Losing control, time to take charge.

I've been trying to work out some local activities we can do when its the summer holidays as the 3 year old will be off nursery. I technically go back to work on the 26th of July but I've taken holidays until the 23rd August so I'll be off until schools go back (I'm in Scotland so holidays are earlier)

The husband works 2 jobs and is out of the house almost everyday at one of his jobs and at least 4 days a week is out the house from 7.30am to 8pm. I need to play some sort of day outs to keep me sane.

I'm trying to find some local things to do that isn't too expensive.

So far I have got for July:
1. Cinema day. I will take them to one of the kids showings which is already a reduced price. I've had a look and its £3.25 per person, baby is free so only £6.50 for us. However I'm a member of the odeon club so get 25p off the tickets which brings it down to £6 and then I have enough points in my account to get one free ticket so for a trip to the cinema we will only be £3! I'll bring some snacks in with us so we don't buy anything there. Afterwards we will go to a local park which is quite good and free and we can have a picnic there for lunch.

2. Science centre. This costs £7.95 for an adult entrance (£6.95 for a student entry which I am as I'm studying chemistry part-time. I've emailed them to ask if presenting my NUS card is enough for ID) Under 4s are free so we'll only have to pay £7.95 (or £6.95) for the three of us. It takes a couple of hours to go round and we'll bring our lunch with us as well. There's one day in July that they have a 'ask the expert day, music mayhem' thing on which is included in entry price so we'll go then.

3. Local animal park. On groupon there's a deal for an adult ticket £4 (normally £9), no deals on child tickets but they are £6. Baby is free. £10 for that day. We'll bring our lunch with us this day as well.

So 3 days planned so far, total cost £20.95
(£19.95 if I get the student discount)

My budget is £60, I need to also take into consideration how much fuel I'll use which I have budget of £15 for, I do still have petrol in the car aswell.

I want to have at least 6 days over the month planned. I have a couple of ideas for the other ones but not completely sure if I want to do them yet. I have £40 left in the budget.

beanielou wrote: »

You are very organised
Only two weeks til nursery/school break up.

I'm hoping being organised will stop me overspending. I'm hoping to find enough low priced activities that we keep busy. I wanted to take them to the zoo but with the train cost and ticket prices it would be a total of £45.15 for the day! Its just not worth spending that much money on a day out

I can't wait until the start of July so I can start making some headway on our debts.

I've signed up the 3 year old for swimming lessons and dance classes. She's been on the swimming lessons waiting list for a while so I'm glad she finally has a place, learning to swim is very important to me. Swimming lessons are in a town 14 miles away, there is nothing in my town anymore so its very frustrating. These run throughout the summer holidays so our first class is next week, luckily I've still got around a 1/4 of a tank left so that will do me for next month.

Dance classes are a 5 minute walk from the house so no costs to actually get there, but she has a uniform to wear for both classes. The first class her uniform will be £42.50 :eek: the second class they are changing the uniform and they haven't finalised what exactly they are doing, although she said it will probably be black leotard and black shorts. I forgot to ask about shoes, as its jazz and tap combined class so not sure if they use tap shoes at that age or if they just do more technique based stuff so potentially 2 types of shoes :eek: They are going to email me the prices and requirements when they have processed all the paperwork for everyone signing up, I'm thinking its going to be around £100 in uniform costs :eek:
When I have the email I'm going to see if I can source things cheaper than they are selling them for at the shop. I've already got my eye on a ballet leotard which someone is selling for £3 (new cost £18), I've messaged them so hopefully they reply.
The dance school hasn't changed their preschool ballet uniform ever, this year they were still wearing the same uniform I wore as a 3 year old so I think its a safe bet buying this leotard.
I can now see why my mum got annoyed when I didn't look after my dance wear, even the socks are £2 a pair!

Baby is still on the waiting list for parent and child swimming.

I think I need to make a 'childrens clubs' pot as well