Simple, Affordable Ideas For Family Fun

There’s no escaping headlines about the cost of living crisis and it seems as though every time you turn the TV on, the news gets worse. For many parents, it’s a worrying time. When you have kids, you want the best for them and you want school holidays and weekends to be times when you can spend quality time together and have fun. If you’re fretting about entertaining the kids without breaking the bank, here are some simple, affordable ideas. 

 

Free festivals and days out

The cost of organising a day out can quickly spiral, making trips to places like theme parks and activity centres inaccessible to some families. The good news is that there is a host of free alternatives on offer, especially during the summer and half-term holidays. Use the Internet to find information about free festivals and days out in the local area and join community social media groups to hear about events first. It’s also worth following museums, galleries and popular attractions online to see what’s on and register for free tickets. 

Hosting dinner parties, picnics and afternoon teas

If you’ve got a talented chef or a master baker in the family, what better way to have fun as a family than hosting a dinner party, picnic or afternoon tea for friends and family? This is a great way to save money on eating out or planning expensive trips with groups of school friends and other parents and it also provides opportunities to learn valuable life skills for youngsters. Take a look at companies like Sugar and Crumbs to stock up on supplies and get your kids involved in planning menus, preparing delicious delicacies and decorating your kitchen, dining room or garden. You can take it in turns to host parties with friends or split the cost to make it more affordable. 

 

Outdoor adventures

One of the most important lessons we learned from the pandemic is the value of spending time outside and exploring places close to home. Many of us live in areas that offer natural playgrounds for children and adults. The simplest activities, such as taking a walk in a forest or going for a bike ride at the park, can have incredible benefits for mental and physical health and they’re often really fun. Make walks and hikes more exciting for little ones by doing a treasure hunt or planning a nature trail and invite friends and relatives to come for a bike ride or try activities like kayaking or climbing. Go camping for a weekend, hit the beach and collect shells or explore lakes, parks, rivers or woodlands. 

 

Activities, attractions and cheap getaways

Signing up for discount sites is one of the best ways to save on family-friendly activities and attractions. If you register, you’ll receive regular updates about sales and offers and you can also benefit from freebies and giveaways. Examples include discount codes to save on tickets for attractions, free child places and savings on meals, theatre tickets or hotels and cottages to rent. 

It can be challenging to keep children entertained without worrying about money at the best of times. With the cost of living rising, many parents are looking for ways to have fun on a budget. If you’re making plans for weekends or holidays, hopefully, these ideas will inspire you.