Why did this have to happen?

backtomum

Hi everyone - feeling really down. We are going on a caravan holiday on Saturday and the car has packed up. We have only been able to save up a bit for spends but now we'll end up with nothing after repairs. The kids have been making holiday lists and getting excited and I feel rubbish. The car is a mess - we bought it a year ago for £1000 and we've had to spend nearly that much again on it throughout the year. We can't do any more - we both work - we have so much going out - I feel that we are taking one step forward - two steps back. We have another week booked for August - we haven't paid for yet - we are going to have to cancel that one. I can't cancel this one though - we need a break so much.

Thanks for listening. I know this happens to everyone but lately things have been getting a bit better for us - now this. I know its not life or death............

Snaggles

I'm sorry to hear about your car - if you're going on a caravan holiday, can you manage without spending money and just do really cheap or free stuff? How old are your kids? Little ones especially don't notice how much you spend, they only care that they are having fun.

It's always a bit 'two steps forward, one step back' this debt repayment lark isn't it? Sometimes I do think things happen just to push you to the edge and see how you cope. Cars are my biggest bugbear at the moment - ours has cost us over £700 this month alone....grrrrrr......!

I really hope you can find some way to manage to still have a fun holiday, it sounds as though you need one. Take care xxx

Kaz2904

I know you feel rubbish at the moment but could you spend some time having a look on the net for places around where you are staying to find no/low cost days out? If you're in a caravan then at least you have catering facilities so you can keep the costs down. Look at it this way- you would still have to eat if you were staying at home. Get some board games from family and friends and that's your evenings entertainment. You don't even have to leave the site and may be able to do swimming and walking around for free. How about setting up a nature trail for your kids and they can spend a few hours finding the things you list.

Why don't you tell us where you're going and we can see if there are any cheap or free fun things that we know in that area?

backtomum

Thank you so much for your lovely replies. We are going to Torbay. My main fear is that car won't be repaired and we'll have to get a hire car - god alone knows how much that will cost.

JustKeepSwimming_2

Hi :hello:

Just want to send you a hug :grouphug: & hope you have a good break. If your kids are like mine, they'll be so excited about being somewhere new that it will rub off on you grown ups & you'll all have a grand time! :j

nonsensefactory

What's wrong with the car ?

Snaggles

Do any of the Quidco experts know if you can get cashback on hirecars via quidco at all? (I've never managed to get quidco to work for me lol).

Are you going in a touring caravan - if not, would an alternative form of transport be any good (train/coach?). I know you would have to take luggage, but you could turn it into a challenge to see who could cope with the smallest amount of luggage, to make it seem a bit more fun.

Is Torbay far from you? I'm just thinking could you hire a car just for one day to get you there (some of the larger hire firms let you pick up a car at one branch and drop it off at another I think), and then hire another one, again just for one day, to get back home again?

These might be useless suggestions, I'm just thinking (rambling) out loud.

System

I'm sorry to hear about the car - they are a constant thorn in the side. If you buy brand new and shell out 10K+ but no troubles for a few years or spend 1-3K on a car and be constantly dipping into your pocket to repair the bloody thing. Trouble is, you're over a barrell so you get it fixed. Could get the coach or the train? I know this may curtail your plans in Torbay but at least it would get you there.

hypno06

Sorry that this has decided to happen at such an inopportune time. I don't think I have got anything to say that the others haven't already come up with, but I hope you are soon able to make some sort of arrangements. Coach would be good I reckon, but the hire care each way seems like a possible too, especially via quidco?

Good luck, you will get your holiday x

postingalwaysposting

aww backtomum i hope you get your car fixed and have a fab holiday, sadly lots of things happen like this (one step forward, two back) the best thing though is you come through it and are stronger... take care

Kaz2904

Torbay has lovely beaches- picnics on the beach are free!
Tesco mailings have just come out, can you order som avis deals to come by friday? Do you have any very lovely family or friends who would be willing/able to drive you down, drop you off and pick you up again? That might be cheaper than hiring a car even if you pay their petrol 4 ways.