The 'School summer holidays on a budget' thread!

WantToBeSE

Hi.
I hope its Ok to post this here?
Basically, i have 2 children (they are 9 and 12), and the summer holidays are almost upon us.
i am SURE i cant be the only one who has to budget REALLY hard in order to be able to take the kids out, or just do something different, over the school holidays?? I thought it may be nice for us all to post different ideas as inspiration for others?

my tips for cheap entertainment would be:

-Kids AM at vue cinemas (not sure if other cinemas do a similar thing?) http://www.myvue.com/offers-savings/kids-am

-Treasure trails for your local town (only £5 for a download, just print out and you have a full days worth of fun!!) http://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/

-Local libraries/museums/art galleries often have free activities on for younger kids.

My kids (especially the oldest) is now at an age where 'going
to the park' just doesn't cut it!

Feel free to add your own, and hopefully we'll all survive the summer holidays on a budget!

noodles86

I am hoping to go bowling with my dd, hopefully will be some offers on & swimming. dvd days?

suki1001

British gas are doing free family swims

https://www.britishgasswimming.co.uk/?source=PPC&campaign=google

Geocaching is another one I intend doing. That's free - well you need some form of gps, but if you've got a phone with that on - and when you've found the treasure, you have to replace it with something small - but we're talking a pencil or a bouncy ball.

I'm going to start taking my children running over the hols, they need to get fitter and they've asked - I'm determined they're not going to dread cross country running at school like I did!

Picnics - loads of picnics in the park.

The national trust has been running the "50 things to do before you're 11 3/4" campaign. Children can sign up online and they get to tick off the activities they've completed - such as blowing a grass trumpet and skimming stones.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9201607/National-Trust-50-things-to-do-before-you-are-12.html

Our library has a book challenge and our local leisure centre has a scheme with loads of activities - including one called fit craft - which is an hour of active games, then an hour of making things and it's £3, which isn't bad.

moneysavingmumofone

I am on a very tight budget this summer holidays (as in realistically I dont have anything left after bills are paid!) so much of what we are going to do is free. Petrol and travel costs are the main expense, even the free museums in London etc cost a fortune to get to! This is what's on the list so far, some of them are no good to anyone not in the area but hopefully it will help someone.
Science Museum (London, free)
National History museum (London, free)
The National Gallery (London, free)
Bunny Park (Officially Brent Lodge park in Hanwell in London, free but there is an ice cream shop. A necessity you know. Huge fields to play in, a maze, park, animals and birds.)
Burnham Beeches (huge woods in Burnham, Berkshire they have a cafe and a park)
Windsor (we park up and play in the park, walk down the river, feed the ducks and spend a few pounds in the little fair. Lots more to do if you want to spend more money! You can use Tesco clubcard vouchers for the boat rides. Go in the fudge shop near the castle for a free taster and sometimes you can watch how its made.)
Empire kids cinema (£1 each saturday and sunday at 11 or 11.30am)
Ruislip Lido (park on a man made beach, woods and a lake, on certain days can pay a very small fee to go on the lovely steam railway)
Swimming (lots of places kids under 16 go free)

Will add any more I think of!

WantToBeSE

Thanks guys, hadnt thought of geocoaching!

WantToBeSE

Oh, also forgot to mention that in some areas (not all), children in receipt of free school meals are able to get a free 'Leisure pass' from theor school or local leisure centre.
These passes entitle the names child to get half price on some leisure activities during the summer holidays.

mustmakealist

Oooh - the bunny park. That brings back memories! I lived near there as a child.

If you live near there check out the olympic torch route. It goes near there on the 24th July.

Shandygirl

Hi,Cineworld cinema do movies for juniors every Saturday (some cinemas also open Sundays as well).
Only 1pound each.We go most weeks and really enjoy it.Most kids take their own backpack with snacks in cinema doesnt seem to bother.

moomoomama27

I live 2 minutes walk from the beach, so my childrens summer hols are sorted lol! Well that's if the weather stays nice!

I'm lucky in the fact that there are alot of free/cheap days out in our area, apart from the beaches, there is a local waterpark which is free, 2 lovely gated adventure playparks and a cheap swimming pool.

I'm planning a trip to London zoo, and some cinema trips, as well as a few trips to some local attractions which are offering good summer holiday deals.

Craft and baking days. Meeting up with friends for BBQ's. Libabry are doing a summer reading challenge and storydays. So quite alot to keep us busy for almost nothing!

I've budgeted about £200 for the 6 weeks so that should cover everything (apart for the zoo visit which has already been paid for!) Hopefully I can amuse the children for the duration on that.

moneysavingmumofone

mustmakealist wrote: »

Oooh - the bunny park. That brings back memories! I lived near there as a child.

If you live near there check out the olympic torch route. It goes near there on the 24th July.

I live in Slough so its a bit of a drive there lol. Worth it as its free (bar an ice cream) when there and the kids love it.

WantToBeSE

Am i right in thinking that the next lot of clubcard vouchers come out at the beginning of August too? That may help with days out.

I live near the beach too, so those are some cheap days out, just petrol costs to get there.