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A mother-of-two has revealed her hacks for getting through the summer holidays with a budget of just £50 a week dedicated to activities for her children.

Kelly Miles, 33, who has two kids, aged 10 and 12, says she saves around £500 with her thrifty habits - and urged that the key is being prepared when it comes to food and keeping a vigilant eye out for freebies.

She set aside a budget of £300 for six weeks and focuses on free local options like free swimming sessions for under 12s, libraries and heading to the beach for the day, using Monzo pots to set aside money for more expensive days out.

Kelly, a manager, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, was once a single mother on benefits 'trying to make things stretch'.

'At that point it was very difficult and I was almost determined not to fall into debt,' she shared. 'That's where I picked up on all the things I do now.'

She continued: 'I look at what I have around locally and what is free locally.

'And then the wider area like beaches, country parks, something where you would spend the whole day there and just pay for a bit of parking – but that's if you're taking food.

'Normally my budget is £200 but this is the first year it's £300.

'Obviously everything is more expensive.

'It's hard to put a figure on it but ballpark I save between £400 and £500 doing what I do'.

The family can still enjoy the occasional splurge thanks to Kelly setting aside cash for more expensive days out in challenger bank Monzo 'pots', which let you set funds aside for special occasions.

This year, she has planned around trips including to a local mud trail, aquapark, Legoland and theme parks using Merlin annual passes.

A mother-of-two has revealed her hacks for getting through the summer holidays with a budget of just £50 a week dedicated to activities for her children

Kelly Miles, 33, has two kids, aged 10 and 12, says she saves around £500 with her thrifty habits - and urged that the key is being prepared when it comes to food and keeping a vigilant eye out for freebies

She chips away at the pot throughout the year, adding some cash after paying all essential bills and savings.

'I really would encourage everyone to do it,' she added. 'When it's near to Christmas I might add £10 or even nothing but the closer to summer it gets I'll put £50 in there to get it where it needs to be.

'People do it for Christmas but I would recommend it for the summer holidays.

'The kids are getting older and it's harder for older children.

'The young ones are happy going to local libraries and painting stones and pebbles at the beach.

'I'm at the pre-teen stage where they want to go out with their mates and it's "give me a tenner" so I set more aside.'

With much of her success at saving down to 'pre-planning', Kelly says it can take the 'spontaneity' out of days out, but saves her hundreds.

And even though the pre-planning can mean a little extra work, she added it creates 'lovely memories'.

With much of her success at saving down to 'pre-planning', Kelly says it can take the 'spontaneity' out of days out, but saves her hundreds

The family can still enjoy the occasional splurge thanks to Kelly setting aside cash for more expensive days out in challenger bank Monzo 'pots', which let you send funds aside for special occasions

One of the biggest daily costs, however, is food.

'When kids go to school with a packed lunch or free school meals it tides them over,' Kelly explained. 'Days out in country parks and places like Thorpe Park if you don't bring a packed lunch it can cost so much and not even for decent food.

'Even then, people take their kids swimming not bringing a snack and what do the kids want to do as soon as they come out?

'Attack the vending machine. In the house they eat you out of house and home.

'I buy things to spread further like flour, eggs, and packets of biscuits rather than snack packs.

'We make pizza rolls, pancakes and all different bits like that so it's really more exciting.

'Drinks as well, I went to Thorpe Park and a bottle of Coke was £3.50 so bring water bottles with you'.

Kelly has also invested in a few items that have seen her through multiple summers that she says are 'worth it'.

She said: 'The number one by far is my insulated backpack.

'I showed a video on socials of one I've had for 10 years – I don't even remember where I bought it and we use it in winter too.

'It keeps drinks and food cool.

'Again, I said there about water bottles, good water bottles are essential.

'Buckets and spades and stuff I've been caught out there with shops at the beach charging double the price.

'Go to pound shops and B&M before and save money.

'It's about the mindset before.'