How parents are keeping costs down this Easter

The school holidays have arrived - and mums and dads across the country are bracing themselves for a whole load of stress.

In no time at all, the kids will get bored, restless and wanting to be kept entertained.

And dealing with that can cost money.

So it’s no wonder that, according to research by Asda, almost a quarter of parents (24%) find the school holidays some of the most stressful times of the year.

And a similar number (25%) say the break always puts pressure on their finances.

Easter break costs money

The pressure is really on at this time of year, as many parents will be footing the bill for extra treats like chocolate eggs and a massive lamb roast.

As a result, more than a quarter of parents (27%) admit they find it hard to cover the costs of celebrating Easter.

But rather than pay over the odds, many mums and dads are actively taking steps to keep costs down.

More than half of parents (52%) are planning budget-friendly activities for the family this Easter.

And over one in five (21%) are going as far as putting together a list of cheap things they can do with the kids that won’t break the bank.

What low-cost activities are parents planning?

Savvy parents have got all sorts of activities lined up that won’t cost too much money.

Among the most popular are:

• playing board games - 38%
• baking cupcakes - 36%
• day trips with packed lunches - 32%
• making pizzas - 29%
• having a movie marathon - 29%
• reading books - 26%
• decorating eggs - 25%
• exploring free museums - 24%
• going on bike rides - 22%
• taking the dog for a long walk - 21%
• looking for shells on the beach - 15%
• making a den in the living room - 15% 

You can find more ideas on how to spend the Easter holidays on a budget here.

And if you decide to go out with the kids, we’ve put together a list of where kids can eat free - or nearly free - over the Easter holidays.

Parents bracing themselves for kids getting bored

Putting together a list of budget activities is not only good for your wallet, but it could make life easier when the kids start getting frustrated.

According to the research, parents will hear their kids say “I’m bored” six times a day on average during the school holidays.

And the boredom typically starts to kick in at 1pm on the fifth day of the two-week break.

So it’s worth getting ahead of this inevitable moment by planning what activities you can do together that won’t break the bank.

One in three parents (33%) parents expect to hear their children claim they’ve got nothing to do more than once during the school holidays.

So by planning ahead, you can nip this in the bud straight away, without worrying about spending more than you can afford.