is fun to draw with on the patio/pavement

Making gifts for friends of playdough, wrap in little bags and secure with curly ribbon - cheap thoughtful gift and will help with making new friends (for you both)

Duvet Day - Don't get dressed, have a day of indulgence in front of the TV with nibbles all day long!

Summer Day - Keep all the curtains closed, put on some cheery LOUD music and dance around pretending its summer - we do this at least once every winter - we turn on all the lights and whack up the heating and do 'holiday time' at home!!!

A visit to a local garden centre with aquarium/pet shop passes time and they love looking at all the animals - be sure to tell them you won't be buying any though !!!

Could you do Avon in your area? You could both go out delivering the catalogs together and perhaps make a couple of quid Same with newspapers... My ds did a really small round, only 28 elderly folks bungalows and got £6 a week for it!!! Its not much to an adult but it would pay for some nice treats whilst your not working. A friend of mine did this with her daughters as she couldn't afford to give them pocket money. She drove 4 miles away to do it so she wasn't recognised, bless her.

Walk to the shops most days if you can, even if its just to buy a pint of milk! It really helps to 'see people' when you are out of work.

How about teaching your son to sew? My son used to enjoy sewing at that age, although at 16 I don't think he would now!!!!!

Get a kitchen gardening book (from library ) and pick out some easy veg plants you would like to grow then order some (free) seed catalogs and pick out the cheapest ones.... I cannot think of the cheapest but its a no frills brand that is about 1/3rd price of other companies... It will come back to me and I will post it

http://www.alanromans.com/c-540-vegetables.aspx Found it !!!!!!!!!!

Then you could decorate pots (any will do) with the pictures of the plants you wish to grow, or cut out magazine pics so the pots are all ready for planting in the spring

I do hope you find another job soon - I remember being in your situation some time back - its so stressful but it worked out for the best and I had a lovely time at home with ds.

We actually got so used to walking to the supermarket that one day, we walked home with our shopping bags only to find the car wasn't in the driveway!!! We had taken it to the supermarket but forgotten it was there :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Fruball

I nearly forgot - you can write a letter to Father Christmas for FREE with Royal Mail.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump1?catId=1000002&mediaId=80800761&campaignid=santa

prudence41

A post I saw earlier today for a friend in the same situation.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=16638571&highlight=hollywood+bowl#post16638571

If you have a Hollywood Bowl near to you, 1p is a great bargain.

I hope that 2009 starts on a more positive note for you both.

Fruball

Making bird feeders is fun and v cheap (cheep cheep lol)

Collect some fir cones from the ground, brush or dip in lard/suet/dripping and roll in bird seeds. The birds will be really grateful this time of year and you and your ds can get a bird book from the library and make a chart of all those you see in your garden

I have a robin who, quite happily, sits on a clear plastic feeder on my kitchen window and watches me whilst I cook - I love him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was hatched this year and visited the garden before he even got his red feathers! I watched him change and he is very cherished in our household!!!

I hope one day he will be tame enough to take food from my hand as he already comes within a metre of me when I am gardening. So much pleasure I get from one so small

Penelope_Penguin

Here's the link for Old Style things to do in the Summer Holidays - there are several things that are relevant to the winter, too

Penny. x