School Holidays Coming Up? Here Are A Few Ways To Make Your Money Go Further

Doing things together as a family in the the school holidays is something many of us look forward to.

Fun days out together. No school runs. A break from the usual routine.

But if you’re managing a household budget, you might also be thinking about how you’re going to cover six weeks of extra food, activities and days out.

Many parents find the school holidays one of the most expensive times of the year so here are some hints and tips to help make the budget stretch further.

The Food Shop Often Costs More

When children are at home all day, the cupboards empty much quicker.

Have you tried the apps offering cheaper food that are due the sell by date?

Too good to go

Olio

Why don’t you get together with other families on your street to share some of the cooking costs – its often cheaper to cook a big meal for a few people and can be fun cooking together

Look Out For Free Meals And Holiday Food Schemes

If your child receives free school meals, there may be extra support available during the school holidays.

Many councils run Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes. These schemes often provide free activities and meals for eligible children during the school holidays.

It’s worth checking with your child’s school or local council to see what’s available in your area.

Many supermarkets, cafes and restaurants also run offers where children eat free or for less during the holidays.

These offers can change throughout the summer, so keep checking them.

Even a few free meals over the holidays can make a real difference to the family budget.

Click on your area to find out more

England

Scotland

Wales

Look For Free Activities Close To Home

Keeping children entertained doesn’t need to cost a lot.

Many local communities run free activities during the school holidays and being local means you cut down on travel costs too.

Check out:

Your local library noticeboard

Community centres

Housing association newsletters

Local Facebook groups

Parks and leisure centres

Lots of places also have coupons to help keep the costs down. Have a look for coupons and voucher codes for days out.

Some places will also offer pay what you can so have a look for those too.

Could There Be Extra Help Available?

Many families are missing out on income they could be entitled to.

If your circumstances have changed recently, it could be worth checking what support is available.

Extra income could help with:

Food shopping

School uniforms

Children’s activities

Many people are surprised by the support available when they take a few minutes to check.

Check out our Benefit Checker to see if you could be missing out on extra income.

Focus On What Matters

Children don’t remember how much was spent, often it’s the simple things they talk about most.

A picnic in the park, a treasure hunt, a bike ride or building a den at home can be just as exciting as an expensive day out. After all, making memories doesn’t have to cost a fortune.