So far we’ve had an inexpensive school holiday. We’ve stayed local and enjoyed play dates, trips to the park or library. We’re often put off going further afield as the cost of days out can really add up. However it is possible to save money on days out and there is plenty of advice from money saving expert Sarah Willingham on Morrisons website – just look under M Savers/Savers Summer for lots of inspiration.
Cheap activities
Your local council will have loads of great activities planned all summer. Some will be free, and others much cheaper than the private options. Go to the website of your local district council and they will have a full list of summer activities. Options range from every sport you can imagine to dance classes and movie making. Prices vary from council to council.
Top tip! If its OFSTED approved then you can pay with childcare vouchers saving you a small fortune.
Free days out
There are lots of amazing places to visit in the UK that kids will love and they are free. Check out the Morrisons/Play England Play Map with nearly 4,000 free or very low cost play activities for you and the family to enjoy this summer. If it’s a rainy day then head to one of the many free museums in the UK, many of which offer free activity days during the summer holidays.
Use vouchers
Never buy anything online without searching for a voucher first. If there’s a specific theme park or pricey attraction that you (or the kids!) want to visit do a quick internet search before booking anything. There are loads of amazing online deals to take advantage of. For example, a quick search for ‘Alton Towers voucher’ brought up loads of 2 for 1 offers. Keep an eye out for the 2 for 1 deals in national newspapers or on the back of car parking or train tickets. Tell family and friends without children to save anything they see for you and your kids.
Don’t over spend when you get there
Food is expensive almost everywhere when eating out, especially with the whole family in tow. Take a picnic. My kids love a picnic. They help me make the sandwiches, bake cakes, slice fruit. Best of all, for some reason they love to wrap it and put everything in little bags they’ve made. They would always rather have food THEY’VE made at home. This summer the kids are excited about trying out the new M Savers summer recipes – and so am I!
Giveaway:
Morrisons have kindly offered one reader of the gingerbread house a £20 Morrisons voucher so they can try out the M Savers range for themselves!
To enter the giveaway (mandatory) please leave a comment telling me your best tip for saving money during the school holidays.
For an extra entry tell others about the competition using the Retweet button below or tweet this message: I want to save money and win a £20 Morrisons voucher @gingerbread_mum http://tinyurl.com/cp9adlf
For a final entry subscribe to the gingerbread house or follow me via Networked Blogs. I have some exciting competitions coming up and I would hate for you to miss out!
The Rules:
The competition closes at 8pm on August 29th and is open to UK residents only. The winner will be selected at random and contacted using the email address or twitter name supplied and announced on this blog post. If the winner does not reply within 3 days the competition will be redrawn. Good luck!
[ad#comp]
***** The winner is Natalie Lee *****
Find things to do that are fun but free – we spent alot of time at the park or free musuems. Also doing arts and crafts activities like cutting pictures out the argos catologue – kept the kids amused for ages for free! Also look out for local events that are free x
i have tweeted as @ashlallan
Take drinks and snacks with you instead of buying them while you are out and about!
I have tweeted as @caro_mad x
Share cars when going on a longer trip to save money on petrol and share travelling costs 🙂
I have tweeted the competition as @chrissy4116 and here is my tweet link:
https://twitter.com/chrissy4116/status/238001369339011074
I follow you via networked blogs as Christina Marriott 🙂
use only 1 credit card so you always know how much you owe
Get the kids to head outdoors and enjoy a sunny winter’s day. Take a picnic, hit the bike paths or go on some new bush walks.
On a rainy day, have a movie afternoon at home. Rent some DVDs, put on some popcorn and invite the kids’ friends over.
You could also play board games or teach them card games.
I follow you via networked blogs
I have tweeted the competition as @handbag2000
always worth checking your local library for events, many have childrens story telling and other activities, it is also invaluable for giving info on other activities and events in you local area.
I always make the most of local children’s centres during the holidays. They tend to have a whole bunch of free activities for all ages. I make sure I ring and book them as soon as I get the booklet as things tend to get very booked up!
