Two weeks of school holidays looming with a houseful of kids to entertain? Here's how to keep them happy for around £1 a day.
• Make some puppets
Get creative with 'puppet making kits' for just £1 each from Poundland. Contains felt, stickers and everything you need to make a small Easter bunny puppet. Or make your own bookmark with a similar kit; well worth stocking up and having a few in the cupboard for wet rainy days!
• A free swim
Get your kids off the couch and having a go at everything from swimming to martial arts, basketball, paintball and boxing with free sessions through Asda's Sporting Chance scheme (www.asda-sportingchance.co.uk). Download your voucher; check what's on in your area and call to book your place.
• Go out for lunch
Eating out can be expensive; but there's lots of 'kids eat free' deals like Chiquito where you can download a voucher for a free main, desert, drink and activity pack, (worth £4.99). Or register your details online at the Old Orleans restaurant chain and you'll get a free £10 voucher.
• Get them dancing
Some dance clubs offer trial sessions during school holidays and at 'Diddi Dance' you can get a free taster session of their funky dance classes at over one hundred locations across the country. Go online to find your nearest centre and book your place.
• Make history come to life
Learning about what life was like for children evacuated overseas during the war is the subject of a new display at the Imperial War Museum North, based in Manchester, which runs over Easter. 'Oceans Apart' tells stories of children evacuated to countries including South Africa, Australia and America. Entry is free and the museum is open from 10am to 5pm.
• Go to the movies
Take the kids to the cinema and you won't see much change from £25 for a family of four; but if you get up early and take the kids on a weekend morning you pay just £1. Both Cineworld and Vue cinemas offer special kids' screenings at weekends and it's a great chance to watch your favourite films again or catch those you missed first time round!
• Join an Easter Egg hunt
Cadbury has joined up with the National Trust to offer 'Easter Egg Trails' at over 200 locations around the country over the Easter weekend. 'Hunts' are set in the grounds and kids get clues to lead them to chocolate egg. Trails cost around £2 depending on location.
• Go to a farm 'open day'
April is lambing season and lots of farms hold 'open days' where children can see the lambs, feed the animals and learn about conservation. Admission is usually free so worth checking farms in your area for opening times. Some farms like Whirlow Hall Farm in Sheffield charge £3 for children but this includes pony rides and other activities.
• Get the kids in training for Wimbledon
Joining expensive tennis clubs and paying to use private courts often means kids miss out on the game; so why not play for free? There are over 2,000 free public tennis courts across the UK and to find your nearest one along with directions go to www.tennisforfree.com.
• Take the kids on the train for £1
Forget a long drive to the coast or a parking nightmare if you drive into London; take the kids on the train for £1 each when you book a 'Group Save' off peak deal for three or four people. Deals available include London to Bath, Cambridge, Dover, Littlehampton, Southend or Worthing.
Do you have any great money-saving tips for Easter holiday treats?