With the school holidays in full swing, keeping the kids entertained and busy for the next 2 weeks may be quite a task and can easily cause parents to spend more money.
However, there are ways to ensure that you keep both your kids and bank balance happy these school holidays. We asked some of our FASTA colleagues how they save money during the school holidays; keep reading for their top tips that you can use.
Create ‘at home’ activities
You don’t necessarily need to go out to have a good time with your kids these school holidays. Why not create some activities that can easily be enjoyed at home like games night with the family or cooking meals together for the rest of the family? Guy Murray, our Senior Software Engineer, suggests making play dough and colour rice, or baking treats at home instead of buying them from the shops.
IDEA: Bake treats, like cupcakes, and sell them to neighbours to help your kids make a little extra money as a way toteach them how to be financially savvy.
Make the most of winter travel specials
The winter months often see less people traveling, which makes it a prime time to take advantage of winter travel deals and discounts if you are keen for a staycation or school holiday trip. Our Scrum Master, Mariette Bester, takes it one step further and either books AirBnbs for a small weekend break with her family or enjoys visiting her parents during the holidays – no accommodation costs involved and hearty home cooked meals are always a plus!
IDEA: Look for self-catering accommodation options to save money, as these are often cheaper than booking a hotel room.
Explore parks in your city
South Africa is well known for having beautiful landscapes, and the school holidays offer the perfect opportunity to explore nature and parks within your city – without breaking the bank. From the Company Gardens and Battery Park in Cape Town to the Johannesburg Botanical Garden and The Wilds Nature Reserve, take the kids out for a picnic in the park or enjoy walks in mother nature.
For those of you living in Cape Town, our Front End Developer, Yolandi Silberbauer, suggests saving yourself petrol money and using the MiCiti busses to get around the city, or hop on the Citysightseeing red bus with their‘3-for-1 kids special’where two kids under 18 can ride the bus for free.
IDEA: Make use of the free kids entry at theKirstenbosch Botanical Gardenthis month.
Eat out for less
You can still treat the kids to a night out at a restaurant without spending too much; if anything, you could actually save money if you take advantage of discounts and deals from your local restaurant.
Sign up to any relevant mailing lists from restaurants where you could get a discount or, if you are celebrating a birthday during the school holiday, let the restaurant know and you may get a special free treat.
IDEA: Sign up to theEntertainer appfor deals at various restaurants, like ‘2-for-1’ or ‘buy one, get one free’ in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban.
We hope that these easy ways to save money during the school holidays help you enjoy time with your kids without spending too much. While money saving tips may be on your mind, allow yourself the chance to enjoy these holidays with your kids and make great memories together.
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