50 easy ways for parents to save money over the summer holidays – from free coffee to cheap campsites

FOR parents, the summer holidays can be some of the most expensive weeks of the year.

Whether you’re struggling to juggle childcare and work, or facing pressure to entertain and feed the children, family finances can take a huge hit.

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There are lots of free activities available this summer to keep your kids amused[/caption]

Here are 50 ways to cut the cost of the summer break.

1. Get cashback in stores with Jam Doughnut and offline with Topcashback and Quidco

Every little helps with holiday spending, so build up a cash balance with Jam Doughnut, an app that allows you to earn cashback when you spend in store, as well as sites such as Quidco and Topcashback when you spend online.

At present Jam Doughnut offers 3% cashback on groceries instore at Sainsburys and 2.5% at Morrisons, as well as 5.75% at family favourite B&M.

2. Get a Kids Pass £1 trial

Get discounts on days out with the family by signing up to Kids Pass, which offers discounts including 20% off at Flip Out trampoline parks, and 30% off at Midlands Safari Park, as well as discounts on eating out and cinema tickets.

The pass itself costs £39.99 a year or £3.99 a month.

However, by signing up for a £1 30-day free trial you can take advantage of the benefits for two-thirds of the summer holiday without breaking the bank.

Just remember to cancel the subscription before the end of the trial period so that you don’t get charged again.

3. Find free clubs (with food) if you’re eligible

Many local councils run free holiday clubs for children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals, which include food as well as activities.

If your child receives free school meals, you should receive a letter or text message from your school or council about how to sign up, but it may be worth checking with the council if you do not receive one.

It is also not too late to sign up for free school meals if you are eligible.

Some councils also have places for those who are experiencing hardship but not eligible for the meals, so check whether these are available in your area by searching for holiday clubs on your council website.

4. Book a lastminute bargain break, just for the kids

If your children are craving adventure and you could do with a break, a residential trip with PGL could be just what you need.

Dropping your children off for two to seven nights to do everything from riding zip wires and raft building to street dance and cooking can give you space to work and allow them to become more resilient and learn new skills.

These breaks can be very expensive, but if you are flexible and willing to wait for a last-minute space on any of the camps you can bag a bargain.

Prices dropped by up to 50% on some Easter holidays breaks this year for those willing to book at the last minute.

You can save even more by booking using your tax-free childcare account to pay, which saves you 20% if you are eligible, or pay with childcare vouchers if you still have these.

5. Send older teens on trips

Send your older teenager on a trip to remember with the government’s National Citizen Service for just £95, with bursaries available for those on low incomes.

It’s a five-day trip, with teens picked up from various points around the UK, where they could learn about budgeting, business skills, carry out charity volunteering and spend time on Outward Bound activities.

The course is available to those finishing Year 11 (in the summer after GCSEs) and those in Year 12 if they have not been in Year 11.

You can only do an NCS residential once, as they are heavily subsidised by the government, which says each programme would cost up to £1,500 if families were to pay the full cost.

6. Find free sports sessions

Get your children out and active with free sports sessions this summer.

Girls aged between 11 and 16 can sign up to free gym classes with Nuffield Health once a week, with instructors who are specially trained to work with teens.

There are also free tennis sessions available to all with Tennis for Free.

7. Find free family events

Many local councils run free local events and festivals over the summer holidays that can be the basis of a cheap day out.

Check your local council website, as well as joining local family Facebook groups to find those available near you.

8. Make sure children eat for free (or very cheap)

Many chain restaurants offer free children’s meals with an adult meal over the summer holidays and often on weekdays in term time too.

Check out Latin American favourite Las Iguanas, where loyalty programme members get one free meal per adult, Gourmet Burger Kitchen where kids eat for £2 with an adult meal, and Franco Manca where there’s one free child’s pizza for every adult meal purchased.

In Sainsbury’s cafés children eat for £1 with an adult meal, while there’s one free meal for a child with every adult meal over £5 in Morrisons café.

9. Bag cheap cinema tickets

Cinema trips can cost over £10 a head, but holiday deals can bring down the cost.

Vue cinemas offers cheap ‘Mini Mornings’ with tickets for £2.49 for adults and children every day, and Odeon offers a similar deal in the holidays for just £2.75.

Often these are older movies, so if your child wants to see the big blockbusters try other deals such as Odeon’s two tickets for £10 between Monday and Thursday for adults or children with Octopus Energy or Amazon Prime, two Odeon tickets for £8 on Mondays with Vodafone, or two tickets for Vue for £9 with O2 priority.

