Cut the days out, a Santa spend limit and other easy tips to save up to £12k this year for the best summer ever in 2025
Parents are feeling the pinch right now, with 25 per cent having already splurged more than £300 on the kids during the first week of the holidays.
To help ease the strain, Money Mum Gemma Bird reveals her exclusive saving plan to help you enjoy the best summer ever in 2025 . . .
August
INVEST IN INTEREST
THE average Brit saves about £105 a month and the sooner you start squirrelling cash away, the more time you have for it to earn money. With interest rates falling, now is the time to act.
Branch out from regular banks and check out investment apps such as Chip. Right now they offer 4.58 per cent interest with an instant savings account. That’s £1,290 in a year, including £30 in interest.
SAVING: £1,290
ENVELOPE CHALLENGE
WANT a savings plan you can see working? Save in cash form. Label 100 envelopes with numbers one to 100.
Each week, pick one at random and stuff in the amount of cash written on the front. You could save £5,000 in a year.
Struggling to make the cash? Reduce the amount written on each envelope – do not sacrifice too much for savings.
SAVING: UP TO £5,000
TOTAL SAVINGS: Up to £6,290
September
REAP FREE REWARDS
IS your bank account giving back?
For example, Lloyds offers free cinema tickets (usually £7 plus) each month to reward account customers, while NatWest hands you free cash when you spend at popular shops.
Don’t forget to make money from your phone, too.
Three and Vodafone offer cheap coffee, discount food shop deals and more.
Add up the savings on all those little treats and it can work out nicely for you – meaning you could pocket at least £30 a month.
SAVING: £330
NO-SPEND WEEKENDS
RECENT research suggests that the average UK family spends £93 for a single day out, and goes on an average of one a month.
Why not skip costly soft play and cinema trips for at-home activities?
Get the kids to help plan exciting freebie fun from teddy bears’ picnics to treasure hunts with chocolate coins, painting, gardening or DIY movie nights with shop-bought snacks.
Imagination costs nothing and they will be entertained for hours.
SAVING: £930
TOTAL SAVINGS: £1,260
October
SWITCH ENERGY FIRMS
SUPPLIERS offer more competitive prices in months of cooler weather, usually from before Halloween through to late April, early May.
That could save you around £20 a month, depending on the size of your home.
Just be careful not to change providers until your contract ends as cancelling early could incur a penalty charge.
SAVING: £120
MAKE FAKEAWAYS
WE love a Saturday night takeaway, but just one a week can set a family of four back up to almost £50. So instead of forking out on your favourite Indian, get the kids involved and make it yourself.
Your summer savings pot will thank you – and if you stick to it all year, you will save masses.
SAVING: £2,100
TOTAL SAVINGS: £2,220
November
SELL STUFF FOR XMAS
NOW is the time thrifty mums are seeking out cheap Christmas gifts for kids and loved ones.
Clear out your cupboards, dust off pre-loved toys and unwanted gifts and cast your net wide online.
Local selling sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are a quick and easy way to make money and you will save on postage, too.
SAVING: Up to £100
COMPARE COSTS
THERE are lots of AI apps out there to help you save more money on household bills, unused subscriptions and everyday items.
The Emma app connects your bank accounts and flags any subscriptions you may not need, while Idealo lets you scan shop items to see where you can buy cheaper.
SAVING: £20 a month
TOTAL SAVINGS: Up to £280
December
SANTA’S SPEND LIMIT
ON average, we spend £420 per child at Christmas. But there is no need to go overboard.
Manage your budget and their expectations by setting buying limits and sticking to them.
You will teach the kids to appreciate what they have and stop wasting so much money on items they never use.
Each year we agree on a family budget, I spend £150 on my daughter Bronte and £200 on son Brody (he’s older).
SAVING: At least £200 per child
THERMOSTAT DOWN
KEEP little fingers off the thermostat.
Cranking the temperature down by just a few degrees (while remaining within safe figures of around 16 to 18 degrees) could save you £20 or more a month, depending on the size of your home and your energy provider.
SAVING: Over £160
TOTAL SAVINGS: Over £360
January
BUY OWN BRANDS
WHEN at the supermarket, ditch top brands for the cheap stuff – the kids won’t even taste the difference and you will save a small fortune.
From Heinz beans to Kellogg’s cereal and big laundry names such as Persil, a swap could save you £20 or more per week.
SAVING: Up to £600
MAKE KIDS MONEY
AFTER Christmas you will find plenty of discarded toys in the corner needing a new home.
