You can count on Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, to offer sensible, actionable advice when it comes to saving money - and his guidance when it comes to Christmas is worth making a note of.

Martin Lewis is a national treasure, whose dedication to saving the nation money knows no bounds. From the brilliant loophole for parents who want to leave kids money without paying inheritance tax, to the little known tax tip for grandparents gifting money to their grandkids, his sound advice helps millions. He's even petitioning for compulsory financial education for every child in schools, to ensure a nation of savvy money experts in the future. 

As minds turn towards Christmas, Martin has once again stepped up to try and prevent a January filled with debt and regret. He offers simple advice to stop the dream of a 'perfect' Christmas stopping the public being pragmatic and sensible with their spending - which is easily done when you're caught up in the magic and have children that want the latest expensive items.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the Money Saving Expert says "Now, forgive me for being all bah humbug about this but Christmas is a huge proportion of the year’s annual expenditure. The average person spends £800 on it, the average family... 800 quid a year. It's getting up there with a family holiday. Most people can’t afford that out of December’s income."

To prevent overspending, he urges people to consider the following in the run up to the big day: 

• Don't make a Christmas 'lust list,' you'll only be disappointed. Martin says "One of the big mistakes many people make at Christmas is they, in their mind, come up with a lust list - what is the perfect Christmas. And if you come up with a lust list, for most people, that will either lead to one of two things: debt or disappointment because you won’t get it."
• Pre-plan throughout the year. We all know Christmas is coming - be mindful of it all year if you know it's going to be expensive. Martin adds "You need to do some pre-planning. Christmas this year will be on the 25th of December, note that down it’s not unexpected…but when I come into January, January is the biggest time for all the debt counselling agencies and when you talk to people about why they’ve gone then, they say 'Christmas, of course.'
• Make a budget and stick to it. There's no point having a miserable time after Christmas, full of money worries and woes, for the sake of one day. Martin suggests putting together a tight budget based on what you can actually afford, and basing your 'lust list' strictly on that budget. 
• Don't be sucked in by social media. It's easy to go online and see perfectly decorated trees surrounded by hordes of presents - but nobody is under any pressure to recreate that themselves. Christmas isn't about keeping up with what everyone else is doing, and showy pictures of unreachable expectations can easily push others into spending too much. Martin urges people not to fall for it.

Mum-of-three, Shelley, says "We used to overspend on Christmas and really regret it. It really is so easy to get caught up in the idea of the perfect day. Now, I keep an eye out for sales throughout the year, and buy anything that's massively reduced that someone in the family would like, and put it away for Christmas.

We also communicate better with the wider family now. I used to be really bad at saying we didn't have enough money for gifts, but now we have a discussion about it early and make decisions based on what everyone can afford. Last year we all decided to give small gifts for the adults because we could. Some of us aren't financially sound this year, so we've decided not to do that and just focus on what we can afford for the children."

For more on how to save money, we share 13 good money habits all parents should adopt, and how to save money shopping at Amazon.

Parents and grandparents can help their kids become millionaires as adults with annual financial contributions that are smaller than you might think.

We all want to see our kids become financially secure adults, and this isn't quite as impossible as it might seem. Parents can save for their kids by adopting clever spending habits and learning how to save money on streaming services. There's even brilliantly savvy ways for Tesco customers to save money with clubcard vouchers.

However, none of that will make your child a millionaire though - or will it? Financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown calculated that contributing the maximum £9,000 annually to a junior ISA from the time your child is born could mean that they end up with £255,000 by the time they’re 18. 

If you were to then continue with an annual contribution of £5,000 to their ISA, they could hit £1 million by the time they’re 43. And, if £3,600 per year is put into a junior SIPP, they could have a pension pot of almost £98,000 by the time they’re 18. 

Rob Burgeman from investment company RBC Brewin Dolphin says, via TeessideLive: "A more modest pot of £50,000-£100,000 will certainly be within the reach of many. Starting at birth, a £50,000 pot could be built by the child's 18th birthday on contributions of roughly £150 a month, assuming annualised returns of five per cent after charges. Increase the contribution to £300 a month, and the junior ISA will be looking at a windfall of around £100,000."

Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, says, per BirminghamLive: “Becoming a millionaire may feel like an impossible dream for most of us, but if you can start people off early on their investment journey, it's more achievable than you might think.

“Junior ISAs and SIPPs are a great way to help build the financial resilience of a child or grandchild, with the combination of regular contributions and long-term investment growth building a firm foundation upon which they can build as they get older.

"Starting your loved one's savings journey early gives them an enormous advantage over the long-term. The increased time in the market can really pay off. It can also act as an important early lesson in the power of investment in making the most of their money.

"Watching their money grow over time can boost their confidence and spark a lifelong interest in investing."

Of course, not all parents and grandparents will be in a position to contribute some of the figures mentioned above to their child’s ISA or SIPP, but smaller contributions can quickly add up, too, to give your kids a valuable nest egg as they get older. 

In related news, here are six clever ways to save for your child's future and here are the best bank accounts for kids and how to choose the right one. Here’s how to teach kids about money, while Martin Lewis has told MPs how we need financial education 'in EVERY school for EVERY child'. 

Raising a family is expensive, so knowing how to save money as a parent is crucial if you want to make your family's budget go further, and build a savings pot for the future. The last couple of years have seen budgets stretched more than ever before, leaving households scrambling to figure out how to make extra money to help make ends meet.

Even if your finances have weathered the cost of living crisis storm, it's always going to be worth cutting costs where you can. Personal finance analyst Alice Haine from Bestinvest says: "By slashing the amount you spend on everyday bills and cutting costs elsewhere, you can quickly create a small sum that will either boost your current account or be saved or invested into a separate pot for a rainy day."

Follows these family-friendly tips to reduce how much you spend on things like days out, entertainment, toys and food to ease the pressure on your budget and put more money away for your family's future.

1. Swap takeaways for fakeaways 

Takeaways are all too tempting for tired and busy parents, but they are much more expensive than cooking food at home. If you have a weekly takeaway treat, try to reduce it to once a month instead as a way to save money. You could always try making a homemade takeaway whenever you get a craving for your favourite fast food.

2. Create snack packs for whenever you leave the house

We've all been there. You nip out with your little human, packing everything you need for changeable weather and to keep them entertained, but when they utter those three little words 'I am hungry' you realise that you have no snacks in your bag and have to resort to buying them while you're out. But this can prove really expensive, especially if you are somewhere like a theme park or zoo.

Instead, make up a few snack packs using non-perishable snackarooneys that you can leave in key places, like your handbag, car or byy the front door, so you can avoid getting caught out again.

3. Start a babysitting circle

As any parent will attest, taking time away from the kids for yourself, or for you and your partner, is key to keeping on top of your own mental health and wellbeing. But forking out for a babysitter can often put parents off taking this valuable step. But setting up a babysitting circle with your friends can be a great way to help each other out, without breaking the bank. To keep it fair, try setting up a rota, or work on a token system, where you earn a token every time you babysit, and it costs a token to get a babysitter.

4. Label your child's school uniform and other belongings

Sometimes, saving money is about making what you do buy last as long as possible. When it comes to your child's belongings or school uniform, this means making sure everything is labelled with their name so it can be returned to you if it gets left at a friend's house or in a classroom at the end of the school day. You can buy simple personalised washable and no-iron labels on Amazon for around £10-15. Some even come with cute designs, like this Amazon bestsellers.

5. Make your own playdough

Looking for a really inexpensive way to keep kids entertained? Why not make your own playdough? Let kids pick their favourite colours and let them unleash their creativity. To make your own, you will need:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp cream of tartar (which you can get in the baking aisle at the supermarket)
• ½ cup salt
• 1 to 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 cup water
• food colouring

Mix the flour, cream of tartar and salt in a saucepan. Add the water and oil and cook over medium heat until thick. At this stage you can either add a few drops of food colouring to the mixture and kneed in. If you want two colours, split the mixture and add different colours to each half. Then hey presto, home-made playdough.

6. Swap toys and clothes with other families

Buying toys and clothes for your kids can be expensive, especially when they outgrow things so quickly. But remember, this is the same in every family, so why not team up with neighbours, friends and school mums and see if you can arrange a toy or clothing swap? This works best if you can set up a group of parents with kids of different ages, but if your kids are the same age, it's a good way to swap toys your kids no longer play with for something new to them.

7. Make packed lunches

Making packed lunches for the whole family is a no-brainer when it comes to saving money, especially when you tot it up over the course of a week. If mornings are hectic in your family (we hear ya!), then it's a good idea to get into the habit of making lunches the night before. It can also help to give everyone in the family their own colour-coded lunchbox so that there's no worry about someone taking the wrong lunch to school or work.

8. Accept hand me downs

There's no shame in accepting hand me downs if you are trying to save money. In a lot of cases, you'll be helping someone out by helping them find a new home for their belongings. As well as easing the strain on your bank balance, it's also really good for the planet and reduces the amount being sent to landfill.

9. Buy own brand painkillers

In many cases, if you choose to buy branded medicines, you're paying more for the brand name and a snazzier box, rather than for high quality or more effective ingredients. When you're looking to buy medicine, check the branded box for a nine digit code, which is called the Product Licence Code. Then take a look at the retailer's own brand version. If the two codes match, it's not just the same active ingredient, it's the exact same tablets. Check out this real life example highlighted by money saving expert Martin Lewis.

10. Shop around for fuel

While we have been benefitting from a temporary fuel duty cut since March 2022, this is due to end in March 2024, so it's vital that you keep an eye on how much you are paying for fuel, especially if you need your car for the school run and weekend activities with the family. Use this fuel prices tool from Go.Compare to find the cheapest fuel near you.

Remember there are lots of other ways to save money on fuel, including keeping your tyres inflated, accelerating and braking gently and not driving around with unnecessary cargo. Car sharing where you can and avoiding unnecessary short journeys can also help you to use less fuel.

11. Grow your own veg

Save money and start a hobby with your kids by growing your own vegetables. For beginners, veggies like beetroot, potatoes, salad leaves, peas, radishes and courgettes are a good starting point. And if you don't have the garden space to plant your seeds, according to Gardener's World there are lots of things you can grow in bags, pots and even on your windowsill.

12. Book early and in advance for any activities

Keeping the kids occupied can gouge a big chunk out of the family budget especially in the school holidays. Save money by booking big trips to the likes of zoos and theme parks online rather than rocking up on the day, or see if you can cash in supermarket loyalty points. You could also keep your eyes peeled for free adult ticket promotions that regular appear on Kelloggs cereal boxes.

13. Do you really need a TV licence?

If you exclusively use streaming services to watch boxed-sets or films on demand, but are still paying for a TV licence, you may be wasting money. You need a TV licence if you watch or record live TV, on any channel or streaming service. But if you only watch programmes on demand (with the exception of BBC iPlayer), you don’t actually need a TV licence so could save yourself £159 per year (if you pay annually), rising to £169.50 from April 2024.

14. Team up with another family for days out and holidays

Joining forces with another family on things like day trips, mini breaks or holiday can be a great way to share the cost on things like accommodation, car hire and fuel costs. You could also benefit from discounts on group entry tickets to popular attractions. Make sure you agree how joint costs will be split ahead of time to avoid any fallouts.

15. Be a savvy shopper

Whether you are shopping online or in a shop or supermarket, keep in mind that a retailer is always trying its best to make you buy things - and the more things the better. It might be that it displays more expensive items at eye level with cheaper items lower down, or sends you regular emails with multibuy or money-off offers. (We reveal the sneaky supermarket tricks to look out for!).

GoodtoKnow’s Money Editor Sarah Handley says: “If you’re looking to save money, you need to be savvy about all of the moves that retailers make to encourage you to buy things you don’t necessarily need. To avoid temptation, unsubscribe to the emails, turn off app notifications and plan purchases ahead of time and budget for them rather than buying on impulse.”

16. Try a different supermarket

Switching to a different supermarket can be a great way to save money on your food shopping, especially when you consider the price difference between the most expensive and cheapest supermarket. Buying online if possible is a great option. It’ll help you avoid impulse buys, and you can check your fridge, freezer and cupboards as you are adding items to your basket to avoid buying items you don’t need. But if you do buy online, try to choose the collection option rather than delivery to keep costs low. If you do need your shopping to be delivered, try to be flexible on the day and time you want it delivered to get the cheapest delivery price.