10. Be a seat filler for family shows

Tickets for family theatre shows can bust the budget, but sites such as The Audience Club and Central Tickets offer ‘seat filler’ tickets for shows, which are either free or heavily discounted, and these include family theatre experiences. 

Membership is free for Central Tickets and there is a free trial for The Audience Club.

11. Take a magical mystery bus tour

With bus fees capped at £2 in most areas until November 2024, taking the bus is more affordable than ever this summer holiday.

You can find a list of routes capped at £2 a fare on the government’s website, including some that will take you to the coast.

In many cases children travel free or for just £1.

Scenic trips through the Lake District, the Peak District and along the South Coast are all available for £2.

12. Get pot-luck meals with Too Good to Go and Olio

Cut the cost of feeding the family with apps that also aim to cut food waste.

Too Good to Go offers discounted ‘mystery bags’ of supermarket or restaurant food, while Olio gives away food for free.

The apps work with your phone location, so if you are out and about during the holidays you can pick up cheap food nearby.

You can also give away unwanted food on Olio yourself, helping others with their summer holiday costs.

13. Spend the day at a pick-your-own

Find a pick-your-own farm near you and spend a day with the children picking some fruit for the freezer for a budget day out.

With pick your own, you pay by the weight of your crop at the end of the day, although thankfully are not charged for any fruit the children have consumed along the way.

14. Travel at the end of the summer holidays for cheaper breaks

If you’re booking a break away with the children, wait until later in the school holidays rather than going as soon as the children break up.

Research by Which? shows that the cheapest time to book a package break within the school holidays is the week of the 24^th of August.

If you’re just looking for flights, Skyscanner says that the week containing August 19 is the cheapest.

Both studies agree that waiting a few weeks could make all the difference when it comes to bagging a cheaper break.

15. Use Clubcard and other loyalty points to the max

Supermarket loyalty points accumulated over the year can be a lifesaver during the expensive summer months.

Save your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to use on days out at theme parks or attractions from Cadbury World to Thorpe Park, rather than spending them in the supermarket, and they will be worth twice as much.

Nectar points can also be worth more when you’re out and about rather than spending them in Sainsburys, for example 500 points gets you £2.50 your shop, but you can use the same amount to get any barista-prepared hot or cold drink in Caffe Nero.

Some cost far more than £2.50 for example the £5.10 pistachio iced latte.

16. Sell on Vinted and Ebay to raise cash

Top up your holiday fund by selling the children’s outgrown clothes on Vinted or eBay.

Most will fetch only a few pounds, although a recent Trustpilot survey suggested the average spend on second hand clothes is over £35 per item.

However much you raise, doing this will help clean out closets as well as helping to deal with summer holiday expenses.

17. Find free instore classes

Many stores now offer classes for children the summer holidays as a way of getting families through their doors.

Most aren’t yet available to book for this summer, but check Pets At Home for free Pet Pals workshops nearer the time, as well as Dobbies Garden Centres for children’s workshops and the Apple website to book family workshops for free.

18. Go to the zoo for a tiny price

A trip to the zoo can be pricey, but if you are on Universal Credit or some other benefits you can go for as little as £3.

You’ll need to book in advance and bring proof of eligibility.

19. Find 2for1 deals when you travel by train

Travel by train to get cheaper tickets for many UK attractions including Shrek’s Adventure and Thorpe Park.

The National Rail website has details of deals offered for train travellers, some of which offer two-for-one tickets while others are a set reduction in the ticket price.

20. Sign up for tax-free childcare

If you’re paying for holiday clubs, tax-free childcare can give you a 20% saving, even if you do not usually use paid-for childcare.

Available for children up to the age of 12, the government scheme essentially gives you a 20% discount on your childcare costs and most of the big holiday day camp companies, including Supercamps and Barracudas are registered to accept payments from the scheme.

You can sign up via gov.uk, but check that the holiday camp provider you are using accepts the scheme first.

21. Find free walks with WalkingBritain

Bored of the same old walks? Pack a picnic and check out the trails offered at Walking Britain to find somewhere new for a cheap day out.

22. Check your providers for free coffee

Grabbing a cup of coffee when you’re out with the kids can end up breaking the bank over time, but you may be eligible for more freebies than you think.

Customers with Octopus Energy are given codes for one free barista drink in Caffe Nero or a hot drink in Greggs every week, while O2 broadband customers get a free Greggs hot drink once a week.

23. Get free switching cash

Saving for your summer holidays can be tricky, but several banks are offering cash perks to those who switch their current accounts through the Current Account Switching Service (CASS).

