Seven ways to save on your school holiday spend

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With school holidays suddenly upon us, I’m compulsively checking if it’s going to rain, hail or shine. Because it will make a difference to whether my carefully thought-out plan comes off.

School holidays don’t have to be expensive if you follow a few simple strategies.Credit: Aresna Villanueva

Like many families, I suspect – cheers cost-of-living crisis – we’re not going away. And this makes my wealth over those two holiday weeks even more dependent on the weather.

What’s the problem?

You don’t need me to tell you what we all painfully feel: there have been price spikes in everything.

Food, electricity costs and, yep, fuel and travel are among the biggest contributors to Australia’s higher CPI.

Enter the staycation … but there’s a problem there, too.

I am very fortunate to live in a tourist mecca – the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. However, the fact that it is a sought-after holiday destination for others is not always good for my fortunes.

So, just how can you have a cut-price holiday at home or at least contain your spend during a demand surge in a vacation hot spot?

First, let’s get back to the weather…

What you can do about it

Saving strategy 1: With the temperature warming up by the day, my family is about to reorient to the outdoors.

Forget movies, arcades and cafes – it’s going to be beaches, fields and parks for ball games and picnics.

Just that one mindset switch will save you a pretty penny in the next couple of weeks.

And speaking of games and movies…

Strategy 2: The board games are coming out.

Sure, everyone became sick of them in lockdown, but it’s been a while and there is a leaderboard that needs to be refreshed. (Competitive? Who me?)

Strategy 3: Have you heard of cocooning?

This is a great strategy for the time − perhaps at night − you spend at home or in your accommodation.

The idea is to recreate the expensive activities or entertainment that you would normally partake in outside the home – think the cinema or dinner at a restaurant.

For instance, there are few things children love more than changing around a house or apartment. Set up mattresses and cushions and duvets in the main room, put the cheap-as-chips popcorn in the microwave and have yourselves a movie marathon on the TV… to save maybe $100 or more.

(As a side note, don’t forget that building a cubby will keep kids entertained for hours.)

Strategy 4: Among the most ridiculous – and resented – purchases when you are out and about are those that are incidental.

To anyone without kids, it would probably sound unimportant, but forget everyone’s water bottles and there’s 20 bucks you’ve just dropped for something that comes out of a tap for free.

Plan ahead, though, and take along some nice drinks bought at the supermarket in advance, and you’ll save far more than that.

A fancy smoothie from a beach health bar near me will set you back $8 to $11. True story.

Multiply that by the number of people on your holiday at home or away…

Strategy 5: Jump on the local library’s website ASAP.

There are probably all sorts of free sessions and activities offered throughout the school holidays, but there will be limited places, so register today.

While you are there, borrow a bunch of books that will enthral your kids over the two weeks, to save unnecessarily buying them.

Strategy 6: This one’s good for a stay-home September and might take a bit of branding effort (try to avoid the word “chores”!), but mobilise your mini people for household missions.

Big cook ups, some redecorating, garden overhauls – whatever might work.

No. 1 holiday activity for us – again making the most of spring – is planting a veggie patch.

The extra beauty of this one is that, in time and with luck, it will also help us save on our grocery bill.

Strategy 7: When you do actually treat your kids, there is no need to pay full price anymore.

Don’t shell out for anything before checking out the Entertainment app which offers thousands of discounts, as well as company and association loyalty programs offering all sorts of deals and/or cashback services through which you buy and get rebates.

You could get two-for-ones or 25 percent or more off, even on theme park tickets and attractions.

Particularly now it is spring, it is possible to have fun with your family these holidays, for a far lower spend.

Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.