The Easter holidays come at a tricky time for some households, with many still feeling the financial effects of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
However, by thinking outside the box and keeping an eye out for money saving offers and cheap days out, you can ensure your kids have a fun-filled half term without spending the earth.
Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, explains how.
Movie magic
With unpredictable weather on the horizon, there’s no better way to enjoy being indoors than with a film the whole family can enjoy.
But with adult cinema tickets often costing more than £10, the cost of a family trip to the multiplex can soon become too much to justify, especially if you have several children who all want their own snacks.
Luckily, many cinemas offer special kids’ screenings, with tickets sometimes costing as little as £2.50, even for adults. Better still, those that do offer these screenings typically do so throughout school holidays, meaning you’ll have plenty of dates and times to choose between if you have a participating cinema nearby.
All the main cinema chains offer some form of reduced ticket scheme for kids/families, so have a hunt for the best option and bear in mind that some tickets are even cheaper if purchased online, with weekday screenings usually cheapest. Showings of older films can sometimes be cheaper than brand new releases too.
Tickets tend to sell quickly too so book ahead to avoid disappointment!
Movie magic II
If you don’t have easy access to a cinema, you can recreate the fun of a trip to the big screen at home for a fraction of the cost.
Either curl up on the sofa, make a comfy sitting area on the floor using cushions, pillows and blankets or build an indoor den by draping sheets over a couple of chairs, then round up the family for some blockbuster action.
If you already have an account with the likes of Netflix, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a film to watch; if not, simply sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime and you’re good to go (just remember to cancel your membership again before the trial runs out and you start incurring costs)!
Other ideas
If you want to save on expensive days out this half term why not try:
Organising a treasure hunt. Just hide clues or riddles around your home and leave a reward like chocolate at the end.
Having a cardboard box challenge. Get some cardboard boxes and tubes out of the recycling box and let your children’s imaginations run wild. Equip them with some safe scissors, sticky tape and felt-tip pens and see what they can come up with. Submarines, dens, animals – anything is possible!
Visiting your local library. Whether you spend a few hours reading there, choose some books to take home or partake in any activities that are available, libraries have something for everyone and are free!
Check out local galleries or museums. Many offer free (or reduced) entry for children and put on adventure trails over school holidays so why not head over and enjoy some culture for an afternoon?
Leeds Credit Union provides affordable financial services to people in Leeds.
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