A mum has come up with a great way to get kids excited about free activities over the school holidays. And she says it's a lifesaver for mums and dads struggling to come up with ideas too.
Mum-of-two Gemma Bird suggests getting a glass jar and filling it with fun ideas on things to do. You then invite the kids to take it in turns to pick out an activity for the next day. That way, they get excited, you get time to prepare and you don't end up having to spend lots of money on days out.
"Planning for the holidays is a tough one," said the mum-of-two. "A fun activity to do is to come up with five free activities for each week and write each one down on separate pieces of paper. I wrote things like ‘have a picnic in the garden, have friends round for a sleepover, geocaching, put up the paddling pool. Then you put them in a jar and this is a jar for you as a parent."
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She added: "Then the night before, get your kids to pick one out because then they feel excited about something like ‘movie at home with popcorn’ or a ‘walk’ and it gives you as a parent time to plan it. They love it as they feel like they're part of the surprise. But you have complete control over the budget as you write the ideas.
"You just tailor it to whatever budget you’ve got. My kids love it and it takes the pressure off me. I think planning is key with it really. There are lots of free things you can do together as a family, so get creative."
Listen to Gemma's amazing tips on the Brummie Mummies podcast
She added: “It’s good to write down how much it’s going to cost, even to get to free places like museums. How much is your parking, or your travel to get there? Are you going to eat out or take a packed lunch? We normally pack a lunch to take and water bottles to refill whilst we’re there.
"Are you going to buy extras like ice creams when you get there? It’s worth writing it down because it’s always the little things that really add up. It’s even worth showing the kids. Say, look we’re going to the park tomorrow and we’re going to have an ice cream but the next day we’re going to be at home and we’re going to have some ice lollies that we’ve made. The main thing is spending time with your kids, seeing their faces light up."
Gemma is great at budgeting. She managed to pay off her mortgage by the age of 40, having worked multiple jobs but never earning more than £25,000 a year. She's known as Money Mum to her 300,000+ fans on Instagram and TikTok.
Her book ‘Money Mum Official - Save Yourself Happy’ is available here and you can follow her MoneyMumOfficial page on Instagram. She added: "If you’re really struggling with debt, talk to friends and family and charities like StepChange. There’s no magic wand but I think a problem shared is a problem halved and I think it’s really good to talk to other people."
There are lots of episodes on money saving on the Brummie Mummies Podcast - check out how to live life for less, our guide to store cupboard essentials and how to get the kids to help save money.
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