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A ‘CHEAP mum’ shared how she reduced the cost of entertaining the kids by 70% during school holidays.
New research shows parents spend an average of £1,000 keeping their children happy on a family holiday, according to financial services firm Hodge.
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But savvy saver and stay-at-home mum Charlotte Deering, who has a young daughter, is budgeting just £300 for the six-week holiday.
The 28-year-old, an expert in saving money, is now sharing her secrets with other parents.
“There is a huge pressure on parents and carers to make every day during the school holidays fun and create happy memories,” Charlotte, who lives in Manchester, told What is there to do?
“And there’s a common misconception that it’s about spending a fortune, which is completely wrong.”
Here are some of her clever tips and tricks for summer entertaining:
Homemade snacks
She said: “I have a basket of snacks for my daughter and she only has so many each day – once they’re gone, they’re gone.
“I also have a candy store, where I give her a set amount of money every day and have a list of snacks she can buy with that money.
“The healthy snacks are cheaper and this works great for impromptu movie nights at home.
“Picnics with children and parents from school are also a must.
“Everyone brings something and I choose hot dogs.
“I heat them up in the morning and keep them warm in a thermos.
“Don’t buy ice cream at the store.
“Make them at home with reusable molds and fruit, they are healthy and affordable.”
BUDGET FRIENDLY EVENTS
She advises using free National Trust vouchers, looking up activities on Facebook or researching deals for local attractions, as there are often ‘serious’ savings to be had at certain times.
The mother, who shares her advice about Instagramsaid: “Some places have twilight offers, where you pay half the normal ticket price after 3pm.
“Always check your local library for events and challenge your children to read.”
How to Survive Six Weeks of Summer Vacation
IF you’re struggling with the six-week summer vacation, you’ve come to the right place…
AGAINST BOREDOM: Despite hours of activities and playdates, if your kids are already complaining that there’s nothing to do, parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says, “You don’t have to plan every second of the holiday. Kids benefit from boredom and learn to make their own fun.
“Boredom can stimulate creative and imaginative play, but you need to encourage children to get used to not being told how to spend their time.
“Away with the pleas of boredom. Respond with comments like, ‘What do you think you could do?’ and maybe put a list of ‘I’m bored’ activity ideas on the fridge.”
SCREEN OVERLOAD: It’s tempting to hire a digital sitter during the holidays, but don’t leave them staring at a screen all summer.
Liat says: “It’s unfair to expect older children to withdraw, but it’s important to set some ground rules.
“Create rules together for technology in the family. If you find yourself getting distracted by your phone, follow the rules. Maybe tell your kids that they can’t have screen time until they’ve done chores, done some sports, or played a board game.
“Are there times when you want to ban screens altogether? Maybe during dinner or when they have friends over.
“Technology is a battlefield for parents, but you have to set boundaries. Be firm and prepare to be unpopular.”
TOO MUCH COHERENCE: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Don’t feel guilty if you need some downtime.
Liat says: “When you’re juggling work, household chores and the kids, it’s normal to start feeling overwhelmed or exhausted and in need of some rest.
“If you can’t afford or don’t want your kids to go to day camp, see if there are free workshops for kids so you can keep doing your work or take a break for a few hours.
“Taking a moment of peace and quiet every now and then doesn’t make you a bad parent. In fact, it probably makes you more positive and enthusiastic when you’re with your kids.”
CONFLICT OVER PLANNING: During the holidays, your schedule can get messed up, but if you go to bed late or wake up early, your kids are often tired and unhappy.
Dr Tamara Bugembe, paediatrician and founder of Helperbees.co.uk says: “Children become grumpy, test boundaries and become defiant when routines are broken.
“It’s a good idea to maintain some sort of routine during the holidays.
“We release hormones at different times of the day and when our regular meal and bedtimes are disrupted, it causes mood swings.
“The holidays are all about having fun, but going to bed early once or twice a week makes everyone happier.”
EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure children get outside in the fresh air to tire them out, and to make them healthier and happier.
Dr Bugembe says: “Sunshine also replenishes essential vitamin D levels, which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels are low in winter, so get children stocking up in warmer weather.
“Letting them run around in shorts and a T-shirt is the best way to get them pumped up. Make sure they wear sunscreen, get outside and have fun.
“Encourage them to try healthy habits like biking and walking. Hopefully they’ll get hooked and want to continue when the weather gets colder.”
GAME ON
Charlotte also likes to turn everything into a game; like giving her daughter [not named for privacy reasons] a list in the supermarket that she could find in record time.
She said, “Let the mundane become pleasant.
“I go to thrift stores and assign her to buy an outfit or a game theme for a certain amount of money.
“She spends hours doing this, especially with friends, when it becomes a competition.”
While it’s important to make summer vacation fun, it’s also important to teach kids a valuable lesson at the same time.
Charlotte hopes that these tips will help her daughter learn the value of money and that she can help other parents avoid financial problems.
She added: “Think back to your happiest memories; I bet everything you did was free or cost very little – and you had a great time.
Then think about the times you bought something for your child and they were thrilled with the box it came in, allowing their imagination to run wild.
“Please don’t set impossible standards for yourself and don’t think you have to spend a small fortune to make your children happy.
“Spending quality time together is worth more than anything and costs nothing.”
