The school holidays are understandably on many people’s minds right now, and with them comes the same yearly question: how am I going to keep the children entertained without it costing the earth?

Don’t fear – here are five helpful tips from Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

Make a plan

As early as you can before the school holidays start, create a budget to help you avoid spending more than you’d like.

Make a list of fun and cost-effective activities and write down the days and times you plan to do them.

This will give your children something to look forward to, and put your mind at rest.

For help putting together a budget, visit capuk.org/budgeting.

Check out free church and community activities

Many local churches and community groups offer free and cost-effective activities for families during the summer holidays.

It’s well worth doing a quick search online to find out what’s happening on your doorstep.

Have a clear-out

With the children at home during the day, you might find the space seems tighter than usual.

Having a clear-out is a great way to fill an afternoon without spending a penny, while also teaching the children valuable lessons about reusing and recycling.

You might even uncover items you forgot you had – why not sell these to earn a little extra cash for the holidays?

Community marketplaces such as Vinted and Facebook are a good place to start.

Make the most of the outdoors

Whether it’s at the top of a mountain or in your back garden, the great outdoors is the most cost-effective playground!

This summer, why not encourage the children to make their way through the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 and three quarters’?

The list offers lots of ways to keep the little ones entertained, from going cloud watching to befriending a bug. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/50-things.

You could also go for a walk and ask the children to look out for wild strawberries in the hedges – this year seems to be particularly good for this.

In a few months’ time it will be possible to collect blackberries too. What could be better than wild strawberries and ice cream?

Use what you’ve got around the house

Whether it’s building a den with cushions and duvets, or putting on a living room fashion show, there’s bound to be stuff around your house that you can use to create some fun and joy for the children – something that’s especially useful on a rainy day!

Finding things difficult? At CAP, we see the balance that many people have to strike between providing for their family and avoiding falling into unmanageable debt, and we know that this is getting increasingly difficult.

If you’re worried about debt and money, visit capuk.org/help to explore the free services we offer in your area.

Plus, there’s a wide range of information and support services to be found online at moneyhelper.org.uk.

Jonathan Hayward is the manager of the West NI Debt Centre operated by the Enniskillen Presbyterian Church in partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which is a UK charity with over 580 services across the UK delivering free debt counselling, life skills and money management courses.

ALL these services are freely available to everyone in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

For information on debt advice, ring 0800 328 006; for money coaching, ring Jonathan at 0784 164 2575, or for life skills, ring Pat at 0752 217 5030.

Further information is available on the website, capuk.org.