Tips to help you save money during the summer

Make more food

When preparing meals like pasta, it doesn’t really take any more time to chop extra vegetables or weigh out more pasta, so why not make two or even three meals worth at the same time? This way you can freeze the ‘leftovers’ or just heat them up for quick meals at a later date – with virtually no extra effort!

Shop smart

Cooking and food preparation is time consuming – and costly (which is why we’ve devoted so much of this list to it!) One parent we spoke with suggested having a weekly meeting with your partner to plan the week’s meals in advance. This way you’re less likely to buy extra food that’s not needed, saving money, and means less food is wasted! Because you’re both more aware of what you’ll be eating each night, it also means one of you can pick up the slack with the cooking if you get home early, regardless of whose turn it is.

Use a shopping list app

One parent we spoke with says they have an app for their phone which lets them and their partner add things they need to a shared, online shopping list. This is useful when planning meals in advance (as above), but also means you can add items to the list whenever you notice they’re nearly finished. This can be really useful if you’re a busy parents who picks up the shopping on the go, as it means your list is always up to date – and again (at least in theory) you’re less likely to impulse buy as you can speed shop for what you actually need!

There are several free apps for both iPhone and Android, or just pop a good old fashioned pad on the fridge door using a magnet and have a pencil nearby.

Cut the fixed cost of monthly bills

Fix a date in your diary at least once a year (summer is a great time for this) to check you’re still getting the best deal possible for all your key utilities (not just the more obvious gas and electric, but often just as expensive phone, TV and internet). Shopping around and checking price comparison websites – and sometimes simply asking your current providers – will almost always save a good amount of money for very little time.

Also, Money Saving Expert website offers a Cheap Energy Club that helps you figure out if you could save money on your energy bills. This can help you save big chunks of money that can go towards all those extra meals and activities.

Don’t forget your child tax credits

Check if you’re eligible for child tax credits and if you are, make sure you reapply for any child tax credits before the end of July each year.

Have you saved money with any of our tips above? Or do you have any other suggestions of how families can save money this summer? Let us know on social media.