17. Remember your loyalty card - and your bags

If you’re shopping somewhere with a loyalty scheme, make sure you flash your supermarket loyalty card. In some cases, you’ll get exclusive discounts or coupons, and in others you’ll be able to exchange loyalty points for things like restaurant vouchers, theme-park and cinema tickets and more. Save enough points and you can get a family day out for free! Also remember to take your own bags with you - you can pay anywhere from 10p to 50p for a reusable bag from your local supermarket which can soon tot up if you are doing a big shop.

18. Try to reduce leftovers

We throw away a whopping £700 of food per household each year but there’s lots of ways to reduce food waste..

This might be:

•  Using every part of the fruit and vegetables that you buy 
•  Making your own stocks and sauces 
•  Freezing leftovers 
•  Having a ‘use up’ day once a week.

You can always try using your freezer more to increase the shelf life of your shop. You can try this cheese hack if you're wondering whether you can freeze cheese, or even try freezing avocado or cooked pasta.

19. Buy a brand level lower

If you normally buy branded products, like Walkers, Kelloggs or Coca Cola, try buying supermarket own brands instead. If you already buy supermarket own brands, then try out the value or basics range to see if you can tell the difference. In many cases, you and your family won't notice the difference anywhere other than your bank account. To test the waters, try it with the following items:

•  Rice and pasta 
•  Over the counter medications, such as paracetamol or hay fever tablets 
•  Hand soap and shower gel 
•  Canned foods like beans and chopped tomatoes 
•  Cereals 
•  Nappies 
•  Baby wipes 
•  Washing up liquid 
•  Laundry detergent

Even if you end up going back to old favourites for some items, if you stick to the new brand level for certain products, you’ll save some money.

20. Don't leave appliances on standby

Many of us tend to think of an appliance on standby as being off. But when you look at it in terms of energy consumption, ‘standby’ and ‘off’ are two very different things. Some appliances can even use as much energy while on standby as they do when they are on, which means you could be wasting money unnecessarily.

Another way to reduce your energy use is to use a smart plug, which can be really useful for devices in kids bedrooms. A smart plug will allow you to control them from your smartphone, and turn them off remotely. As well as saving energy, this can also help you if you need to impose a cut off time for your kids using specific devices.

21. Do you really need to use a tumble dryer?

When you are doing family-sizes loads of washing, sometimes multiple times per week, your tumble dryer will feel like an essential. But tumble dryers are energy-guzzling appliances, so it makes sense to use this particular appliance less, where you can. If you’re looking for how to dry clothes without a dryer, you might choose to dry your clothes outside on dry days, or dry them on an airer or on radiators indoors. We've ranked the cheapest way to dry clothes to help. If you need to dry clothes quicker, it could be worth investing in a heated airer or a dehumidifier which both cost less to run than a tumble dryer.

22. Turn the thermostat down

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can save around £80 a year by turning your thermostat down by just one degree - and it’s likely you and your family won’t even notice a difference in your comfort levels. You could also look at how many hours a day you have the heating on, and see if you can reduce that number to help save money.

23. Bleed your radiators

Bleeding your radiators can help your heating system work more efficiently, improving how effectively your home is heated. This means you might be able to have your heating on less which can save you money. It’s an easy task to complete yourself. You just need a towel, a bowl to catch any drips and a radiator key.

24. Do you qualify for any council tax discounts?

Council tax is one of those priority bills that you must pay, however there’s still ways to save. Check what qualifies for council tax reduction and whether your circumstances mean you are eligible (if you're a single parent, definitely check out whether you could be receiving a 25 per cent discount on your bill. Even if you don't qualify for a discount, you can reduce how much council tax you pay each month by arranging to pay your annual fee in 12 monthly instalments rather than 10.

25. Save on train travel

If you’re after cheap train tickets, book in advance and see if you can save by split ticketing, where it can cost less to buy one or more tickets to cover a single journey on the same train. With rising pump prices – filling up the car is a luxury so you could save money taking the train instead of driving. Plus you’ll save on car parking too!

26. Buy second hand

Whether it’s clothes, homewares or toys and games - buying second hand is a brilliant way to spend less and save money. Local charity shops are a good choice, but you can also check out apps like Vinted, Depop and Preloved, as well as eBay and Facebook Marketplace. You can get in on the action and sell your unwanted items online too. Read our guides to how to sell clothes online and how to sell your old gadgets for clear tips to see you through the process.

27. Buy in bulk or extra value sizes

Buying extra value sizes (or buying in bulk) can be a great way to save money on household and food items, like toilet roll, surface cleaner, washing tabs, crisps and cereal. But it’ll only prove to be a bargain if you use up everything you buy. Avoid bulk buying a product you’ve never used before, even if it’s a good deal, because if you don’t like it, you're either lumbered with having to use up a product you hate, or you’ll end up buying an alternative.

28. Cut your childcare costs

Pay for child care while you work? See if you're eligible for 30 hours free childcare or claim some cash back from combination of Working Tax Credits, or the new tax-free childcare scheme that pays out up to £2,000 per child. Different options suit different people, but it’s worth wading through the Government website Childcare Choices to find what works for you.

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Almost half of parents have a secret savings account partners and families aren’t aware of, according to a new survey.

Saving money can be difficult, especially amid a cost of living crisis . For parents, primary school trips and school lunches and the multitude of other things children need, mount up quickly. With little money left over for themselves, it's unsurprising to learn that a quarter of Brits regularly hide purchases from their partners . Now, a new survey has found that almost half of parents (48%) have a secret savings account, too. 

The survey was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Building Societies Association (BSA) for UK Savings Week and 2,000 adults were interviewed. One of the main reasons parents have secret savings is to maintain some independence, but others are saving to surprise their family or partner in future, perhaps with a gift or holiday. 

Amelia Murray, the deputy editor at Be Clever With Your Cash, commented, “This research is a reminder that money is incredibly emotional, for individuals and couples, alike. There are lots of reasons why people may keep their savings a secret from their partner, and it’s not always a bad thing.”

According to the research, 40% of those with savings up to £100 had positive feelings about them, like optimism and a sense of achievement and pride, while the figure goes up to 68% for people with savings between £6,000 and £12,000. 

In contrast, those without savings said they have negative feelings when they think about it, like worry, anxiety, shame and guilt. Three-fifths (60%) of people without savings said they just didn’t have any spare money to save, while 23% said it’s because their savings goal is unachievable, and a further 22% said there’s always something they need to use their savings for before they have the chance to build up. 

However, 42% of those without any savings said they were confident they could start saving up by putting away at least £10 a month. 

Murray added, “It’s encouraging to see that so many non-savers feel they’re able to start a regular savings habit. There are no right or wrong ways to save, and it’s fine to be flexible. Sometimes life throws us some unexpected curveballs and we may need to adjust how much we set aside.”

In other money news, a new report lays bare the 'disproportionate impact' childcare has on a mother's career, and these labelling kids’ school uniforms hacks could save parents £2,000 a year. Not only that, but new parents can save 10% with COOK for 12 months. However, high demand for nannies is driving up costs, as impact of childcare shortages hits families. 

Juggling work and raising a family isn't easy, but there are ways to get extra support – as one expert explains. 

The modern world requires both parents to be in employment, which can become challenging when juggling young children. It’s not always easy, and the mental load can pile up while having to deal with the very unfair motherhood penalty. It’s no wonder things like the Five Hour Club are being set up for working parents. 

There are some ways that you can make your life easier as a working parent, and Catherine Oliver, the author of Working Parents-to-be, has explained some more about them to The Sun. 

What can new parents do?

If you’re about to become a parent for the first time soon, it’s worth exploring these five pay options from the government.

There are, of course, Statutory Maternity Pay and Statutory Paternity Pay, as well as Maternity Allowance for self-employed mums – though the amount you get will depend on factors including the National Insurance contributions you’ve made.

If you’re adopting, you could be eligible for Statutory Adoption Pay if you were employed for 26 weeks before the date you were matched with the child. 

And, there’s Statutory Shared Parental Pay, which can help couples who are taking Shared Parental Leave. You can share up to 50 weeks off, either at the same time (25 weeks maximum) or in separate blocks. Couples can share up to 37 weeks of government pay between them, and don’t forget to check if your employer offers enhanced pay on top of that. 

Keeping In Touch days, meanwhile, are optional, with up to 10 days paid, and are most often used near the end of your leave, to help you reconnect with bosses and colleagues. 

Oliver also explains that you can accrue annual leave while you’re on parental leave, too, but that it can only be used before or after your maternity leave. 

I'm returning to work

“Some employers run sessions to help make the return to your job easier,” says Oliver. “I’ve seen people gain more confidence from these, and feel equipped to deal with the challenges ahead.”

If your break from work has been longer, returning might feel daunting. So, keep an eye out for initiatives for people returning back to work – they’re like mini inductions. 

To make you feel better about going back to work, if you are nervous, anxious, or daunted, think about the skills you’ve developed through parenthood that can help you in the workplace. 

What about flexible working?

If you’re after a more flexible work week, there’s increasing pressure on employers to provide it. Employees can request a flexible working arrangement straight from the off, whereas you used to have to be employed for 26 weeks before doing so.

However, it’s best to have an informal chat with your manager and agree on an arrangement in principle before getting into contact with HR. Consider the problems that flexible working could bring, and any possible solutions. You could always ask for a trial if you can’t come to an agreement. 

How about nursery and school?

All employees are entitled to emergency time off when it comes to someone who depends on them for care – this is usually paid, particularly for one-off occasions, but it can be at your employer’s discretion. So, if your child needs a day or two off school for illness, you should be able to use emergency leave to look after them.

And while parents – most often mums – will frequently look for jobs that fit around their families, Oliver says, “Many couples find planning the week ahead and figuring out who can be flexible on which day if something goes wrong helps take off some of that ‘mental load’ – so you don’t always need to be the one to drop everything for your child.

And it’s a good idea to have a list of people you can call on if you need to – grandparents, for example, or your siblings. 

What should I know about unpaid leave?

You can take unpaid parental leave, which will give you up to 18 weeks off per child until they’re 18. However, you have to take it in whole-week blocks, and you’re only able to take up to four weeks per year.

In related news, working parents of children from 9 months old can apply for 15 hours free childcare, while new data highlights the main disparities when it comes to parents requesting flexible working. Last year, a report laid bare the 'disproportionate impact' childcare has on a mother's career, while this is how Labour’s general election win this summer will affect childcare, flexible working and family policy.

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has told a group of MPs that every child needs financial education lessons in schools. 

Financial education is important for children, and nobody is pushing for this more then Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis. Raising a teenager with good financial literacy is likely to stand them in good stead as they enter adulthood, and can help them if they want to make money themselves. While there's are plenty of important money lessons for parents to teach their kids, Martin Lewis wants it to be part of the school curriculum, too. 

Lewis recently addressed a group of MPs and peers in parliament to argue the case for financial education in schools, claiming that it’s needed “in EVERY school for EVERY child”. 

He explains in his speech that the goal had been to get financial education on the curriculum, but that the rise of academies and free schools that don’t have to follow the curriculum means that only a minority of schools legally have to follow it.

"They just have to look at the national curriculum and take the guidance, but they don't have to follow it,” he continues. “And when you have strained budgets in schools, anything that you cannot teach, you don't teach, which is why it is a postcode lottery. And with the exception of the few Young Money Centres of Excellence out there, we have a poverty of financial education in our schools right now.”

He describes the funding for financial education as having “disappeared”, when teachers need training to teach the subject. He looked back at a class he taught years ago, after which the 15-year-olds in the room went home and saved their parents £5,500. Meanwhile, the teacher in the room with them saved £2,000.

“This is real. It's practical. It changes lives,” Lewis adds. “One of those pupils had a single mother who was a cleaner who was in financial trouble. He happened to be in the top set at maths at the school. He went home. He took over the family budget and revolutionised their lives.”

He continues, “I think we all need to champion it, so every child in every school is educated. We live in one of the world's most competitive consumer economies, and we do not give our young people bias training. We do not give adults bias training, and we wonder why we have 880,000 people not claiming Pension Credit, the poorest in society, who aren't going to get their Winter Fuel Payments.

"We wonder why there's a car finance mis-selling campaign going at the moment where just by my own letters, 2.3 million people have been mis-sold by what's going on. Financial education is not about providing everybody with the answers. It's providing them with the knowledge and the experience to know what questions to ask.”

He explains that financial education in schools can improve the economy, as well as tackle the rise of adverts and influencers promoting cryptocurrency – what he describes as the majority of the financial education young people are getting at the moment. 

