Things to do with the kids- on a TIGHT budget?

squeakysue

I also check netmums local for what's on locally, there's normally some great ideas for free or cheap days out x

cleggie

Wow guys, thanks for the suggestions, there are loads!

Today is the nicest day we have had for a while, and we spent about 3 hours waiting in the doctors surgery to be seen as i have had an allergic reaction to something! The piriton has made me mega drowsy too, so dont feel safe enough to drive today. But you ahve given me some brilliant suggestions for the rest of the week! Thanks!

We are near to Trago, so will haev a good look around there- didnt know it was anything but i big shop tbh!

We are really near the moors, so can go out hiking i think!

We also live reasonably close to the beach. Hadnt thought of that!

I thinki can do all of those things if i manage to spend £0 and spend the £20 on petrol instead to get to places!

Thanks for all your help, and keep any ideas coming!
I LOVE MSE!

kezlou

I;m in the same and is differcult, i have boys the same age as your two.

So far the plan today is

1) play lots of games - both picked the xbox
2) making some cakes and stuff
3) making popcorn and watching film
4) prob bed time by then.

Were also planning on taking them out for a wander to the park, library etc

Last year when we had all the snow, they loved making things, so got out all the recycling and started playing with it. Both of them loved it.

During the power cuts we were playing board games, drawing, mooching outside exploring. Amazing how exciting a trip under a flyover can be, in our case finding a family of rabbits and them running wild.

Its really hard to come up with ideas as they such a differcult age to satisfy.

I'll get my thinking cap for the both of us.

CH27

Do you have a garden? Buy some seeds & grow some veg or flowers.

The ice rink near me has mega sessions were you can skate all day for £4 in the holiday including skate hire. Does yours do similar?

cleggie

Kezlou- i agree, its such an inbetween age, and a hard age to occupy them for free.

Ch27- no i dont have a garden unfortunately. Just checked the ice rink and they dont have their half term info up until Monday, so here's hoping!

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi,

Yeah, I am exactly the same, my boys are 10 and 12 and realistically I could do without spending any money at all this half term. Its me that feels guilty about not having much spare cash to spend on them, they arent that bothered. Yesterday they spent the whole day making some old cardboard boxes and a tarpaulin sheet into a base camp in the garden and had a great day.

Its so annoying that that the weather forecast for the next few days is rubbish! I have said that they can go swimming which is only £1.80 each. We will go to the beach if the weather is reasonably decent and they both have some Christmas money left so we might have a day at the out of town shopping centre. The beach and shops are both a 40 mile round trip so its going to cost me something in petrol but if I am very disciplined I shouldnt need to spend much more.

I find that if you alternate a day out with a day at home they dont get too bored.

Last summer holidays we did the £10 challenge if we went out for the day. We put £10 in a separate purse and this was our spending money for the day and had to cover everything. The boys have free rein on spending the money so can choose to spend it on amusements, ice cream, chips or whatever but once its gone there is no more. They love this idea, you can set the budget at whatever you want but be prepared to spend it all, they will want to get it down to the last penny!

Thinking I might start a little savings pot for the next holidays!

Hope you have fun.

cleggie

Wow Yorkshirelass- only £1.80 for the kids to go swimming!!!?? Its £3.30 here!

kr15snw

Cleggie, where in Devon?

cleggie

Lol kr- same as you, Plymouth.

villagelife

Letting them make a camp indoors and then letting them sleep in it can occupy them well.

Also an indoors picnic if weather is really too bad for outside.

Going for a walk can be fun especially if you've given them things to look for or find.