cancel camping holiday or just tighten belt even further?

alisong_2

I'm full of admiration for how you're managing. How about just going for a few days, maybe 4-5 or 1 week? If you can plan a way to get back on track I must say that I'd probably go on the holiday, particularly as your kids are young and won't think it's odd if you're very frugal while you're there. I guess it's a toss between how much you'd worry about the money if you do go and getting away and having those memories. Hope it works out whatever you decide.

whiteguineapig

princesstippytoes wrote: »

A crappy week for you but its better now than after your hols so at least you got the choice. If it were me I'd stay at home and pay the bills but thats me. Your little ones are small enough to get over the dissappointment soon and you can easily distract them with free things to do near to home. Your debt free. Stay that way and cut back the OS way then you can have a fantastic hol next year when the babes will be bigger and remember it more. Hope you work it out.

i would do what princess says too, for me it wouldn't be worth getting into debt for

Bitsy_Beans

katholicos wrote: »

I must say that i think the camping holiday is extremely expensive, unless i've reckoned up wrong, all together is it a £1000 holiday? And in this country too? Gosh!

It depends on what sort of site you stop on TBH. If it's a large one with all the amenities like club house and play ground etc you can pay £20 a night easy to stop there and then there's added extras of charges for extra persons per night, dogs, extra tents etc. Plus its school holidays so peak time charges apply.
Camping can be relatively inexpensive compared to say a holiday cottage but it does depend where you stop. Cheaper campsites exist but facilities are basic.
I assumed OP had to pay the £400 from her £600 savings as that included the holiday costs........

Personally I would go on holiday as long as the vets bill or car bill isn't going to exceed what you've estimated.

Penelope_Penguin

dreaming wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Personally I would cancel the holiday (have to say it seems very expensive for camping), and take the kids "camping" in the garden for a couple of nights instead. They would probably enjoy that just as much. And then maybe a day trip or two to the seaside by train if the car is kaput?
Hope everything works out well for the dog.

Have you seen the costs of camping recently? since huge tents became cheap, camping has become hugely popular, and much pricier.

We've just returned from 7 nights in Keswick. 2 adults, 2 teens, £28/night for the pitch. No extras - a great site for hill walkers, cyclists, and other outdoor types. Small shop, but definitely no clubhouse, or anything like that.

We ate out twice, and had coffee or ice cream most days. We were walking in the hills, so ate loads. The week came in at about £500 for everything (apart from the impulse purchase of new walking boots for DS ).

lisa1234831

hiya just a thought but have you renewed/applied for tax credits? they go off last years income so u might be able to get some help money wise from them

Lisa x

zippychick

HI Artichoke

Now you've had some great OS input, I have moved this to the families as you will get more opinions and discussion over here. Myself I would go on holiday - providing i could work out a good enough plan to make myself not feel guilty about it all

Hope you work it all out and things calm down for you soon

Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Zip

74jax

Can you change the campsite? over £40 a night for 10 days seems a really expensive site. What about pitching the tent nearby - somewhere much more reasonable - for only a week?

You have £600 set aside for the 10 days, so you could use that nearer home instead? or are you wanting to use this for the vet/car etc?

Frosti

I had a similar problem with an unexpected vet bill. Dog in pain, needed teeth removed, vet wanted £595 for the op, including extra tests to make sure dog was fit enough to knock out because of her age.
The Blue Cross have a fund for unexpected large vet bills. Can I put the phone number on here? - Don't know, please can anyone tell me (before I break a rule!)? I spoke to a very nice lady, she said call when in need..
As it happened, DH had some work in Spain, we were due to leave in 3 weeks. Dog managed on a course of antibiotics for that time; Spanish vet charged £120 for the op, including all tests and antibiotics afterwards. Tbh I had more faith in her than the English one anyway - much better equipped. And no, I haven't got insurance; dog is too old now (dropped it when cover went up to £92pcm).
If I was in your position, Artichoke, I'd forget the funeral, call the Blue Cross to see if they can give you a grant to help with dog's bill, which will free up some funds to fix car - and go on holiday. Camping is not extravagant, you'll all benefit from some fun time with family, especially the kids who probably don't see that much of their cousins..
By the way, well done for managing so economically!

As I'm a newbie on here, please can someone tell me how to get the Blue Cross 'phone number to Artichoke without breaking any rules?

pukkamum

Frosti wrote: »

I had a similar problem with an unexpected vet bill. Dog in pain, needed teeth removed, vet wanted £595 for the op, including extra tests to make sure dog was fit enough to knock out because of her age.
The Blue Cross have a fund for unexpected large vet bills. Can I put the phone number on here? - Don't know, please can anyone tell me (before I break a rule!)? I spoke to a very nice lady, she said call when in need..
As it happened, DH had some work in Spain, we were due to leave in 3 weeks. Dog managed on a course of antibiotics for that time; Spanish vet charged £120 for the op, including all tests and antibiotics afterwards. Tbh I had more faith in her than the English one anyway - much better equipped. And no, I haven't got insurance; dog is too old now (dropped it when cover went up to £92pcm).
If I was in your position, Artichoke, I'd forget the funeral, call the Blue Cross to see if they can give you a grant to help with dog's bill, which will free up some funds to fix car - and go on holiday. Camping is not extravagant, you'll all benefit from some fun time with family, especially the kids who probably don't see that much of their cousins..
By the way, well done for managing so economically!

As I'm a newbie on here, please can someone tell me how to get the Blue Cross 'phone number to Artichoke without breaking any rules?

Hi if you click on artichokes name on her post you can choose the option send a private message xxx

downshifted

I think the best advice for you is go on your holiday and enjoy it. Life is short - have a little fun with your family - especially as your mum needs you at this time.

You are obviously a very sensible person, you have managed brilliantly so far on an amazingly small amount of money. You will not allow this difficult time to be anything other than a glitch and you will find ways of repaying the short term debt and building up a little emergency fund again, following all the good advice you have been given.

I would not propose this for everyone - but on the basis of what you have coped with so far I am confident you will do all you can and find ways of paying back and not let this build up into an unmanageable debt

Best wishes for the holiday and for the dog's recovery