I saved £25k in one year – here’s how you could save hundreds over the Easter holidays including half price attractions
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EASTER half term will soon be upon us, with many schools breaking up next week, so there’s no better time to start planning.
Days out and keeping the kids entertained can be extremely pricey but that doesn’t have to be the case according to one savvy mum.
Lara Joanna Jarvis, who found fame on YouTube thanks to her budgeting tips and tricks which she shares with her 58,000 subscribers, committed to buying no luxuries in 2019, only spending money on essential purchases saving £25k in the process.
And now the mum of two, 38, from the South of England, has shared her tips with so you can hunt down a bargain this Easter.
Planning is key
Lara says: “As with most things when it comes to being savvy with money, planning is the best tool you can use to save yourself some cash.
on Easter
"Have a look into when free activities are being held locally to you so you can plan around these days.
“Take a look at the forecast and if you see some sunny days then use these for free outdoor activities such as a trip to the beach or a local lake and park. Pack up a flask and a picnic and you’ve got a free day out.
“For rainy days get creative with bedding and cushions and make a den to enjoy a movie afternoon in, throw some fairy lights up and pop some snacks into a bowl and let their imagination take them somewhere fun!”
Eat out with 2 for 1
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“If you can treat the family out to a meal during the school holidays, it’s worth exploring discount codes or joining a dining club to give you money off.
“A dining discount card such as tastecard will get you 2 for 1 across thousands of family favourite restaurants nationwide such as ASK Italian, Bella Italia and Pizza Hut. tastecard data reveals that, currently, the average family spends £56.31* to enjoy a meal out and so saving 50% will free up £28 on average to spend on other fun activities.
Share the load with friends
“The chances are your friends will also be finding the juggle a struggle, so why not plan out some childcare swap days with trusted friends so that you can help ease the load for each other.
“My kids are just as happy having a playdate in someone’s garden with a quick picnic break for lunch, than they are with extravagant days out to theme parks.”
Use a discount card for days out
“If you can factor in some special days out, then make sure you’re spending savvy on these.
"If your family loves going to the cinema or to fun attractions, then make sure you’re getting the best price available by using a tastecard for amazing discounts.
“With a tastecard you can enjoy a huge 40% off cinema trips and up to 50% off at the UK’s biggest attractions like Alton Towers and Legoland. They’re currently offering a free 60-day trial too, to help you save for longer!
“With the average cinema trip costing a family £37.58, up to 40% off is a huge saving when taking the kids to see new releases such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Fantastic Beats: The Secrets of Dumbledore this half term.”
Get earning for a YES day
“A great way to double up on activities is to spend a day decluttering with your children to sell their unwanted things and then either spend the morning at a car boot sale selling them or putting them on free selling sites such as Marketplace or Vinted.
“Then, when you’ve earned some extra cash let the children have a 'yes day' where they can spend their money on things they want to do – without it having to come out of your pocket.
"This keeps them busy for a couple of days leading up to the day out, as well as them having a brilliant time on their special day.
“This is something you could do seasonally, selling old toys and clothes and then enjoying a day out without it having to hit the family budget.
"Even if you don’t have much to spend, a yes day could be as silly as a one-off treat of dessert for breakfast, a water fight, doing mum’s make up or camping out in the garden!”
Recoup your energy as well as money
“It’s easy to feel like you want to book lots of things once the children break up from school, especially now that we’re able to do so much more than recent school holidays.
"The mum-guilt always used to make me feel like I had to give them 'the best time ever'. But the truth is, you don’t have to pack out every day full of big (and expensive!) plans.
“Chances are your children will be grateful for a bit of a rest to begin with – wouldn’t we all! So don’t let outside influences such as little snapshots of the lives of strangers on the internet make you feel bad for having a few days of no elaborate plans dotted into the weeks ahead.
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"Sometimes they’re just as happy relaxing at home, we all need to recoup some energy!”
Lara concluded by saying: “Whatever you choose to do this Easter holiday, just remember you don’t have to bust your budget to have a good time together.”
