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After a year in the shadows, the month of July enters the room to cheers from school-age children, and anxious groans from parents. Whilst we all love spending time with our children, the little matter of how to keep them entertained for six weeks straight can weigh on the minds of many.
This year, of course, we have the added headache of navigating a cost-of-living crisis at the same time. Petrol/diesel prices are at an all-time high, Lurpak is trading at the same price as gold bullion, and energy bills are making living in a tent more viable by the day. With this in mind, here’s a few pointers to get you through the next six weeks.
Consider public transport for days out
With even small hatchbacks needing over £100’s worth of fuel to fill the tank, you may find that public transport works out cheaper for some trips.
If you have primary-school-aged children, you’ll find that a bus or train ride is actually part of the fun of a day out. If you tend to take them in the car wherever you go usually, they’ll find it a lovely novelty instead of the sweaty, packed nightmare you may have experienced commuting.
Many bus service providers have apps available now that can help you to plan your journey easily without scrolling through a ton of timetables on their websites. Similarly, there’s several train apps that will do the same (presuming there are any trains on at the moment – what a time to be alive, eh!).
Look into loans to get you through the holidays
It goes without saying that you should only consider taking out a loan if you’re absolutely sure that you can pay it back without any trouble. That being said, if you are careful with your money, and need a quick boost to your income before you’re due to get paid, there are plenty of services that can help you out.
Not all companies that offer short term loans are created equal however, and it pays to do a little homework before you enter into any agreement. In particular, you should always make sure that you’re 100% clear of what your monthly repayments will be, and for how long you’ll be paying them.
Using a provider such as cashasap.co.uk for any payday loans will make the whole process easy and transparent. They make sure that all expected repayments are clear from the outset, meaning that you avoid any nasty surprises in the future. They’re an especially good option for anybody who has a less than stellar credit history, and needs up to £400 the same day as applying. That limit is for first-time borrowers from them, and increases to £750 after several successful transactions.
Let the kids play shop for real
Car boot sales can be an absolute blast for kids. If your little ones have ever played shop in the past, they’ll definitely get behind the idea of doing it for real. This of course, has the added benefit of potentially making money whilst doubling up as a fun (and educational) activity.
Don’t get too hung up on the idea of making money however. In order for your kids to part with any of their old toys, they’ll want to see some money in return for them. What they decide to do with the money they earn though, could easily form the basis of another cheap day out later in the holidays.
There’s also the very real possibility that they’ll want half of the items on the tables of the other stall owners. As long as your table is making some money though, you may find that you leave the day breaking even at least.
What thrifty summer holiday ideas do you have? Let us know all of your frugal hacks for family days out below.