From cheap train tickets to free kids’ meals, 20 easy tips to help you save thousands of pounds this summer

SUPER-SAVER Gemma Bird says families could cut their spending by hundreds this summer – whether you jet away or enjoy a sunny staycation. The author and influencer, known as Money Mum on Instagram, has helped families all over the country stretch their budgets further. Gemma Bird, aka Money Mum, managed to save a packet on family holidays by being savvy with her cash Credit: The Sun Gemma, from Essex, who is mum to Brody, 13, and seven-year-old Bronte, knows a thing or two about hardship and struggling with finance Credit: instagram/moneymumofficial And savvy Gemma, from Essex, who is mum to Brody, 13, and seven-year-old Bronte, knows a thing or two about hardship and struggling with finance. But she is so careful with cash that she paid off her mortgage by age 40, long before finding fame. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! She says: “The holidays have already started for some of us, but it’s not too late to save hundreds of pounds this summer. “Some money-saving tips seem so obvious, like checking exactly what’s in your cupboards before you go to the supermarket. But by doing small things like this every single day you can save a lot. It all adds up. “And it’s the same when it comes to holidays — there are things you can do that really will deal with the expense of a summer break.” New research from Morrisons has revealed that more than half (54 per cent) of parents feel the strain during the long summer period — and week three is a crucial “tipping point” where the financial impact is most felt by households. Almost half (48 per cent) of parents polled have been forced to skip meals to ensure their child does not go without, with breakfast being the number one meal cut from the menu. But it’s not all bad news. Most read in Money Gemma says: “Here are some of the things I do to make money go further, from packing cereal in my holiday suitcase to getting a railcard that also gives you a third off brilliant tourist attractions.” You’ll be able to relax and enjoy your break more if you find ways to make it cheaper Credit: Getty GEMMA'S TOP TIPS: Take brekkie cereal in your suitcase Cut out Airbnb…it’s easy to go to holiday homeowner directly Eat at cheaper supermarkets, not cafes Put holiday bill on a credit card that gives you points Gemma’s top 20 summer tips: If you find a holiday you like on Airbnb, click on the image, save it and drop it into Google photos, which will often bring up a direct link to the person renting the ­property. By cutting out the middle man, it can be a lot cheaper. I saved £198 this year doing just that. When booking any hotel or holiday, always pay for the cancellation policy. Then watch the price of the room. Prices often drop, so you can cancel and rebook. I saved £500 doing this recently. Take your breakfast in your suitcase! On a two-week trip away, adding in breakfast can cost an additional £100 a head. This year, when I go to Canada, I’ll pack cereal and buy my milk there. Contact your local church to see what kids’ events they are ­putting on this summer. All-day activities can cost as little as £1. Use petrolprices.com on driving holidays. It shows you the cheapest petrol in your area. You can save up to £5 on a full tank. Buy Kellogg’s cereal to get up to 25 per cent off tickets to more than 20 attractions, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland Windsor and the London Eye. On a £38.50 ticket, you could save £9.62. Eat at supermarkets. At Morrisons, mention “Kellogg’s Breakfast” at the cafe to get a free portion pack of cereal. At Asda Cafe, kids can eat for £1. At Tesco cafes, ­children can enjoy a free meal with any adult purchase. National Rail runs “2FOR1 Days Out”, which gives discounts including an open-top London bus tour costing £48. Check out nationalrail.co.uk, which has a list: The Best Free Things To Do By Train. Go camping for free! Freecampsites.net will show you destinations in the UK, Europe and further afield. Consider a house swap with friends. Or if you like looking after animals, use a company such as trustedhousesitters.com, who arrange British and international house swaps in return for some pet care. It’s amazing when a holiday cottage can cost as much as £1,000 a week. To help make ends meet, consider renting out your house on Airbnb while you’re away on holidays. Lock valuables away and check your household insurance. Take beach essentials such as balls, arm- bands and rubber rings with you. They will be much cheaper if you buy at your local supermarket instead of a beach-side shop. Carry empty water bottles through airport security and fill up at the free water fountains after you’ve passed through those checks. Have ice creams and lollies as a treat at home. A classic “99” treat from a UK ice cream van ­currently costs between £2.50 and £4.60 — but a supermarket lolly could set you back just 25p. If you like to have an alcoholic drink on ­holiday, go all-inclusive. If not, choose half-board — you will still get tea, coffee and soft drinks for free at most places. Always take a train to the ­airport. This summer, I was quoted £170 one way for a taxi. But for four of us to go by train, it’s £70 — saving us £100. Be open to flying out from and home to ­different airports. Even for an internal flight abroad, you can save hundreds of pounds. It really does pay to be flexible. For holiday clothes — and in fact when you buy anything — use a browser extension or mobile app called Coupert. It searches the web and automatically applies vouchers to give you the cheapest price. Get a Go City Pass. For a single upfront price, it can give you up to 50 per cent off attractions such as museums and tours, from London to New York. Put everything on a credit card that gives you points. I’m currently using a Virgin Money credit card — I even used it to pay my council tax. I managed to get Upper Class flights to Canada for £500 each way — costing £2,000 for us both. That’s a ­saving of £8,000 — and we have use of airport ­lounges. Comment now