In other finance news, this child benefit rule change could see half a million parents boost their pension pots by £10,000s, while a report from last year lays bare the 'disproportionate impact' childcare has on a mother's career. Meanwhile, here’s how to get Disney+ for free and save up to £79.90 a year, and here are 14 surprising ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers - from restaurants and cinema passes to mini breaks and Disney+. 

If you're paying an annual or monthly fee, knowing the hidden benefits of your Amazon Prime membership is key to make sure you're getting the best value for money.

With more than 200 million Amazon Prime members worldwide, there are lots of ways you can save money while shopping with the online giant. But being a Prime member affords you and your family lots of other benefits that could save you money outside of shopping on Amazon's app or website.

If you’re not a Prime member, then you're in luck as you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. After the trial expires, membership will set you back £8.99 a month or you can buy an annual subscription for £95 a year (which is the cheapest option).

What are some of the main benefits of Amazon Prime? 

One of the most obvious and well-known benefits of Amazon Prime is the super fast and free delivery. Members can enjoy free one-day and same-day delivery in some areas, making it well worth the investment if you shop on Amazon a lot and need last-minute items and can’t get to the shops. If you’re not a member, you’re looking at forking out between £2.99 and £5.99 for orders under £20 (£10 for books), and deliveries tend to take between three to five days. For many Prime members, this benefit alone makes a membership worth it.

Prime members are also given exclusive access to annual sales events, like Amazon Prime Day, or Black Friday, which falls at the end of November. Make sure you read our guide on how to get the best deals on Amazon Prime Day so you shop wisely.

GoodtoKnow’s Money Editor Sarah Handley says: “For lots of families, Amazon is a really convenient option if you need to get stuff quickly, and delivered straight to your door. If you pay the monthly or annual subscription fee, then it's worth checking what other perks you're entitled to, as they're not always obvious or well publicised."

14 hidden benefits of Amazon Prime 

1. Downloading TV shows and films to watch offline

Amazon Prime members have access to Prime Video - a platform with 16,500+ movies and more than 1,960 TV shows, including exclusive Amazon Originals and Live Sports, some of which are free to subscribers and others are available to rent or buy.

You can stream them to watch on your computer, phone, or smart TV, as well as through devices such as Chromecast or a Fire TV stick. But what you might not realise is that you can also download movies and TV shows to watch online if you have a Fire tablet or the Prime Video app.

Not only is this a great way to keep the kids entertained on long car journeys, but it’s also useful if you want to watch your favourite series on holiday and avoid roaming charges. You can even enjoy other shows and films by buying third-party channel subscriptions such as Disney, Eurosport Player, and Hayu through Prime Video, as well as other streaming entertainment channels.

Holly Andrews, managing director at KIS Finance, told GoodtoKnow, “To compare it to other services, Netflix can cost anywhere from £4.99 and £17.99 a month depending on which plan you choose, and this is just for movies and TV shows. With Amazon Prime, you are getting this, plus all of their other benefits, for £8.99.”

2. Deliveroo Plus

If you love treating your family to a takeaway, then another brilliant hidden benefit of Amazon Prime is you get Deliveroo Plus free for a whole year. That means unlimited free delivery on orders over £25 from your favourite restaurants and takeaways.

For those not in the know, Deliveroo Plus is Deliveroo’s subscription plan where you pay a fee to get free delivery from participating restaurants. It normally costs £3.49 or £7.99 a month depending on which plan you choose.

“Deliveroo Plus is one of the less well-known benefits of Amazon Prime,” says Ben Faulkner, marketing director at EQ Investors. “Deliveroo normally charges a minimum of £3.49 a month for Deliveroo Plus, making this a saving of more than £40 a year.” To claim this perk, activate the offer on the Deliveroo website.

3. Discount Odeon cinema tickets

If you and the kids love a trip to watch a film on the big-screen, then make sure you know about the discounted cinema tickets you can get with your Prime membership.

Each month, Prime members get an exclusive code to use at Odeon cinemas across the country. The code will get you either two standard tickets for £10, or two recliner tickets for £15, which is a saving of up to £18 depending on whether you buy adult or child tickets. Head to amazon.co.uk/odeon for your code, copy it, then go to Odeon to book your tickets. You can only use one code per calendar month, but it's a handy way to cut the cost of a family trip to the movies, or an impromptu date night when you manage to get a babysitter.

4. Prime Gaming

Your Prime membership also gives you access to free games (some of which you can keep) and free in-game content. So if your kid's love gaming, then this might be a perk they'd enjoy. But as with any online activity, make sure you know how to keep your kids safe online, and the questions to ask if your child is online gaming.

And your Prime subscription comes with a free Twitch channel subscription every month. Twitch is a video-on-demand service owned by Amazon that focuses on video game live streaming. To use it, you’ll need to link your Amazon and Twitch accounts.

5. Prime Reading

Prime members can also access over a thousand ebooks, magazines and comics every month that you can read for free on any device with a Kindle app. You can keep up to ten digital books at a time and unlike a library, there are no due dates.

And if that’s not enough of a perk, you can borrow or buy the Audible narration of many of the ebooks so you can listen to them instead, which is a great option for busy mums who struggle to find the time to sit and read a book. Prime members get a 30-day free trial of the Audible app too (an audiobook and podcast streaming service), with two audiobooks for you to keep.

Plus, through Amazon First Reads, members can enjoy early access to choose one Kindle book release each month for free.

6. Amazon Music

Another benefit is Amazon Music which provides access to 100 million songs ad-free, the largest catalogue of ad-free podcasts and thousands of playlists and stations. “If you don’t listen to music too much then this could be a good money-saving option for you rather than paying for another service like Spotify,” says finance expert Holly Andrews.

“But if you do listen to music a lot then there is also Amazon Music Unlimited. This will set you back £8.99 a month on top of your Prime subscription and give you access to 100 million songs.” You can also listen ad-free with unlimited skips and download for offline listening with Amazon Music Unlimited.

7. Try before you buy

Order up to six items of clothing, shoes and accessories without paying first. You then have seven days to decide what you want to keep and what you want to return. You only pay for what you keep.

This is really handy if you struggle to wrangle the family and get them into a physical shop where they can try things on. Just make sure you return them within the timeframe to avoid being charged.

8. Amazon Fresh

As a Prime member, you will also benefit from Amazon Fresh, a food delivery service. Enjoy free delivery on orders over £40, otherwise, you pay £3.99.

You can use it to buy your whole supermarket shop, including fresh produce, household goods and specialist brands (minimum order spend £15). You can place your order and have it delivered on the same day in one to two hour delivery slots (depending on where you live and slot availability), either from Amazon Fresh or directly from a local Morrisons store.

9. Compatibility with Alexa

Another hidden benefit of Amazon Prime is that you can shop for millions of items using voice-controlled virtual assistant Alexa, reorder things you use the most, and learn about the latest deals on Amazon. Alexa can also notify you about deliveries.

GoodtoKnow's Money Editor Sarah Handley says: "I've added items to my basket using Alexa before, and on more than one occasion, it was actually cheaper than if I'd added it on the app."

10. Prime Photos

If you're always running out of photo storage then you’ll love this hidden perk. KIS Finance’s Holly explains: “Amazon offers Prime members unlimited full-resolution photo storage plus 5GB of video storage.

“If you’re already paying for storage, for example £7.99 a month for Dropbox Plus, then moving your photos over to Amazon means you can cut out another monthly expense and save money. And if you need more storage, then you can get an extra 100GB for videos for just £1.49 a month.”

Prime Photos also allows you to share images and videos with up to five family members using the Family Vault. You can see your files on any device, and download the Amazon Photos app to back up all your content on your computer.

11. Amazon Family

New parents will especially love this hidden benefit of Amazon Prime: simply create a profile for your child or children and enjoy up to 20% off nappy and baby food subscriptions, plus personalised product recommendations and exclusive deals.

But to qualify for this deal, you have to subscribe to at least five items, which means you will need to get regular scheduled deliveries for each one.

12. Lightning deals

As a Prime member you can also benefit from 30-minute early access to lightning deals on Amazon - these are a range of offers and discounts on items which change on a regular basis.

13. Subscribe & Save

For lots of products, Amazon offers a Subscribe and Save function, where you can schedule regular deliveries of your most used purchases, for a discounted price. You choose the frequency of the deliveries, and you'll get a heads up from Amazon before the items are sent to make sure you still want them.

GoodtoKnow's Deputy Editor Heidi Scrimgeour is a huge advocate of the Amazon subscriptions that eased her mental load.

14. Amazon Household

Unlike Netflix, which has been cracking down on password sharing, Amazon is actively encouraging it by letting its Prime members share their account with friends and family through Amazon Household. As long as they have your password, they can shop exclusive deals, get free delivery, watch Prime TV shows and movies, and play games.

How do you sign up to Amazon Prime? 

It’s really easy to sign up to Amazon Prime, but before doing that make sure you take advantage of the free 30-day trial first. If you realise you don’t use it enough to make it worth the investment, you can cancel your subscription when the month is up.

Without cancelling, you will automatically be charged £8.99 a month to enjoy all the Prime benefits. But the good news is, you can sign up for a free trial once every 12 months so if you want to save money with Amazon at Christmas, or take advantage of Prime Day deals, you can just do that instead.

If you’re a student you can also enjoy a cheaper Prime membership at just £4.49 a month, plus you can take advantage of a whopping six month free trial rather than 30 days.

“Given the huge number of different features and perks compared with other subscription services, Prime is definitely worth looking into if you want to save money and cut down on outgoings,” says Holly.

If you love Amazon Prime for the TV streaming, you might also want to know how to get Disney+ for free, or how to save money on TV streaming to keep monthly costs as low as possible.

If you shop at Tesco, and don't have a Clubcard, then you are missing out. When you shop with a Tesco Clubcard, you'll not only get exclusive pricing on hundreds of grocery products, but you'll also earn points which can be turned into vouchers that can help cut the cost of everything from your food shop to days out with the family.

While Tesco might not be the absolute cheapest supermarket, it does offer a really good reward scheme with its Clubcard. Even if you don't shop at Tesco, it's a really good idea to sign up to your supermarket's loyalty scheme to access a host of perks.

Clubcard vouchers are valid for two years from when they were issued, although there is a trick you can try if you are worried about your Tesco vouchers expiring soon.

If you're not sure what to do with your vouchers, we've found 14 family-friendly ways you can spend them.

1. Save money on your groceries with Clubcard vouchers

One of the simplest ways to use your Clubcard vouchers is to get money off your grocery shop, whether you are shopping in-store or online. Just save up your Clubcard vouchers and enter the code online or show them at the till when you checkout.

But remember, you get more value from your Clubcard vouchers if you choose to spend them with a Tesco Reward Partner rather than in-store or online at Tesco.

2. Use your Tesco vouchers to get money off F+F clothing, including back-to-school basics

Save some cash and put your Clubcard vouchers towards clothing or shoes for the kids - or for you - at F+F. Tesco’s clothing range is great quality and excellent value so it’s well worth saving up your Clubcard vouchers and putting them towards some items for next season’s wardrobe. And when the time comes for school uniform shopping, Clubcard vouchers come in especially handy.

3. Use your Clubcard to cut your fuel costs

You can use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to save money on fuel when you fill up at any Tesco filling station. You can also use the vouchers at any Esso petrol station with a Tesco Express on site. So if you have a £5 Clubcard voucher, you could use it to get a fiver off your fuel bill.

4. Get Disney+ for three months with just £12 of Clubcard vouchers

Did you know you can exchange your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a Disney + subscription? And because Clubcard vouchers are worth two times more when you spend them with a Reward Partner instead of at Tesco, a Clubcard voucher worth £12 is actually worth £24 when you spent it with Disney+.

If you pay monthly, Disney+ costs £7.99 a month, so with just £12 worth of Clubcard vouchers, you can get three months of Disney+, worth £24. (There are other ways you can get Disney+ for free if you've not got enough vouchers.)

5. Pay less for an English Heritage membership with Clubcard vouchers

An English Heritage membership grants you unlimited access to more than 400 historic places - as well as free or reduced entry to seasonal events. And for every £1.50 you have in Clubcard vouchers, you can claim £3 off the cost of an English Heritage membership.

Individual Adult Membership costs £69 and includes free entry for up to six accompanying children under 18 within the family group. Visit the English Heritage Membership website for more information on using your Clubcard vouchers in this way.

6. Use your Clubcard vouchers to book a mini-break

Everyone loves a mini-break but hotels can be expensive. So why not save your Clubcard vouchers and put them towards a fun-filled family getaway? If you save up to £30 in Clubcard vouchers, you can exchange them for £60 off a booking with Cottages.com.

