The county fair is going on in our town. We have been to many free things and have just walked around the fair 3 times so far!! Last night we rode rides. I bought 20 tickets for $35, but that does not go far with 5 kids, so they had to pick and choose. Today my 7 yr old went to the fair with his summer rec program. They were not going to ride rides, but could bring money. I gave him $5. My dd (almost 14) was meeting a friend there today so I gave her $15 for an unlimited ride band and told her if she is thirsty to go to the Culligan booth because you can get free water there!. I let my other 3 boys play one game each ($2, $2 and $3) I watch all these kids riding everything and playing all the games and I wonder how families can drop $100 or so on the fair I kinda feel bad for my kids sometimes, but we did all the free thing (Fire dept smoke house, FCA sports activities, 4 H exhibits, FFA petting zoo, Hospital craft table, Red cross putting green ,etc) I know they wanted to do more but, I think they all had fun!!! I did really good at spending $0 on food or drinks!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

Happymom - I had a similar experience yesterday at the park. My kids were having a great time, then the dreaded ice cream truck rolls up (YES, I am the one that hates this truck as you may know from previous posts) and I swear EVERY kid and parent bolts over there to get a treat. And I am the meanie who says no. Which was fine until we were THE ONLY ones without an ice cream - then I felt really bad. Honestly, if I gave in everytime I see this truck, I would be homeless - it is so expensive!

Anyway, we got home and I got them treats from our freezer, but I still feel a little bad...

Our county fair is coming up in a few weeks, We go a couple of times, the first night is a free night as not everything is in place and judging is not done and the midway is not open, so we go this night and eat supper. We pay a flat fee to get in the rest of the week which includes rides. If we buy a 4-pack of tickets before the fair begins they are $5.00 each. I must say though I live for fair food. It happens once a year and I like to give $$ to the organizations from our area. I don't buy from the carnies but from all of the local groups who are trying to do fund raising.

And no you are not mean! I know it is difficult when you have kids and you have to pay for so much. At least they were able to enjoy things that were free for them.

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~Jill~

i don't think you were mean at all...fairs are expensive heck we dropped 60 bucks at our tiny town fair and they had a whopping 3 kiddie rides and games wich were 5 bucks a piece its nuts...the only fair we splurge at is the old threshers reunion but we plan all year for that and most of it is free....don't feel bad if you let them go wild you could be broke in a matter of hours...

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Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

Our county fair only has pony rides as a form of a ride. Our county fair consists of looking at livestock, farm tractors and other farming equipment, and feeding sheep. The highlights are the cast iron skillet toss and the pageant.

Parking is $4.00 a vehicle.

Food wise there is ice cream, popcorn, funnel cakes and hot dogs, that's it.

We get tons of freebies though.

We have a huge fair every year in this area, this year will be the 133rd one - it is the only Grange Encampment fair left in the USA. It's a huge tradition here, for many families even though its less than 10 miles away it is their one and only vacation. Some people save all year, others will take out a loan every year. For the families lucky enough to have a tent or camper spot they literally move in and live at the fair for 10 days. I have heard of families dropping $1500-$2000 easily between the camper/tent spot, eating out, groceries to stock the camper/tent, spending money for the kids, rides, games, purchases etc. These aren't wealthy or comfortable families... I don't know how they do it.

Our fair is coming up this week. I'm going to buy the boys presale arm bands for the rides for $6. We have most of our fun looking at the animals and that's always free! Our favorite cow from the little barn next door (Annie) is going to be there. The boys are really excited about visiting her.

I don't think your mean for setting limits. My parents always told me weeks before the fair to start saving my money. They gave me a set amount and anything else came from my savings. It's a good way to learn about what is important and what is foolish with money.

We went to the county fair this week too but we went during the day when the rides and other stuff weren't running so the temptation to spend money wasn't there but the neat farm animals were and they loved that. This thread made me think of a book. Has anyone read Farmer Boy (from the Little House On the Prairie book series)? I think that it would be a good book to read just before the county fair comes up. Almonzo asks his dad for money for a lemonade like his buddy had bought and his dad reminds him of how hard they had to work for the money and I think that ultimately he bought a pig to raise to bring back to the fair the next year or something like that. I

I know what you mean about feeling mean but I know my kids love the simple pleasures and the stuff that is free is more fun and safer (those rides scare me!!)

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:love: married to dh 7 years
ds 6, dd 4, dd 3, dd 1

I wouldn't feel guilty. Kid's can have fun off of a budget limit. I think it helps them apprieciate things more. It helps them learn the value of a dollar and to prioritize what's most important to them. You are not being mean. I have to do the same thing. I tell the kids I have a certain amount left this week to spend I can't spend it all in one day or all on one person. But everyone can get and do something fun.I say I have to be careful cause if I spend it all today then tommorow we'll have no money for slushies or park rides and such.They know I do what I can and I put their needs first then wants.My childhood was very disaplined in money. I was happy in the simple things.

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Crystal Ann

I'm jealous. There aren't fairs here. I grew up going to a few a year back home, and the last 6 years I've fond NONE in this town. We went home for a visit last year and missed the fair by a week. I was so unhappy.

I don't thik your mean, I mean, it's not like the kids didn't get to play ANY gaes or go on ANY rides...

To the mommy who dreads the ice cream truck... I felt guilty just reaing your post, lol. I don't know if I could have been as good as you were! I tend to let people guilt me into things. I just hope my future kids don't learn the puppy dog eyes I use on DH, or I'll be in REAL trouble!!!

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70