What are your top tips and tricks for summer holidays on a budget?
18 answers /
Last post: 22/08/2023 at 3:41 pm
Summer holidays are coming fast – which can mean family fun … but also the challenge of keeping children busy and entertained without breaking the bank. We want to know (NEED to know!): How do you do it?
· Are you saving to go away on a staycation or arranging fun days out?
· Are you looking at ways to make summer at home more fun than ever?
· Do you have tips on how to keep the kids fed and happy while they’re racing around at home or out and about?
Tell us your tips and hacks. Plus, don't forget to check the Aldi website regularly to see their summer savings on everything from food to clothes to garden essentials and toys!
My biggest tip is one my gran told my mum when she had my brother, and me when my son was young:
"Remember, you're a parent, not a clown."
What she meant was that you shouldn't feel the need to entertain your kids every waking minute of the day, that it's absolutely fine to leave them alone to play in the garden, and even to let them be bored occasionally.
That in itself will save you a lot of money, time and stress.
I try and set my two a 'secret mission' every few days. Something that keeps them occupied and they feel grown up, and it saves me a job. Something like giving them a special spray to clean down the kitchen cupboards or sending them to the shop for our elderly neighbour.
My eldest this year has dropped round little leaflets he made to our local neighbours offering to mow lawns for £5 so he can buy a new playstation game.
My biggest tip is one my gran told my mum when she had my brother, and me when my son was young:
"Remember, you're a parent, not a clown."
What she meant was that you shouldn't feel the need to entertain your kids every waking minute of the day, that it's absolutely fine to leave them alone to play in the garden, and even to let them be bored occasionally.
That in itself will save you a lot of money, time and stress.
Brilliant advice! My parents definitely left me to it a lot when I was younger. It fostered my reading habit and love of books, then my mum would arrange outings to the library.
We would go and spend an hour or two browsing, reading, getting a stack of books to take home and stopping on the way to get a cold drink or milkshake. Felt like a HUGE treat.
I can still remember the excitement of anticipating getting home and having lots of new books to look through.
I recently read about a great activity to do when it gets warmer:
Take a bunch of your child's sturdy plastic toys, put them in a bowl of water and freeze until solid.
Then set them up outside on the patio or in the garden with a watering can, a toy hammer, a little paintbrush and other 'tools' so they can unearth the treasures inside.
You can put them in a swimming costume so they can keep cool in the melting water while they industriously work away to free their toys. So delightful!
A couple of things I love (with my shopping list for how to do it! :-) :
- Do back garden camping: Who says you need to go away to get away? Pitch a tent in the garden and everyone can enjoy a night under the stars while only steps away from indoor plumbing. I'd love to set up this Aldi firepit, (maybe make s'mores?).
- Resort-ify our outdoor space: Another way we've kept the kids entertained is basically set up a mini-resort in the back garden. Running through a Unicorn Giant Sprinkler or playing in inflatable Shark Fun Water Park. I can imagine myself supervising from this Hanging Egg Chair, sipping a cold drink. Besides a paddling pool and kiddie garden chairs, I'd love to set up this 4 Person Hot Tub and hop in with the kids ... or once they’ve gone to bed.
- Do a picnic ANYWHERE, ANYTIME: We like to mix up the picnic vibe by doing breakfast picnics in the park, having an indoor carpet picnic if it's raining or making an event of it by inviting a couple of friends and going to a different park that also has a playground. The kids love the change of scenery, and with inexpensive multibuy packs of snacks, cheap meal deals, ice lollies, etc, I don't have to clean up afterward.
My biggest tip is one my gran told my mum when she had my brother, and me when my son was young:
"Remember, you're a parent, not a clown."
What she meant was that you shouldn't feel the need to entertain your kids every waking minute of the day, that it's absolutely fine to leave them alone to play in the garden, and even to let them be bored occasionally.
That in itself will save you a lot of money, time and stress.
If you want to go away, and can't quite afford it, look into sharing with another parent or family in a similar situation.
You don't need to be best friends, just as long as you can get along with them and trust them. You don't even have to do the same things as each other on holiday.
