Lots of parents will be trying to limit spending money on activities, food and outings this summer.

With the cost of food and other essentials having soared over the past year, finding free things to do with the kids is going to be a priority for lots of families this summer.

Here are six money-saving tips to keep kids entertained this summer.

Set the summer fun factor to ten

Start as you mean to go on and set the bar for fun from day one.

Did you know that the first of July was International Joke Day? That day has passed, but why not draw inspiration from it, gather your best gags together and take turns to tell them at the dinner table?

Or perhaps create a small stand-up show!

Create a theme day

Most of us have heard about theme parks, but how about having a theme day at home?

‘Dinosaur day’ could involve wearing your favourite dino outfit all day, eating like a T-Rex, or stomping and roaring in the park.

Maybe a ‘fairy-themed day’ would involve lots of singing, crafting or building homes for garden bugs.

Themes can shape the whole day, from what you eat, where you go and what you do.

We’ll leave it up to you and the kids to choose a theme they love.

Low-cost meals

The school holidays can be a difficult time for many families. With the sudden break from free school lunches, it places an added burden on parents to budget for extra food.

Why not ask the kids to help you create a summer holiday meal plan, working out what to buy and when, so that you can reduce food waste and cost?

There are also a number of places that offer cheap or free children’s meals during the holidays, so it’s worth checking out what restaurants and cafes near you are offering.

Get active

Leisure centres are increasingly offering free summer sessions for children, so do contact your local centre to find out what’s on.

Children also love creating their own obstacle courses, whether in the house or garden.

Perhaps you can create a shooting range and use a water gun or hose to blast empty plant pots off a wall?

Hopscotch is one of those under-appreciated fun summer activities that’s a lot of fun.

Join your library’s summer reading challenge

If you haven’t already, join your local library – it’s free. Books can open a door into another world for children and adults alike.

As well as having access to hundreds of physical books and audio stories, lots of libraries run storytelling, craft or even Lego sessions.

Most libraries will be taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge this summer – offering activities, competitions and even virtual awards for children to win.

Budget for summer

At Christians Against Poverty (CAP), we see the challenge that parents face over providing for their families whilst keeping their finances afloat.

Budgeting is a great way to prepare for the summer holidays. An online search can lead you to useful budgeting tools.

If you or someone you know is financially struggling or in debt, please know there’s help and hope.

Call CAP at 0800 328 0006 (free of charge), or find out more about what we offer at capuk.org.

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, and money management courses.

Both these services are freely available to everyone in Fermanagh. Visit capuk.org to find out more.