Mum's £200 budget for entire summer holiday after hitting rock bottom in debt
Mercedes Smithson and her family of four are gearing up to stretch a mere £200 over the entire six-week school holiday. Despite the tight budget, Mercedes isn't embarrassed about the thrifty measures they'll be adopting this summer, following a reality check earlier in the year.
The family reached rock bottom financially, having to borrow money from Mercedes' mother, max out credit cards, and withdraw wages early just to scrape by. With bills skyrocketing and finances stretched thin, Mercedes and her husband Joel decided to take control of their situation.
Speaking to What's The Jam, she said: "We couldn't keep living in our overdrafts every month. Setting a £200 budget for the holidays felt scary at first, but it's actually taken a lot of pressure off. The kids don't need expensive trips – they just want time with us [my husband and me] and a bit of fun."
The NHS assistant practitioner believes that while £200 might not seem like a lot, it can be stretched quite far with a bit of ingenuity. She admitted that being near the seaside has been a haven for keeping the children entertained at almost no cost.
Her 12 year old son and eight year old daughter have been making the most of homemade picnics on the beach, river paddles, library visits, and playdates in local parks, all of which are free. And when it's time to cash out, Mercedes is always on the lookout for deals such as Pizza Hut's £1 kids' meals.
Mercedes has assured her children they won't miss out on summer fun, as she's planned a grand day out at a theme park. Using £40 in Tesco Clubcard vouchers coupled with her Blue Light Card discount to minimise expenses.
She explained: "I've had to get a lot more creative, but it's actually been fun finding cheap ways to keep the kids busy. They've not once complained or asked for anything expensive – they're just happy we're spending time together.
"It's easy to feel guilty as a parent, like you're not doing enough, but I've realised memories don't have to cost money. We've had days full of laughter without any big price tags, and that's what counts.
"Local events have been a lifesaver; they're often free and give the kids a chance to meet others. It really brings the community together."
However, Mercedes admitted it takes some effort: "It's a bit of work to plan everything, but I actually enjoy the hunt for bargains and free fun. It's like a little game for me now. The satisfaction of making the budget stretch and still seeing the kids happy is worth every minute. It's taught me a lot about what really matters, and that's priceless."
Taking to social media to share her journey and thrifty tips for the summer holidays, Mercedes quickly garnered a substantial following and heaps of encouragement from other parents keen to trim their own spending.
She said: "I wasn't expecting so many messages from parents saying they feel the same way. It's comforting to know we're not alone. Being honest about money struggles can be hard, but it's helped me connect with others and feel proud of what I'm doing.
"If anyone is secretly judging me, I honestly don't care. This is the smartest thing to do right now with how expensive everything's got."
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