Do you feel ripped off at summer?

Summer can be an expensive time of year, with the school holidays, days out and occasions with friends and family taking over our diaries. So it’s no surprise that many of us resent the cost.

New research from giffgaff has found that more than three-quarters of Brits (77%) believe seasonal prices are inflated.

Holiday pricing is a particular issue, with half (50%) saying it’s unfair at this time of year.

A similar number (47%) said they think family days out cost too much, while 45% feel this way about festivals and events.

Families worried about summer expenses

The giffgaff poll backs up our own research, which has found that more than half (54%) of families are worried about being able to afford summer family activities.

Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters (72%) of families expect days out and family activities to be less affordable this summer than last year.

Good news for hard-pressed families

Thankfully, there is some relief for families who are worried about the cost of keeping kids entertained this summer.

As part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, VAT has been reduced from 20% to 5% on eligible family activities until 1 September.

This includes children’s meals in restaurants, cinema and theatre tickets, and entry to attractions such as theme parks, zoos, museums, soft play centres and aquariums.

Click here for more details on the scheme.

What other help is available this summer?

Many local councils run Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes, which provide free activities and meals for eligible children during school breaks.

Some households may also be able to access support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, depending on where they live and their circumstances. 

In addition, local charities, community groups and food banks offer help with food and other essentials during the summer months.

Find out what support is available in your area so you can make the most of what’s available.

What else can I do to keep costs down?

A fantastic summer with all the family doesn’t have to break the bank.

We’ve put together some tips on how parents can cut the cost of the summer holidays, such as:

• looking for cheap or free local events
• having movie nights at home
• getting creative with at-home activities

And if you plan to take a holiday in the UK rather than go abroad, we’ve got loads of ideas on how to save money, including:

• going off the beaten path
• taking your own food and drink
• using loyalty points to pay for days out

Budget for summer

Budgeting doesn’t just mean making sure you have enough money to pay your bills.

Yes, that’s really important, but it can also include ensuring you have money for treats, luxuries and experiences that enhance your life.

So if heading out and about at summer really matters to you, factor it into your financial planning.

That means you can decide how much you want to spend and work towards this goal, without losing sight of how you’ll pay for essentials along the way.

Get started by checking out our guide to how to create a budget, so you can see how much money you have coming in each month and where it goes.

And give our budget planner a try - it’s free and easy to use.