How much do you usually spend at Butlins.

shadej

We have been to Butlins many times but I always end up spending way too much money.
For example, I went in June, just my son(6) and I. We stayed silver half board in Bognor. For the weekend, I spent £320 just for the two of us. I have no idea how as our meals were covered. In August I went with my husband, son and nephew as day guest. We spent £140 in the day including food. I am asking this because we are going for Christmas. We will be staying for a week and I dont want to spend that much money.

How much do you spend?
How do you save money or what do you avoid or cut back on?
Any tips?

For Butlins only please as I don't spend so much in Haven or other places.

mummytofour

Life is expensive! Maybe having a set amount to spend each day might help? I spent about £300 on 2 days at haven in oct but that was eating out also for 7 of us.

demonicangel

I have managed to spend £140 on 4 night self catered break there, that included buying all our food and some meals out.

I avoided the arcades or limit it to a £2 a day per child! Other then that we dont spend much there, buy the odd thing, loads of soft drinks for the kids and some snacks. That was for two adults and two kids.

I find if you follow most of the entertainment (and at Xmas there is loads, its fab!) there isnt much need to spend much money.

rosekitten

we always do self catering as its
a lot cheape and activly avoid
spending loads on the site its all
the little snacks & drinks that push
up the cost.We little things like sending
the kids off to the pool on their own
and then when they come out and are
starving cant get back quick enough
for something to eat.Obviously ours are
older so we can do this but when we used
to take them swimming we would always go
back to the chalet to eat.

First night we usually
make sandwiches and cook some
oven chips for tea

Take a cool bag
sausages,bacon,burgers,mince,
eggs,lrge bottle of milk,tub of
flora or butter,200g of sliced ham
off the deli in Morrisons,block of cheese
a bag of oven chips.Large carton Tropicana

bag of large spuds and a bag of
small new spuds,selection of
fruit and veg

you can do jacket spuds with
cheese & bacon

empty small coca cola bottle
fill with cooking oil,oxo cubes
small plastic tub with cornflour

tins of beans,spagettie,

cakes,crisps & biscuits

24+ cans and or bottles of fizzy drinks
Homebargains & B&M stores sell them
very cheap

take drinks out with you rather than buy
them all in the shop and bars,just cuts the
cost a little.

We take a big box
of cereals and a couple of loaves
butter

may need to top up food we always go
to a local supermarket to do that rather than
shop on site.

shadej

Thanks some great advice. Can anyone offer suggestions on pocket money. I used to give my son £4 but that goes in seconds. I find when I give him set pocket money I still buy him loads through out the day. Like drinks( which I will be taking my own this time), toys, pop corn, hot dogs. If I give him £8 a day and then refuse to buy him anything else is that good or cruel at Christmas. My husband and I had set a budget of £800 spending money at first. But not I can't imagine spending so much on a holiday camp. Thanks for the tips. Demonicangle, £140 is great for SC.

lynnexxxo

I would suggest you tell your son beforehand that he will be gettting pocket money every day and thats it. By all means keep him fed and watered but if he wants sweets, to play the machines or toys he has to buy them.

We did this with my niece and its amazing how little she wanted to put 'her' money in the machines .

If its difficult to resist buying popcorn or sweets you could always have a few packets of starmix/chocs in your bag as well.

Remember though you are on holiday and there to enjoy yourselfs. If you can afford to spend the money then don't beat yourself up about it!