You can also get double the value of your Clubcard points when you trade them for a booking with selected hotels, including Best Western, Novotel, Mercure and Warner Leisure, where every £5 you collect in Clubcard vouchers counts as £10 off your booking. If you want to head across the Channel, you can also use vouchers to save on LeShuttle crossings. Heading to the airport, you can also use your vouchers to save on airport parking with APH. Check out the Clubcard website to find out more.

7. Get RAC breakdown cover using Tesco vouchers

Why not use your Clubcard points to save some money on something pricey but practical? The RAC offers breakdown cover for Tesco Clubcard members and you’ll get twice the value of your vouchers off the cost of breakdown cover. You can choose from three levels of cover - Standard, Advanced or Ultimate - and each includes roadside rescue wherever you break down.

If you don’t have enough vouchers to cover the full cost of the cover you wish to buy, you can top up using a debit or credit card. Returning Clubcard customers get the same prices as new Tesco Clubcard members, too.

8. Take the family to a theme park using your Clubcard vouchers

From Alton Towers to the Eden Project, you can exchange your Clubcard vouchers for Reward Partner codes to get money off adult and child general admission tickets for a range of fun family days out and experience days.

Participating theme parks include Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, LEGOLAND Windsor, and Drayton Manor. You can also use Clubcard vouchers for a wide range of days out. Fancy checking out the view from The Shard, taking a London Open Top Bus Tour, or visiting the London Eye? Or how about a trip to London Zoo or a day out at Madame Tussauds in London or Blackpool?

There are so many trips and experience days on offer - you're spoiled for choice.

9. Use Tesco vouchers to save at Cineworld or Picturehouse cinemas

Your Clubcard vouchers are worth two times more than their value when you use them to pay in part or in full at Cineworld or Picturehouse cinemas. So for every 50p you earn in vouchers, you’ll get £1 off at these venues. You can also use your vouchers to purchase snacks or refreshments as well as cinema tickets.

Make sure you check out these other ways to bag cheap cinema tickets to keep the cost of your trip as low as possible.

10. Take the family out to eat for less with your Tesco vouchers

Give yourself the night off and use your Clubcard vouchers to take the family out for tea. For every 50p you earn in vouchers, you'll have £1 to use at the following restaurants:

• Pizza Express
• Bella Italia
• Cafe Rouge
• Prezzo
• Zizzi
• ASK Italian
• Hungry Horse pubs
• Chef & Brewer

11. Save money on train travel and Virgin flights with your Clubcard vouchers

If you're planning a day out for your family, or even a short trip abroad, you can bag some great discounts if you have a Clubcard. But before you book, factor in that you can use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to get money off flights and transport - including Eurotunnel and Railcard tickets.

With Virgin Atlantic, for example, you can turn every Clubcard point into 2 Virgin Points. That means £1.50 in Clubcard vouchers will bag you 300 Virgin Points. You need to be a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club member to participate, but it's quick and easy to create an account.

12. Use your Tesco vouchers to reduce your mobile phone bill

If you’re a Tesco Mobile customer, you can use your Clubcard vouchers to cut the cost of your monthly phone bill. Or you could use your vouchers to knock money off the upfront cost of a new pay monthly phone or SIM contract.

In addition, if you link your Tesco Mobile phone to your Clubcard you’ll earn a Clubcard point for every pound you spend on your phone bill.

It’s easy to convert your Clubcard vouchers into Tesco Mobile partner vouchers - you can do it in the Clubcard app or on the website.

13. Buy something for a special occasion using your Clubcard vouchers

Whether it's for a birthday present or a special life event like a wedding, jewellery is a luxury that often comes with a hefty price tag. But there's no shame in boosting your value for money by putting your Clubcard vouchers towards your purchase. You can exchange your vouchers for twice their value on lots of brands (some exclusions apply) in one of 100 Goldsmiths jewellers in the UK. However, you'll need to shop in person as you can't exchange the vouchers online.

14. Use your Tesco vouchers to donate to a good cause

You can also use your Clubcard vouchers to donate to a selection of charities including The British Heart Foundation, WWF, British Red Cross, Diabetes UK and Cancer Research UK. Simply sign into the Clubcard website to use your vouchers to make a donation.

How to collect Clubcard points

When you collect Clubcard points (by shopping in-store or online), you'll earn one point for every pound you spend, and once you've earned 150 points, you'll get a Clubcard voucher worth £1.50. You can save your vouchers up and use them to get money off your food shop or exchange them for twice their value on other goods or experiences through Tesco Reward Partners. Vouchers used to be worth triple their value when spent with reward partners, but the rules changed in 2023.

Finally, if you've just remembered that you're a Clubcard member but don't know what you've done with your vouchers, remember that you can reclaim up to two years' worth of lost Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Young people today are honing their entrepreneurial skills and finding work online, a marked difference from the jobs teenagers had in the past.

Getting a job is a rite of passage for many young people. While it’s good to prepare our kids for their future careers – all part of how to raise happy kids – and be aware of what teenagers view as the most important job, we all have to start somewhere when we enter the world of work.

But whereas we might have started by delivering newspapers, babysitting or dog walking, many of today’s kids are making their money selling things online or even ‘influencing’ – a far cry from what we might consider as more ‘traditional’ first jobs. 

According to new research for Starling Bank, almost four in 10 children (38%) have a ‘side hustle’, including a third of children (33%) aged six to nine. Meanwhile, 61% of parents say their kids will negotiate how much they’re paid for doing specific tasks, with a pay rise of 34% being the average. Starling Bank’s family finance expert Rachel Kerrone says, “Children seem to be smarter than ever with money.”

Some of the most popular ways for children to earn extra money are those we all recognise: looking after siblings, washing the car, helping out in the garden and walking the dog are all still common. 

However, kids are about three times more likely to sell items online than they are to have a traditional paper round. Only around 4% of kids have a paper round, while 12% sell things online. And just as many (6%) earn money for completing online surveys as they do for babysitting. 3%, meanwhile, aspire to earn money from being an influencer.

The money soon adds up, too, with children earning around £474 a year on average from side hustles – not a sum to be sniffed at when it comes to buying the latest must-have trainers or video game. 

Mum-of-two Lucy, says "My child said he wanted to make some extra money, and he'd seen me selling things on Vinted. He asked if he could do the same and I agreed. I had the app on my phone and responded to all queries, but he was responsible for sorting through his possessions to find things to sell, taking photos of them to upload, and writing descriptions. We have a parcel drop-off just over the road, so he also took all the parcels over once he sold things. 

He really enjoyed the process and seeing the amount of money he made slowly build up. He was specifically saving for something, and not only was he delighted when he reached his money target, it was a good opportunity to teach him that getting the things you need takes work, and also how building a side hustle needs time and effort."    

In other money news, Tooth Fairy tax is a thing, and it's doubled within a generation, while here’s how to make money as a teenager. Also, how much pocket money should you give? £8.35 is the going rate according to new data.

Knowing how to get Disney+ for free is a pretty nifty trick, especially when you realise that the streaming giant is no longer offering free trials to new customers.

TV streaming has become a regular outgoing for thousands of families, but the cost of living crisis means many people will be looking for ways to cut the cost of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. However, as well as reducing the cost, you might be able to get Disney+ and other streaming services for free. This might be especially useful, now that the streamer is cracking down on password sharing.

Disney+ launched in the UK on 24 March 2020, just as the country went into lockdown and saw 73.7 million subscribers in its first year alone. By April 2023, that number has risen to 157.8 million, although it has since fallen back to about 150 million worldwide.

Housing Disney classics, like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, as well as newer family-favourites like Encanto, Wish and Moana, Disney+ is also home to all the Marvel movies, like Iron Man, Thor and Black Panther, in addition to popular series for adults including The Bear and Only Murders in the Building.

With more than six million households signed up to more than one streaming service (according to Finder) telly-watching can be an expensive pastime. Here we look at how you can save by taking advantage of free subscription offers.

How to get Disney+ for free

While Disney+ no longer offers a free trial to customers in the UK, there are a few clever ways to get anything from two to 12 months of Disney+ for free. If you already have Disney+, you may have to cancel your subscription before taking advantage of the three, six and 12 month free offers mentioned in this article.

Personal finance expert Andrew Hagger from money website MoneyComms adds: “There are so many streaming services to choose from now, you can easily lose track of just how much you're paying out each month in total.

“With many people still struggling due to the cost of living crisis and higher bills, now may be a good time to review what you're paying for and how much you use each one – if you don't want to ditch any, consider downgrading to a plan with ads – it may be a bit more annoying, but it will certainly benefit your bank balance.”

How to get up to two months Disney+ for free

Pay the annual subscription fee: You can get two months of Disney+ for free simply by opting for an annual subscription instead of a monthly one.

A Standard subscription costs £7.99 per month (and means you will pay £95.88 over the course of a year). But if you pay up front in one go, it costs £79.90. This is the equivalent of only paying your subscription for 10 months of the year, meaning you get two months for free.

Disney+'s newer Premium subscription costs £10.99 a month, which adds up to £131.88 a year. But if you pay for a year up front it costs £109.90, which, again, is the equivalent of two months free.

Use a cashback site: Paying for your Disney+ subscription through cashback site TopCashback means you'll get up to £11.55 back, which can help to reduce the cost of your subscription. The amount you get back will depend on which subscription package you choose and whether you opt to pay the annual fee in one go or pay it monthly. All of the details can be found on the TopCashback website.

It's worth remembering that you can use the cashback site for loads of retailers to effectively save money everytime you shop online.

How to get three months Disney+ for free

Use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers: If you have a Tesco Clubcard, you can use your vouchers to get a three-month Disney+ subscription. Remember, you get two times the value of your vouchers when you spend with one of Tesco's Reward Partners, which includes Disney+.

There are two options:

• Use £7.50 of Clubcard vouchers to get three months of Disney+ Standard with ads (worth £14.97)
• Use £12 of Clubcard vouchers to get three months of Disney+ Standard (worth £23.97)

If you don't fancy Disney+, there are plenty of other ways to spend your Tesco Clubcard vouchers, on things like cinema tickets, holidays, and days out.

How to get four months free Disney+

Opt for a plan that includes ads: Disney+ offers a selection of subscription plans, including one where you'll get all the same programmes and films, with some ads in between.

If you go from an annual subscription for £79.90 to a standard (with ads) subscription for £4.99 per month (which works out as £59.88 over 12 months) - you'll save £20.02, which is the equivalent of getting four months of the standard with ads plan for free.

How to get six months free Disney+

Add it to your O2 account: If you are an O2 customer, you could get six months of Disney+ for free when you upgrade. You simply add it to your account as an extra when you upgrade to a new handset or SIM-only deal, and once the six months are over, you can continue to pay the £7.99 monthly fee with the rest of your mobile bill.

All is not lost if you don't want to upgrade. Existing customers can add the Disney+ Extra to their account and pay £7.99 a month for the Disney+ Premium plan (normally £10.99) and O2 will also give you £2 off your bill.

This deal isn't limited to six months like the free offer, and over the course of a year, works out to about £14 cheaper than paying the annual subscription fee as the table below shows:

Samsung used to offer six of 12 months free Disney+ access to customers with an eligible device , but that offer is no longer available, having ended on 31 March 2024.

How to get 12 months free Disney+

As a benefit to a Club Lloyds bank account: If you bank with Lloyds and are a Club Lloyds member, you get a choice of lifestyle benefits, which includes a 12 month-subscription to Disney+. If you opt for this perk, you'll get a year's worth of the standard-with-ads plan, which is worth £4.99 per month, or £59.88 a year. The Lloyds website states that right now, you're not able to upgrade to ad-free plans with this perk, so bear that in mind before you commit.

As a perk of Uber One membership: If you regular travel by Uber and order food via Uber Eats, then you may benefit from becoming an Uber One member (£5.99 per month). You'll get a host of perks including free delivery (where eligible) and exclusive discounts. But if you sign up for an annual Uber One membership (£59.99 per year), then you'll get 12 months of Disney+ (standard plan, worth £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year) for free. After that, it will auto-renew unless you cancel it. This promotion is available until 30 November 2024. If you cancel your Uber One subscription, you may also lose your Disney+ access.

How much does Disney+ normally cost?

How much Disney+ costs depends on which subscription type you pick. The streaming service introduced a new pricing strategy on 1 November 2023. Up until this date it offered just one subscription at £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year if you paid in one go. Its cheapest price is now a £4.99 a month deal if you’re happy to watch adverts.

