Of to the fair today with children and 2 young grandchildren any ideas how not to spend a fortune? There goes this weeks budget.

Well, regarding the rides it is a tricky one because this is a rare event for the kids every year so you wouldn't want to restrict them and you would want them to enjoy it fully.

I would try and cut down on the food though by carrying my own snakcs, equally attractive (I wouldn't try competing with the food in the fair with an apple to contribute to one of their 5-a-day today :), and offer it to them when you see a food stall so once they are happily eating the snacks you gave them they won't be as interested in the other food they see.

The one where you will find it more difficult will be the icecreams as you can't carry this around. However, you can promise them that when you get home you will prepare them an icecream with chocolate sauce, nuts on top and all the trimmings, they will love it and will be looking forward to that :)

Yes, don't go on anything!! The fair is a total rip off, but children do love it, some of my best memories are from the fairground.
If you are going, try and restrict the number of rides they go on, or give them a certain amount of money and stick to it. What ever you do, don't take them to the random stalls. The ones that are like hook-a-duck. They are a complete rip off and you may win a 50p object for paying £3, so stay clear.

Saying this, enjoy it! It's a great time out, =)

Well I recommend you keep to a fixed spending budget for what you can afford - including the icecreams etc. and avoid the prize winning games - they are inevitably fixed so you don't win. Also be careful with the young ones - fairgrounds are renowned for accidents.

Giving them each a bugdet, this is your £5.00 to spend, and let them choose their own rides, means they carefully choose which ones, rather than just asking for everything.

The kids will want to go on everything, so if they are old enough to understand money, set them a budget before you leave. Be prepared to top this up for them but set a budget for that too. Eg. Give them a fiver each and at lunchtime award them an extra fiver for good behaviour. This way you come off as the good guy while only spending the money you had planned to.

As an adult try to go on as few rides as you can, if you accompany the kids on every ride it soon adds up.

Take a picnic as food is always expensive. Remember how you were as a kid, sandwiches and fruit wont cut it, Take some sweets to tempt them away from expensive sweet stalls on site.

Good luck.

some fairs now offer a band like those you get at theme parks allowing access to all the rides, get them for the older kids if they are available younger children might not be allowed on some rides so best to give them a small amount to spend on rides. avoid the stalls they are such a waste of money and split any money you dish out to the childreen in half give them half when you get there and half later i.e. after they eat their lunch (a nice picnic would be lovely - but make it a good one, or give them a good meal before they get there).

Make sure you take a nice picnic, if you get the children to help you make it, they will enjoy eating it even more, and let them have some money each asnd tell them once its gone its gone!! plan your route round the fair carefully, and try to avoid some of the more expensive rides!!

Lucky you. Yeah give them a budget, take plenty food and drinks, and tissues go on some rides with them - they'll enjoy seeing you go queezy! And keep your eye open for freebie clowns or jugglers. Take a ball with you. They might get bored. Have a lovely time! Wish I was there!

I went to the fair a couple of weeks ago taking my nephew and some of his friends. Like others, I think it best to let them have a fixed amount and to choose their own rides. I would warn them that the shooting gallery always seems to be a fix and that you will never ever win that ipod or or iphone on display. Stick to the rides I say (especially the dodgems - I love them!)

Lots of other people have mentioned fixing the number of rides and/or amount and taking your own food/picnic is a great idea too.

As well as this suggest to them that you all walk round the fair first to see what rides there are so that they don't end up picking the first few they see and get disappointed once their budget has been used.

I know you have probably already had your day out and I hope you had a great time without spending too much money! My daughter loves fairs but I have found that the simpler things like winning a cheap stuffed teddy on hooking up a duck or two gives her the most pleasure and you are usually guaranteed a prize!! Whilst she enjoys the rides too some only last a couple of minutes whereas things like go karting last a little bit longer and they have to actually participate rather than just being spun round endlessly. We went to Llandudno last year and whilst it wasn't the cheapest activity she absolutely loved going in a big air filled ball and rolling around in it in a pool filled with water!!

jajajanie, how was the day at the fair? Did you manage to keep the budget under control? :)