School Holidays 2025: How to make your summer more affordable

Parents can expect to spend an average of over £1,000 per week on their children during the school holidays over the summer, according to Reassured. Not only are they more likely to go on days out, eat out or spend more on food during the holidays, but they’re also having to spend more on childcare as most still need to work during this time. 

If you’re looking to find ways to save money whilst making the 2025 school holidays fun for your children, here’s some of our expert tips outlining what you can do now to reign in your spending. 

Review your spending 

Review your spending to see how much you can cut back to save for an affordable summer. To do this, go through the last three months of bank statements and review what you normally spend your money on. If you find it helpful, split it into categories, such as clothes, coffee runs, eating out and days out. This should help you to see where you might be able to cut back on any non-essential spending, giving you more money to spend over the summer.

Start saving now (no, it’s not too late) 

It might feel too late to start saving for summer now, but you can still make a big difference throughout the school holidays. Think about how much you’ll realistically spend this summer, factoring in the cost of food, days out, events and any other expenses. Divide this total into however many pay days you have left until the school’s break up. Once you receive your pay later this month, set aside part of the budget in a savings account. Repeat this process over the next payday and so on. By following this plan, you can significantly reduce the financial stress of the summer holidays.

Stock up on your shopping now

With the kids not having their meals at school during the summer, you’ll need to buy more in your grocery shopping to cover the additional meals. Although it may seem early to stock up on food, and you may not know what you’ll want to eat in three months’ time, buying now and planning your meals in advance can save you money later. 

Fresh produce won't last, but non-perishable items like biscuits, crisps, pasta, tinned foods and drinks can be purchased in advance – so if you spot good deals, grab them now. Buy in bulk too - you could pick up large bags of things like pasta, multipacks of drinks, snacks and crisps so that you’re fully prepared throughout the next six weeks. 

Remember to check the ‘reduced to clear’ shelves every time you shop, too. Many items, including meat and fish, can be frozen – which could significantly help to reduce the cost of your summer food shops. 

Make the most of your leftovers too. If you double up on ingredients each time you cook, and freeze half for another day, not only are you saving money but you’re also saving time. Even better if you cook one pan-style meals, as these can be defrosted and put into one pan and then cooked in no time. 

Sign up for cashback schemes

Imagine getting paid to do your shopping or go on days out – sounds good, right? With cashback websites and apps, you can earn money back on every penny you spend. 

These schemes work by tracking your online purchases and rewarding you with a percentage of your spending as cashback. For example, if you buy something for £100 and the provider offers 5% cashback, you’ll pocket £5 credit. Once you’ve earned enough, you can withdraw it as cash, gift cards or vouchers.

It's a win-win. Save money on your spending during the summer holidays so you can build up a savings pot. If you keep the savings going for the rest of the year, it may help when it comes to Christmas too. The two biggest platforms in the UK are Topcashback and Quidco.

Use discount codes

Using discount codes to stretch your shopping budget or get money off days out and eating out might seem like a simple tip, but it’s often overlooked. With a simple online search, you’ll be able to find a working discount/promo code for most online retailers, often saving you 5-20% off your purchase – but sometimes even more.

The easiest way to make the most of discount codes is to install a browser extension, such as Honey or Pouch, which will automatically apply working discount codes to your purchases at checkout. There are plenty of apps available if you do a lot of the shopping on your phone, too.

Focus on free or low-cost activities 

To make the most of summer without spending a fortune, focus on free or low-cost activities, explore discounts and promotions and be mindful of your spending habits. Try planning ahead and booking in advance to secure cheaper prices and avoid last minute price hikes. 

There are plenty of local parks, beaches and nature reserves around that you can get to either by driving or using public transport to help give the kids a fun day out without spending too much. To make your money go further, you could pack a picnic so you don’t have to spend money on food. 

If you’re looking for something a little closer to home, plan ahead now and check out the local council website to see if there are any free festivals, cultural events or other community activities coming up over the summer.