Several, including First Direct and Lloyds, are offering £175, and you may even have time to switch twice before summer comes, building up some cash for the expensive summer months.

Ensure you check the small print if you choose to do this though, as there are conditions attached and if you don’t meet them, you won’t get the money.

24. Book free London attractions in advance

London’s museums are often free, and you do not have to book them, but there are some free London attractions that require planning in advance, though cost nothing.

Book a free ticket to Sky Garden for fabulous views over the city, or to the ruins of London’s Mithraeum, a Temple to the God of Mithras now hidden within the Bloomberg building.

25. Find Groupon and Wowcher deals

Fancy afternoon teas and fun treats like escape rooms are expensive, but deal sites Groupon and Wowcher offer steep discounts for many places if you buy a voucher in advance.

Just check the small print to ensure it is valid for the day you want to go and check for availability.

26. Try National Trust or English Heritage

An annual family pass to the National Trust or English Heritage can buy you a wealth of days out, from castles to stately homes.

At £159 a year for National Trust or £126 for English Heritage for a two-parent family or £99 a year for a single-parent home for National Trust or £72 for English Heritage these passes don’t come cheap, but if you have many sites near you, they can pay for themselves very quickly, with many sites also having playgrounds and free events for children.

Check the maps near you to see whether membership might be worth it.

27. Find free festivals near you

Free festivals and carnivals can make for a grand day out, so check local news sites for those near you.

Some famous ones in the summer holidays include the Caerphilly Cheese Festival in the last weekend of August and Tewkesbury Medieval Festival just at the beginning of the holidays.

Or watch hot air balloons in Bristol or visit the Riverside Festival in Nottingham, all for free.

28. Get a grant for a break away

If you’re a low-income family who can’t afford to get away, you could see if a charity grant could help you.  

A school or social worker might be able to refer you to the Family Holiday Charity, while bursaries are available for one-parent families from Care for The Family.

There are also breaks available for those with specific conditions or needs including holidays for children with Type 1 Diabetes or children who are carers or suffer from other challenges such as bereavement or living in poverty.

29. Find a cheap campsite with Pitchup

Camping can be one of the cheapest ways to get away as a family, with campsites available for families for under £20 a night.

Use the Pitchup website to search for sites in your budget and read reviews from other families to see if they’re suitable for you.

30. Use Meerkat Meals for cheap food

If you’re buying or renewing insurance, energy or broadband before the summer, using comparison site ComparetheMarket could grab you a tasty perk including 50% of takeaway pizzas from Dominos, Papa Johns or Pizza Hut delivery seven-days-a-week.

You could also get 25% off your bill at selected restaurants including Prezzo and Pizza Hut.

31. Try a house swap

If you have a home somewhere exciting, you could try swapping it with another family to get a cheap holiday somewhere else.

Home Exchange is the biggest home swapping community, and you can list your property for free.

However, to enact the swap on the site you must pay $220 a year (£172) for unlimited numbers of swaps.

Membership includes a damage repair guarantee and help from the site if things go wrong, but always read the small print before taking on a swap.

32. Make the most of the library

Encourage reading for free this summer by signing the children up to the Summer Reading Challenge.

It’s free, and the children will receive stickers and rewards for every book they read.

Many libraries also run free activities in conjunction with the challenge, which opens on June 22 in Scotland and July 6 in England and Wales.

33. Get a Family and Friends railcard to explore for less

If you’re travelling by train as a family this holiday, a Family and Friends railcard could save you serious cash.

It costs £30 but up to four adults travelling together with up to four children can save money, with a third off adult train travel and 60% off for children.

If you’re confident you will need it for longer, you can buy a three-year Railcard for £70, saving £20 over the three years

34. Bulk buy your ice cream

Stock up on ice creams from the supermarket to save money when the weather hots up.

With Morrisons selling six Magnums for £4.50, and its own-brand versions for 50p each, and Sainsburys selling its own versions for £1.64 for four you’ll make a considerable saving on ice cream van prices.

35. Rent a tent for a cheap break

Camping is only a cheap holiday if you can get hold of the gear.

Renting from another family can ensure you get a cheap break with a low initial outlay. Tentshare allows you to rent camping equipment from other families, for example a family tent for £25 a day.

36. Check for leisure centre swimming

Local leisure centres often offer cheap swimming classes and sessions for children in the school holidays, with some even offering weeklong intensive courses for a small fee to teach your child to swim in record time.

