We pay for the pool and open tab at the snack bar. Beyond that we went to 3 movies and one bowling day all summer. We eat 3 meals a day at home, occasionally one at the pool, and usually one weekend restaurant dinner.

Not even close to $100/day.

Whaat?!
We go to the pool, playgrounds, hiking, lakes or state parks ($5 a car), the beach (day trip, so cost of gas), buy grouupons or coupon books for the bounce places and trampoline places. I just checked the bank. I haven't spent $700 this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I probably spend on average $100 per day on a mix of admissions and meals. Some days are more and others are less. I have 2 kids in elementary and 1 in preschool. Of course we spend less during school but in the summer I feel like the summer outings add up.

$100 PER DAY??

Doing what?

I could blow that easily, just on food. Stop at Starbucks with a drink for everyone is 20 alone. Add in lunch at sit down places for four and you have at least another 50.00. That doesn’t include any activities. If OP is not a troll, I think they may just rely on outside factors to run their day, which can be wicked expensive.

OP here. My kids were in camp or we were on vacation until the beginning of August. I guess I have been treating the past 2 weeks as a staycation. We do eat at sit down restaurants for lunch or dinner. We have also eaten at places like shake shack. I have done a few overnight trips to Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Annapolis.

We just met up with a friend this morning. I spent $60 for the activity for my 3 kids plus $50 for lunch. Yesterday I spent $120 on a day out in DC. Tomorrow meeting up with another friend for activity and dinner.

Summer outings can add up, but there are so many free things to do like nature center programs, Fairfax Arts in the Park, library programs.
Other things you do once a week or a few times a month, you should have memberships for - zoo, aquarium, pool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I probably spend on average $100 per day on a mix of admissions and meals. Some days are more and others are less. I have 2 kids in elementary and 1 in preschool. Of course we spend less during school but in the summer I feel like the summer outings add up.

$100 PER DAY??

Doing what?

I could blow that easily, just on food. Stop at Starbucks with a drink for everyone is 20 alone. Add in lunch at sit down places for four and you have at least another 50.00. That doesn’t include any activities. If OP is not a troll, I think they may just rely on outside factors to run their day, which can be wicked expensive.

I mix it up. I have two kids. One day will be badlands which will be probably $75 with food and the next will be library and free bowling. I don’t do a big activity each day. We’ve been away for most of the last month, and this week my kids have just wanted to stay home and veg.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wtf!?! Get a job.

If you can afford to spend $2,800/month just on kid entertainment there’s probably not much motivation to get a job. What on earth for?

What’s your HHI? Where do you go on vacation?

Very high. And, very nice places. Next?

Could I? Sure! Would I? No.

You need to work with a schedule of events. Plan the month in advance, which is also fun for the kids. Pick one costly thing per week as a group and have that as something special to look forward to each week.

. Buy annual passes, if you are repeating visits. Google great parks. Buy an easy carry picnic set up and the kids can help plan, make a shopping list, budget with a set amount and make the meal. Have art days at home, where it is ok to get super messy, two down days a month where you chill, maybe bake or watch videos, water days (pool, outdoor swim, water park) a couple of times a week, pic a subject for each week and learn more about that topic, small hikes, open events, library activities and then museums and general outdoor fun.

It is all in the planning. If you are coming up with most of it on the fly it can get expensive and repetitive fast. Kids generally like getting to help plan the activities and you may be surprised by the things they select.

Anonymous wrote:Are you not in DC where the best museums are free and public transport is cheap? We visit museums, libraries, find free stuff going on around town, and maybe 2-4x/mo do something paid. I pack lunches and we're back home for nap then usually go to a park in the afternoon. Are you a troll?

She hasn’t come back yet so good chance.

Are you not in DC where the best museums are free and public transport is cheap? We visit museums, libraries, find free stuff going on around town, and maybe 2-4x/mo do something paid. I pack lunches and we're back home for nap then usually go to a park in the afternoon. Are you a troll?

Anonymous wrote:I probably spend on average $100 per day on a mix of admissions and meals. Some days are more and others are less. I have 2 kids in elementary and 1 in preschool. Of course we spend less during school but in the summer I feel like the summer outings add up.

$100 PER DAY??

Doing what?

ZERO.

You are either wealthy or stupid.

Hard to imagine that must be an age/number of kids thing.
3 yo and 6mo
Maybe $30-40 a week? Usually Do playgrounds and library. Some days it’s just backyard play or neighborhood walk,
A couple Gymboree classes per week~$20
Rarely eat out because food crappy and too many germs plus kids are restless/don’t eat much at restaurants.
Bought a Nespresso machine for home-better coffee than sbux, seriously.
Ds likes grocery store outings as much as zoos/museums, frankly, so I don’t often bother with admission stuff at this age.

$100 a day?!?

My husband gives me side eye if I spend $28 at chik fil a for lunch. Frankly I side eye myself but lemonadeeeeee.

Anonymous wrote:I probably spend on average $100 per day on a mix of admissions and meals. Some days are more and others are less. I have 2 kids in elementary and 1 in preschool. Of course we spend less during school but in the summer I feel like the summer outings add up.

I bet you’re boring IRL.