With many households battening down the hatches to brave the financial crisis, I bet there’s not a lot of money left over for entertainment. But there are lots of ways to keep both you and the kids happy without breaking the budget.

Eating in
Taking the family out for lunch and dinner every day can quickly blow your school holiday budget. Fast food chains are still costly and the food may not be as good for your kids. Plan holiday activities before or after mealtimes, or go somewhere where you can take your own food. Or why not pack a picnic and explore the outdoors?

My wife Libby and I found a great way to save on food while away on holidays is to rent a self-contained unit, so you can prepare all your own meals.

Back to basics
School holidays don’t have to be filled with shopping excursions, trips to the cinema or
a visit to a theme park or aquarium. Libby was very inventive during these times and says it’s all about using your imagination and taking the time to plan fun, low-cost outings and activities.

Encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors. Pack a picnic lunch, jump on your bikes and explore a new bike path every day. Or jump in the car and head to the nearest national park for an invigorating bushwalk. If the weather isn’t great, spend the day indoors doing crafts or dust off the board games or play cards. Also, get your kids excited about borrowing books from the library. Many libraries also run special school holiday activities.

Cheap escapes
We’re lucky to have access to the best free summer holiday activity there is – the beach. Yes, you can easily fork out $300 a night on a hotel overlooking the beach, but those with a sense of adventure can also spend as little as $30 a night on a campsite.
The beauty of most beach campsites is their prime position, with most located right next to the sand – it’s a much better deal than renting an expensive apartment a few blocks away.

Another cheap accommodation option is to swap homes with another family. I know what you’re thinking – not many people who live at the beach would want to swap their house during summer, but there are alternatives.

Kids love farm holidays. If you live in the city, think about swapping with someone who
lives in the country or swapping for a place on the coast in spring or autumn. Visit sites such as www.aussiehouseswap.com.au.

Kochie's tips to holiday for less

• House swap.
• Always stay in self-contained accommodation.
• Avoid eating out every day and night.
• Pack a picnic.
• Encourage outdoor activities.
• Rent movies and borrow books instead of buying them.
• Find out what free events are on in your local community.
• Go camping.