How To Save Money For The School Summer Holidays

Money Saving

The sun is shining and the school summer holidays are fast approaching. While this is what our children have been waiting for, this summer period can be a daunting and expensive time for parents and caregivers. It’s estimated that British parents will spend more than £1,400 on keeping their children entertained over the school summer holidays. Going away for the school summer holidays is so expensive for parents because travel and accommodation prices surge due to high demand, and parents often face additional costs for childcare and activities to keep their children engaged.

How To Save Money For The School Summer Holidays

The entertainment in question includes everything from pocket money for activities like the cinema and swimming to all-inclusive holidays abroad. Of course, we want our kids to enjoy their summer freedom, but you don’t want to find yourself in a financial bind. Here are some tips and tricks on how to save money for the school summer holidays:

Plan ahead

While it would be nice to have the easy-breezy ‘go with the flow’ attitude our youngsters have, you can make some significant by planning out activities ahead of the holidays. Planning in advance gives you plenty of time to work out a budget and put some savings aside so you’re not left out of pocket when the time comes to pay up.

For activities like holidays abroad, camping trips, and other big expenses, you’ve got more time to make some cutbacks. More importantly, you’ll have better value deals to choose from.

Spend less

In the months leading up to the school holidays, you can save money by cutting back on non-essential items. This could mean cutting out those weekend takeaways or holding off on going on that shopping spree. It’s still important to have a treat now and again but try to reduce it to bi-weekly instead of weekly.

You can also make some easy savings on your essentials too. By finding little ways to save money on your food shop, be less wasteful, and become more energy-efficient, you could see a real difference in your bills.

Budget for abroad

For many, the biggest expense will come from booking an exciting holiday abroad. These can be heavy hitters on your finances, especially since holidays are up 70% since the cost of living crisis. You can avoid the summer holidays price hike and take advantage of mid-season deals when you book in advance. Look for places where kids go free and avoid all-inclusive packages.

Paying off your holiday beforehand with a credit card could also benefit you in the long run. Not only can you pay it off in sizeable chunks that allow you to save in the meantime but keeping up with the regular instalments can help boost your credit score.

Look for free activities

The best things in life are free so before you start shelling out for expensive activities, why not keep your eye out for free activities? Take a trip to your local museum or take part in a sports day at a nearby park.