Check your local leisure centre for details – in some cases you may need proof of your address or a council tax bill to get cheap deals.

37. Bag a Blue Peter Badge for cheap days out

Blue Peter badge holders can visit over 200 places in the UK for free, so if your child can get one it will give them a serious saving.

There are eight different badges your child could earn, and their website gives clear instructions on how to do so.

Once your child has one, make sure they also fill in the badgeholders ID card that comes with the badge to get the discount.

38. Cut Butlins costs with a day pass

If you live near a Butlins resort (Skegness, Minehead or Bognor Regis) you can access the shows, rides, and swimming for a day without paying for accommodation by buying a day pass.

Servicemen and women and veterans may enter free of charge, while Blue Light card holders get a 20 per cent discount.

A day pass for an adult and two children is £79 for the day and includes fairground rides, swimming and climbing (at Skegness).

39. Get a 30-day Art Pass for family attractions

Art galleries might not sound like a family summer holiday activity, but the Art Pass offers free entry into some of the most interactive heritage attractions in the UK including Chatham Docks, Portsmouth Dockyard and the Mary Rose, Shakespeare’s Family Homes, and Blists Hill Victorian Village.

What’s more, it is available as a three-month trial for new members. An individual trial pass is £15, but you can add children and a second adult to it for a total of £25.

40. Try a Toy Library

Freshen up your toy offerings for free or very cheap by visiting your local toy library, which is a great way to try out toys for a few weeks before sending them back – particularly great for large garden toys to use over the summer.

41. Get running with Junior Parkrun

Get some free exercise in a friendly atmosphere over the holidays with Junior Parkrun, which offers organised events every weekend.

42. Try geocaching for a free day out

Download the official geocaching app to go on a treasure hunt with a difference.

Follow the hint and use your eyes to find tiny caches of treasure hidden on your walks – once you find them you can take something from the cache and leave something else behind.

Always take a pen to write in the logbook.

43. Scour Eventbrite for free ticketed events

Ticketing website Eventbrite holds the secret to thousands of free and cheap events around the country.

Just search for family events by location to find workshops, crafting sessions and local performances your family can attend.

44. Go to the beach or a splash zone, close to home

‘Pop up beaches’ may not have all the charm of the real British seaside, but there may well be one nearer your home for a cheap day out.

Failing that a ‘splash zone’ with fountains can cool the kids off for free.

Try Appearing Rooms in London’s South Bank to get soaked in the fountains, or use the free paddling pool in the centre of the Victoria & Albert Museum.

In Birmingham check out the Digbeth Funfair and Birmingham Beach, open for the whole summer holiday.

Check local Facebook groups for details of more splashzones near you.

45. See a West End show for less

Kids Week in the West End allows you to take a child to the theatre for free with a full-paying adult, while other children can go for half price.

This year it is far more than just a week, running from July 24 to September 6 with participating performances including Back to The Future, The Lion King, and Mamma Mia.

Tickets go on sale from June 11.

46. Follow a free public art trail

Free art trails in cities across the UK make for a fun and free day out.

Find giant owls in Chichester and Arundel, penguins in Worcester, Elmer the Elephant statues in Blackpool or bears in Kingston. 

47. Visit a free museum

Many museums in the UK are entirely free and lots have indoor play areas for children, dressing up and other interactive elements. 

Check the whichmuseum website for a list of free museums across the UK, and then find out from their websites when there are special summer holiday events for children which are often free.

48. Check whether you can get holiday food vouchers if on free school meals

While the government is no longer funding vouchers for children on free school meals over the school holidays, many councils are running their own schemes, and if you are eligible this could take down the cost of groceries over the six-week period.

Check you are signed up for free school meals if you qualify and then check whether your local council is offering vouchers over the summer.

49. Grab a grant to take down the cost of next term’s uniform

One major summer holiday expense is uniform for the next school term, some councils may have grants available to help pay for this, so check whether yours does, and if you qualify.

All councils in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland offer these grants, as well as many English councils – you should be able to find out on their websites if they do.

If you aren’t eligible or none are offered, check whether the school offers a school uniform bank or second hand sale and join any PTA Facebook groups to ask other parents if they have uniform to give away or sell.

50. Search for a discount code before you go

Got a day out in mind? Don’t wait until you get to the attraction to buy your tickets. Instead, search online for a discount code, and check whether it will be cheaper to book in advance on the website too.

It’s nearly always pricier to pay at the gate.

If you are are near a tourist information centre you will often find discounts on their printed leaflets for attractions, as well as finding codes online.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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