Cost of living crisis: How to save money during the school holidays
Ways to reduce your food bill
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August 17, 2022Can you save money during the school holidays?
Make no mistake about it – the summer holidays are an expensive time of the year, made more expensive by the cost of living crisis that we are experiencing and the news that energy bills are set to rise further this Autumn.
Last year, a study by comparethemarket, showed that the average UK family spent an extra £1400 on entertaining the kids over the summer holidays. So how can families ensure that their pennies go as far as they can?
The answer to how to save money during the school holidays is in free or minimal cost activities
Have a read to find out our top cost saving ideas that you can use for ideas on how to save money during the remainder of the school holidays…
Feeding time
In answer to the cost of living crisis, many supermarkets and food chains are offering free or discounted meals for children when a fully priced adult meal is purchased. Always check on the food chain’s website to find what deals they are offering.
Make an ideas jar
Parents put themselves under so much pressure to give their children a summer break to remember, but when asked to recount their favourite moments, how many times does the child surprise you and mention the little moments? Give them the responsibility to jot down some ideas on little bits of paper, fold them up and put them into a jar. Tell them to write down what they like doing most in the world – we bet there will be things like building dens, going for walks and having picnics.
Go on a treasure hunt
Have you heard of geocaching? Use your smartphone to discover treasures in your local area. You can download an app where you are given a set of coordinates to explore. It gets the kids out in nature and is a great way to spend time with each other.
Get outdoors
Exploring nature is a great way to save money during the school holidays and tire the kids out at the same time. You could walk to a local landmark or visit places in the countryside or on the coast. If you are members of the National Trust then use your membership to gain free entry to one of their many sites around the country. English Heritage owns a number of sites across the UK, where it is free to visit yet parking does come with a charge.
Paint rocks
If you’re faced with a rainy day, why not gather some rocks from the garden and paint them? On the next fine day, get outside and hide them on a local walk. You may find that your area has a local rock finding Facebook group for you to post pictures of your finds.
Look out for deals
There are many deals to be had if you know where to find them. If you search on voucher sites or type discounted tickets for X into Google, you may find some great deals for attractions such as zoos and aquariums.
Also check the attraction’s website before you travel there. Booking tickets in advance and online normally guarantees cheaper prices.
Visit a children’s zoo or a farm
There are a few small, children’s zoos around the country where children can visit animals and watch them feed or get groomed. Some have scheduled feeding times or petting times where children can get involved.
Visit a splash park
Temperatures are set to rise this Summer holiday, so why not try and get to a splash park or an outdoor lido?
Host a film afternoon
Get your blankets, popcorn, cinema snacks and host a film afternoon from the comfort of your living room. Many of the newer film releases are on the subscription services or you could always snuggle down and watch a classic.
Visit the theatre for less
Going to the theatre is normally an expensive trip, however throughout August, some London based theatres offer cheaper tickets for children and some allow children to go for free when accompanied by an adult.
This may also be the case for regional theatres, therefore it is best to check on the individual websites.
Every Monday at noon, a number of seats for Disney shows in London are available for £25 through DisneyTickets and some shows, including Hamilton, run daily lotteries to enter, with winners able to purchase tickets for between £10-£35 for a performance that week.
Visit a gallery or museum
Most UK galleries and museums are free to enter and run activities during the day, especially catered towards children during the holidays. Search your local gallery/museum for more information and to see what exhibitions they are running.
Pick your own fruit
Summer in the UK is prime fruit picking time. Turn up with the kids (sometimes prebooking is required so check your local fruit picking farm), pay your entry fee which usually includes the price of a full punnet and get picking!
Camp in your garden
If you have camping gear, then set it up in the garden and camp outside for the night. The kids will love it!
If you are worried about your finances, have you carried out a money overhaul? Have a read of our blog post detailing what measures you can take. Alternatively, you can call us for expert advice to see if we can help you.