Sometimes museums and attractions will have special offers or discounts during the summer or days when tickets cost less. If you plan ahead and can be flexible about when you visit, you could save money by visiting them when it’s cheaper. Sometimes the cost of a family ticket can be better value than paying separately, so check online before you go to see if you’re able to save through buying a family ticket. 

Sign up to Kids Pass, a membership you can join that allows you over a thousand discounts on zoos, theme parks, cinemas, restaurants, and more for only £1.

Look out for low-cost meals

Several places offer free meals for kids during the school holidays and at specific times of the day, so you can save when eating out. Bella Italia offers free meals for kids all day Thursdays and for £1 between 4pm and 6pm Sunday to Wednesday, for example. While YO! Sushi offers one free kids meal with a £10 adult spend with a minimum adult spend and kids eat free with any adult main at Pizza Express. So wherever you plan to eat out over the summer, check their website or social media first to see if they have a kids eat free or for less offer before you go.

Travel off peak 

If you’ll be travelling throughout the summer, whether that's by train, airplane or by bus, consider travelling during off-peak hours to get better prices. Off-peak train travel times are generally outside of the busiest periods, which are usually the morning and evening rush hours. Generally, off-peak starts around 9:30 on weekdays in larger cities and towns, and 9:00 elsewhere. Weekends and bank holidays are typically off-peak all day but public transport will be busier over these periods. If flying, use sites such as Skyscanner or Kayak to compare prices and see when the cheapest time to fly is. 

Save on your summer holiday

When booking a summer holiday, whether it’s abroad or a staycation, it’s important to do your research. Prices will be higher during the summer holidays, so it’s best to do what you can to make it cheaper by looking for discounts and comparing different sites to find the best deals. Camping is a popular choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly holiday. You could also consider places that aren’t necessarily tourist hotspots to save money. 

If you’re able to, sometimes it’s possible to secure a good last minute deal. If you're looking for a staycation on a site like Airbnb that day, for example, message the owner and see if they’re willing to drop the price. Travel in large groups too, not only can this give your kids some friends to play with while you’re away, but it can also help to save money. You could pool resources and make the cost of travel, food or accommodation cheaper.

Save money at home

There are many ways you can keep your children entertained at home without spending a fortune. Bring out your children's creative sides through DIY arts and crafts by using cardboard, scissors, glue, and recyclables to create a piece of art, or have fun in the kitchen by teaching your children how to cook and bake. You could even cook or bake in large batches, providing snacks and treats for the school holidays instead of buying them from a supermarket.

Try to get your children out into the fresh air and teach them how to garden, or incorporate a daily routine whereby they care for the plants by watering them. Reward them with an outdoor picnic and indulge in some homemade treats to make it more fun - if the weather permits. 

If the weather is playing up and you want to keep them off screens - keep their minds active by playing board games and building puzzles. When it’s time to relax or on a rainy afternoon, turn your living room into a cinema, grab some popcorn and settle down to a family movie. This is much cheaper than heading to the cinema and it means you can get cheaper snacks. 

Borrow wisely, if you need to

Borrowing for anything should always be a last resort. First, consider cutting expenses or finding additional income, if possible, before turning to debt. But if you’re set on borrowing money to help you cover some expenses over the summer holidays, please borrow wisely. Be cautious about high-interest payday loans or other predatory lenders that become particularly aggressive with their marketing tactics in the build up to summer. 

Instead, consider a 0% credit card, which will allow you to borrow interest-free for a set period. Make sure you’ll be able to pay off the balance before the interest-free period runs out, though.

Buy now, pay later services can be a good option if you simply need to spread the cost of a few larger purchases. However, it's important to use them responsibly, making sure you can afford the repayments and meet the deadlines set. 

It’s worth remembering that it’s perfectly okay to scale things back and do more things for free or as low cost as possible. You can still have a good summer, even if you aren’t spending a fortune. Don't feel guilty about setting boundaries and expectations. The key is open communication and setting these boundaries early, so that everyone knows what to expect. Let your loved ones know soon that you're working with a tighter budget. 

Ultimately, don't feel pressured to spend more than you can afford over the summer. Honesty and transparency will help create a more stress-free and enjoyable time for everyone.