I reveal the £5 discount card that save families HUNDREDS on days out and holidays

EARLIER this year, social media was abuzz with news that teachers can now sign up for the popular Blue Light Card - a discount scheme that's saved my family hundreds of pounds over the years.

It's no wonder that so many teachers were trying to take advantage of their newfound eligibility that the website crashed and the company had to introduce a waiting list to join. 

We've been using our Blue Light Card, launched in 2008, since its very early days as my husband's in the emergency services.

Over the years, the savings have really added up, especially when it comes to booking holidays and days out.

It's my go-to app when I'm looking at whether I can get a discount on tickets, hotel rooms or even breaks away. 

It's now second nature for me to use it when I book a UK holiday park, as both Butlin's and Haven are the among those covered.

We've been visiting Butlin's at least once a year since my eldest son, aged 12, was born.

Every time we've used our Blue Light Card privilege, it's saved us £20, adding up to more than £200 over the last decade.

And our Haven savings probably add up to about the same amount over the years too.

It's certainly not bad for a discount scheme that only costs £5 to join. 

When my husband first became a member, it was free if you just joined online or £5 for five years if you wanted a card to keep in your wallet.

Now it costs £5 for two years, but there's lots of people still waiting for their application to be processed as the company works its way through the backlog from the summer rush.

We've also had some great deals on days out over the years with our Blue Light Card.

Sometimes the card holder can get in for free, with other friends and family members bagging a discounted rate.

We've done that before at attractions like the Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham.

I've noticed that lots of circuses have been offering free Blue Light Card tickets this year.

The big theme parks like Alton Towers and Legoland even host exclusive members-only days out, with tickets that can only be bought through the Blue Light Card site.

These usually run at the start and end of the season and often include discounted prices for the on-site hotels as well.

But you'll need to be quick if you want to bag a bargain as these member-only days often sell out on the day they go on sale.

Whether it's taking £20 off a stay at Butlin's or bagging a bargain theme park ticket, it's worth taking your time to trawl through the website, or the app, to see what appeals to you.

There's so many partner companies signed up that there's bound to be stuff you're already buying that you could save on.

You can even use your card in the least likely places and sometimes those small wins are the best of all.

We had an excellent takeaway meal from My Plaice in Gorleston while we were on holiday in Great Yarmouth and the owner knocked 10 per cent off the price of our fish and chips when my husband showed our Blue Light Card. 

I think the deals to be had with the Blue Light Card beat those on offer with other discount cards like Kids Pass, which I've also been using this year.

If you've heard about Blue Light and thought it wasn't for you, maybe it's time to take another look and see if your job qualifies for membership, now the categories covered have been extended beyond the emergency services, military and healthcare professionals.

I've shared other money-saving hacks on days out in the UK, including a kid's pass.

Earlier this year, we revealed some of the best free kids' attractions in London for families to visit.