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I have an interesting issue that I am facing right now, and that is that I have a really hard time spending money. Normal I take this as a good thing, as we all know how easy it is to spend, but it's really effecting me... for example, I want to take my family to the zoo, as my kids are 3 and 2 and really want to go, yet I'm having a hard time justifying the 200$ or so that will be spent that day... I mean, that's 200$ that I could put into savings or into something else..it's hard for me to imagine that money "poof gone"... any thoughts? I know being money conscious is a fantastic thing, but where is the balance between "enjoying" life and saving?

Lots of different ways to set up a plan on how to spend your money. Honestly, I am the same way. I see the prices of some of these things, and we just simply cannot afford to do a lot of these things with our kids. At the same time, we have to live life though as well. That money is not going to do us any good when we are 6 feet under.  
 
You have to decide what you want to save for first. Ie. kids futures, university, helping them make larger purchases, retirement, etc. Then you have to decide what kinds of activities you want to do with your kids. This could be which activities you sign them up to participate in each year such as sports or music lessons, etc. Then you have to decide what is important for you to experience with your kids. Are you the travelling type, or do you get more enjoyment with doing things like visiting amusement parks or zoo's, etc.  
 
For us, we put our kids child tax cheques away for them every month to save for their futures. Whether that be for education, or a down payment on a house, etc.  
We also decide each year what is most important to us. This year we already have our summer vacation planned, and it is one that is maxing out our budget. Adding in some of the other kind of expensive activities like the zoo won't be an option this year for us. We may be able to do some other things like heading to the pumpkin patch in the fall though, or making a day trip up to the lake or something. We were just at the zoo last year, so to go again this year definitely does not feel like it is worth spending the money on.  
 
It's really just all about prioritizing, and deciding what is important. Saving money just for the sake of having a large savings account is not worth it though. Have plans for your money so that you can enjoy life with your kids!

You also have to consider the age of the children. At 2 and 3 this will mean next to nothing to them in a week. They will be just as excited to go see some cows at a friends farm (for free)  
 
If you saved that 200 for the next 5 years you could take them to Disney world!  
 
Im not against having fun. I just don't agree that it needs a price tag!

I hear ya. I often get feelings of guilt spending money on things.  
 
Do you budget? If so, make a category for those types of things so you can spend without guilt and worry. For example, if you budget $XXX for "activities" for the summer, then you can account for that in your long-term plan.  
 
We plan on spending $500 for our holidays/vacation this year, and even though we're on a tight budget, because I planned that and set it aside I can spend it without guilt.  
 
We find other high-impact things to do for little money the rest of the time (such as driving up to Minnedosa to go to the beach - for free... or having a weiner roast down at Dinsdale - for free... or making a point of visiting every park and playground in Brandon over the course of summer (pack a picnic lunch!) - for free).  
 
And honestly, save the zoo. I personally hate the zoo. If you're going to spend $200 and go to Winnipeg anyway, you'll have a much better time at Tinkertown. Or even just going to Assiniboine Park and going to the nature park (free) and the steam train that runs through the park (minimal cost). Or spend the day at Island Park in Portage (HUGE playground, nice park, pool with waterslides great for littles).

As cheesy as it sounds, the smile on my child's face is worth the price I pay, to see him have fun or experience something new is what keeps me going as a Mom. Life doesn't always have to be "serious". As a parent I worry about finances, health, bills etc all day long. When we take a trip, I don't think of any of that stuff, we just have fun. We usually do Winnipeg 2x a year. Once in the winter and once in the summer, and yes it costs us a few hundred every time once we factor in hotel costs, but I've never regretted it and my son has always had a blast. You have to have a balance in life of fun and frugal.

And I agree, if you want to go to Winnipeg, go to Tinkertown. My son talked about it everyday for months and he was only 3!

Save up $200 for 5 years and go to Disneyworld? Not sure when the last time you went to Disney but $1000 won't cover admission tickets and food for a week for a family of 4. You're out of money before you even leave town and you haven't even travelled there yet or have anywhere to sleep.  
 
I wouldn't spend$200 for the zoo in Winnipeg. Not worth it for their age. I'd rather do more day trips, reptile gardens, Souris pool, Minnedosa Beach, Ice Cream and picnic at a local park, etc. At that age, kids are just happy being outside, in the water, etc.