Disney+ has three subscription options:

• Standard with Ads: £4.99 per month (no annual option). Allows for two concurrent streams; full HD 1080p resolution, 5.1 and Stereo sound. No download functionality.
• Disney+ Standard: £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year. Allows for two concurrent streams; full HD 1080p resolution, and 5.1 and Stereo sound. Download functionality and no adverts.
• Disney+ Premium: £10.99 per month or £109.90 per year. Allows for four concurrent streams; 4K UHD and HDR, and superior Dolby Atmos audio. Download functionality and no adverts.

Existing subscribers were automatically switched to the £10.99 a month option – an increase of £3 a month – unless they actively changed their subscription in their account settings.

 Does Disney+ offer a free trial? 

Disney+ no longer offers a free trial to new customers. When the streaming service first launched in the UK in March 2020, it came with a seven-day free trial to encourage new subscribers. But the freebie was only available for a few months – it was scrapped in June 2020 ahead of the Hamilton and Frozen 2 premieres.

Newer streaming services like Apple TV+ and Paramount+ offer short free trials for new customers, but out of the bigger streaming services like Disney+, Netflix and Amazon Prime, it's only Amazon Prime that still offers a free trial.

Is Disney+ free with with Amazon Prime?

Disney+ isn't free as part of your Amazon Prime subscription - it's a separate streaming service. However, you might find some shows or movies are available on both platforms, although you might have to pay for it. For example, Marvel movies are available for free as part of a Disney+ subscription, but you will need to pay extra (on top of your Amazon Prime subscription fee) to be able to watch them through Prime Video.

It's worth also understanding the hidden benefits of a Prime membership, if you are trying to decide which streaming service to choose.

Which streaming services offer free trials?

Out of the big hitter streaming services, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, it's only Amazon Prime that offers a free trial. That trial lasts 30 days.

Max Beckett, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Unfortunately, two of the biggest streaming services, Netflix and Disney+, no longer offer free trials to new customers. However, there are still lots of other big streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, NOW TV, and BritBox, that offer the chance to try before you buy.

“You may have signed up for more streaming services than you realise, with many running in the background and costing you money each month without you actually watching anything on those platforms. So it’s a good idea to set reminders in your calendar when you sign up for free trials if you decide that you don’t want to pay for the full subscription.”

Apple TV+ and Paramount+ both offer seven day free trials. Don't forget too, that if you buy an Apple product, like an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, you will get anything from three to 12 months free Apple TV+ access.

If you are a fan of Netflix, make sure you are aware of the streamer's ban on password sharing to avoid falling fowl of new rules.

Childcare costs can add up, but this HMRC code could give you between £2,000 and £4,000 each year to help out.

For many parents, childcare is one of the largest expenditures. This is particularly true this time of year, with holiday childcare costs up 6%, while a whopping 85% of parents say that childcare costs are preventing them from having more kids. Half of parents are ‘trapped’ into living near grandparents due to childcare costs, too – it can be a real struggle.

A code issued by HMRC (more information on UK.GOV here) could give you between £2,000 and £4,000 each year for some extra assistance, however, but you must apply this week. The Tax-Free Childcare scheme gives parents payments ranging between £500 and £1,000 every three months. 

It gives parents a potentially significant contribution towards care from nannies, nurseries, after-school clubs and play schemes. To claim the money, you simply need to set up a Tax-Free Childcare account by Saturday, August 31.

HMRC will send you a code to give to your childcare provider, who can then claim the money. Often, nurseries will incorporate the money into their fees, so a nursery costing £100 a day will then cost you £80 a day instead, for example.

To qualify for the code for this coming school term, you must be working and have a child over the age of nine months and under 11 by August 31. You must be earning at least £2,379 over the next three months if you’re over 21, equivalent to the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours per week. 

If you aren’t working but claim a benefit like Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, you may also be eligible. 

If your child is disabled, the money is doubled to £4,000, and you may get this until they’re 16, if eligible for benefits including Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment. 

In other money news, this child benefit rule change could see half a million parents boost their pension pots by £10,000s, and here are seven ways to save on back to school essentials, as it’s revealed parents will spend £2.3 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, these labelling kids’ school uniforms hacks could save parents £2,000 a year.

If you're feeling strapped for cash as the summer holidays near the end, then this kids eat free offer at Pizza Hut could be music to your ears.

Finding things to do with kids can be a challenge at the best of times, but when you're trying to keep them occupied for weeks on end, it can really eat into your family budget. To help make ends meet, fortunately there are loads of places where kids eat free this summer.

If you and your family are partial to pizza, then make sure you check out this budget friendly Pizza Hut offer that will give you something fun to do as a family without breaking the bank, while also giving you a bit of a break in the kitchen.

How to get the free kids' buffet at Pizza Hut

Available every day until 3pm, you can get a free kids' buffet at Pizza Hut (usually £7.99) when you spend £10 on other food. The buffet includes various pizza, pasta and salads so there are plenty of possible combinations to suit even the most fussy eaters.

Want to really supercharge your meal as a last hurrah before the new school year? For just £2 extra, you can level up the free kids' buffet to include a bottomless soft drink and unlimited ice cream.

To claim the offer, you must be dining in and ordering on your mobile - you can scan the QR code on the tables. When you get to the checkout, you need to enter the code SUMMERKEF. The offer ends on 8 September 2024, so there's still plenty of time to take advantage of the deal. You can only use this code once per order, and it can't be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts. It's worth checking that the deal is on at your local restaurant as there are a few locations that are excluded: Hanover St, North Bridge, Leicester Square, Marble Arch, Piccadilly, Russell Square, Strand, Trafford Centre.

Want more ideas for activities to tackle before the end of the school holidays? Read this mum's Legoland Discovery Centre review, or try a trip to the new Legoland Woodland Village.

Parents of 16 year olds, whose teen plans on staying in full time education, are warned they could lose a particular benefit if they don't let HMRC know of their child's plans.

Child benefit is designed to help parents with the cost of raising their children, offering eligible parents £1,331 per year to put towards the costs, more for those parents with more than one child. However, while child benefit went up in 2024, some parents could see their child benefit payments reduced, or stopped altogether in the coming weeks.

This is down to the rule that child benefit payments stop on 31 August on or after your child's 16th birthday if they leave education or training. But if they plan on staying in education, you'll need to let the government know so you can still receive your child benefit payments. If you don't then you could find you receive less than normal (if you receive payments for more than one child), or see your payments stop altogether.

If your teen is 16, or turning 16 before or on 31 August 2024, you should have received a letter from HMRC asking you to confirm your child's education plans. If they stay in approved education or training, then you will continue to receive your child benefit payments until they leave. Approved education counts as:

• A levels or similar
• T levels
• Scottish Highers
• NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3. Intermediate and advanced apprenticeships are excluded
• home education (if it started either before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have special educational needs and disabilities)
• traineeships in England.

If you haven't yet told HMRC about your 16 year old's plans to stay in approved education, then you can do it online, and it's important to do it before the 31 August deadline to avoid any hassle with your child benefit payments. However, if you do miss the deadline, which is all too easy in the madness of exam season and school holidays, all is not lost. You can still tell HMRC that your teen is remaining in education after 31 August, but you might see a delay in your payments.

If your teen doesn't turn 16 until 1 September 2024 or after, you don't need to worry, you will continue getting your child benefit payments, and your deadline to tell HMRC about their education plans for the future won't be until 31 August 2025.

It's also worth knowing that you can't get child benefit if your child studies an advanced course, like a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate, or if they enrol on a course that is paid for by an employer. When your child leaves approved education or training, payments will stop at the end of February, May, August or November (whichever comes first).

If your teen no longer meets the criteria for you to get child benefit, you don't need to do anything. Your payments will automatically stop on 31 August.

If you are eligible but don't claim child benefit, it could have serious repercussions for your future finances. It's also worth knowing on which day child benefit will be paid around the upcoming bank holiday.

Back to school shopping ramps up 18 days before the new academic year starts, says new research. But parents might want to hold off on buying these specific items until the last minute, according to this retailer. Here's why.

Getting back to school supplies is something of a summer holiday ritual, and this year parents are set to spend £2.3billion on these essentials. Now a study from Sports Direct has revealed that outer jackets and coats are the first purchases that parents make, almost three weeks out from the first day of school, followed by school uniforms, PE kits and school backpacks.

The data also shows that parents wait the longest to buy school shoes and PE trainers, as well as socks and tights, typically picking up these items just over two weeks before the new school year starts. For many families, this leaves time for the required back to school preparations, including trying everything on, adding labels and getting it washed in advance of the big day. These preparations take an average of 10 hours, according to Sports Direct's research, but for more than one in five families (21 per cent), these preparatory activities will take between 13 and 24 hours.

However, buying things like school shoes and PE trainers too soon could mean you have to pay more in the long run. School shoes are one of the most often replaced bits of school uniform. According to the Sports Direct survey, school shoes are some of the most cleaned, repaired and replaced bits of school uniform. After all, they are subject to prolonged wear and tear, and there is little if any adaptability should your child outgrow them. So you might want these to be one of the last things you buy, to maximise how long they will last. Lacey Roebuck, Commercial Manager at Sports Direct, says: “Whilst our research has shown that parents shop for school uniform on average 18-16 days prior to the start of term, if you want your items to get their wear, we would advise leaving it later, as close to their first day as possible, especially if your children are still young.

“By purchasing items in the days leading up, such as school shoes, you ensure a better fit that will last longer throughout the year, avoiding the need for early replacements due to growth spurts.”

On the other hand, GoodtoKnow's Deputy Editor and parenting expert Heidi Scrimgeour argues that leaving it too late to buy school shoes could cause a problem too: "If you've left it until now to buy school shoes, my advice is to snap up your new kicks as quickly as possible for two reasons. Firstly, you want to give your kids plenty of time to break in their new shoes at home rather than buying them at the last minute and then risking blisters on the first day back. And secondly, there's often very limited stock left if you leave it too late in August to do your school shoe shopping."

Sometimes thought, when you buy the back to school essentials may depend on when your family budget allows. While The Schoolwear Association found that the average cost for compulsory school uniform for a child starting secondary school in England is £92.35, Sports Direct's data shows that parents anticipate spending closer to £155.95 per child on average. While you can keep costs low by buying cheaper basics, there is a chance that this could prove a false economy as they may not withstand the wear and tear that comes along with school life. However there are some ways to keep costs under control without compromising on quality:

• Label everything
• Buy a size bigger where you can
• Try fusible interfacing on the inside of knees, elbows and hems
• Use a fabric protector on shoes, bags and clothes
• Consider buying second hand where you can - check out websites like oldschooluniform.co.uk or uniformerly.co.uk.
  
  

For more back to school tips and insight, we spoke to a psychotherapist who shared their advice for tackling back to school anxiety, and reveal the things parents most look forward to when the kids are back at school.

Parents will spend £452.40 per child on back to school supplies, totalling £2.3 billion, according to new research. But while this number seems huge, there are ways you can keep the costs manageable as your kiddos return to school for the new academic year.

Mums and Dads who are wondering how long the summer holiday is are also likely to be preparing themselves for buying back to school supplies too. But with holiday childcare costs six per cent higher, it's no surprise that the back to school shopping bill might bring parents out in a cold sweat.

In fact, according to new research by retail marketing consultancy Gekko, back-to-school spending, including uniform, stationery and technology (like laptops and tablets), will set parents back an average of £452.40. Average spend will depend on the age of your child, with parents expected to spend roughly:

• £490.80 per primary school child
• £422.90 for secondary school kids
• £390.20 for college or sixth-form students.

The research goes on to say that 61 per cent of parents are worried about the cost of the items they need to buy ahead of the new school year, and that a third (33 per cent) of parents will draw on savings to cover the cost, while 29 per cent will use a credit card and nine per cent will borrow money from family to foot the bill. The data also found that 23 per cent of parents will need to buy a laptop or tablet for their child to have access to at home, spending an average of £511.40.

When it comes to buying tech like this, the research found that only 12 per cent of schools had suggested specific products for parents to buy, but that a whopping 46 per cent of parents were left completely at sea without any product suggestions or specifications to look out for.

Seven out of 10 parents (70 per cent) find it challenging to balance what their children need with what they want, with 25 per cent wanting to buy the latest tech for their kids, and 21 per cent concerned about the impact on their child if they choose entry level tech.

