If you're thinking of staying close to home in the summer holidays to save a few pennies - think again. The cost of looking after and entertaining our little ones during the six-week break is set to cost almost £1.8bn - and that's before we've even thought about planning a holiday to warmer climes. A new report from Abbey Bank has shown working parents with two children at school will spend up to £2,400 during the summer holidays on everything from childcare to day trips and burgers. A massive 85pc of parents will shell out up to £100 a week entertaining their children with more than a third having to spend up to another £100 on childcare ranging from activity centres to au pairs. Angus Porter, Abbey's customer director, said: "We all know that keeping children cared for and entertained during the school holidays can be costly and difficult to organise. "If parents don't plan carefully the extra cost can cause real financial difficulty. "The most important thing for parents to do is save money throughout the year to help pay for the extra cost of the school summer holiday. Putting just a small amount aside each month into a savings account should make the financial burden of the holiday much easier to bear. "Smart parents also encourage their kids to save pocket money for summer time treats, which not only eases pressure on the parental purse but helps establish independence and important savings habits for their children." When it comes to childcare, Abbey's research found more than half of working parents took the cheapest option - relying on family and friends to help out. But a quarter use up their holiday allowance or take unpaid leave to care for their kids during the long break. And it seems most families are failing to plan ahead. A huge 71pc take money out of a current account to pay for holiday extras, with more than 50pc giving their savings a hammering to cover the cost. So how can you plan ahead and save some money? * Work out a schedule of activity, this will give children something to look forward to and help parents budget efficiently. * Mums and dads could take time off work on different days, so at least one parent is at home to look after and entertain the kids. * Buy the children toys to play with outside such as frisbees, tennis racquets and paddling pools. * Visit free museums and galleries and try to limit trips to expensive theme parks. Check out local summer events such as the Stockton International Riverside Festival which runs from July 29 to August 1 which has plenty of free entertainment. * Try preparing packed lunches and stay away from fast food restaurants. * Encourage children to save their pocket money so they can pay for summer treats. * Team up with friends and family who also have young children to cut costs. * Stock up on ice lollies and choc ices at the supermarket. Buying in bulk is much cheaper than paying from them individually. * Save in advance. Put aside £50 a month for the summer holiday from September onwards. This would provide £500 plus interest towards the cost of the summer break. | 
Use our 
Fashion
Gardening