As all parents will be only too aware, the summer holidays are almost upon us. And while we loved having such a long break when we were kids, six weeks of trying to keep the children occupied can be testing for the nation’s mums and dads, not least when it comes to the finances.
According to a new study from Post Office Money, parents across the UK are going to be spending a frankly mad £9.1bn over the summer holidays entertaining their children, an average of £624 each.
What’s more, these costs have jumped by 25% over the last five years. Little wonder that the research found that two-thirds of parents are worried about covering the cost of their summer daytrips.
And that’s before you even consider the costs of regular childcare for parents who are unable to take time off work and look after the kids themselves.
So how can you keep the money spent on looking after the kids to a minimum over the summer months?
Sign up the grandparents
Grandparents that have packed up work are a huge help for parents at all times, particularly during the school holidays.
So if they can take the kids off your hands for a day or two, not only does coming up with something fun to do become their problem, but it’s also a lot cheaper than packing them off to a dedicated childminder.
An additional bonus for the grandparents is that helping out with the childcare may help them boost their pension through National Insurance credits.
Summer clubs
It’s a great idea to check what summer clubs are operating in your area over the break. It might be a week out in the sunshine playing football or cricket, while some clubs focus on teaching the youngsters how to cook or learn outdoor skills.
The costs can vary massively depending on the club, but one that’s definitely worth a look is the new Active Kids scheme, run by Sainsbury’s, which works out at £7.50 per child per day, and includes a lunch .
The government’s website has a search facility which will steer you in the right direction for finding summer clubs that run near you.
Keep it free if you can
There is a real pressure among parents to feel like they are constantly taking their kids out on big trips and experiences over the holidays, and the costs can quickly skyrocket.
But the reality is there are loads of ways to spend some quality time together outside of the house without such a massive burden on your bank balance.
This can start with something small scale like a day at the park, but with a bit of research you can work your way round a host of events and attractions that don’t cost a penny.
There may be free museums you can visit in your area, while it’s worth checking your council’s website, as well as that of your local newspaper, to see what free family-friendly events are being put on.
A cheap trip to the cinema
A trip to the cinema can be absolute bliss for beleaguered parents during the summer holidays ‒ the combination of air conditioning and (hopefully) a couple of hours off from running around after the little ones.
Trouble is, cinema trips can be hugely expensive for a family. Thankfully, many do special deals during the school holidays, with cut price tickets on certain family films. They may not be the most recent releases, and you won’t have loads of different times to choose from, but it’s not uncommon for tickets to cost around £2.50-£3 at the likes of Odeon and Cineworld.
If your local council has a community centre, be sure to check if they host films too, as they usually do screenings of kids films during the holidays at a decent price as well.
Research deals in advance
If you are going to have a big day out as a family, then a bit of planning in advance can help soften the blow to your bank account.
For example, if you’re heading to the zoo, you may find that buying the tickets at least a day in advance will mean you get discounted tickets. Similarly, check to see if there are any voucher or offer codes around which will mean you pay less.
This goes for restaurants if you’re planning to eat out on the trip as well. The likes of VoucherCodes.co.uk is a great place to start.
For example, on the site at the moment you can get vouchers which will save you cash at the likes of SeaLife, Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures.
It’s not just the actual activities that you can save money on by being prepared either. If you’re likely to take the train into a big city, then booking your tickets in advance will likely work out cheaper than doing it on the day.
You don’t have to leave the house
While parents might feel under pressure to keep heading out on big trips in order to entertain the youngsters, the truth is that there is plenty of fun to be had without even leaving the house.
For example, most kids love baking a cake (well, certainly eating what you’ve made anyway), while younger kids may be thrilled just with some simple colouring in that you’ve printed off the internet.
Don’t feel pressured into going out and spending a fortune when chances are your kids will be just as happy with a day at home building a fort in the garden out of the items in your recycling bin.