However, when it comes to buying tech for your child to use, there are ways you can keep the cost as low as possible:

1. Buy refurbished tech - websites like CeX, Dell Refurbished and Amazon Renewed, sell refurbished laptops, which can help you to keep costs under control. But it’s important to check that the tech comes with a decent warranty before buying.
2. Check out Amazon Warehouse - Amazon Warehouse is a part of the online giant's website where you can buy items that have previously been returned to Amazon. You get a clear indication of the quality of the item before you buy, so it's definitely worth a look if you are wanting to save some money on pricier items.
3. Use a cashback site - While you might have to pay full price for whatever tech you are buying, going through a cashback site, like TopCashback or Quidco, can help you earn some cashback to put back towards your family budget.

Other money-saving methods to remember when it comes to back to school shopping include:

1. Buying second hand where you can - check out websites like oldschooluniform.co.uk or uniformerly.co.uk to save on school uniforms
2. Use supermarkets for non-badged items - supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Aldi tend to offer non-branded school uniform basics for a great price
3. Look out for sales - M&S school uniform sale is now on, and could help you kit out your child for a fraction of the price, to help you cover the cost of more expensive school supplies elsewhere
4. Label everything - seasoned parents likely do this as standard, but for those who's kids are about to start school, make sure you stick your child's name on everything. That way if they misplace it, the items can hopefully be returned to you so you don't have to repurchase.

In other back to school news, we take a look at back to school traditions and reveal what parents are most looking forward to when their kids return to the classroom.

With the August 26th bank holiday fast approaching, you might be wondering what day your child benefit will be paid on. This is all you need to know about when you'll receive the money.

Child benefit is crucial for many families, offering up to £1,331 a year to help with the cost of raising your child. If you have more kids, you could be entitled to even more. With average childcare costs on the rise, it's never been more important for parents to take advantage of the financial support they are entitled to., from child benefit to the tax-free childcare allowance.

But with child benefit usually paid on a Monday or Tuesday, your payments can be thrown off the usual schedule by a bank holiday. This can be really stressful if you are expecting a payment on a specific date and it doesn't arrive. But the good news is that you may actually get your payment earlier than expected.

What day is child benefit paid?

Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday. If you are a single parent, or you or your partner receive certain other benefits like Income Support, you may get your child benefit payment weekly instead.

You can usually work out when you will get your payment by counting four weeks from the last instalment. However, this doesn't work when your payment date looks like it will fall on a bank holiday, as the government will change the payment dates.

Money expert Andy Wood says: "Bank holidays often disrupt the regular schedule of benefit payments, which can be concerning for those who rely on this income. With the August bank holiday falling on a Monday, payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are being moved to the previous working day to ensure that recipients still receive their funds on time. This adjustment helps prevent any financial strain that could arise from delayed payments."

"Changes in payment schedules, such as those occurring due to the August bank holiday, are significant for vulnerable populations... An early payment ensures that these individuals, many of whom live on tight budgets, can maintain their financial stability without interruption."

When is the bank holiday child benefit payment being moved to?

Any child benefit payments that would normally be due on Monday 26 August, will actually be paid on Friday 23 August instead. This applies to other benefits too, including universal credit.

And looking back at previous bank holidays in 2024, the benefits have all been due to arrive earlier, rather than later, which can help families plan their budgets better. For example, the payment due on 1 April was made on 28 March, and the one due on 27 May was paid on 24 May.

You might have seen news coverage earlier in the summer about child benefit payments being delayed. This delay impacted around 577,000 families, and caused worry and even faced charges for going into their overdraft or having a failed direct debit payment as a direct result of the delay. However, this wasn't down to a bank holiday, it was due to a 'processing error', which is unlikely to be a regular occurrence.

Want more? We explain how not claiming child benefit can impact your future finances, why your child benefit might have gone down, and how child benefit might be made fairer.

Eight out of ten parents are set to fork out more than £300 on exam result treats for their teens, according to new research.

Whether you are celebrating good grades or helping your child cope with exam result disappointment, you're not alone if you want to treat your teen for making it through their exams. While some parents offer to pay for exam results to help incentivise their teens, others are set to spend hundreds on clothing, tech and days or meals out to celebrate exam results. (If you're planning a meal out, make sure you check out the places offering freebies to students on results day).

Research from retail marketing consultancy Gekko shows that 84 per cent of parents are preparing to make good on incentives they promised their kids ahead of them taking their exams. More than half (58 per cent) say that they would buy a gift or treat for their child regardless of their results, while 36 per cent say they would spend more if their child's results were particularly good. According to the data, GCSE students will receive an average of £309.30 worth of treats, while parents will spend an average of £301.60 on sixth form or college students in the wake of A Level results day.

While more than eight of 10 parents (87 per cent) feel that it's important to celebrate when your children have worked hard, more than a third feel that there is no need to buy gifts to celebrate exam success. However, in a world where comparison culture is rife, almost half (47 per cent) admit they feel pressure to compete with other parents on rewarding their kids in a similar way. As a result, almost half (46 per cent) say that they will struggle to afford to buy exam result gifts.

Daniel Todaro, CEO at Gekko Group, says: “Children have put a lot of time and effort into their exams, and parents are keen to celebrate their success, but there is a lot of pressure at a time when many families are already struggling... ultimately rewards do not have to cost the earth. Parents should spend only what they can afford and don’t get swept up in this new exam gift phenomenon.”

Mum-of-two Claire told us that she's offering a cash incentive to her son this year for good grades, but that the hard work will be celebrated regardless of the results: "My eldest has just taken his A-levels and my youngest has just done his GCSEs. When my eldest did his GCSEs, we offered a cash incentive for particular grades, and we're continuing that with A-levels too. But regardless of how much we end up paying out, we will have a special family meal to celebrate the achievement of making it through the exam period and to show that hard work in general should be rewarded, and not only good grades.

"I feel a bit more pressure this year to match what other parents are doing, especially after I heard another parent talking about buying their child a car for results day. But it helps that we've already set a precedent with our eldest, and we'll follow the same rules with our youngest."

If your teen doesn't get the grades they are hoping for, it's worth knowing how to appeal A-level results, as well as what's involved when it comes to A-level or GCSE retakes. If your teen has just taken their GCSEs, then your mind might also be turning to what the AS and A-levels have in store.

We reveal places your teen can get free stuff when they pick up their exam results.

With exam results due, you might want to surprise your teen to a treat to celebrate good results, or to reward the hard work they put in, even if it didn't pay off in the way they hoped. But with the school holidays in full swing, and costing parents upwards of £3,000 per child, your family budget might be stretched thin. Fortunately, these places are offering freebies to families over results days to allow you to celebrate or commiserate without breaking the bank.

Once you've done all you can to prepare - from digesting all the guidance in our parent's guide to A-level results and checking when A-level results day was and when GCSE results come out, it's time to take a break from the stress and enjoy some results day freebies.

8 place teens can get a freebie on exam results day

1. Get 30% off at Bella Italia - Save 30 per cent on a meal for your teen and up to five guests, when they show their exam results to the server. Offer is valid on A Level and GSCE results day only.
2. Get a free dessert at Bill's - Flash your exam results when you buy a meal at your local Bill's restaurant and you'll get dessert on the house.
3. Get free nachos at Chiquito - Show your exam results to get a free portion of Loaded Nachos (either Chicken and Chorizo or Pibil Pulled Jackfruit) when you buy a soft drink. There are only 50 portions available at each restaurant so you may need to be quick.
4. Bag one of 50 free pizzas at Frankie and Benny's - Get your teen to get their results slip to their local Frankie and Benny's to claim either a free pepperoni or margherita pizza when you buy a large soft drink. Offer only available while stocks last.
5. Bag a freebie with Nando's Results Day Dash - on both A Level and GCSE results day, Nando's if offering students a free 1/4 chicken or starter when they spend £7 in the restaurant. They'll need to take their student card and their results (either on email or a print out) to claim the offer. The freebie also applies to results days for equivalent exams including Highers and National 5s.
6. Get 24% off at TGI Friday’s - Existing and new members of the restaurant's loyalty scheme Stripe who show their 2024 exam results can get 24 per cent off their food bill on results day. T&Cs apply.
7. Free grub at Wildwood - On both A Level and GCSE results day, students can take their pick from a free garlic rosemary bread, classic margherita, or spaghetti pomodoro with a minimum spend of £7 per person. You'll need to take your results slip with you and proof of age.
8. Save on a takeaway - if you don't fancy heading out, there are savings to be had when ordering in. Get 30 per cent off when you spend over £25 online with this Domino's promo code or save £12 on first orders over £20 by entering this Deliveroo promo code.

Even if discussion turns to A Level or GCSE retakes, or you and your teen talk about appealing the results, it never hurts to make a saving while spending time together as a family. If you don't manage to bag a freebie on results day, don't forget there are lots of other places where kids can eat free this summer.

Homemade frozen food company COOK is offering new parents a 10 per cent discount for 12 months, ideal to help you adjust to parenthood.

When you're a new parent, foods that give you energy are crucial, especially when you're dealing with sleepless nights. As a mum, it's also worth knowing how your postpartum diet can help nourish your body, as well as how the right breastfeeding diet can support you and your new baby.

If you're worried about this adding to your mental load, why not make life a little easier for yourself with COOK, which is offering new parents a 10 per cent discount for the first 12 months after you welcome your new arrival? 

Family-owned COOK specialises in homemade frozen meals, and offers a range of new parent options – it has teamed up with the Positive Birth Company, too. Among the options are the New Mums Survival Box, the First Fortnight for New Parents, and the 7 Nights of Meals for New Parents. 

You’ll find a range of dishes as part of the deal, from classics like Lasagne Al Forno, Chilli con Carne and Cottage Pie to Chicken Dijon, Prawn Karahi and Yellow Vegetable Curry. There’s something to suit all preferences. 

It could be a great option if you’re struggling to find the time to cook with a new baby, and would make a great gift for any loved ones who may have a new arrival too.

Want to find some more great offers? Take a look at these 25 places where children can get free food this summer, and save up to £18 on cinema tickets with this secret Amazon Prime perk. Meanwhile, here are 10 ways families can save money when shopping with Amazon.

Using this one trick when labelling your child’s school uniform could save you as much as £2,000, according to research.

Whatever your feelings on school uniform, most UK schools have one. They don’t always come cheap – though school uniform grants can help some parents – and it doesn’t help that children often lose items. With the primary school years costing around £6,000 for parents, and expenses like pocket money gradually adding up too, any way to save some money is welcome.

One thing you can do is simply use your child’s nickname when labelling their clothes, says Sonja Adams, founder of Tiger Tags. If your child is one of two or three Sophias or Olivers in their class, it can be tricky for teachers to identify who owns which item – using a more unique nickname can be really helpful if things go missing or get mixed up. 

Use sticky or iron-on labels on everything, from schoolbags and lunchboxes to clothes and shoes. Sonja told the Daily Express, “Every year we see two waves of parents placing their name tag orders - the first is toward the end of the current school year when they're thinking ahead and trying to get on top on their school admin for the next year, and the second is literally within days of the new school year starting as they frantically tick off the school supplies that still need to be picked up.”

Something else she recommends is using a checklist with your children. With her own kids, she attached a small laminated checklist to the inside of their bags, so that when getting ready to leave school, they could check that they had everything.

She added, "It helped to incentivise this at times, whether that be with stars and stickers, or a monthly 'reward' for remembering to bring everything home – aka not losing anything – that month."

Once your children have outgrown their uniform, here’s how to turn it into cash, while here’s how to save money on back to school costs. You can check if your child is eligible for free school meals too. 

The National Trust has announced a new Explorer Pass to give you unlimited entry to its places for up to 14 days – and you can bring the kids. 

It's an expensive time of year with many parents looking or ways to save money in the school holidays. Finding things to do with the kids that don’t cost the earth can be tricky. But the National Trust has shared a great money-saving offer for families. 

The National Trust’s new Explorer Pass gives you unlimited entry to most of the places it looks after for four, eight, or 14 days, and includes both places in the countryside and on the coast. Prices start from just £44 for a four-day pass for a family with one adult and children (or grandchildren under 18), and they go up to £121 for a 14-day pass for a family with two adults and children (or grandchildren under 18.

Once you’re in, you can try plenty of free events and activities with the National Trust’s Summer of Play, across 186 places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There’s no need to pre-book, and under 5s are free. The activities are included with standard admission, and are free for members and for guests of National Trust holidays.

From cricket to arts and crafts workshops to den-building and mazes, the kids (and the adults!) are all sure to be spoilt for choice.

