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Twins Dalia and Alex and their brother Jamie.
The 'Staycation' summer
Deanna Delamotta29/ 7/2008
THE paddling pool in the garden of the Brown family home in Timperley has been worth its weight in gold - and water - for the past few days.
Twins Alex and Dalia, aged eight and five-year-old Jamie have been splashing about happily after breaking up from school last week.
Despite weather forecasters predicting rain, Jo Brown is praying for the sun to keep shining. However, in reality, the British climate isn't likely to do her any more favours than the British economy.
"Everything is so very expensive," says Jo, 35, who works in childcare.
"It's incredible how prices have gone up. I've got a 4x4 that I've had since 2001. I remember that for years it cost me £30 to fill up. Now it's £60.
"Before, I would spend around £100 on food a week, now it's much more and it's not as if we're buying the premium ranges of supermarket foods - I'm talking basics.
"I know I'm not the only one, friends and neighbours are feeling the pinch. It's extremely diffficult because salaries haven't gone up to reflect the huge increase in the cost of living which has been particularly noticeable over the past year."
Time off
Jo has taken time off from work to spend with her children during the summer holidays - this being the carrot she proffered to her brood to make up for the fact that they won't be going away. "We've gone through the phase where the children kept asking why we weren't going away but they've accepted it now."
They're not the only ones. Staying home for the holidays is a 2008 phenomenon with the American word "staycation" (staying home rather than going on vacation) filtering into the English language.
Jo says: "The children haven't said they're bored yet but it's only just the beginning. It's going to be difficult to keep them occupied for the duration of the holidays. We usually go on two or three holidays a year so this is a big change for the children and us as parents. But the cost of going abroad is just too high. We'll be saving a few thousand pounds by staying at home which is money we'll need to buy new school uniforms and to meet the added costs of bills and general day-to-day living. Flight prices have gone up as a result of fuel increases and there are all these little extras, like luggage charges. With a family of five you really feel those sort of costs."
Jo and her husband, Laurence, 36, who runs his own telecommunications business, are hoping they can instil some good old-fashioned play values into their children.
"It's not like when we were young," says Jo. "Kids aren't as good at keeping themselves occupied as we were as children because they've come to expect to be entertained on demand with computer games, for instance.
"And you have the added factor that a lot of parents are scared to allow their children to play outside in the street.
"I'm more relaxed about it so I let the girls out on their bikes on the housing development where we live as I feel it's quite safe. But I also think you have to give them some freedom - within reason.
Amuse themselves
"When the weather's good there's no problem at all for the children to amuse themselves - then it doesn't matter if they're at home or abroad."
With a close eye on the purse strings Jo has looked into what her local authority is doing and at play schemes and events at local tourism attractions like Tatton Park.
"There is lots happening - but going further afield to leading UK tourism destinations will only be entertained if the cost can be justified."
Jo adds: "I've looked into the promotional offers that you see for cut price family days out but my advice to other families would be to read the small print as often there are significant add-on costs that you need to take into account."
And some theme park excursions that many would consider a must for the staycation family are out of the price range for middle income families like Jo's.
"We're not badly off but the cost for us of an overnight trip to Alton Towers is far too high. I looked into it and it would be £400."
So for now, their house has been transformed into a play centre with activities set up around the four walls. "The house was like a honeypot over the weekend with children converging on our garden because it was all set up for them and that was really nice.
"But I'm not going to be made to feel guilty if I don't have activities planned for my children every day. That would be too much and I don't think any mother should feel pressured into doing so. Caring for children is enough of a juggling act as it is.
"I am feeling quite calm at the moment but to be honest I don't know how long that will last!"
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30/07/2008 at 16:51