With the summer break on its way in Suffolk, you might be worried that your pennies won’t stretch, but that needn’t be the case as here are some thrifty ways to keep your purse-strings in order and your children happy too.

Backyard sports

If the weather’s nice, then why not head outdoors and bring a ball or a cricket bat with you? There’s no better way to spend time with your family than by burning off some steam and playing a fun, yet competitive game.

If you haven’t got a garden, then why not head to the nearby park? Many in Suffolk offer free use of tennis and basketball courts, which you can pre-book.

Make your own bubbles

Whether your children are infants or a little older, this activity is sure to amuse. It may even entertain the family dog or cat too.

All you need to do is get hold of 2tbsps of washing up liquid, 2tbsps glycerine (you can buy it from Boots), 4tbsp of hot water and 2tbsps of sugar.

Stir the water and sugar together, and then add the washing up liquid and the glycerine. Swirl them together and there you go! But don’t mix too quickly as you don’t want a bubbly mess.

You could then use an old wand from a pot of bubbles or alternatively, find something you could use from the kitchen.

Time to get cooking

Baking is a great way to spend time with your children, plus you’ll all get to enjoy your cake-making efforts afterwards too. Why not make little fairy buns using a simple sponge recipe or alternatively, crack out the cornflakes or Rice Krispies in order to make chocolate covered delights? All you’ll need are the cases, as well as a few simple ingredients, depending on how elaborate you want to go.

Beat rainy days with a board game

If the last time you got a board game out was at Christmas, then it’s about time you got them out again. Most people will have a Monopoly or Scrabble lying about in the loft or cupboard. But if you haven’t invested in one of these classics, of course, you could get a pack of cards out or alternatively, get creative and play a good old fashioned pen and paper game such as noughts and crosses, hang man or another fun one.

Pack a picnic for the park

If you haven’t got a lot planned, then a trip to the local park is a good way to spend a day. You could see who can go the highest on the swings or take turns to spin each other around on the merry-go-round. Don’t forget to pack a tasty picnic, complete with cartons of juice and a flask of tea too, then you can splurge on a Mr Whippy on the way home. ?