Carl Greenman, the National Trust's National Programming and Production Manager said “National Trust houses and gardens have inspired people for centuries and it’s in that same spirit that we’re throwing open the doors and inviting families to have fun at Trust places this summer and let their imaginations run wild.

To purchase the Explorer Pass and find out more information, simply head to the National Trust’s website.

After more great things to do over the holidays? Check out how to save up to £18 on cinema tickets and where children can get free food this summer. Meanwhile, you can get 50% off kids tickets at Merlin attractions, including Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, and the London Eye.

This Subway deal could be a lifesaver if you’re looking for an easy lunch over the summer holidays.

The summer holidays can be expensive – they cost parents more than £3,000, according to a new survey – and finding places where kids eat free can be a great help. If you’re stuck finding things to do with kids while they’re off school, why not head to Subway, where kids can eat free this summer?

You'll get one free Kids Meal when you buy any full-price Footlong Sub or SubMelt yourself, with prices starting from £2.99. The Kids Meal includes a four-inch sub, a snack, and a drink, and usually costs £3.50. So, if you head to Subway as a family of four, you could save £7 – we think it’s a great way to make lunchtime cheaper if you’re heading into town with the kids. The deal began yesterday is currently on offer, and remains in place until 25 August.

It marks the first time the ‘Kids Eat Free’ offer will be in place during the summer holidays – Subway first made the offer over Easter to help support families during the cost of living crisis. It’s worth checking with staff before you order, however, to make sure you’re at one of the participating restaurants.

Kirstey Elston, EMEA Brand & UK&I Marketing Director at Subway, said: "We’re so excited to be launching our Kids Eat Free offer again. By running for an even longer time throughout the summer break, our aim is to help families enjoy the holidays and spend quality time together, with less worry about the cost.

"To date, Subway’s Kids Eat Free offer has helped feed over 57,000 families across the UK and Ireland."

For more information, and to find a list of participating restaurants, head to Subway’s website.

Want to know how to save even more money over the summer break? Find out how to get this Morrisons Family Picnic Box for under £20, how to get Disney+ for free, and whether you qualify for a school uniform grant.

Splitting from your partner is never easy, especially if you have kids, but separating your finances can also be a challenge.

Whether you've seen the signs of divorce coming for a while, or the split came on quickly, the end of a relationship is never easy. And if you have decided that it's the right time to walk away from a relationship, there will be a lot of practicalities to deal with, from how you talk to your kids about divorce, how you'll manage co-parenting, and how you will navigate resolving your finances.

To help guide you in handling your finances in the event of a split with your partner, money experts from wealth management firm Arbuthnot Latham, share their helpful tips.

1. Check that your sole income covers your lifestyle

When you split from your partner, you'll need to have a clear idea of what your own income will be and whether it will be enough to cover your expenses. It can help to establish a budget - writing down all of your essential outgoings, from mortgage or rent, utility bills and loan repayments to insurance policies and any contracts you have, like your mobile phone bill.

You may find you need to reduce your outgoings, or find ways to earn some extra money if your expenses are larger than your income.

2. Set up a new personal bank account

The next step is to open a new bank account that is solely in your name. You'll need to speak to your employer about getting your salary or wages paid into this new account, which you can use for everyday expenses, while you sort out the joint finances with your ex.

This is a really good idea as it enables you to keep things separate and track what should be paid for out of the joint account (for the time being), and what you can pay for yourself.

3. Determine which assets you share with your ex

It's also important to have a clear understanding of what you and your former partner own together, whether it is cash, stocks and shares, property, pensions, or protection policies. It's also important to have a clear idea of the debts you are jointly responsible for, such as a mortgage. It can be helpful to list all assets and debts in your sole or joint names, including bank account balances, investments, and retirement accounts.

One of the main assets many separating couples have to discuss is their home, and there are a few options available to you:

• Both you and your former partner moving out, before selling the property
• Arranging for one party to buy the other party out
• Parents with children may choose to keep the property and not change who owns it
• Transfer part of the value from one partner to the other – the partner who gave up their share would keep a stake of interest in the property for when it’s eventually sold

4. Don't forget about joint bank accounts

You'll need to let your bank know that you and you partner are separating and the bank may then freeze your joint account until they receive instruction from both you and your ex on how the joint account should operate. This is to protect both you and your partner and make sure money doesn't leave the account without joint consent. Your bank can also help advise about any standing orders and direct debits on the account.

If there are any outstanding debts on the joint account, for example if you are in your overdraft, you and your ex are both responsible for repaying the money until the debt is cleared.

If your split is amicable, you could always visit your bank in person with you ex to resolve and close the joint account in person. This can help to avoid any misunderstanding or miscommunication about the balance on the account and where the money should be moved to. Make sure you have a photo ID, such as your passport or driving licence, and a recent utility bill to use as proof of address. This can help you get the account sorted as smoothly as possible.

It's worth being aware too that closing an account and opening a new one may temporarily affect your credit score. It can also be useful to check your credit score to make sure your former partner hasn't incurred any debts in your name since your split.

Wat to read more? Research reveals that money is the biggest co-parenting worry for divorced parents, while another study shows that grandparents are a vital buffer for children whose parents divorce. We also share what adult children of divorce wish they could tell their parents now.

We share helpful tips and tricks to help you save money in the school holidays, covering everything from food and travel to days out and special offers.

With school holidays found to cost £3,000 per child in 2024, it comes as no surprise that parents are keen to know how to save money during the school breaks. After all, having to find things to do with kids for weeks on end, or paying for holiday childcare, can all add up and put a serious dent in your family budget.

To ease the pressure, try following these tips to keep the summer spending low, but fun times high.

20 ways to save money in the school holidays

1. Save on cinema tickets if you are a Prime member

If you are an Amazon Prime member, you might not be aware that you can actually get cheaper cinema tickets as a perk of your subscription. Once a month, members can access a discount code for Odeon cinemas which will give them either two standard tickets for £10, or two recliner tickets for £15. You can only use one code a month, and the tickets are valid all day Monday to Thursday.

2. Find places where kids eat free

Make sure you're aware of all the places kids eat free (or for just £1) this summer. There are loads of restaurants and cafes offering free or cheap food to kids over the school holidays - including Bill's, TGI Fridays and Yo! Sushi!

In most cases the free child's meal is offered alongside a full price paying adult, but despite that, these offers provide a significant saving when eating out as a family.

3. Look out for special offers on days out

Finding ways to keep the kids entertained throughout the summer holidays can be an expensive challenge. But it's worth keeping your finger on the pulse of discounts and offers available for the likes of Alton Towers, SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds. For example, until 11.59pm on 3 September 2024, you can get 50 per cent off kids tickets to the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, the Dungeons and LEGOLAND Discover Centres. Kids under 16 can also get a day ticket for just £19 at Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND Windsor and Warwick Castle.

Make sure you book in advance too - it's cheaper and over the summer hols, there is a chance popular attractions will sell out.

4. Start a babysitting circle with your mum and dad friends

As any parent will attest, taking time away from the kids for yourself, or for you and your partner, is key to keeping on top of your own mental health and wellbeing. This can be especially important during the summer holidays when you might be juggling work responsibilities and your family commitments at the same time.

However forking out for a babysitter can often put parents off taking this valuable step. But setting up a babysitting circle with your friends can be a great way to help each other out, without breaking the bank. To keep it fair, try setting up a rota, or work on a token system, where you earn a token every time you babysit, and it costs a token to get a babysitter.

5. Save on train travel

If you’re after cheap train tickets, it's crucial to book in advance and see if you can save by split ticketing, where it can cost less to buy one or more tickets to cover a single journey on the same train. Plus, travelling by train, you'll also avoid traffic, and save on car parking too! But make sure you keep an eye on whether there are any train strikes planned so you can avoid those dates.

6. Label your child's belongings

Sometimes, saving money is about making what you do buy last as long as possible. When it comes to your child's belongings, this means making sure everything is labelled with their name so it can be returned to you if it gets left at a friend's house or on a field after a sports club during the summer. You can buy simple personalised washable and no-iron labels on Amazon for around £10-15. Some even come with cute designs, like this Amazon bestseller.

7. Join the National Trust

Paying a monthly or annual National Trust membership fee means you can get free entry to more than 500 National Trust attractions (as well as free parking in most National Trust car parks to boot). It can also help to keep your eyes peeled for free National Trust tickets, which are released in batches a couple of times a year.

While you might still be paying a monthly or annual fee, it's a way to spread the cost of your membership. If you and your family visit National Trust attractions often enough, you'll also get really good value for money, and avoid busting your summer holiday budget.

8. Use TooGoodToGo for cheaper food

Using an app like TooGoodToGo is another way to feed the family for less, while also helping cafes, bakeries and restaurants reduce food waste. Any fresh food that isn’t past its use by date can be sold on the app, whether that’s supermarket groceries, sushi, sandwiches, a roast dinner, or breakfast pastries. In some cases, you could be sold goods that have just passed their best before date but are still safe to eat. Stores can’t know exactly what will be left at the end of the day, so the contents of the bag will be unknown until you pick it up.

Download the free Too Good To Go app from the App Store or Google Play.

9. Look out for places with Rainy Day Guarantees

The weather in the school holidays can be quite hit and miss - scorching one minute and pouring with rain the next - which can make it challenging to plan activities and excursions. If you're worried about your day out becoming a wash-out, check which attractions offer a Rainy Day Guarantee, which means you and your family will be able to visit again.

But remember, what classes as a Rainy Day is up to the attraction itself, and it will usually publish affected dates on its website. If it rains during your visit, hang on to your tickets and see if your date appears on the site. There are usually limitations on when you can book your return visit, but you usually have a decent amount of time in which to return.

10. Make your own playdough

Looking for a really inexpensive way to keep kids entertained at home? Try making your own playdough. Let kids pick their favourite colours and let them unleash their creativity. To make your own, you will need:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp cream of tartar (which you can get in the baking aisle at the supermarket or on Amazon)
• ½ cup salt
• 1 to 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 cup water
• food colouring

Mix the flour, cream of tartar and salt in a saucepan. Add the water and oil and cook over medium heat until thick. At this stage you can either add a few drops of food colouring to the mixture and kneed in. If you want two colours, split the mixture and add different colours to each half. Then hey presto, home-made playdough.

11. Shop around for fuel

Being savvy about where you fill up the family car is key to saving money, especially if you are planning on getting out and about a lot over the school holidays. Try this fuel prices tool from Go.Compare to find the cheapest fuel near you.

Once you've filled up, remember there are ways to make your fuel last longer, from making sure your tyres are correctly inflated, and not driving around with unnecessary cargo (squabbling kids don't count).

12. Create snack packs for whenever you leave the house

We've all been there. You nip out with your little human, packing everything you need for changeable weather and to keep them entertained, but when they utter those two little words 'I'm hungry' you realise that you have no snacks in your bag and have to resort to buying them while you're out. But this can prove really expensive, especially if you are somewhere like a theme park or zoo.

Instead, make up a few snack packs using non-perishable snackarooneys that you can leave in key places, like your handbag, car or by the front door, so you can avoid getting caught out again.

13. Save money when you book a last-minute summer holiday

If you want to take the kids away for a holiday during the school break, make sure you follow our tips and tricks for saving money on a last-minute holiday. For example, it turns out that it can be cheaper to book a package holiday on a Monday, while it's often cheaper to book flights or hotels on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

14. Make the most of your loyalty card perks

If you’ve got a loyalty card for your local supermarket, it's worthwhile making sure you understand the benefits you can get, as well as how to access them. In some cases, you’ll get exclusive discounts or coupons, and in others you’ll be able to exchange loyalty points for things like restaurant vouchers, theme-park and cinema tickets and more. Save enough points and you can get a family day out for free! For some inspo, check out these surprising ways you could spend your Tesco Clubcard points.

15. Save on kids theatre tickets

Every year, there is a popular Kids Week promotion on London theatre tickets, where you a get a free child ticket to more than 50 West End shows when you buy a full-priced adult ticket from the Official London Theatre's Kids Week website.

The promotion began on 11 June and applies to performance from 24 July until 6 September 2024. The tickets sell out fast, so you might find that the most popular shows are sold out, but it's worth checking availability to see if you find some gems left.

16. Research days out before you go

It might sound obvious, but researching attractions, venues and activities before you book, is key to avoiding paying good money for a day out that turns out to be a bit of a dud, especially if you've had to travel quite a distance to get there.

Take a look at our list of the best zoos in the UK, which is based on ticket prices, visitor reviews and value for money to get started.

