The school summer holidays are in full-swing which can put a bit of extra pressure on household budgets, especially over the warmer days when kids want to be outside and enjoy the sun. Parents can find it hard to say ‘no’ to requests for a trip to the beach or a visit to the zoo, without having to explain how the cost of living crisis is forcing them to watch every penny.
A new online survey, commissioned by StepChange Debt Charity, has found that over a third of UK parents with children aged 18 and under (37%) are concerned they will fall into financial difficulty over the summer, rising to over half (51%) of parents on Universal Credit.
To help reduce some of those worries, StepChange Debt Expert, Andy Shaw, has shared his top tips for budgeting, getting the best deals, and keeping the kids entertained before they go back to school in August.
Andy explained: “The summer holidays can be a stressful time for families. With the cost of everyday goods and services so high at the moment, the next few weeks may feel quite daunting, so making savings and shopping smart where you can could make all the difference.
“If you are feeling worried about the cost of living and the impact it’s having on your finances, visit StepChange’s cost of living hub for support.”
1. Summer holiday childcare help
You can get help paying for childcare if you’re using a registered childcare provider which is known as ‘approved childcare’ - visit the gov.uk website to check whether a provider is approved.
You can apply for help with childcare costs if your child is under 18, and what you can apply for varies depending on your situation and the age of your child.
2. Free school meals holiday support
If you get free school meals you may also be able to get help during the school holidays. To qualify you need to get one of the benefits in the eligibility section on mygov.scot here.
You can apply as soon as you start to get one of these benefits - even if this happens during school holidays. You do not need to wait until the school terms starts again to apply.
Follow the direct link to your local council on the mygov.scot website here.
3. Search for vouchers or money-off coupons
When buying summer items, such as clothing, family days out, or holidays, make sure you’re searching for any vouchers or online discount codes.
A lot of online retailers, particularly if it’s your first-time shopping there, will offer discounts at the checkout. Doing a quick online search for a discount code or signing up to retailers’ newsletters can often give a small percentage off your shop. There are several mobile phone apps you can use to build up points you can then swap for retail vouchers or cash.
4. Shop around
To save money on clothing, footwear, and toys, consider shopping second hand for cheaper items which can often be better-quality than buying new. There are plenty of ways to shop second hand nowadays, as well as charity shops, there are websites and apps devoted to buying and selling pre-owned clothes. You may even find stuff for free by using a recycling app where people give away items they no longer need.
5. School uniform help from local councils
Every Scottish council offers a minimum of £120 towards buying clothes and footwear for a child at primary school age and £150 for those in secondary school through the School Clothing Grant.
You need to apply for this and meet the eligibility criteria - you can read the full list of all 32 Scottish councils school uniform support, here.
6. Save money on food
Swapping your usual shop for cheaper options may help you release some funds for the summer holidays. To make your food shop easier and cheaper, plan ahead by creating a meal plan to ensure you only buy what you need, which will also be helpful when taking packed lunches on family days out. Switching to supermarket own brand products and batch cooking are also useful ways to reduce your food bill.
7. Places that have special deals for kids to eat
Several of the large supermarkets and various restaurant chains have special offers where children can eat for free or for a reduced price when an adult meal is purchased.
8. Save money on public transport
If you’re going on holiday this summer or for family days out around the UK, you can try to get the best deals on train fares by booking set time advance tickets, travelling at off-peak times, signing up for email alerts for when there are ‘rail sales’, and making sure you have a railcard if you’re entitled to one and travel frequently by train.
Children under five can accompany a fare-paying passenger free of charge but can only occupy a seat not required by a fare-paying passenger. Children aged five to fifteen inclusive get a 50% discount on most tickets.
9. Check your local council for free events
Most local councils and tourist information sites have listings of fun and free things to do in the local area. Take a look and see if you can fill the calendar with activities, there may be some hidden gems on your doorstep that you’ve not heard about.
Don’t forget to visit your local library to see if they are putting on any events for kids, or to borrow games and children’s books for free.
Many museums and art galleries are often completely or partially free to attend, and usually have activities or play areas for children.
If you’re still stuck on how to fill a rainy day, check with your local cinema to see if they offer cheaper tickets on certain days, or whether they show kid-friendly films for less.
10. Review your monthly spending
If you’re struggling to see where savings might be possible, it can help to do a full review of your income and outgoings to see where your money is being spent and understand what bills are the most important.
This will be a helpful first step in taking control of your finances.
There might be monthly direct debits to services you won’t need over the summer holidays, or you’re spending more on certain items than you’d like to - a budget will help you to get a clear picture of this.
11. Try to avoid temptation from short-term loans
Taking out credit might seem like a quick and convenient way to get money fast, but it’s important to stop and think about the consequences of borrowing, and whether this may worsen your financial situation later on.
Before you do borrow, think about whether you will be able to make repayments including interest. If you’re borrowing to pay for essential items, seek advice from a non-profit charity such as StepChange, Citizens Advice or Christians Against Poverty as taking out credit will likely only worsen your financial situation.
12. See if you can boost your income
Even if it’s just by a small amount, increasing your income can make a big difference to your situation, and it isn’t always as difficult as it sounds.
Start off by checking to see if you’re claiming all the help you’re entitled to, there may be some you aren’t aware you’d be eligible for - find out more about benefit calculators here.
For more ideas for saving money over the school holidays, visit StepChange’s website, here.
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