I tend to make full use of children’s centres locally during the holidays. They tend to have a whole bunch of activities for a wide age range of children. They do get booked up so as soon as I get the info, I ring up and book things. Most activities are free and if there is a charge, its no more than £1 per family so very good!
It’s always worth reading local newspapers to find out the dates of fetes/events that kids can go to for free.
Instead of filling your paddling pool with water, fold a large sheet of plastic in half, tape two of the edges fully, throw in some glitter, tape the thrid edge up nearly all the way, use your hosepipe to fill the plastic pouch up and tape the edge up fully. You now have a cool water blob play mat that kids can play on for hours, and it didnt cost the earth to fill it, or re-fill it when it gets too cold. The kids play on top of it for hours on end!
Sign up to money saving websites such as Martin Lewis (moneysavingexpert.com) for restaurant vouchers, free days out, discounted cinema tickets and loads more!
I always take a picnic, including drinks and snacks. It saves a fortune instead of buying meals out
we go to free places like museums – I can also recommend the roman ruins at caerleon in south wales near cardiff – they had an outdoor area where they show kids what life was like in the army and they get to have a go with a sword and shield, theres fun games and quizzes – our 5 yr old loved it – very interactive! plus museums and these attractions always seems to offer free colour/gluing/sticking!
Picnics are always fun! Especially if you doa bit of baking first and take the goodies with you!
We love to go to local Wildlife Reserves as they are free and there is always lots for the kids to do and see, although they do have a donations box and we always pop some money in!
I have tweeted – @bloomingfox
Dont go to the toilet at home in the morning, wait till you get to work and use their water and toilet tissue 🙂
I love it!!!
you made me laugh more than imagining the incredulous looks on my kids faces if I tried that ‘Water Blob Playmat’ idea!!!
I subscribe via email
apart from the always pack a picnic and check for discounts from all sources such as advertising leaflets internet etc try getting together with friends and asking for group discounts not everywhere mention group discounts but most places will give some sort of discount
Make the most of the outdoors, even if its raining grab your water proofs and wellies and get splashing
make full use of free places like parks and museums, and always take your food and juice with you.
tweeted @pooohbear2811
To save money I actually send the kids to France, to my parents and my in laws…
@Dorothee77
🙂 Hey I used to do that too!!
Then the family moved back to the UK!!
I have tweeted
@Dorothee77
I follow you via Networked blogs
@Dorothee77
Don’t have kids lol
Seriously look around for 2 for 1 vouchers, and cheap or free things to do, for example take a picnic to the park and feed the ducks, bake a cake with the kids or teach them to make a pizza, go to the cinema when offers are on , e.g Sunday morning, Orange Wednesdays etc. Go to the beach and teach them how to make the best sandcastle or how to body board
tweeted melandjake99
Save £1/£2 coins in a whisky jar for those special days out … it soon mounts up!
Press a slightly damp flannel against your face and neck before applying moisturiser. Also apply with very slightly damp hands. Both these things mean you can use a little less product each time (meaning your item lasts longer) and also make the product easier and smoother to apply.
Plan ahead and look out for any travel offers over the holiday. Get a family ticket travel ticket and get 50% off admission to places with valid travel tickets. I usually makes some home-made fresh sandwiches in the morning and bring along some snacks such as fruits and crisp. We would then get some hot drinks or ice-cream when we get to attraction place. This way, travelling would be so much affordable and fun =)
Go geocaching. Kids love it, it’s good exercise and its freeeee!!!
I always try and save money wherever possible – for days out pick places that are free – local museums often have workshop days where there’s colouring & learning for the kids, visit a local petstore – there’s a big place near us that we take our son too, they have allsorts and it even entertains the adults!
tweeted from @piinkribbons
Add a handful of lentils to mince dishes (spag bol etc) to make the meat go further. Also works with grated carrot. Also very healthy! Extra money and extra healthy kids for the holidays.
Best Money Saving Tip:
Check out all the main supermarkets and when they roughly put out the reduced items.
Most reduced items can be frozen when you get home so you save on so much money – as long as you buy things you would normally buy lol.
I’ve bought fresh meats in the past for as little as 30p! and it’s been enough to feed my family of 4!
