The school holidays are now in full swing and with the recent spell of glorious weather, there couldn’t be a better time for a picnic. However, with summer holidays to pay for, and families potentially having to shell out for additional childcare, managing finances during the summer months can be challenging for cash strapped parents.

Parenting on Female First

Parenting on Female First

Shopitize, cash-back app, have created its own guide to saving money on your family picnic. With handy tips and tricks to ensure the pounds stretch a little further this summer.

Guide to a purse-friendly picnic:

Knock up some delicious sarnies at home

Don’t waste money on shop-bought sandwiches. You can save money by making sandwiches and rolls at home. Homemade always tastes better anyway.

Raid the reduced section

If you are heading to the supermarket on the eve of your picnic, check out the reduced section. You can often snap up picnic favourites like sausage rolls, scotch eggs and prepared salads at bargain prices.

Make your own refreshing fruit punch with herbal tea bags

Forget expensive fizzy drinks and juices and make your own fruit punch. Just infuse herbal tea bags with ice, lime and mint for a delicious low-sugar drink.

Create your own ice bags to keep picnic cool

No need to splash out on expensive cool bags to ensure your picnic stays fresh. Fill freezer bags with water, leave to freeze and pop into your picnic bag or hamper to keep your sarnies cool. Alternatively, freeze Capri-Sun drinks for the same effect.

Save on petrol, cycle to the park

Get the family working up an appetite by getting everyone on their bikes or walk to a local park. No parks within cycling distance? Have a picnic in your garden. It is being outside with friends and family that matters!

Keep the kids entertained for free with your own family sports day

You don’t need to spend money of pricey game sets, you can have a whole afternoon on fun on a shoestring with a little bit of imagination by getting the whole family involved in a sports day! There are loads of fun you can have with items you would have in the house. Hard boil some eggs and grab a spoon for egg and spoon race.

The Top Ten Picnic items as voted by Shopitize users were:

Sandwiches

Sausage Roll

Cake

Salad

Fruit

Quiche

Hummus

Luxury Cheeses

Scotch Eggs

Olives

For more information, visit: http://www.digitalnewsroom.co.uk/shopitize/ 


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk