Thinking about or planning a day trip or an experience here in England can sometimes be daunting, especially looking at how much money it's going to cost you.
How much money will it cost me? Will it be worth it? Generally, these days out are not just for one person either - it could be with your family or your partner and the price just keeps on increasing. It’s no secret that family life can be expensive!
So how can you tick off your bucket list on a budget? Here are our top tips on how and where you can save, whilst still making the most of your weekends!
Visit Websites That Specialise in Experience Days
Planning experience days can be confusing and time-consuming as well as costly. So take advantage of the discount site that specialises in experience days and local days, after all, they've already done most of the hard work for you which is what makes them so popular.
Websites such as Groupon, Wowcher, Virgin Experience days, buyagift etc offer a wide range of experiences at a discounted price than what it would be booking directly. They may not have the experience you want online but will be sure to give you ideas for your next experience day or even an alternative to what you had planned.
Find 2 for 1 Deals on Tickets & Transport
Sometimes you can find 2-for-1 deals on your ticket entry or on your train or bus tickets. When you find these you are on to a winner!
With the current price of fuel increasing, it’s not just the days out you are having to pay for, it is the cost of travel too. By opting for this type of deal you are able to save money on both and still have the fun and excitement that you originally planned. So we recommend checking sites like TransPennine Express for your train tickets before you plan your day out.
Look for Free Parking
If you do decide to drive, then a lot of places you visit will offer parking, but unfortunately, it sometimes comes at an additional cost!
Do your research beforehand and check out the local areas to find out where the cheapest option is. Can you park further away in a free car park and travel to the venue on public transport? It will probably cost you a lot less than what it would do parking all day. If you can’t locate free parking, check out Your Parking Space where you can reserve and prepay for a spot!
Take Your Own Drinks & Snacks
Prices in built-up, touristy areas or places like theme parks are usually sky-high compared with what you are used to at your local shops. We all know that!
Avoid paying these high, unnecessary costs and take your own food & drinks. Nip to your local Morrisons and grab your multipack of crisps, sandwiches, snacks and of course reusable and refillable bottles and head out for a picnic. Whilst this doesn’t save you money on your tickets or experience, it saves you paying over the odds on lunch.
Use Price Comparison Sites
Price comparison sites are a life-saver when trying to cut costs and find the best deals out there. You can compare prices on almost anything.!
When you see a good deal, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best deal available. Comparing prices gives you the opportunity to find other deals. You can then either book with the comparison site or go directly to where they have the offer from. But without the site, you will never know the other option was available.
Check Out Advice on TripAdvisor
Stuck between where you want to go or what you want to do? Then TripAdvisor can be your guardian angel! People post what they like and dislike about venues, events, places and experiences.
Spend some time reading through people’s comments and see where you can save. On TripAdvisor you may find the best place to get cheap tickets, where the free car park is or even just the café that does the best coffee. Ask questions too, and be open to their advice.
Join The National Trust or English Heritage
It doesn’t take much to get your money’s worth, you only need to use the membership 6-8 times a year for it to equal the membership cost. That’s not even one day out of a month! And by doing this you can also feel great knowing you're helping to fund these beautiful sites and keep them going for generations to come.
Memberships are available for The National Trust and English Heritage which allow you free entry to all the locations in the UK. These memberships come with hidden rewards such as free parking and discounted luxury buildings to enjoy.
Invest in Annual Passes
Annual passes can be your saviour if there's a place that you or your kids love. Whether you plan a day out every month, every three months or just twice a year, having an annual pass gives you the opportunity to use it whenever you want.
It may be a small investment at the time, but when it comes round to the next day out you can use your pass and not have to pay for tickets. Theme parks, zoos and wildlife parks tickets do not come cheap. Buy the annual pass, it works out cheaper in the long run. Who knows, it might even make you plan days out more than before! And you may even find deals on sites like Groupon with discounted annual passes to your favourite attractions.
Buy With Cashback
Cashback sites are often put to the back of your mind. However, this should not be the case. Think about all the items you buy throughout the year and how much cashback you could make from them.
Well, by signing up to a site like Top Cash Back, the money you earn as cashback can go towards your days out and experiences without you even noticing. It is basically a secret savings account.
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