I’ve learnt that Asda start reducing in the morning, Tesco Start reducing at night and Sainsburys start around ‘home time’ from work.
Take a picnic, it saves a fortune on eating out.
We search the internet for local free activities/place to visit and always take our own food & drink.
I have tweeted the competition details & links
https://twitter.com/cqbish/status/238062050700562433
@cqbish
I am already subscribed to your emails
I always say bring your own food or drinks as well to any outdoor activity and also a nice way for an extra treat is to put your spare pence in a jar especially every so often and use that for extra special things to do with the kids
Liquiddemize@gmail.com
Also Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/Novasilence/status/238089989177630720
Also following via Networked blogs as Natalie
we try & make the most of local museums, they always have something to entertain the kids on in the hols 🙂
@emmav6
tweeted too 🙂
@emmav6
folllow via networked blogs
emma walters
Always take a packed lunch wherever you go.
I love the various voucher Apps on the iphone. Where ever you go, it scans the restaurants / activities in your area and lets you know any discounts. Then all you need to do is show your phone to claim the deal
There are so many places locally to enjoy for free, its just a matter of finding them! Ask around! Riverside picnics perfect for paddling, different parks to visit, caves and woods to explore. Take a rope and make a ropeswing, put up a hammock and spend the afternoon fighting over it, make a den, do a treasure hunt. Turn everything into an adventure!
I have tweeted about the competition!
I’m already subscribed to your blog.
ps. left the @WrightyH off my last comment! oops!
My best tip is to save up points from large retailers which can be exchanged for goods/food (picnics!) or days out. Well worth doing this
If you have a smartphone, make sure you download the Vouchercloud app for great deals, particularly on dining out, such as 2 for 1 on meals and large discounts!
I research thoroughly all the free and inexpensive activities that are going on in my local area and within easy travelling distance. I use the internet, local papers, library, UCAN centre, Clinic and word of mouth. I also enter every competition to try to win tickets, I have been successful and we have been to Eureka! and the Theatre.
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/chocolateonemse/status/238273291041779712
@chocolateonemse
I subscribe to your blog via email
Thank you
Local free activities for the kids and be sure to take a packed lunch to avoid paying over inflated food/drink costs.
Make your own ice lollies. You can use a range of items – fruit juice, cordial, yoghurt, fresh fruit, condensed milk, fromage frais (just stick your lolly stick in the pot and freeze!) and many more. Fun to make with the kids, refreshing and cheaper than buying them!
Going to a fringe festival? Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe and many others have comedy, theatre, magic, cabaret and childrens shows for you to see. Don’t pay for expensive tickets. Many of these festivals operate ‘free fringes’ where shows are completely free to ensure the performer/company gets audiences in to see their work. There are more and more kids shows added to the free fringe every year.
Make Sandwiches or take lunch instead of buying or cooking a heavy meal as you don’t need to have two large meals a day
Tweed
https://twitter.com/Jamiecomps/status/238309985522692097
@Jamiecomps
Buy lollies from the supermarket. We buy a big box (10 lollies for £2) from Tesco or Morrisons etc before heading to the park and then share them with their friends. Next time another mother buys the box. The children are just as happy with their 20p lollies as a £2 + ice-cream from the park kiosk.
We also make up games such as treasure hunts around the house and garden, putting out clues and “treasure” the night before. Great fun and can last for ages.
My best tip is to plan ahead and take a packed lunch wherever you go to save on eating out costs @Bobbity666
Tweeted comp as @Bobbity666
If you are near a supermarket on your day out, nip in to buy a multipack of ice creams/lollies for a a pound or two, rather than spending three times that on individual ones from a small shop or ice cream van. Saves pennies for the time you have to use the expensive ice cream van!
have tweeted 🙂
take pack lunches out , even to town if your shopping with the kids
Take a packed lunch with you and look online for entry offers before you go out anywhere
On days out we always take our own food…Either a packed lunch or a proper picnic depending on where we are going..and also look out for discount vouchers
Find out what to do for free in your area, there is loads
Have tweeted ( @boo1003 )
Also following via Networked Blogs
I like to go to tescos near closing time and buy bread, cakes, meat, vege and all reduced to next to nothing! Plus use clubcard vouchers when they come around and get money off that too!
