Mum reveals 'no spend' weekends and Blue Peter badge hack for free family days out - Daily Star

Mum reveals 'no spend' weekends and Blue Peter badge hack for free family days outNatalie Smith might be a self-confessed scrooge, but it means she's able to take her kids on countless

family holidays without spending a fortune. Here's how she does it...TravelVince Soodin Assistant Editor (Digital) and SWNSImogenHowse (Imogen Howse)12:26, 02 Jun 2025Updated 10:13, 03 Jun

2025Natalie Smith might be a self-confessed scrooge A savvy mum has dished out her savvy hacks for bagging budget-friendly family hols and snagging gratis day outs.

Natalie Smith, hailing from Dymchurch, Kent, is convinced you can sort a proper knees-up for the fam without splashing the cash.

‌ She spills that numerous groups offer nippers free entry to their spots and dos but tend to keep it hush-hush — so it's all about having a nose around.

‌ Heading into holiday mode, Natalie, who blogs round the clock, swears by meticulous prep, especially eyeballing hotels or resorts for any included extras that might sweeten the deal.

Her mantra includes staying nimble with your timetable, like scheduling jaunts on the thriftiest flight days, or even considering a road trip across Europe.

And blimey, do her tricks deliver — Natalie and her hubby Jason have been swotting up on these tips for yonks, whisking their kiddos Finn, 14, and Lola, 12, off on a raft of cracking trips.

Article continues below The 35 year old explained: "We started living like this because we had such a small income when the kids were younger that we knew if we wanted to take them on

holidays and trips, we'd have to change things.

"Things are easier now, but it becomes a way of life so we're still budgeters. It's what suits our values.

Natalie, who blogs round the clock, swears by meticulous prep‌She says 'we had such a small income when the kids were younger' "We'd rather do lots of things than have lots of things - so we

scrimp in some places to make sure we can travel and have amazing experiences."

Natalie's cracked it – she's the queen of budget-friendly fun that keeps her little ones amused without even dipping into the wallet. She's all about 'no spend' weekends, hunting down

freebies like a true bargain boss.

‌ She shared some pearls of wisdom: "My biggest tip is to get a Blue Peter badge. These get kids into over 200 attractions across the UK - including theme parks, zoos, museums, gardens etc.

- all for free.

"Those badges are worth their weight in gold."

Natalie's full of genius hacks, adding: "Another tip would be to use your Tesco Clubcard points. You don't have to just use them in the shop - you can also put them towards events and days

out. Just check the app."

‌ She even has tips for city slickers and rural adventurers alike: "I'd also suggest making use of your surroundings. If you're in a city - or if you want to take a day trip to a city - a

lot of stuff is free, like museums, parks, or lidos for the summer."

Just pack a sarnie and you've got a top day out for zilch, she reckons: "Take a picnic and that's still a no-spend day out."

For those with a taste for nature and adventure: "If you're in the countryside, use the beach, use the woods. Something like Geocaching - where you hunt for geocaches - can make a walk

really fun without having to spend money."

‌Mum convinced you can sort a proper knees-up for the fam without splashing the cash She’s even unearthed some top-notch travel deals: "Train companies offer good deals too. National Rail

does a Two For One, where you can get a London activity, like a River Thames boat cruise, included in the price of your ticket.

"And on Southeastern Rail kids can travel for £1."

‌ Natalie reassures us that dream holidays aren't off-limits for those watching the pennies – there's always a savvy way to slash those purse-pinching prices.

She dished out a top tip for savvy holidaymakers: "One piece of simple advice I give people is to pick somewhere that offers a 'per party' price rather than a 'per person' price. Then it

doesn't matter if you have lots of kids.

"Also try to pick a destination that offers free things to do - included in your accommodation cost."

‌ She added, highlighting the perks of certain destinations: "So, there are lots of places where you can do water sports for free - or which include passes to local theme parks etc.

She also suggested planning ahead to keep costs down: "So I'd say looking at those things and almost planning out your itinerary in advance can save you a fortune once you're out there." She

revealed: "When it comes to flights, Skyscanner is your best friend. If we have a specific destination in mind, then we'll be flexible with dates - and maybe plan the whole trip around

which day the flight is cheapest.

"If we don't mind where we go, we'll search for the cheapest flights to 'everywhere', and plan around that."

‌ She also champions hitting the road for a European adventure: "Otherwise though, we tend to drive as much as possible - because of how cheap ferries are.

"We've driven to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and more - and the driving becomes part of the fun.

"Recently we did a trip driving around Germany, Austria, and Italy, and spent around four days in each spot we stopped at - camping at local campsites."

‌ Natalie says that she and her family also look for ways they can cut back on spending throughout the year - so they can put money aside for their holidays.

This includes batch cooking to save on groceries, always taking flasks out to avoid buying coffee, and even having dad Jason learn to cut son Finn's hair so they don't have any barber fees.

Natalie said: "We batch cook a lot and always meal prep so we know what we need and what we're using for the week. I also take a flask everywhere so I don't buy coffee - and just switch

small things like cycling instead of taking the bus for any journeys I can.

Article continues below "If you don't buy a coffee or lunch out - then you could save £5 a day. £5 a day adds up to £1,825 a year. That's a great budget for a family holiday."

For more of Natalie's penny-pinching pointers, pop over to her blog at https://www.frugalmum.co.uk/.