A thrifty mum has explained how to make your money go further this October half term.
While it may feel like the new school year has just begun, the week-long break at the end of next month is likely to come round at a frightening pace.
Jenna Carr , who shares her money-saving travel tips on her blog and to over 30,000 Instagram followers, has provided some advice along with Verdant Leisure for those worried about how to keep their kids entertained.
For those looking at taking a trip away from home, Jenna says that the location you choose is of vital important.
Keeping things in the UK, while planning out exactly what you're going to do, has the potential to save you a lot of money.
Here are her top tips:
Keep everything within walking distance – and make an activity out of it
Choosing a holiday location where everything you need can be accessed quickly on foot means you don’t have to worry about budgeting for transport during your stay as you’ll save tonnes on petrol and public transport costs.
What’s best about this too is, if you’re in a location surrounded by natural beauty, you can make an activity of going for a long walk with your family.
Make a "treasure hunt" for the kids with a list of things they need to spot along the way to keep them engaged and entertained on the walk.
The UK has ample options to inspire a walkable holiday - so it’s all about choosing the best one for you and your family.
Look for low-cost, child-friendly entertainment
Consider destinations with lots of free things to do.
Whether that be a beach where you will spend most of your day or an area with beautiful long walks.
Choosing locations with on-site entertainment can also help mix things up whilst keeping fuel costs down.
I always make sure I know where the nearest parks and playgrounds are as they are a cheap and cheerful way to cheer up a grumpy child.
Shop smart and pack wisely
The great thing about a staycation is that you have no restrictions on luggage weight, liquids, or size of your bags.
If you are travelling via public transport, however, you still want to pack sensibly and take as little as possible.
Make sure you have all the cosmetics you need before travelling and shop around for the best deals if you don’t already have what’s needed.
You can't guarantee there will be a budget shop at your destination and you could end up paying above the odds in a fancy store or supermarket buying whatever is convenient.
Packing smart and stocking up on essentials means that, if you do want to treat the family to a meal whilst you’re away, for example, you can do so without tightening the purse strings.
Experience British heritage
We base a lot of our UK holidays around national parks that we would love to visit.
Countryside holidays offer a vast expanse of unique wildlife to explore, scenic walks and botanical gardens.
Most national parks and nature reserves are free to visit, while others require a membership, although usually children get free entry.
Museums and landmarks also play a huge part in our holidays as they are a great day out immersing yourself in history and culture, and all which have free entry in the UK.