Join forces with your friends on days out and take advantage of group discounts
@littleboo_21
Tweeted too
@littleboo_21
take a packed lunch when you go out for the day. It will save you a fortune @esthermate
tweeted @esthermate
wet
I subscribe by email
picnic
look in your local newspaper they have free acticities for children, there always the park or a nature trail which my children love, ask them to find several items and it keeps them occupied for hours and the are getting the fresh air and exercise
top up a pre paid card so you never over spend 🙂
Always look for special offers and 2 for 1 discounts and keep an eye out for free activities x
folowing on twitter and re tweeted @gothlass88 🙂
Have tweeted as @loumathema and subscribed x
Make pack lunches instead of taking the kids to mcds or other fast food places
Have a picnic lunch at the park and feed the ducks with the leftovers!
I tweeted as @olivia280177
I subscribe by email
Use printable vouchers from the internet
To save money during holidays I take the kids to different parks because you don’t have to pay to enter and where I live there are several large really lovely parks within walking/driving distance. Each one is unique and so the kids never get bored! Free days out are fab! X
Tweeted as @sweetie_tweeter
Have subscribed to your blog via email!
Thankyou for the fab competition! X
Making your own packed lunches saves a fortune rather than buying them, same goes with ice cream cones – buying a box of them is so much cheaper than ice cream vans and just as yummy
Always check the local council magazines or newspapers for free activities for the kids, there are usually lots of things going on during the summer holidays, also check voucher websites before taking kids out for a bite to eat, so many offers are available online now and every penny saved helps.
Keep your eyes peeled in the sales for really cheap craft kits and other indoor activities. Stash them away for a rainy day so you won’t be tempted to spend a lot of money on entertainment.
Plan what meals to have throughout the week and buy only what you need to reduce wasted food.
I try to buy a Merlin card when they are on offer for each adult. Then only ever have the childrens cost to pay. Plus no need don`t queue
My tip: If there’s somewhere you enjoy visiting often (theme parks, the zoo, a museum etc. ) then it could be worth signing up for a membership to save money plus receive extra benefits and discounts.
tweeted @CaveBake
subscribed via networked blogs 🙂
Look for the kids movies being shown for around £1 on weekends and holidays.
Go to the park, its free and great fun
Buy a group ticket on the bus – much cheaper than singles and can have up to 2 adults and 3 kids travel
Use your imagination to have a new adventure without leaving home. A pinic in the dining room fort for example or creating an art gallery in the hallway to surprise gran.
My top tip is the picnic one but as others will be reading this hoping to read more tips I figure I may as well give you all of mine. 🙂
Here are some of the things we’ve done for little money. Charlotte is 3 and a half.
1. Been for picnics (each time the sun shines)
2. Had a picnic on the living room floor each time the rain falls!
3. Used the recycling to make all sorts of objects, dinosaurs, binoculars (two empty loo rolls and string)
4. Taught her origami.
5. Blown up leftover balloons from birthday and bounced them around.
6. Taught her to skip
7. Maypole danced around the washing whirligig thing.
8. Played hide and seek
9. Worked our way through her big pile of colouring books and sticker books.
10. Tidied her room (she happily helped sort her old toys out once told her she would get pennies for them)
11. Walks around the country park
12. Pooled together into a people carrier with other mums to go to Coombe Abbey
13. Drawn pictures for relatives and posted them.
14. Caught two buses there and two back to visit my mum (Charlotte sees that as an adventure. I have a free bus pass due to disability so its free)
15. Teddy bears picnic in the garden.
16. Play dates with other mums at the park
17. ….and so on and so on.
These are just some of the things but I posted them in the hope they may inspire others in ways to entertain for nothing. x
Sorry for the extra comment but I forgot to say that I have tweeted as @libertygirly and followed network blogs and reader as Donna Lawton. x
look through holiday brochures and dream
make up new adventures where you dont have to splash the cash and treat them maybe 1 time a week to something that does cost x
suscribed to the gingerbread hose via google reader
siobhan marie
i go onto magicefreebiesuk.co.uk every day to get the best deals and freebies.. also vouchercodes.co.uk and freestuff.co.uk these are all great money saving vouchers plus freebies! i save about 89.87£ a month!
