When the school holidays arrive, it’s easy to feel the pressure to plan big days out—but the cost of entry tickets, transport, food and extras can quickly add up. The good news? Some of the best memories can be made right at home, and they don’t need to cost a thing!
Here are some no-spend (or very low-spend) ideas for making the most of your summer together as a family:
🎪 Garden Camping Adventure
Turn your outdoor space into a mini adventure zone! Pitch a tent (or make one with sheets and garden chairs), bring out the sleeping bags, and enjoy marshmallows, torch stories and stargazing. No tent? A living room fort can be just as exciting.
🎬 Themed Film Nights
Choose a theme—Disney classics, space adventures, superheroes—and let everyone dress up, make tickets, and create a “cinema” with homemade popcorn and snacks. Let the kids be in charge of decorating the room for the night!
🎨 Craft Day Using Recycled Materials
Save cereal boxes, tin foil, bottle tops and loo rolls and challenge the family to create something amazing—robots, castles, animals or anything else their imagination allows. You’ll be surprised what you can make with what’s already in the house.
📚 Visit the Library
Your local library is a treasure trove of free fun. Many run summer reading challenges, storytelling sessions, and even activity workshops for children. This year’s Reading Agency Summer Reading Challenge is completely free, and a brilliant way to keep little minds engaged and off screens for a while.
🍪 Bake Together
Use what you already have in the cupboards to bake cookies, buns or simple bread. Kids love mixing, decorating and of course, taste testing! You can even turn it into a mini bake-off with a family judge.
🎭 Host a Talent Show
Let everyone perform their “act”—whether it’s a song, dance, magic trick or comedy routine. You can invite grandparents or neighbours to join in as the audience (or on video), and even make paper trophies.
📦 Build a Cardboard City
Have some delivery boxes saved up? Don’t throw them out! Create a cardboard town, spaceship, puppet theatre or maze. Add drawings and stickers to personalise each building or vehicle.
📸 Create a Summer Scrapbook
Encourage older children to document their summer in a creative way. They can take photos, draw pictures, write short journal entries or design collages. It’s a great keepsake—and encourages creativity and reflection.
🍳 Learn a New Skill or Recipe
Have a quiet afternoon learning a new recipe together or challenge teenagers to cook a meal for the family once a week. Not only does it build confidence, it gives them something to be proud of and a break for you!
🎥 Film a Family Movie
With just a smartphone and a bit of imagination, your kids can plan, act in and edit their own short movie. It could be a mystery, comedy, or a documentary about their summer holiday at home.
💬 Got Ideas? Share Them!
We love hearing from our members. If you’ve got a creative idea for free or low-cost summer fun, leave a comment on our blog or get in touch on our social media pages. Let’s help each other make this summer joyful and affordable.
💚 Remember
Not every day needs to be packed with activities. Sometimes the best days are slow ones—picnics in the park, board games, reading in the garden or just spending time together.
For more money-saving tips, follow Wave Community Bank on Facebook or explore our blog for practical advice, budgeting tools, and ways to help your family stay financially well this summer.
