MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares the best way to keep the family entertained throughout the school holidays without breaking the bank
Summer is a great time to spend with the kids and family members, but that also means expensive days out! The good news is there are lots of ways to stay entertained on a budget, thanks to free events, workshops, and activities.
Money-savvy parents can save this summer with some forward planning – try these activities and tips to save money without saving on fun!
Visit the library
There’s a reason this is always on the free activities list! Libraries aren’t about dusty old books these days. They offer computer access and printing, as well as run lots of free workshops and events from storytime to crafting and more, for a wide range of ages. You can often also borrow DVDs, computer games, and board games.
You don’t need to visit the library either, if there isn’t one near you. Register for a free library card online and you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free! If your kids are impatient and don’t want to wait for a book on hold, try free two-month trials of Kindle Unlimited, Readly, and BookBeat to get them access to books, magazines, and audiobooks for free this summer.
Free holiday clubs
If your child is entitled to free school meals during term-time, the Holiday Activities and Food Programme means you could claim some free childcare, meals, and activities for your child in the holidays.
Eligibility varies between local authorities, and some children who aren’t eligible for free school meals but have a low income could still be eligible, so make sure you check your local authority website for details.
Free National Express coach travel
Getting to and from activities can be expensive when you’re going with a family. If you haven’t already picked up a Family and Friends Railcard look into it, as it could save you hundreds across the course of a year with regular rail travel.
But if you don’t want to travel by rail to your family activities this summer, consider the coach instead. National Express is offering for up to three under-15s to travel free with every paying adult until September 30th – just book tickets online and use the code KIDSFREE to claim the free tickets.
Kids eat free or cheap deals
Feeding a family gets a lot more expensive in the holidays – but it doesn’t have to. There are lots of restaurant and café chains that run special offers in the summer to help families with their food bill.
Some, like Bill’s Restaurants, have holiday-specific deals. Others, like TGI Fridays, IKEA, Morrisons and Asda cafes, and Brewers Fayre venues run year-round deals to keep costs low for families throughout the year. Check out your local restaurants and cafes to find out where kids eat free or cheap to feed the family on a budget!
Save up to 45% on theme parks
The summer means lots of deals available for theme park entry, saving huge amounts on your entrance fees. If you’re a Lidl customer with the Lidl Plus app, scroll to the Partner Offers tab to find and claim a free thirty-day Day Out With The Kids pass to claim up to 45% off entry fees at theme parks like Drayton Manor, Flamingoland, DiggerLand, Crearly Theme Park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and more.
Or, check out National Rail if you’re planning to get the train to a theme park. You can claim up to 33% off Merlin attractions and more by booking your voucher through their Days Out Guide and showing your train ticket on entry. Finally, check out Kellogg’s cereals and snacks for up to 25% off at major attractions – visit their website for more details.
Have a Garden Cinema Night
Gather friends and family together for a cinema night – in the garden. It’s easy to set up a space with a white bedsheet and a projector. Dangbei offer a range of projectors, from the Freedo to the new MP1 Max, depending on your budget and needs. If you want to set up a cinema room at home, or replace your TV in the living room, it’s definitely worth investing in a higher-end projector for the best experience.
Get everyone to bring their favourite cinema snack, or set up a popcorn station where you make your own and add toppings you prefer. A drinks station – with one for the adults if you want cocktails! – adds to the fun and gives kids independence to choose what they want.
Pick some family-friendly films, drag the sofa cushions and throws outside (or use outdoor blankets like those from Night Lark in case the drizzle starts), and enjoy movie night with friends as the sun goes down.
Game of rounders in the park
Every summer should include a competitive game of rounders! Gather up your friends and family for an afternoon in the park. Take a picnic, brush up on the (very simple) rules, and create a tournament for a whole afternoon of fun. Check the rules of your local park regarding ball games and gatherings first, of course.
Free mindful jogging community
If you love to exercise with your kids, consider joining the free Joy Runs community. With a theme each week, such as trees or water, you can jog together while contemplating the theme to stay mindful as well as get those endorphins going.
If you’re more competitive, check out free Park Runs each weekend in your area – and see if you can encourage your kids to improve on their time between the start and end of the summer holidays!
Cricket and music combined
The Hundred is a sporting event that makes the most of everything cricket has to offer. Global cricket stars combined with headline music acts make it a fun event of sport and music combined.
The tournament starts on 5th August, with eight matches taking place at Lord’s and the Kia Oval throughout the month. It culminates in The Eliminator on Saturday 30th August and The Final on 31st August – with a family-friendly fun-filled weekend. Tickets are £21 an adult, £5 for junior and under threes go free!
Cheap cinema tickets
Take your family to see a film from just £1 a ticket this summer. Cineworld is running family friendly screenings with £1 tickets, and films such as The Minecraft Movie and Disney’s Snow White.
If you don’t have a Cineworld near you, check out the cinema deals available in your area. It could be £6 showings with O2 Priority, or adults paying kids prices at Vue, or Odeon Member Mondays for a fiver. There will be all kinds of deals at your nearest cinema, so make sure to check them out for a cheap afternoon out with the kids.
Quick tips for a cheap summer
Whenever you’re planning cheap summer activities, keep these things in mind to keep the cost down.
- Book tickets in advance for cheaper prices and special offers or discounts
- Enter freebie contests and giveaways to try new activities
- Shop via cashback websites to get some money back on your spending
- Take picnics instead of buying food at venues
- Invest in reusable water bottles for all the family to keep hydrated without spending lots of money on drinks
- Get together with friends to take advantage of group discounts
Finally, having children around for six weeks can increase your household bills a lot! Keep the cost of groceries down by shopping at the cheapest supermarket in your area and making the most of loyalty card price cuts and offers.
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