Want to make summer feel a little less stressful? Use the countdown below to see how many days are left until the school holidays — and how much you could save by putting away just £1 to £5 a day.
☀️ Summer Holiday Countdown
The summer holidays begin around 17 July 2026 for many UK families.
If you start saving today, here’s what your summer pot could look like:
Even tiny daily savings can help cover snacks, travel, ice creams, rainy-day activities or a family day out.
What could your summer savings actually pay for?
A summer pot does not have to be huge to be useful. Sometimes the best value comes from covering the little things that make days easier: snacks, travel, picnic food, a paddling pool, a new-to-you scooter, or one proper family day out.
Here are some realistic ideas for a family of four — two adults and two children.
| Budget | What it could pay for | Best value idea |
|---|---|---|
| £5 | Bubbles, chalk, a pack of ice lollies, supermarket snacks, colouring supplies, or a few picnic extras. | Turn a normal park trip into a “special” day with one small treat from home. |
| £10 | A simple picnic lunch, a craft activity, second-hand books, a football, or a few charity shop finds. | Let each child choose one small charity shop book or toy, then take it to the park or library. |
| £20 | A better picnic, beach snacks, a paddling pool, garden toys, a family movie night at home, or second-hand summer clothes. | Buy picnic bits from the supermarket instead of paying café prices while out. |
| £35 | A Family & Friends Railcard, which currently costs £35 for one year and gives adults 1/3 off and children 60% off eligible train travel. | This could be worth it quickly if you plan even a few train days out. |
| £50 | A low-cost family day out, travel to a free museum, a splash pad day with snacks, or a second-hand scooter/bike bundle. | Use Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace or charity shops for things like scooters, picnic bags, swimwear and summer clothes. |
| £75 | A more comfortable day out with travel, snacks and treats covered, or several smaller free days where you only pay for transport and food. | Choose free entry places, then spend the budget on making the day easier. |
| £100 | A proper family day out, a train trip, cinema plus snacks, or a mix of smaller activities across the holidays. | Look for family tickets, off-peak travel, discount codes and “kids eat free” offers before booking. |
| £150 | Several budget-friendly days out, a second-hand summer wardrobe refresh, or a big supermarket shop for picnic-style lunches and treats. | Make a “summer cupboard” with snacks, craft bits, sun cream, bubbles and rainy-day activities. |
| £175 | A National Trust family membership for two adults and their children, currently listed at £176.40 a year. They also offer monthly direct debit now. | Good value if you would use it several times across the year, not just once. |
| £200 | A bigger attraction day, a seaside trip, a mix of travel and activities, or a strong summer cushion for unexpected costs. | Combine one paid day with lots of free days, rather than trying to pay for entertainment every day. |
| £250 | A full summer activity fund: one bigger day out, several smaller days, picnic food, travel, ice creams and emergency extras. | Use it as a flexible pot rather than spending it all at once. |