To give an example, when my son was young we shared holidays with a couple we met at his creche. We'd book a three bedroomed chalet somewhere (one for me and my then wife, one for the other couple, and one for the kids to share), and pay half each for it. We'd share some meals, take advantage of discount ticket prices for attractions, and babysit for each other so we all got a couple of child free days or evenings out.
I know someone else who did a similar thing a few years back with a villa in Spain and some mums from their single mum group. Apparently they managed to fill a six bedroom property, and it worked out at about £20 a night each, less than a Travelodge room in the UK!
If you want to go away, and can't quite afford it, look into sharing with another parent or family in a similar situation.
You don't need to be best friends, just as long as you can get along with them and trust them. You don't even have to do the same things as each other on holiday.
To give an example, when my son was young we shared holidays with a couple we met at his creche. We'd book a three bedroomed chalet somewhere (one for me and my then wife, one for the other couple, and one for the kids to share), and pay half each for it. We'd share some meals, take advantage of discount ticket prices for attractions, and babysit for each other so we all got a couple of child free days or evenings out.
I know someone else who did a similar thing a few years back with a villa in Spain and some mums from their single mum group. Apparently they managed to fill a six bedroom property, and it worked out at about £20 a night each, less than a Travelodge room in the UK!
That's an awesome idea , esp for singles
We love to go geocaching
It's like treasure hunting in plain site. Basic app is free, advanced is £30ish per year. Involves walking, looking for hidden items. Google. Cheap fun
Sports day - each family member has to organise an event that they make up. Give them a could of hours to organise this and do it in garden/lounge.
Lego challenge. Depending on age on how long you give them - each person chooses a subject ' best holiday' transport etc. And you have 30 mins or so to build it. If no Lego make playdoh and use this
Make pancakes and decorate with ice cream, sweets etc and scoff these
Build a den using blanket/duvet cover over chairs/ washing line and have stories and snacks in it
Draw pictures using water on patio. Use old washing up bottles to put water in or give em paintbrushes.
Snail races - find and race snails
We used to paint shells with nail polish - maybe Google this incase it's cruel
Go for a long walk. Download Alltrails app or get a map book. And walk. We used to do this alot it make em tired
Hope that gicf you a few ideas
I've though of more. Sorry you probably think oh my does she doing anything that costs money (nope not often)
Large boxes are fun. Play in em. Draw on them, slide down stairs in em alsorts. Ask in shops, on Facebook etc
Scavenger hunts round house - items begining with letters from alphabet.
Get a tarpaulin from cheap shop. Pop on baby oil / washing up liquid make a grass slide.
Get off cuts of sponge. Water fight (better than water balloons as don't have to tie them up.
I do a timetable. Including chores, fun stuff, exercise and something from the ideas jar.
The latter being a tub or jar of ideas on scraps of paper and you pick one out when bored.
Could be anything from a trip out to a cookery challenge or make a board game or go for a bike ride.
a lot of the time you can take kids places for free just double check but theres loads of parks and large green spaces you can take kids for free or for a very small price!
Hello I'm a single working father with five kid's I haven't save or have I plan having a holiday out with my kids so we are going to be home make until things going to work out for us the next holiday
If you're saving money or prefer to stay close to home, plan a staycation. Explore your local area, visit parks, museums, and libraries, and take advantage of any free or low-cost activities happening in your community.
Many communities organize free events during the summer, such as outdoor concerts, movie nights, or festivals. Keep an eye on local event calendars or community websites for information about these events.
Personally, I've found a mix of staycation adventures and fun days out to be the perfect recipe for a memorable summer. Whether it's exploring local parks, organizing picnics, or taking day trips to nearby attractions, there's always something exciting to do.
To make summer at home even more enjoyable, we like to get creative with DIY projects and fun backyard games. Building forts, having water balloon fights, or creating our own mini-garden are all fantastic ways to keep the kids engaged and entertained.
When it comes to keeping them well-fed and happy, involving them in the kitchen can be a real winner. They love helping prepare simple snacks or even making their own pizzas. It's both fun and a learning experience for them.
