Five easy ways I get a free family holiday when cash is tight – and anyone can do it

WITH Christmas a dim and distant memory and the cost of living so
high, it can be tough to come up with the cash for a much-needed break over half-term or beyond.

But if you think outside the box, you can find ways to have a staycation for free, even if it's not quite on a par with visiting a luxury hotel or jetting off to the sun.

Petsitting

Some of the best breaks I've had have been petsitting for friends and
family, which is a massive win for both hosts and guests.

You'll get a place to stay free and your hosts won't have to pay for expensive care to look after their precious furry family members while they are away.

It's a fab way to explore a new place and you'll be staying in
someone's home, so it's going to have all the creature comforts on
hand, unlike holiday rentals, which can sometimes be a bit lacking in
anything more than the essentials.

When I was growing up, my parents used to take us down to a cottage near Bude every summer for a week to look after three dogs while our friends went away.

As we didn't have any pets at home, it was exciting to have animals to care for and an eye opener into how much you need to do to keep them fit, happy and healthy.

Use your points

If you don't want to stay in someone else's space, you could always
look into whether you have enough loyalty points to cash in for a
hotel stay.

My best break doing this was when I discovered that I'd saved enough Tesco Clubcard points to exchange for vouchers towards a
hotel near Bath for a couple of nights.

It's also worth checking booking providers like  or  if you use those regularly as you might have points saved up that will take money off a getaway.

I took my boys away for a night in a budget motel last summer
using cashback saved in my  account.

Working holidays

There are also schemes like working holidays, where you offer a
helping hand in return for accommodation and food.

These can be more difficult to access if you've got a family in tow as you need more accommodation and are able to do fewer hours if you're looking after children.

But it's always worth taking a look at a site like  or  to see what's
available.

Wild camping

My husband is a big fan of wild camping, which can make for a
brilliant freebie break if you already have a tent and sleeping bags
to take with you.

You do need to be aware of the rules in different countries and not trespass onto land without permission.

There won't be any showers or toilet facilities if you're not at a campsite, so you'll need to plan around that and also work out what to do about keeping everyone fed and warm.

But it's all part of the adventure and there's a sense of freedom about getting away from it all for a night or two.

Home holiday

My final way to staycay without spending any cash is by being a
tourist in your own town, heading to any free attractions that are
local to you and using your home as a holiday base by having a slumber party in the lounge or a camp out in the garden.

It's a way to change things up without actually having to do any packing.

When you've got tourist sites nearby, you always think that you'll go and check them out, but then you never get around to it.

If you set aside a few days for everyone to get into the holiday spirit and not do anything that's part of your normal routine, it can be just the reset that you need.

So why not take a foray into freebie breaks for a night or two this
year and see if it's right for you and your family? It could end up
being your go-to getaway solution.

Meanwhile, this woman revealed how she goes on holiday for free all the time.

And this is the clever way to get a free trip abroad.