Save on family fun this summer
The school summer holidays are a time of excitement and fun for families across Wales. It is great to spend time together and create unforgettable memories with the kids, but summer fun can quickly become expensive, leaving us worried about our budgets.
Written by Will
—20 Jul, 2023
Photo by Josue Michel [via Unsplash]
Here we have collected some top tips on how to have fun and hopefully make your money last longer during the summer holidays…
1. Plan ahead and prioritise
One of the essential steps to save money during the summer holidays is proper planning. Sit down with your family and discuss the activities everyone would like to do. Mark up your calendar with days that are set aside for activities and some days which will be quieter. This way you can space out your activities and make your money go further throughout the holiday.
2. Embrace nature and get outside
We are blessed across South Wales to have some stunning natural scenery, parks and walks. You can plan picnics in local parks or go further afield on nature walks. Most places are free or only charge for parking. Natural Resources Wales has lots of great information about places to walk and visit.
3. Free community events
Many counties and towns run free community events during the summer holidays. There are a wide range of events all over the region and we have collected some below. Be sure to keep an eye on social media for local authorities, town councils and community groups to see what’s going on in your area.
Blaenau Gwent | Monmouthshire | Newport | Torfaen | Powys
4. Food offers
There are lots of great offers available to help keep the cost of eating out this summer to a minimum. Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert website has an up-to-date list of them. Nevertheless, a picnic is almost always going to be cheaper then eating out, so prepare in advance and you could have hundreds of pounds over the holidays.
5. Attraction offers
Just like with food offers, there are plenty of offers on attractions this summer as businesses compete for your cash. Again, Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert website keeps a track on what’s on offer. Also, Cadw, who operate lots of Wales’ historic attractions also regularly run offers, including 2-for-1 on entry when you show your train ticket at an attraction.
Remember, if you are in receipt of certain benefits, such as DLA or PIP, you may be able to get free entry for a carer at many attractions. If in doubt, always ask, as you can save money on entry costs. Many attractions accept a benefit award letter as proof.
6. Talk to us
The summer can be a very expensive time for families. Even if you follow some of our hints and tips, you may still struggle with your household finances over the summer. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, then we want you to reach out to us. Our Melin Advice team is on hand to help. The sooner you get in contact, the sooner we can help you.