I have a third degree Black belt in spending money!lol  
 
Edited by ichimung, 2017-07-21 22:36:10

Money experts usually advise people to save 10 percent of their income and invest it for the long term. If you are doing this and are paying the bills, generally I would say don't feel too guilty to spend a bit.

lots of great comments already, like budget for entertainment so you know you are not over spending, decide whats worth it for you ect. that is what i do but it does sound like your problem is in your head a bit so you will need to work on that. doesnt mean you end up justifying the zoo trip but it should mean you find a way to have fun within a budget you set without guilt.  
 
My dad was like that and he was so frugal he robbed himself of much enjoyment and life just to die with a bank account that family fought over, the stuff that he saved to help the kids got stolen ect ect so anyway because of that i try to remember that money and life is supposed to be lived! the memories may only be for you because your kids may or may not remember but is your happiness not worth some of your budget?  
 
 
is that great feeling the kids grow up with my experiencing exciting outing with their family not worth some of your budget? do you think their fun as a child will impact their future mental health in a positive way, is that not worth it to you? maybe because you are frugal and value that (as i do) you look for the cheapest entertainment that will satisfy all your values and impact your kids and your mental health, like the portage pool (cheap fun) parks with packed lunch, drives to hiking trails ect, with a few budgeted bigger outings  
 
dont forget you can also do some of the more expensive stuff in the cheapest way, like go to the zoo, but pack lunches, snacks and drinks (ok for fun maybe spring for an ice cream, cant pack that right HAHA)  
 
just remember you and your kids are worth a portion of your budget

I should probably be more thrifty but my bills get paid and money goes into various savings, as long as that's done I enjoy spending money on my family and me. Not that we go crazy but we booked a hotel for a couple nights in Winnipeg and will take our kids to the zoo and the Manitoba museum. Our oldest loves going to see the animals and especially the dinosaurs. It's worth it to us to have fun family experiences. We're also going to clear lake for a couple nights because we have use of a free cabin, so only need to pay for food mostly. We also do free or cheap stuff like head to the beach, have picnics, go mini golfing, hiking, etc.  
 
We will help our kids out a bit financially if they go to college or university but I'm not paying for it all or helping out with a house. I feel like part of being an adult is paying your own way, saving up and buying a house, vehicle etc that you can afford. Balancing your budget with also paying for school whether that be before, during or after.

Its about creating memories for your children. At ages 2 and 3 the Wpg. zoo may be impractical - however - Manitoba has numerous small zoos on local farms. There is one south of Elkhorn, cost you less then $20.00 but the kids would have a blast. There is also petting zoos that make appearances at shopping malls and your small town fairs. In spite of what people have said - young children do remember highlights of their life.

Good story stared with. "Remember when we stayed home"

Exactly! It's about the memories! Even if they won't remember it, you will.

maybe the zoo is just an example but you could go to the minot zoo, smaller so its cheaper and not to big for littler kids, wait until a bit older so they can handle a large zoo like winnipegs

Thanks everyone for their input. I really appreciate the other point of views! Thanks again

traveller said "maybe the zoo is just an example but you could go to the minot zoo, smaller so its cheaper and not to big for littler kids, wait until a bit older so they can handle a large zoo like winnipegs "

We haven't been to Minot zoo in many years. But it is smaller and you can get closer to the animals. You can feed them by purchasing food. If one of you feeds the deer the other can Pat him/her. Imagine petting a deer. You can feed the lemurs and they will actually touch your fingers to get the carrots. We love it there.

Let'sgetreal said "    traveller said "maybe the zoo is just an example but you could go to the minot zoo, smaller so its cheaper and not to big for littler kids, wait until a bit older so they can handle a large zoo like winnipegs " We haven't been to Minot zoo in many years. But it is smaller and you can get closer to the animals. You can feed them by purchasing food. If one of you feeds the deer the other can Pat him/her. Imagine petting a deer. You can feed the lemurs and they will actually touch your fingers to get the carrots. We love it there. "

we live south of brandon so its closer for us but we also liked the minot zoo for an afternoon, kids are a bit older so we are done with the zoo now but it was the one we preferred, i believe it was under $20 for us all to get in too

camping at the lake... Corn & Apple festival, many low cost activities, Great dino museum,free main stage concert