If it’s allowed, take a picnic with you wherever you go!
Go on a diet – it’s saving me a fortune in shopping bills!
Being more creative about finding ways to entertain the kids. We’ve done things like nature walks, jam-jar fishing for tiddlers, organizing a scavenger hunt etc. Also, picking what to do out of a jar of ideas makes it more fun and spontaneous 🙂
Always search online for deals/vouchers before you go – you can save a fortune just by spending a little “prepping” time
Always take a packed lunch, saves a fortune. There are lots of free events over the summer, check local press and newspapers. Museums are free as well
We usually have a couple of outings to zoo/theme park with my son’s classmates and families… It’s usually pretty easy to get a group together and qualify for group booking discounts.
Always check the attractions website instead of turning up on the day, most places give discount for buying in advance.
Go online before any trip out – you’ll always find discount vouchers that you can print of to use in restaurants, theme parks etc.
Take snacks and drinks wherever you go. Simple but will save a fortune especially in theme parks and attractions
Tweeted @second_time_mum
Following via Networked Blogs
We always search the internet for vouchers for Restaurants, travel or theme parks!! They save us a fortune and worth the time spent looking x
Take the kids to the beach / park with a picnic, hunt for bugs, play hide and seek and other games!
My best tip for saving money during the school holidays to Take a picnic to the park for a cheap day out
Take a picnic when you go out for a day trip, it saves so much money!
Days out at the beach or park can be more fun if you go with a friend and their children. The kids have someone to play with and aren’t wanting to do activities that cost money, you can car share and you can take different picnic items with you.
Go for family bike rides it’s free and you can make a day of it
I’ve tweeted
@Hazelrush54
try ebay for cheaper tickets 0r 2 for 1 is another bargain
Win a competition like this 🙂
I’ll save £20 off my weekly shop or perhaps use it to by picnic foods and have a catered for day out.
Tweeted @robynlclarke
https://twitter.com/robynlclarke/status/240209136376242176
book tickets online in advance to cut the cost xx
have tweeted: @jessiica_faye
Entering competitions for family days out
try to use vouchers for days out f
Museums, free, fun and educational!
Swap your usual brand products for the “value” ones. They are so much cheaper and more often than not you will not notice any difference in performance
check you local sport centres, our local ones were doing free swimming for kids in the summer holidays!!
Check local press / free magazines from your area. They often have ideas for free / cheap activities to enjoy with your children. Also don’t forget the old stand-bys – the park, the local beauty spot and the library which, despite my girls having hundreds of books, holds endless fascination for them 🙂
I’ve tweeted 🙂 @pipersky1
I already subscribe to your newsletter 🙂 @pipersky1
Get the voucher cloud app for your mobile so whenever you go anywhere you can check if there is a voucher you can use or somewhere cheap to eat nearby!
I have retweeted!
For the family day out at the theme park we always use 2 for 1 vouchers.
Use the Odeon Kids Club, there is a film every day at 11.00 am for between £1.00 and £2.50 per child (depending on location) and one adult goes free per child. It really keeps the cost down for films especially if you take your own popcorn from BM or QS and a carton of pop for the kids, or my kids favourite, the bag of custard doughnuts from the Co-op. Films change every week, they are usually one of the last 3 months releases (Grown ups can make use of the Costas – you deserve it)
Great for rainy days
With all the pre/during/post Olympic hype, try out the free canoeing and kyaking sessions, they are on all over the place and kids over 8 can go in on their own, kids under 8 have to go in a double with an adult – it’s a great excuse to have a massive amount of fun for £0.00 do an internet search – it’s one of those things you find out after it has happened!
Make sure that you only buy what you normally use! Own brands are just as good!
Why does everything have to be so expensive. The truth is it doesn’t, a nice family picnic and a walk is a great way to spend a few hours together with family and friends. Amazingly it costs nearly nothing to do, yet can fill hours, and can be so much fun. For 7 of us in one picnic cost:
5 miles of car journey, nothing to park, and £9 on food and drink and we had too much for us all.. .we didnt buy value, we just bought smart.
