Children in swim suit with hands in the air at the pool Family

Fun School Holidays Activities that Won’t Break the Bank

Posted on 20 December 2016

It is that time of year again. The holidays are upon us, family is gathering and fun activities for every age are in high demand. In order to maintain a realistic budget while seeking out new avenues of entertainment we are offering some of the best (and least expensive) ways for all age groups to have fun. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be festive, here’s the proof:

1 – Have a backyard campout

Complete with marshmallows, sleeping bags and tents. Everyone can get in on the fun of setting up tents, making a campfire and cooking dinner outdoors. There are no special skills needed, and if you don’t have a tent, artfully arranged bed sheets will do. All age groups are welcome, even the family pets can get in on the action.

2 – Family cooking adventures

Holiday cooking is a joy and a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Get everyone involved in the pavlova or turkey preparations. Establish a cooking camp with rotating groups coming in and helping out in all phases of the meals (that includes clean-up!). Your Holiday meals may take a bit longer, but the camaraderie is good for everybody.

3 – Stage a treasure hunt

Treasure hunts are fun for everyone involved. From the people who do the maps and strategy to the participants trying to find all the treasures and trinkets, a good time will be had by all. You don’t have to buy expensive ‰ÛÏtreasures‰Û they can be inexpensive toys or chocolate. The fun is in the planning and hiding of all the items, then sitting back and watching as the scouts try to figure out all the hidden locations.

4 – Have an all-day beach expedition

Pack up the lunches, the umbrellas and the sunscreen, then get down to the beach. Kids and beaches go hand in hand, while adults can relax and read or chat. The beach offers endless amusements from swimming to sunning to playing frisbee to frolicking with the dogs in the water. Beaches are a great place to burn off excess kid energy and guarantee that everyone will sleep well that night.

5 – Take a family drive out to the country.

Find a spot or event (markets, zoo, nature hike, etc) you can focus on and make it an all day trip. It’s great for people of all ages to get out and look at different scenery. Make sure you go far enough away from home- base, the journey should be every bit as interesting as the destination.

6 – Family movie night.

These are great entertainment opportunities for the holidays. Pick a movie or two that everyone can enjoy, fire up the pop-corn maker and sit back to watch. Always ensure that the movie is acceptable to all age ranges and sensibilities.

Not all holiday plans can be cheap though. You may be in a situation where you need to travel this holiday season, or you have to spend big on a particular gift. If necessity dictates, look into a small loan for the more expensive items. With the right company, you can take out a loan to cover all your holiday expenses at a pay-back rate that will not be financially difficult.