Top Tips For Budget-Friendly Family Outings

Top Tips For Budget-Friendly Family Outings

Family outings are meant to be fun but we all know as parents, how easy they can spiral and they are becoming increasingly more expensive but I’m here to help with some budet-friendly family outings suggestions which are joyful, promote bonding and won’t break the bank!

Have A Free Day Out

Here’s something you’ll love to hear: not every fabulous family day requires tickets, tokens or top-ups. In fact, some of the best memories are created in places that don’t charge a penny. Parks, woodlands, the beach (if you’re lucky to be close to one), or even just a decent trail can offer a whole day’s worth of entertainment. You’d be surprised what a stick, some puddles, and a pair of wellies can achieve in terms of family fun. The outdoors never fail to bring even the most quarrelsome kids together.

Why not turn a simple walk into a treasure hunt? Let the kids make up the rules (within reason – so everyone stays safe and feels included) Bring a football, a kite, or even just a blanket and your imaginations. The point is that sometimes, low-cost equals low-stress. Prepare sandwiches, crudites, fruit and healthy buns for a picnic if the weather allows-and if it doesn’t-consider a car picnic? My kids also like to help with their own packed lunchboxes in the morning before a day out so they have snacks and even klunch readily prepared.

Here’s a handy secret to remember: if the kids are off school, head out on weekdays. It’s true that most of the time the most obvious days to go out will be at the weekends, but the fact is that during the week, everything tends to be quieter, cheaper, and far less chaotic, especially in August for example when most people travel abroad. Museums, soft play centres, and attractions often have off-peak pricing, and fewer people means less queuing and more actual fun. Midweek outings are an amazing outing hack if you’re able to swing it. 

Of course, if work schedules mean weekdays are tricky or the kids are at school, try late afternoons instead . A quick playground trip followed by chips on a bench after school can feel like a proper treat after a long day, especially if it breaks the routine of homework and arguments about what to have for dinner.

Use What You’ve Already Got 

You know that membership card you signed up for last year and then promptly forgot about? Or the local loyalty scheme that you never got around to downloading the app for? Well, why not take a good look at them now because they might be offering you exactly what you need for a fun, cheap (maybe even free day out). And don’t forget, there are places all around you that you can use for free: libraries often run complimentary activities; local community centres host family-friendly events, and your council’s website might just be hiding some absolute gems, especially in the school holidays.

Then of course, sometimes, your own back garden can be the best venue going. Set up a garden cinema with a sheet, a projector (or just a tablet), and some popcorn. Build a fort. Do messy play without worrying about the carpet. There are hundreds of ideas online you can find and try out, and you’ll never run out of inspiration.
Think About Experiences The thing you’ve really got to remember as a parent is that kids don’t care how much you’ve spent – they just want to do something fun with you. What I mean is that they don’t need luxurious or lavish days out, you kids simply want time, attention, and maybe the chance to roll down a hill or do something a bit silly. With you. Especially if that doesn’t happen all that often due to work, school, and all the various clubs and other responsibilities everyone has going on.

So next time you’re tempted to spend loads on a day out, take a moment to pause and think. Would your kids enjoy a muddy woodland adventure just as much? Would they prefer a movie night at home with homemade popcorn and you doing your best cinema usher impression? Probably. Or at least, they wouldn’t be upset about it. And yes, those more expensive trips might be more popular with the kids, but they’re not the be all and end all, and they can be a treat once in a while instead of all of the time. 

Use Offers And Rewards

We live in a world of vouchers, loyalty schemes, and digital rewards – they’re everywhere, and most shops you go into (or websites you use) will have something you can sign up for. And if you’re not using offers, you’re seriously missing a trick because you might be able to save a load of money. It just takes a little bit of research, and you can save a surprising amount of cash, depending on what you want to do and where you want to go – in fact, it can even be fun hunting these deals down and making sure you’ve got the best price and the best deals possible for whatever it is you want to do.

What’s more, you can sometimes double up your discounts, making things even cheaper. A voucher plus a midweek offer? Absolute bargain. And if you’ve got points to spend, use them for something fun. There’s nothing wrong with letting a supermarket loyalty scheme fund your next day out, why not?

And speaking of smart savings, Love2Shop vouchers can really help as well – they can be used across tonnes of family-favourite places, from shops and restaurants to days out and even holidays, and when you use them, it gives you flexibility without having to make sacrifices. Plus, you already know what you’ve got to spend, and you’re not going to splurge. Money management for the win!

Share The Fun

Something else that’s important to remember is that if money’s tight (or you just want a bit of help – taking kids out for the day isn’t always easy, after all), you don’t have to do it all yourself. Why not invite another family to join you and make it a group outing? They could be friends from school, neighbours, close mates, or family members but whoever they are, suddenly, the kids are entertaining each other, you’ve got adult conversation, and if you all bring something to share, the food budget gets halved, as will everything else. 

Plus, bearing in mind what we said above, did you know that group outings can also unlock family deals or discounts, and sometimes you can split travel costs. Plus, everything’s more fun in a group I find. Four parents on rotation is much easier than one trying to supervise a game, unpack the sandwiches, and keep the wasps away.

True, sometimes you’ll want things to just be you and your own kids, and that’s fine, but don’t forget that help is there when you need it, and it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Don’t Put Yourself Under So Much Pressure

We’re so taken in by social media that it can sometimes mean that we put too much pressure on ourselves to have a perfect day out. But guess what? Not every outing has to be Instagram-worthy. You don’t need colour-coordinated outfits, artisanal sandwiches, or a detailed itinerary. Sometimes, the best moments come from plans that didn’t go quite right, like that amazing picnic that got rained on or the time the Maps app on your phone didn’t work, and you went the wrong way!

Being budget-friendly doesn’t mean cutting corners, but it does mean being intentional, which is why it’s always better to choose fun over flashy and real over perfect. Prioritise memories over money. In reality, no one is going to remember how much something cost in years to come but they will remember the joy they experienced, so why all the pressure and stress? 

Know When To Spend And When To Save

Of course, not every outing can be free, and that’s okay, and the fact is that sometimes spending a little is worth it if it buys you time, joy, or a genuinely memorable experience. The trick is knowing where your money goes furthest. It could be a one-off entry fee for a brilliant farm park that lasts all day and wears the kids out beautifully, or maybe it’s a cheap cinema trip (independent cinemas are always great value and that includes the snacks) where you finally get to sit down for 90 minutes. And maybe, just maybe, it’s spending a gift voucher you’ve been saving up for a rainy day treat. What matters most is that you’re mindful about it, and that way, when you do spend, it feels good!