Help the kids save their own holiday pocket money by letting them choose what to sell.
Give toys a wipe down before you advertise them and do research. Vintage or limited-edition toys such as Ty Beanie Babies can see bids go wild on eBay.
SAVING: Up to £50
TOTAL SAVINGS: Up to £650
February
COOL DOWN WATER
NOT all your laundry loads need the hottest setting. Turn the machine dial down to 30 degrees when washing clothes – you will still see all the stains disappear.
The same goes for your bath. Lower the water temperature on your boiler for a less-than-scolding bath or shower.
SAVING: Up to £18
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
THE average Brit spends almost £50 a month on impulse purchases.
Topping the list of irresistible items are food, clothes and household items. Before you splurge, take a second and ask yourself if you really need it.
If it helps, stick encouraging notes in “spend zones” such as your purse or by your computer screen as a reminder of your end goal. It will be well worth it in the end.
SAVING: £300
TOTAL SAVINGS: Up to £318
March
MOVE MOBILE PLAN
APRIL marks the start of the new tax year and that can see your mobile phone bill rocket.
Get in there early before the price hike – typically 3.9 per cent according to Ofcom – and call your provider or head to the web to find a cheaper contract for you.
SAVING: £10
LOYALTY POINTS
DON’T have a Nectar or Clubcard? Why not?
Supermarket loyalty schemes cost nothing and can accrue fabulous freebies from days out at top attractions including the London Eye and Legoland to vouchers for free meals at popular restaurants like Ask and Zizzi.
Save up your points throughout the year and you’ll have a summer of freebies on tap – I reckon at least £200.
SAVING: £200
TOTAL SAVINGS: £210
April
RACK UP CASHBACK
PENNIES turn to pounds if you use cashback sites like Quidco and TopCashback when spending online. Between them, the sites cover almost every online shop in the UK.
Whether you are buying tech or booking staycations, you will be amazed how much money you’ll earn. I’d estimate £30 per month.
SAVING: £120
BAG FOOD FREEBIES
SUPERMARKET cashback apps like Shopmium and CheckoutSmart learn your shopping habits and offer the best discounts and free vouchers for snacks and staple food items at your favourite supermarkets.
A little saving goes a long way – a tenner a month, I would say.
SAVING: £40
TOTAL SAVINGS: £160
May
PUT BRICK IN LOO
TOILETS use a crazy amount of water per flush. This costs about 25p a day in a single-person household – and it is money literally down the drain.
But if you lift the cistern lid and pop a brick inside, it reduces the amount of water used, while still keeping your loo clean after each visit. It could just save you a few pounds on your water bill.
SAVING: £15
PLAN YOUR MEALS
THERE’S nothing more dangerous to your budget than doing the food shop without a list.
Avoid the expensive impulse buys such as chocolate and wasted ingredients by planning your meals in advance each week.
You could end up spending £25 less a month.
SAVING: £75
TOTAL SAVINGS: £90
June
CUT INSURANCE CASH
DON’T wait until the last minute to check out your insurance quotes.
Providers drop their prices around one month before the end of your contract, as it’s claimed people who buy insurance at the last minute may be seen as a greater risk.
So, if yours is almost up, take advantage of comparison sites. It could save you hundreds of pounds on your car, home, contents and more.
SAVING: At least £100
DO IT YOURSELF
DON’T call in professional help for every little job. Whether it’s a leaky tap washer or a bit of redecorating, you really can do a lot of it yourself.
Head to YouTube sites like Dad, How Do I? for how-to guides from experts?
You will save hundreds in labour costs across a year and learn skills. But remember to be safe, never DIY any jobs involving gas supply or electrical risks.
SAVING: £50
TOTAL SAVINGS: At least £150
July
PLAN HOL SCHEDULE
DON’T leave activities until the last minute. You will risk paying out for pricey soft play.
Instead, sit down with the kids and plan out every day of the holidays. You will save cash through advance tickets and keep the kids excited for what’s to come.
Incorporate at least four freebie days each week, such as picnics and garden playdates. The kids will enjoy the free days just as much.
SAVING: £100
ROUND UP SAVINGS
IT’S never too early to start saving for the next summer, and every little helps. Check your bank account at the end of each month, round the figure down and put the difference in your savings.
For example, if you have £110, pop the £10 in your savings. This time next year, you could have at least £100.
SAVING: Over £100
TOTAL SAVINGS: Over £200