Budget-friendly fun for half-term and beyond

The Halloween costumes have been put away, pumpkins carved and sweet tubs emptied. Half-term has been and gone, and yes, the first Christmas television adverts have started!

Dark afternoons, sudden downpours and colder days are reminders that this can be a challenging time of year to keep little ones amused at weekends and after school. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together some budget-friendly tips to help keep everyone happy through autumn and into winter.

Get baking

Wet and windy weather? No problem! A rainy afternoon is the ideal time to put those hours spent watching Junior Bake-off to the test. Halloween may be over, but there are still plenty of pumpkins and other squash in the supermarkets ideal for using in spiced biscuits, a loaf or a cake. Make sure to stock up on flour, sugar, eggs and cinnamon ahead of time and you’re all set.

Get making

Dressing up never dates as a fun activity. It’s amazing what a root through boxes, bottom drawers and backs of cupboards can reveal. Whether it's taking inspiration from story books, television shows or recent spooky themes, these treasure troves offer opportunities for hours of imaginative play. You may even be treated to a show as a finale!

Get cosy

All that sorting through for costumes and props has probably revealed plenty of long-forgotten toys and other bits and pieces, such as sleeping bags and blankets. If the weather has made it difficult to plan outdoor activities, then now’s the ideal time to make an indoor space fun, perhaps using some of these rediscovered props and playthings. Think makeshift camps and cosy dens for everything from Lego building to tea parties. Dare we say it, these activities can also double up as pre-Christmas cupboard clear-outs!

Get out and about

Days out don’t have to be costly, especially when researched. Many museums and local venues run free or reasonably priced events during the weekends or mid-week, including some linked to school topics,  so it’s well worth checking what’s on near you. Plenty of cafes and restaurants also offer family deals, from ‘kids eat free’ to discounted meals; MoneySavingExpert keeps a regularly updated list, available to view here. Your local community pages, hubs and council website are other great places to find out what’s happening for the autumn and winter weeks in your area.

And finally… get thinking about Christmas

And if all that baking and making has got you in the mood, keep an eye out. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing ideas for a handmade Christmas, full of creative, budget-friendly fun for all the family. From stained-glass window cookies to fir cone garlands and homemade decorations, there’ll be plenty to get stuck into.