Ex-Wife wants money for holiday

[vikingaero]

It's a situation complicated by the kids. How old are they and how much longer will you be expected to pay?

[Edible Roadkill]

I’ve been to centre parks twice (outside school holidays granted!) but only managed to spend around a grand each time for a mon-fri break. That’s also for 5 of us.

She sounds massively excessive and well if she’s decided to spend 5k on a centre park holidays that’s her outlook.

Keep your money and take your boys away yourself at some point.

[Brads67]

Pay any of that 5 grand and she will know with total certainty that you are an utter mug and can be relied on for cash at the drop of a hat.

[Sten.]

Brads67 said:

Pay any of that 5 grand and she will know with total certainty that you are an utter mug and can be relied on for cash at the drop of a hat.

This, this and more this.

[ellroy]

Balls to her.

[NickCQ]

Alltrack said:

You should only be paying the CMS calculated rate of child support??
If what your paying is more that the CMS rate, then you're a mug.

Such a mug to want to improve your own child's quality of life beyond the bare minimum

[Wacky Racer]

To be fair, I've never been, but Center Parcs seems grossly expensive to stay in a glorified log cabin in a forest somewhere, then you have to pay for most of the activities on top.

£3-5k? Crackers.

[98elise]

Bill said:

It's mental. £5k on a holiday isn't that outrageous, but a week in CP!?!

Agreed. We went to Florida in June this year. For the 4 of us for 2 weeks it was...

Virgin flights - £1600
Private villa with pool/hot tub/games room - £1600
14 day access to 3 universal theme parks - £1100
Car hire (Chrysler 300C) - £450

Edited by 98elise on Monday 12th August 18:34

[miniman]

I'd quite like to call BS on the "upgrade during the week" - I just can't see that happening as they run the sites at capacity the whole time. I'd be amazed if any of the super premium stuff was vacant.

[HTP99]

miniman said:

I'd quite like to call BS on the "upgrade during the week" - I just can't see that happening as they run the sites at capacity the whole time. I'd be amazed if any of the super premium stuff was vacant.

Good shout; OP, ask your kids (not directly), if they were moved into a "nicer lodge"!

[sparks_190e]

Also I'd like to add Centre Parks is actually fairly pleasant, I enjoyed our time there 5/6 years ago but it was in November and very cheap.

[Eyersey1234]

I've never been to Centreparks so can't comment on what they are like but I don't think it is reasonable of her to pay £5k for a holiday then expect the OP to retrospectively contribute. In the OPs shoes I'd be telling her to FRO and plan a holiday for the kids myself.

[Robertj21a]

At least she's already an EX - one massive problem sorted !

[croyde]

HTP99 said:

Good shout; OP, ask your kids (not directly), if they were moved into a "nicer lodge"!

They confirm they were moved on the Friday to the bigger place.

[anonymous-user]

Shuvi McTupya said:

Just try and visualise yourself on the holiday with her as she makes all the decisions that make the bill keep creeping up.
Should we go to the shop and get some food?
"No we are on holiday, lets just eat out!" £200 a day
Should we stay in this chalet and save a few quid?
"No , lets get the upgrade for a few days !!" £700
Anyone thirsty? I am putting the kettle on.
"Thats what room service is for"..£20

This is what I was thinking, only with the added "oh my ex will be giving me a bit of money towards this anyway" attitude during it and, probably "..well if he doesn't I'll make life difficult" - total catch 22 situation.

If you do, do the same as she did in the future and turn the tables. See what the outcome is.

[croyde]

Well the problem is that I have no money. So she can't have any anyway.

I thought that I'd be called selfish by PHers for not thinking of the children. In fact I was getting ready to put my flame proof suit on. How wrong I was

[davhill]

How much? HOW FEKKIN MUCH? I'd expect very much more for that kind of outlay, including car hire, top dining and more to see than squirrels.
Planning fail and then some.

[bristolbaron]

Tell her she can have 2.5k, but that you’re building a 30k garden play room. She owes you 12.5k.

[Douglas Quaid]

I wouldn’t use centre parcs again as there are much better places about. Tell her to sod off then take the kids on holiday yourself. If you’re a bit broke go to one of the forest holidays places or bluestone resort. Cheaper than centre parcs and a lot nicer.

[Zetec-S]

Douglas Quaid said:

I wouldn’t use centre parcs again as there are much better places about. Tell her to sod off then take the kids on holiday yourself. If you’re a bit broke go to one of the forest holidays places or bluestone resort. Cheaper than centre parcs and a lot nicer.

Umm... Forest Holidays is not really any cheaper