Money Saving Tips – 5 free things to do at home with the children

Cut your summer holiday costs with these things to do for free at home

The school holidays have arrived yet again, but with family day tickets to major attractions costing more than £100, it is prudent to check for alternatives. Here are some handy money saving tips from Payplan to cut the cost of your summer holiday, but still allowing your children to have a fun filled six week break and reducing their boredom at home.

1. Plan a treasure hunt

Make clues and put them in the garden or around the house, so that each clue leads to the next. The final clue would lead to the treasure which could be a home-made treat.

2. Make your own restaurant

First, choose what type of food you want to serve. Then, name the restaurant. Next, design the menu and prepare the decorations. Get cooking and then finally you can sit down to enjoy the meal!

3. Arrange a ‘dress up’ day

Be creative. A box of clothes can provide hours of fun. Use old clothes to make costumes, which can later be used in a home-made theatre production!

4. Have a sports day

Prepare outdoor games, such as the egg and spoon race and present homemade certificates at a prize giving at the end of the activities.

5. Create your own show

Get the children to write and then perform the play using the costumes made during the dress up day. Or make a shadow puppet theatre, where you can use old cereal boxes to make the characters and the stage.

Payplan
Providing free budgeting advice and free, confidential debt help for those struggling to manage their debts. Contact us for free on 0800 280 2816.

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5 Free Things To Do This Summer

Things to do for free this summer holiday

If you are on a tight budget and are struggling for things to do for free this summer, why not try one of the many free days out being offered throughout the UK?

1. Visit a museum

Free day out in London

Many of the museums throughout London offer free admission. Admission into the Victoria and Albert Museum is free and a new free exhibition of ‘Peter Rabbit: the tale of The Tale’ is about to launch. The exhibition opens on the 3rd July and ends next January.

2. Find a free music festival near you

Free day out in Birmingham

Birmingham’s annual International Jazz Festival is back in ‘full swing’ from the 16th to 25th July. Starting at lunchtime every day, there are plenty of free shows to choose from.

3. Find a free literature festival near you

Free day out in Hull

Another year and the city of Hull sees the return of its Humber Mouth Literature Festival. The festival is the culmination of year round literature activities and there a number of free shows available. The festival is taking place between the 26th June and 11th July.

4. Make a trip to an open air cinema

Free day out in Manchester

Spinningfields holds Manchester’s first outdoor cinema and the screenings are completely free. A wide variety means everyone can enjoy a show or two! Films are shown weekly on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.

5. Visit an art gallery

Free day out in Sheffield

Sheffield has a number of galleries with free admission and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) offers indoor galleries as well as outdoor sculptures situated in the tranquil grounds. There are many free events taking place throughout the summer. Booking is necessary!

Payplan

If you are struggling with meeting your monthly credit card payments and need advice on debt, please contact Payplan for free on 0800 280 2816.

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Cost of Owning a Pet - 5 Ways to Cut Pet Ownership Costs

As a nation of pet lovers, the cost of owning a pet can add up over time as we try to provide our beloved animals with the best care and protection.

Many Payplan clients already owned a pet before they got into financial difficulty - making the cost of caring for them part of their budgeting process. Here are some handy tips from Payplan for how to cut the cost of owning a pet, without cutting out on the care.

1. Pet inoculations - Don’t miss jabs!

Although the cost of inoculating your pet can be expensive, prevention is better (and cheaper!) than cure. By keeping up-to-date with your pet’s jabs you could avoid extra costs in the future.

2. Pet insurance

Again the same adage is true - prevention better than cure. Shop around for cheap insurance deals for your pet’s insurance, although paying each month adds up, the insurance will act as a great safety net should your pet need emergency or long-term medical treatment in the future.

3. Cheap toys

Instead of spending money on expensive toys for your pets, why not pick something up from charity shops or even try homemade toys.. sometimes a bit of string or a simple feather can provide just as much fun!

Alternatively, many ‘pound’ shops sell various ranges of pets’ toys and pet foods for only £1 - bargain!

4. Pet sitting

To avoid the cost of pet sitting or kennels, why not visit Pet Sitter Swap, a site which puts local pet owners in touch with each other so they can organise a free pet-sitting rota. You have to pay £9.99 to join, but all pet-sitting is free after that.

5. Buying a Pet

If you’re seriously thinking about buying a pet such as a dog or cat, and you’ve already considered the financial, emotional and care implications over the long-term, it may be a good idea to consider a non-pedigree rather than a pedigree breed.

Pedigrees, as well as the initial cost of the pet being expensive, are also known to cost considerably more in terms of ongoing insurance and general day to day care.

Additionally, apart from the obvious benefits to the animal, adopting a pet from a rescue home will most probably work out cheaper than buying from a breeder and some will even arrange subsidised vaccinations and neutering where necessary before you pick up your new pet.

For more information about adopting a rescue animal visit the RSPCA’s website.

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Providing free budgeting advice and free, confidential debt help for those struggling to manage their debts.

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5 Ways to Save on Your Water Bill

Could you save water?

Find out if you can cut the cost of your monthly water bill by reading Payplan’s 5 simple tips to conserving water.

1. Don’t leave taps running

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth to avoid any unnecessary waste.

When running a bath or shower, instead of leaving the tap to run whilst waiting for the water to warm up, why not place a bowl underneath to collect the water that can be used to water plants or flush the toilet?

2. Repair dripping taps

They can waste up to 3000 gallons per year!

3. Collect Rain Water

Watering the grass can be a great waste of water, instead why not catch rain water in a barrel or bucket, this can be used to water both grass and plants.

4. Wash large loads

Washing machines use a large amount of water, try to run your washing machine only when you have a full load.

5. Water Meter

For those not already on a water meter, it may be worthwhile looking into their benefits. Those people living in a household with more bedrooms than occupants are likely to benefit the most - contact your water supplier for further information or visit www.ofwat.gov.uk.

Payplan

If you are in arrears with your water bill or for more money saving tips or advice on how to beat the effects of the recession, contact Payplan today.

Payplan, providing free, confidential debt advice.

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