Summer can be an expensive time, but it doesn’t have to be!
There’s lots of ways to save money on days out this Summer, it just means being a bit organised and planning ahead a little more than you might usually….
Find cheap or free days out in your area:
- Check your local museums websites to see what they have going on as they usually have some great activities on throughout the Summer that cost next to nothing.
- You could also see what’s going on at your local library although my two are too old for that now apparently.
- Ask on Facebook if anyone on your friends list knows of anything going on that you might be interested in.
- Another great idea is to check the websites of local parks, farms and nature reserves to see what they have planned for over the Summer – last year the woodland near us did weekly nature walks for a pound and they were brilliant.
- If you get the Primary Times from your school, it’s a great resource for what’s going on in your area.
- Finally, it’s worth checking in with your local cinema and bowling alley to see what special offers they have on. Our cinemas do cheap film showings throughout the holidays and the bowling alley near us have the odd offer on too.
- Don’t forget that places like the beach and the park can also be a great way to spend the day without costing a fortune.
- Geocaching is a great way to explore any area – whether it’s the park near where you live or somewhere a bit further afield.
- Download the Pokemon Go app – you may hate the idea of it but it’s encouraged more people out of the house and outdoors than any other thing I can remember.
Save money paying for the bigger days out:
- Check if there are any offers on for where you’re planning to go. Just google the words ‘discount’ or ‘voucher’ along with the name of the place you’re going to and you’ll get all sorts of voucher websites coming up with any valid (and lots of expired) offers.
- Check the website of the place you’re going to just in case they have any offers on. It might be cheaper to get there after a certain time or to book in advance.
- See if you can use any loyalty schemes to pay for your day. Tesco club card vouchers are a great example and I believe Nectar do something similar.
- Make sure before you book any tickets or before you set off on your journey that you’ve check all of these five websites to see if you can save.
- Consider going in a group which is always more fun and usually cheaper.
- Download the app for wherever you’re going before you go – you often get savings just for doing that.
- Sign up for newletters for the attractions you’re planning to go to and you have the chance of a discount code or a freebie.
Save money on the day:
- This is an obvious one but I’d recommend taking a picnic wherever you go to save money and time on your day out. Who wants to spend time queueing for overpriced food and trying to find somewhere to sit when you’re just wanting to enjoy your day. I’d recommend taking snacks for later in the day too.
- Take some sweets in your handbag so if the kids ask you to buy them some you can just give them what you brought with you to save some money.
- At a theme park, consider buying one of those refillable drinks to share. I love that for about £6 you can refill as many times as you like throughout the day at various different places. Not the cheapest option but it’s not the most expensive and, considering the cheapest option involves someone carting about a stack of drinks bottles all day, it’s definitely the easiest.
- If you must buy the ride photos then split the cost if you’re with friends and scan a second copy when you get home.
- Take things like sun tan lotion and hats as well as plastic ponchos which you can pick up at the pound shop. These things can cost a fortune when you’re out and about.
- Take cash with you rather than withdrawing it from an ATM at the attraction as they often charge up to £2.00 to withdraw cash.
Have fun. 😉
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