cancel camping holiday or just tighten belt even further?

artichoke

HI all

I have a dilemma and don't know where to post it - but am posting here as i lurk/ post on OS most of time and already do most OS stuff so hopefully you will see where i am coming from...

We live very economically as i am SAHM and OH is self employed and his work has fallen away since the recession, we recently applied for council tax benefit as he only earnt £6K last year....we are managing ok as i budget for everything, grow own veg, have a few sheep, cook OS, don't buy clothes, kids have hand me downs etc..... we live simply and happily but now the unexpected has all happened at once and i am in a panic..

anyway here goes - basically i have had a nightmare week of unexpected bills:

on wed the dog needed an emergency hysterectomy as had developed pyometra - Cost so far £355 and will still need more treatment and follow up consultations / antibiotics....

on thursday my uncle died (he was elderly and ill so not completely unexpected) BUT i need to travel to funeral and if i go alone leaving OH to mind the kids it will still cost approx £55 in train fare... if we all go we can go in car but will need to stay in a hotel for the night, if i go on own can sleep in mum's sofa..

this morning the car has stopped working - needs to be taken in for a service, new spark plugs etc COST unknown but probably at least £150

We have no debts as have payed them all off before i became a SAHM, but we live on a tight budget and i had planned our all our costs leaving not much for so many emergencys in one week...it's not a rainy day its a flood...

next Monday we are supposed to be going on a planned family camping holiday meeting up with some of my brothers and sisters and their families - we have payed the deposit and i am due to pay the rest today - but i have no more money!

I could go overdrawn and work it out later but part of me thinks cancel the holiday and don't get into any debt as things are set to get worse with the recession etc...

If we went on holiday we would have to pay petrol to get there and would cook all the meals on our camping stove (we do Old style camping and avoid eating out) plus at the moment the car is caput so we definatley need to get the car fixed if we are going to go on holiday otherwise we would manage without the car for a few months until we had saved up again....

but part of me says the kids need the holiday, they are 4 and 5 and are looking forward to a beach holiday with their cousins....

what would you do?

any advice appreciated...

art

SavvyStudent_2

I'm sorry to hear you've had such a rough week - it sounds to me like you need a holiday to get over it!

In all seriousness though - how much are we talking for the camping trip? Is the money for the other things coming out of overdraft or do you have the money for those up front?

artichoke

hi

I need to pay £400 appox to cover the rest of the holiday money (10 days camping), I have just checked my balance and £5 in current a/c and OH is already £400 overdrawn (he paid the vets bill - but did not tell me he had to go overdrawn - i have just found out by checking his account - he probably was worried i would have said put her down as we can't afford the op:()

Both me and OH have £1K overdraft facilities but i have never used mine for years, it is what i used to have when i was working but i kept it on the account just in case...

We have paid £355 for operation at the vet but she is going back this evening and it might cost more if we need more anitbiotics...

car is sitting here on drive until we make a decision.

I have £600 in saving account set aside for the holiday costs and food, petrol, days out,

but once its gone its gone :eek:

if the vets bills keep coming we will have a problem and we need to pay for the car to be fixed at some point....

art

lucym

If you get housing benefit or council tax benefit you might qualify for PDSA Vet Care.
http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-vet-care/eligibility

Primrose

My own stance is that I have a pathological aversion to being in debt, so my choice would be to bite the bullet and cancel the holiday. Being totally tough about it, 4 and 5 year olds don't NEED holidays, although their stressed parents might.
You've had a very rough week with one bill coming in after the other. But life is like that and there's no guarantee that other unexpected expenses won't follow, so you could end up in an even worse situation in a very short time. With your OH being self employed, you rightly guess that work for him in the future could become in even shorter supply and then you might very well end up regretting the money you spent on the holiday.
I'd be honest with your other family members and tell them you just can't afford to go any longer. If they value your company and are better off than you, maybe they would be happy to help out financially. Otherwise, how about a camping holiday in your back garden? Not the same, I know, but I'm sure the children would enjoy it.

artichoke

hi

the PDSA link is very useful - she has already had the op so its a bit late for this time but useful to know for the future....

I will talk to my mum about cancelling the holiday - she might offer to lend me the money - but then that is just debt but from another source and in some ways i would rather be in debt to the bank than to a family member....

aghghg still can't decide whether to be sensible and cancel or just replan our budget to pay off the debt over the next 6 months.....

I am walking around the house looking for what i can sell - lego, playmobil, dora the explorer...

aghg

Gigervamp

I would cancel the holiday. The childen will be disappointed, but they'll get over it and in a few years time won't remember the holiday that didn't happen.

Just try to make up for it by taking them to the park or finding other activities nearby that don't cost anything. At this time of the year, every council puts on some activities that are free or very cheap.

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. I hope she makes a speedy recovery. I wonder why you don't have her insured. Vets bills are very expensive, so I feel that having insurance for pets is worth it.

I have a labrador and 2 cats who we have insurance for. Costs about £45 a month altogether and it's worth it for the reassurance that the bills will (and have been when Sheba had major leg ops) be paid for.

RAS

Car apart, is there any way you could join the family for a short period? Could someone pick you up and give you a lift there and back?

artichoke

hi



the family holiday is in somerset - a sort of middle of the country so that my family can arrive from all different directions..... no-one would be passing near by to us,

and we are a car full on our own - 2 kids, 2 adults and dog...


Despite all the advice i am still thinking of trying t rebudget as after my uncle death i think my mum would like to see as many of us as possible...

any more opinions would be welcome....

i have been looking at our food budget and we could cut back a bit by being a bit unhealthier on some days......

and when the lambs are ready next month i could sell a few more than i had planned too...

i need to have a serious chat with OH when kids have gone to bed...

and we will know what the vet says when he gets back at 6pm..

art

Kadeeae

I too would cancel If it were me, I would not be able to enjoy the camping holiday in the least in this situation and children are quick to pick up on 'vibes'......

The children will probably be happy if you can find some freebie days out in your area, disappointed yes but at that age are quick to get over it if something else takes their interest

Sounds as if Mum & Dad could use some time 'away' too.... maybe a freebie day out or two if family can babysit??

Just a quick search came up with these links should you decide to stay home:

Our very own Martin's ideas: MSE Cheap Days Out - Days Out With The Kids - Do Free Stuff

I feel for you, not an easy decision I'm sure. Hoping all goes well and things look up for you soon.

Janey3

Aaw, so sorry to hear of your troubles, it never rains but it pours. Such a hard decision to make especially if you were all looking forward to the holiday, but no point in getting into debt over it. Maybe your dog won't be well enough to go away with you anyway just yet? That's a good reason to give your family if you decide to cancel.