A “cheap mum” has shared how to cut costs for entertaining the kids by 70% during school holidays.
New research reveals the average family break will see parents flog out £1,000 on average to keep the children cheerful, according to Hodge, a financial services provider.
But savvy saver and stay-at-home mum, Charlotte Deering – who has a young daughter – is budgeting just £300 for the six-week break.
READ MORE: TikToker shares genius tips to cool down on ‘hottest day of the year’ without spending a penny
The 28-year-old, who is an expert at pinching pennies, is now sharing her secrets with other parents.
“There is an immense amount of pressure on parents and caregivers to make every day in the school holidays fun and create happy memories,” Charlotte, who lives in Manchester, told What’s The Jam.
“And there is a common misconception that involves spending a fortune, which is completely wrong.”
Here are some of her savvy summer entertainment tips and tricks:
DIY SNACKS:
She said: “I have a snack basket for my daughter and she has a limited number per day – once they are gone, they are gone.
“I also do a tuck shop, where I give her a set amount of money each day and have a list of snacks she can buy with that money.
“The healthy snacks are cheaper and this works great for makeshift movie nights at home.
“Also picnics with kids and parents from school are a must.
“Everyone brings something and for me, I go for hot dogs.
“I heat them up in the morning and keep them warm in a flask.
“For ice lollies, don’t buy them from the shop.
“Make your own at home with reusable moulds and fruit, which are healthy and economical.”
BUDGET-FRIENDLY EVENTS:
She advises using free National Trust vouchers, looking up activities on Facebook or researching offers for local attractions, as there are often “serious” savings during certain times.
The mum, who shares her advice on Instagram, (@themoneyferret), said: “Some places do twilight offers, where after 3pm, it’s half off the usual ticket price.
“Always look at your local library for events and get your kids into reading with a challenge.”
GAME ON:
Charlotte also likes to make everything a game; such as giving her daughter [not named for privacy reasons] a list at the supermarket for her to find in record time
She said: “Let the mundane become enjoyable.
“I go into charity shops and set her the task of buying an outfit or a game theme for a certain amount.
“These keep her occupied for hours, especially with friends, when it turns into a competition.”
While it’s important to make the summer holidays fun, it’s also vital to remember to teach children a valuable lesson at the same time.
Charlotte hopes her daughter will learn the value of money with these hacks and help fellow parents avoid any financial troubles.
She added: “Think back on your happiest memories; I bet whatever you were doing was free or cost very little – and you had an amazing time.
“Then think about the times you’ve bought your child something and they were more than happy with just the box it came in, letting their imaginations run wild.
“Please don’t hold yourself to impossible standards and feel like you have to spend a small fortune to make your children happy.
“Spending quality time together is worth more than anything and costs nothing.”
READ MORE: Woman, 26, saving £100,000 a YEAR with side hustles that she works on before 9-5
