I’m very pleased to be featuring the amazing Ayse Erdin from CoffeeandCwtches giving you her top tips on enjoying the summer holidays, without spending a fortune:
The summer holidays can be such a lovely time of year for some parents but fill so many others with dread. It’s all well and good if you have the time and money to take them to different places every day to keep them entertained but what if you don’t? Then you need the Busy Mum’s Guide to summer holiday on a budget.
My name is Ayse and I am a mum of 2 girls (Pops, 5 and R, 1) based in Caerphilly, Wales. I write the blog CoffeeandCwtches where I write about our life living in Wales, parenting and how we support our daughter in Welsh medium education as non Welsh speaking parents.
Are there actually things you can do that are free or low budget that your children will enjoy? YES!
We’re quite lucky living in Wales because there’s so many beautiful places to go and explore but even if you live in a city there’s stuff to do, you also don’t have to go out every day. Sometimes a nice chill indoors is what we all need.
Budget tip #1 –
Be organised! Whatever you choose to do being organised will allow you to get the most out of the day and save the most money. Take snacks and a packed lunch out with you to stop yourself having to spend money. Also take reusable bottles because you can get them filled up rather than buying more drinks.
Budget tip #2 –
Check local events. There are things happening all over the place during the summer so it’s definitely worth checking out your local bloggers or council websites. Check out your local library to see if they’re holding any free events, If not it’s still a great place to enjoy the day learning and reading new books.
Budget tip #3 –
Make the most of what you have. Stay indoors and make a fort, watch some movies and bake a cake. Staying indoors can be loads of fun and let’s face it if you live in the UK there will be a fair few rainy days so indoor days are needed.
Budget tip #4 –
Be upfront and honest with your children. We always worry that things are never enough for our kids but in reality it is, we just overthink things. Let your kids know that you don’t have much money to spend and you’ll be amazed to see how understanding they can be. It will teach them that you don’t need money to have fun, you just need each other.
Budget tip #5 –
Create a list of activities. Let your children feel like they’re in control by making a list of options you are happy with and letting them choose from it. It’s such a simple way to keep kids feeling in control and happy without you having to say no if they choose something you’re not able to do. Check out the list I made for loads of options you could include.
I hope these tips help you and your family have the best summer ever!