When you put your mind to it, living cheap is possible.
Have a great summer everyone
shop in charity shops you can get some amazing bargains and some of the stuff is brand new!!
Before buying anything online, check if they are on a cash back website. I took the family to Florida and booked flights, airport transfers and hotel online via a cashback website and received just shy of £100 back.
never go food shopping on an empty stomach! Particularly with the children!
my top money saving tip is switching supermarkets for weekly food shop from more expensive one to cheaper budget one and using money off coupons/vouchers where possible…x
Where we live the local park organises all sorts of activities during the summer, most of them free!
Buy in bulk , cheaper in the long run.
local park and picnicsaseating out is pricy plus it grt when its sunny outside,thats how i have saved money
Family & Friends Railcard offers great savings if you travel on train with children making day trips much more affordable.
Take a packed lunch and a drink each every time you go out, the money you would spend otherwise is not worth adding up!
Explorer Family Ticket on Stagecoach buses allows you to travel all day on all Stagecoach buses in the area – and it is cheaper then individual single or returns.
Buy fresh veg and cook a big pot of soup, it will do lunch and dinner for a few days and tastes yummy too 🙂 xxxxx
baking and arts and crafts when the weather is bad, when the sunshine comes out to play it’s voucher saving sites all the way.
Picnics and snack bags are the way to go,
parks, museums and local fetes will make the money flow
Take small toys, balloons etc to amuse kids on long journeys, so they don’t drive you mad!
Lock them in their bedroom
use tesco clubcard vouchers for days out 🙂
I have tweeted @snarepuss
have fun at home like have a water pistol fight in the garden ,Make Lemonade
Finger Painting, Chalk Drawing And Water Painting ,Camping Indoors ,Balloon Volleyball
Take your kids for a cheap day out at the beach. Take a home made picnic with you (don’t buy expensive ready made sandwiches etc…) and get the kids to help make their own packed lunch. Maybe use a pirate or mermaid theme for their lunches & cut the sandwiches into sailboat shapes or seashells. Be imaginative. When at the beach encourage your kids to look for any interesting shells and collect them. When back at home you can encourage your kids to use the the shells to make some interesting art work which you can proudly put on display! That should keep them busy for a while!
Have tweeted @Madrabbitgirl
Go for walks in the countryside. Make a challege list for things to find to keep the kids amused, ie. find two fir cones, 6 acorns, 2 twigs, 3 white stones and, a feather. And take along a picnic lunch.
Take a picnic when going on days out.
Never make a purchase until you have TRIPLE check that its the best price – google search engine is your friend!
We always look online for vouchers and good free places to go! Taking a packed lunch is vital in keeping the costs down aswell as taking lots of fluids. On a hot day freeze some squash or water so as the day goes on it defrosts but leave the drinks nice and cool and refreshing.
Our children also have a job a day at home in the school holiday this then adds up to pocket money for them to spend, this helps them understand how important money is and they can also buy a treat themselves.
Fill screw top plastic bottles with diluted squash, leaving room for expansion, and freeze. These can be packed with your picnic and will keep it lovely and cool and also provide a cool drink for children later in the day.
Register for Deal websites such as Groupon and Dealmonster – you often get cut price tickets for things like Strawberry Picking, Steam Train tickets and Birds of Prey Centres. It can save you a fortune on a family day out and by splitting the cost paying for the ticket one week and then the fuel for your day out another it makes it feel easier on your pocket.
I have tweeted
I alreay follow you on Network blogs – srobbo71
Quidco or any other cash back sites, you can get back £100’s of pounds just by buying online what you would usually do, its easy simple and very effective with massive results. Only yesterday i got £43 back on my car insurance!
The best thing I do is plan the activities that are free in advance so that I know once or twice a week we are doing something fun but free (well apart from parking sometimes). We love Museums and art galleries and living in manchester we have loads nearby. We also do parks, nature reserves and things like nature discoveries where we have a list of things to find. Or the all time favourite is to go on a bear hunt. always take snacks and drinks just in case you are out longer than expected to save spending that little extra.
@tiredmummyoftwo