hanging my head in shame

angela30

up until last week i had been doing really well with my budgeting and saving plan.
last week the kids were on half term and ive taken 2 weeks of work to spend some time with them.
lol.. omg ive spent so much money and i cant even say what on lol.
i got paid the rent elec bill tuesday.. got paid wed-day and by saturday i had no money left,,£135 had gone in 4 days.
ive no idea what ive spent it on.
ive never b4 been so silly with money even when i had money and was'nt budgeting i was better at keeping it.
hubby thinks that becouse we never really give the kids or ourselfs any treats that this week i want over broad lol..
want be happerning again lol..

whats your week been like lol,, hope everyone has had a great week without over spending :rotfl:

Norman_Bean

It's amazing how fast money goes isn't it? :eek:
One week down another to go for our half term - I've been really good at not spending much - we normally go back to UK for half term but in order to spend less this is first time we've stayed put

I've taken them to toy library 3 times last week = free to go and they get snack and drink there :money:.
They had a mate to play on Thurs afternoon - normally go mad and get them special snacks when they have mates over but I just gave them all half a HM muffin each and glass of water :money:

They are going to said friend's this afternoon so a few hours to myself x

Now I've been soooo good that I'm worried about going mad tomorrow - a group are going to soft play centre - €9 each to get in :eek: and I really don't want to buy them any food or snacks there so may have to feed them just before we go in and just after we come out ...

Well done on surviving half term - you may have spent a fortune but sounds like you're back on track now

Butterfly_Brain

School holidays are the biggest drain on most families because the kids want to do things that usually cost money and I am not talking extragavances either just going swimming is costly and the pictures can wipe a family of 4 of £26 before any snacks are involved then factor in public transport if you have no car ours - would be £32 for four to get to our nearest cinema there you go money gone the zoos are even more expensive.

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, keeping a shut purse is not easy and in the winter season when you go out it is often to go indoors someware else at cost and entertainment value. I found kids clubs also costly but we all go through that and pay, swimming lessons, brownies and cubs, dancing, karate and each one all need uniforms.Don't get me started on trainers???
I rememer once when in town with the 3 children they ran up to a lady dressed as a clown with a money box. The lady turned to me and said they have no money for the box and I had to explain all the money I had was for a dance lesson for the 2 girls, and if I gave her that I might as well have not come out She seeemed understanding but I felt...
It is not an easy road even when they get to adults we still pay.

rosieben

I admire how you all cope with bringing up families these days. My ds is 37 and dd 41, and whilst there were difficult times then, these days ads are so hard-hitting and put so much pressure on parents and kids

fedupfreda

Hiya Angela:wave:

Me too, sadly. :mad: In fact it has got so bad I am already making my preparations for the next school holiday - I worked out I have 6 weeks to go to save up for 18 days off (including weekends - and they have a teacher training day at the end of easter as well :eek:) Lets hope the weather is a bit better. Last week we took the kids to the science museum in london and we went bowling on one other day during the week. As I don't drive, and have to go everywhere by train, this week set us back a grand total of £90.:eek: OK I got a railcard (£25) which will save us money in the long run, but the rest is just train fares and entry to the bowling alley, don't even ask about the cost of food (hubby paid for that! :rotfl:), next time I'm taking a massive packed lunch. Thank god I know the location of every blackberry patch in my area - it's one of our favourite pastimes during the long, never ending summer break. This time I shall be putting £10 a week into a pot as a school break fund - it will only come to £60 but thats better than nothing.:cool:

craftymummy_2

i was dreading half term too (ours is unfortunately finished and all back at school this morning) but i turned out to be a very cheap one! We just had friends round every day or we went to friends and that way the kids played, the adults chatted and it cost me hardly anything. Ended up making lots of cakes for our guests, but both me and DD enjoy baking, so it wasnt that bad. Also the weather was quite bad all week - so we couldnt really go out.

poppy-glos

everything certainly does cost,
i've made a few improvements, we eat out far less now (used to eat out alot as a social thing), take packed lunches or snacks with us rather than buy when out, although i fancied a maccie d's the other day so while angelic dd was saying lets take snacks i suggested eating out!
I also use the tesco clubcard vouchers to do things, we've been to warwick castle, lego land, longleat, and had meals out at pizza express and hungry horse on our vouchers.
This half term we made some playdough and a week later it is still out daily and being played with, into a lock and lock at night and it is doing fine..
And playdates too, children have fun playing at each others houses and this costs zero.
We also had a movie night the other week, borrowed a dvd, had some snackfood and great fun was had.
Any advice and suggestions from anyone else i look for ideas on here and elsewhere all the time...

Taadaa

We often have movie nights in too!

We like the cinema but I will only let me go on either Orange Weds, or ou cinema does bargain Tues, and I've put a ban on the popcorn counter. Also on Saturday mornings they often have great deals for kids' movies, about £1.50 each.

My DS loves lego. Sometimes we read a book together too, although he is less keen on that ;-)

[Deleted User]

I know some librarys have DVDs to rent that won't break the bank.My Dds tribe are pretty good and know that one trip to the cinema is what they get at half term.I did it last Sunday, and because I have a Cinema Exhibitors ticket I only had to pay for the three little boys which cost me £15.60.I bought the popcorn in MrT's along with some sweets and they cost £2.20.so I managed to get three happy little boys amused for two hours for just under £18.00.
Last Monday we took the boys to Dover Museum and that coast us £11.00 for all of us.Great value as it was 'family day' so there were lots of activities.
I have an English Heritage membership with the boys all listed on, so we get to visit historical places for nothing for a year .It cost me around £30 odd last August and we have had more than our moneysworth from my ticket.They sent to boys a birthday cards as well on their birthdays .
I often look on the 'Whats on in Kent' site on the net.That tells me whats on and how much it is or if its free. If you have a look on your local websites you may find something for your area.Just google 'whats on for free in ???? wherever you live.Often local council sites are quite useful.or again the local libraies