im so tired of it all sorry self pity thread

Emmzi

just a hug from me!

moneycrisis

Big hugs, your stronger and braver than you give yourself credit for.

oops_a_daisy

ok then lets make a list of things to do that kids like that are FREE ( or at least minimal cost )

1. Baking
2. Making tents with sheets in the garden with chairs and sheets
3. Day at the seaside - just a packed lunch required
4. Making pictures and cards
5. Walks in parks or woods
6. Doing a car boot sale
7. Bike rides
8. Making papier mache things with a balloon, newspaper and paste + paint when finished
9. playing board games
10. water play int he garden when its nice

over to somebody else to come up with other suggestions

MrT_5

Sorry I don't want to be cruel or anything but you have the internet and probably a telephone. Get rid of them and save the money. There must be other savings you can make as well.

I get really mad at people when interviewed on the television about poverty because they always come out with the fact that they haven't had a holiday in years. Homes, heating and eating come before anything.

Kids are very good if you explain things. Mine accepted that they couldn't have certain things just because their mates had them once we said we couldn't afford them. I have three very well balanced adult children now.

I hope you sort it out but think saving now and it could all work out if you really put your mind to it.

jessicamb

11. Play at "Mary Poppins" and get them to clean the house :rotfl:
12. Making Dens in the house
13. Depending on age - give the empty cardboard boxes, hours of fun for the imaginative
14. Visit friends/family?
15. Sporty games - cricket etc? Set up a tournament/challenge to last a few games.

HTH

kathfisch

oops_a_daisy wrote:

ok then lets make a list of things to do that kids like that are FREE ( or at least minimal cost )

1. Baking
2. Making tents with sheets in the garden with chairs and sheets
3. Day at the seaside - just a packed lunch required
4. Making pictures and cards
5. Walks in parks or woods
6. Doing a car boot sale
7. Bike rides
8. Making papier mache things with a balloon, newspaper and paste + paint when finished
9. playing board games
10. water play int he garden when its nice

over to somebody else to come up with other suggestions

I managed to entertain a 4 year old for a good half an hour today playing twister (could always make some coloured paper dots if you don't have twister sheet). Thing is, he wasn't even playing - just watching me making a fool of myself and sticking my bum in the air :rotfl: Playing with kids can be really enjoyable and might help keep things in perspective too

Kevicho

MrT wrote:

Sorry I don't want to be cruel or anything but you have the internet and probably a telephone. Get rid of them and save the money. There must be other savings you can make as well.

Dont get rid of the net, its a god send and also enabl;es you to keep in touch with this motley lot who will offer you advice support and hugs.

The best 20 quid a month (or less) that you could ever spend

kathfisch

MrT wrote:

Sorry I don't want to be cruel or anything but you have the internet and probably a telephone. Get rid of them and save the money. There must be other savings you can make as well.

I get really mad at people when interviewed on the television about poverty because they always come out with the fact that they haven't had a holiday in years. Homes, heating and eating come before anything.

Kids are very good if you explain things. Mine accepted that they couldn't have certain things just because their mates had them once we said we couldn't afford them. I have three very well balanced adult children now.

I hope you sort it out but think saving now and it could all work out if you really put your mind to it.

If Kickingkay is on a dmp then cccs will have made a limited budget based on what is reasonable to live on. There's no point denying oneself to the point that it all gets too much and you end up getting into more debt. I totally agree that cutting back as much as possible is advisable and that kids will not suffer because of a lack of things that others consider essential. But we don't know kickingkay's circumstances and, from what she's said, it sounds to me that she is trying very hard to cut back and is serious about paying off her debt. It is a matter of personal preference whether you consider a phone a necessity or a luxury and, as for the internet, without that she couldn't chat to all us lovely people could she?!

furrychimp

we all have bad, sad & mad days, just nice that you can come on here & let it all out! don't beat yourself up, we all have enough folks doing that for us, we don't need to do it to ourselves! you are not a bad person, or a failure just because you have debts, and kids are remarkably resilient, they probably don't even notice (or care!) that other kids are going off on holidays, you can't buy your kids love & as Troo said, they will remember the good times! i never went abroad til i grew up & started working, neither did loads of my friends, never did me a bit harm! i remember my mum & dad taking us to the seaside, going for walks, playing in our garden with my friends & baking with my mum..all cheap activities, but obviously a good childhood, cos i remember it 25 + years later!!

piglet6

Big Hugs from me, too :grouphug: - sorry you're feeling so bad . Like others said, your children won't remember not having the cold hard cash, but they will remember that you give them your time and that you loved them!:kisses3:

Piglet