Cash advice

Whether you need to arrange childcare or not, half-term costs can quickly add up and dent your bank balance – but there are steps you can take to make the break cheaper, while still having fun. Here are our top tips...

1 INDOOR PLAY

February weather can be unpredictable, so be prepared for this by stocking up on board games and craft activities. eBay has a designated landing page for board games, where you can shop by age and theme. If you want to incorporate learning and play, half-term can be a perfect time to introduce money skills. Try taking it in turns playing a shopkeeper and a customer and ask your child to pay for items with pretend paper money.

2 CHILDCARE

If you have children age 11 and under, make use of your tax-free childcare allowance or childcare vouchers to pay for an Ofsted-registered playgroup (reports.ofsted.gov.uk), childminder or even holiday clubs. For every £8 families pay in, the government will top it up with an additional £2. See gov.uk for details.

3 EATING OUT

Going out for a meal together is a lovely treat for the holidays and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A number of chain restaurants, such as Bella Italia or Las Iguanas, let kids eat free when you purchase an adult meal. Also take a look at the Vouchercodes website or app for deals. Be sure to check terms and conditions before you eat out. Some offers are only available at certain times and days of the week.

4 FREE FUN

There are plenty of activities you can enjoy over the half term for little cost, or even for free! Your local library probably offers free activities for kids. Additionally, select Waterstones stores are offering workshops and storytelling sessions for kids over halfterm, most of which are free. Check with the store whether you have to book in advance (waterstones.com).

5 DAYS OUT

If you’re travelling with National Rail, take a look at the Days Out Guide (daysoutguide.co.uk) for two-forone discounts on major attractions. These include most major theme parks, as well as Warwick Castle, Kew Gardens, and even Manchester United’s football stadium museum! You’ll need to print a voucher and bring your tickets to prove you travelled by train.