16. Team up with another family for days out and holidays

Joining forces with another family on things like day trips, mini breaks or holiday can be a great way to share the cost on things like accommodation, car hire and fuel costs. You could also benefit from discounts on group entry tickets to popular attractions. Make sure you agree how joint costs will be split ahead of time to avoid any fallouts.

17. Get your kids a Blue Peter badge

If your kids are fans of iconic children's TV show Blue Peter, then it's definitely worth encouraging them to apply for a Blue Peter badge. Kids between five and 15 can apply for a badge, and the entry requirements will depend on which badge they are applying for (there are 8 badges in total).

But from a money point of view, the best thing about the Blue Peter badge, is that it grants your child free entry to more than 200 attractions around the country, from theme parks and zoos to castles and museums, when a full price adult ticket is purchased.

18. Buy items in bulk or 'subscribe and save'

With the kids around more during the summer holidays, you might find yourself barrelling through household supplies at an alarming rate. This is where buying in bulk can be really handy. Items like toilet roll, washing tabs, crisps and cereal can be worthwhile stocking up on during the school break.

Avoid bulk-buying anything you've never tried before, even if it's a bargain, as if you end up hating it, you could end up wasting a large supply or miserable as you begrudgingly work your way through using it up. If you shop on Amazon, you could take advantage of its Subscribe and Save option, which our Deputy Editor and mum-of-three Heidi Scrimgeour is obsessed with.

19. Cut the cost of summer childcare

With holiday childcare costs up by six per cent, it's never been more important for working parents to understand how they can reduce the cost of childcare during the summer holiday.

According to government figures, 1.3 million parents are eligible for the tax-free childcare scheme, but only 500,000 are currently claiming it. Under the scheme, for every 80p you put into your childcare account, the government adds 20p, up to a maximum of £500 every three months, or £2,000 a year. While you might know that you can then use the money in this account to pay for childcare during term-time, it can also be used to pay for holiday clubs and camps over the summer too. But remember, the club must be registered with the tax-free childcare scheme and be regulated by a body such as Ofsted, the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register in order to qualify.

You could also consider joining forces with other parents who live nearby, or grandparents to share childcare duties over the summer.

For more money-saving tips during the school holidays, find out how you can get the £20 Morrisons Family Picnic box for less, how you might be able to bag free Disney+, and the other hidden benefits of your Prime membership.

The Week Junior and The Big Issue have launched a Pocket Money supplement to help children learn to manage their money this summer.

If your children are always asking for more pocket money, or you’d like them to learn how to manage their money and get into good habits, don’t miss out on The Week Junior and Big Issue’s new summer Pocket Money supplement, which you can download here.

It’s the second edition of Pocket Money published by Big Issue, created in collaboration with The Week Junior and aimed at eight-to-14-year-olds. The first issue came out last spring for the Budget, and had information on the spending priorities of young people, as well as advice on budgeting and saving.

The new Summer Special edition– comes with plenty of ideas for inexpensive days out and activities, while Newsround presenter Shanequa Paris discusses her summer jobs and financial expert Mr MoneyJar (Timi Merriman-Johnson) offers tips on setting goals and making money during the school holidays – ideal for kids who want to start earning when they have a few weeks away from learning!

Editorial Director of The Week Junior, Anna Bassi, said: “Knowing how to make, save and spend money sensibly are important life skills, so this brilliant pocket money magazine should be essential reading for all kids (and their adults) this summer.”

Subscribe to The Week Junior
Get your first 6 issues free - saving £21 - when you subscribe to The Week Junior magazine. Continue on subscription and pay just £33.99 every 3 months, saving 25% off the cover price, unless cancelled in the trial period.

Subscribe online at bigissue.com, or find your local Big Issue vendor to buy a copy.

In other money news, - we know pocket money can be a minefield – how do you know how much your children should get? Even the concept of pocket money itself has many pros and cons, but it can be a great way to teach financial literacy in teenagers.

This little-known perk of being an Amazon Prime member is perfect for parents looking for cheaper ways to entertain the kids over the summer holidays.

Knowing the hidden benefits of your Prime subscription can be especially handy during the school holidays when you are likely spending more on finding things to do with the kids. If you want to keep costs under control until your kids go back to school, we've got you covered - from sharing all the places kids eat free this summer, the Merlin attractions offers available, and this less-than-obvious perk for cheaper cinema tickets.

Get two Odeon cinema tickets for £10 with this secret Prime perk

Amazon Prime has an exclusive Odeon cinema offer for it's members. Each month, you can get two cinema tickets for just £10, with a special code. Make sure you are signed in to your Amazon account and head to amazon.co.uk/odeon - there you will be presented with a numerical code, which updates every 30 minutes. Copy the code and click on the Get ODEON tickets button, and you'll be taken to the ODEON website to book your tickets. The offer gets you:

• Two standard tickets for £10 (adult tickets normally £14, child tickets normally £8.50, or adult and child bundle is £17) - save up to £18
• OR two recliner tickets for £15 (adult recliner tickets are normally £16 each, child recliner tickets are £10.50, or adult and child recliner bundle is usually £21) - save up to £17

The offer is valid for screenings all day from Monday to Thursday (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are excluded from the offer), and Prime members can redeem the code once per calendar month. Depending on which tickets you buy, this offer will save you up to £18, which could go towards another day out over the summer.

When you are booking your tickets on the Odeon website, you will see a field called 'Have a special code?' then just paste your code from Amazon into that box to unlock your discount.

If you are not already a Prime member, you can sign up to a 30 day free trial, during which you will get access to all of the benefits, including this Odeon offer. After that, membership will cost you £8.99 per month, or £95 per year.

Want to save even more money at the cinema? Try these handy tips:

• Try and go at less popular times - rules vary between cinemas, but you might find your local venue offers cheaper tickets on certain days of the week when they tend to be a bit quieter
• Wait until films have been out for a while - some cinemas charge more for new releases, so if you can wait a couple of weeks, you might see the price drop
• Keep your eyes peeled for offers - if you need to update your home or car insurance, then doing it through Compare the Market could back you two for one cinema tickets for 12 months (terms and conditions apply).
• Think about buying a membership - if you're family regularly enjoys an cinema outing, then you might be able to save some money buy purchasing a membership to your favourite haunt. Memberships might work differently depending on the cinema - some might allow you to see an unlimited number of films for a monthly fee, while others might cap how many films you can see, but also offer discounts on food and drink.
• Take your own snacks - buying food and drink at the cinema is usually pretty expensive, so it's worth checking whether you are allowed to take your own instead. The rules will depend on the cinema, but you might be able to take your own non-alcoholic drinks and things like sweets, popcorn or crisps (hot food is not usually allowed.

For more ways to save money over the school holidays, take a look at how Prime members can get free Deliveroo Plus for 12 months, how you can get this Morrisons Family Picnic Box for less than £20, and the trick to getting Disney+ for free.

The cost of hiring a full time nanny has risen by 12 per cent in a year, according to new data.

With average childcare costs rising across the board (they've risen seven per cent in the last 12 months) and parents struggling to access free childcare spaces in their area, more and more families are turning to nannies to help look after their children.

New figures from nanny payroll and employment experts Nannytax show that the cost of hiring a full-time live-out nanny in the UK is £40,326 per year (or £3,361 per month). That's an increase of £4,342 (or 12 per cent) compared to the previous year. In London, nannies have seen annual pay increases of around eight per cent, and now cost an average of £3,852 per month or £46,228 per year.

• London: £17.78 per hour, £3,852 per month, £46,228 per year - up 7.89 per cent
• Home Counties & Greater London: £16.93 per hour, £3,668 per month, £44,018 per year - up 9.23 per cent
• Rest of UK: £15.51 per hour, £3,361 per month, £40,326 per year - up 12.07 per cent
  
  

Data based on 5,500 internal payroll records for the tax year 2023/24. Salaries are in gross terms and based on a live-out nanny working full time, 50 hours per week.

Kirsty Wild, nanny employment expert at Nannytax, says: “We are seeing rising demand for part-time nannies who can do wraparound care as more parents returning to offices find they can’t fit pickups and drop offs around their commutes. Meanwhile, the struggle to secure nursery places is pushing more parents to consider nannies as an alternative."

For parents concerned about the cost of nursery, especially if they have more than one child, nannies can prove a cost effective childcare option, as Kirsty explains: “For families with multiple nursery-age children, a nanny can work out cheaper than the combined nursery fees, because they don’t charge extra for looking after more than one child at a time." If you opt for a nanny, you may be able to take advantage of the tax-free childcare allowance - where for every 80p you add to your childcare account (which is used to pay for your childcare), the government will add 20p, up to a maximum of £500 every three months (£2,000 a year). Your nanny must be registered with the tax-free childcare scheme and be regulated by a body such as Ofsted, the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register.

As the demand for nannies grows, so is the scope for tasks they undertake, with parents looking for 'hybrid nannies' to help their families. Frankie Gray, founder and director of nanny agency franchise Harmony at Home, says: "Historically, nannies were just nannies, but now we’re seeing the rise of the ‘hybrid nanny’ who might also serve as a tutor, housekeeper, music teacher, sports instructor, special education needs specialist, or PA. The added value to families who can afford it is such that they are willing to pay more for nannies who can offer more than childcare. Roles for hybrid nannies make up around one sixth of all current vacancies.”

For more help with childcare costs, make sure you are claiming child benefit if you are eligible. Even if you don't want the payments, claiming has long-term benefits for your money.

The two-child benefit cap has been steeped in controversy ever since it was introduced in 2017. As the Prime Minister faces mounting pressure to abolish the two-child benefit cap, we look at what the cap is, why it was introduced, and the impact it has on families.

As parents know, raising kids is expensive. With average childcare costs on the rise, it's making it harder for families to make ends meet, and they rely on support from the government to meet rising prices. But with campaigners arguing that the two-child benefit cap pushes families into poverty, and parents sharing the devastating impact it has on their family, is it time for the new government to squash the policy?

What is the two-child benefit cap?

The two-child benefit cap is a government policy that prevents parents from being able to claim Universal Credit, or child tax credits, for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017. The cap was introduced by former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne as a measure to reduce welfare spending.

As a result of the policy, families with third or subsequent children born after April 2017 miss out on up to £3,455 per year, per child, compared to those families with children born before April 2017. Campaigners argue that the cap is also responsible for pushing children into poverty, and have long urged the government to scrap it.

How many people are affected by the two-child benefit cap?

According to official government figures, in April 2024, 440,000 households (including 370,000 universal credit claimants and 69,000 child tax credit households) were not receiving the childcare element or amount for at least one child because of the two-child benefit cap. The numbers also show that 1.6 million children were living in households affected by the two-child benefit cap. That's one in every nine children. In the previous year, the figure was 1.5 million, or one in 10 children, showing that more and more children are being negatively impacted by the policy.

Research by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), that has long argued for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped, revealed the devastating reality of parents who are impacted by the policy. One parent says: ‘[The two-child limit has] severely inhibited the children's ability to experience a full life as [we’re] economically restricted. Shoes with holes, clothes too small. Hungry at times.’ while another admits: ‘My children ...cannot attend school some days as we can’t afford the trips out for them or the dress down days or the contributions for photos or Christmas cards or Pudsey day. . ..They can only have two haircuts each year […]. It’s the basics of being a person with human rights.’

Will the two-child benefit cap be scrapped?

It is not yet known whether the two-child benefit cap will be scrapped by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It was hoped that he would announce and end to the policy in the King's Speech, which confirmed the new government's plans, but there was no mention of putting an end to the cap.

However, the Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure from MPs to put an end to the policy which they describe as 'heinous' and 'overtly sexist'. And a scrappage may be on the cards. As reported by The Guardian, the Prime Minister has indicated that he will consider scrapping the two-child benefit cap as part of a review into child poverty, saying "We will make sure that the strategy covers all the bases to drive down child poverty. No child should grow up in poverty.” The government has also launched a ministerial taskforce to kickstart work on a child poverty strategy, so there is a chance we could see the two-child benefit cap nixed in the future.

According to the CPAG, abolishing the cap could lift 300,000 children out of poverty, and mean 700,000 children are in less deep poverty, which will have a significant and positive impact to their lives. It is estimated that ending the policy will cost the government £1.7 million.

Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham says: "The two-child limit is the biggest driver of rising child poverty and teachers, struggling parents and even children themselves can testify to the harm the policy is causing to kids day in, day out. All eyes will now be on government’s first budget, which must commit to scrapping this policy. Delaying its abolition will harm many more young lives and undercut the government’s poverty-reduction plans."

For more information on support parents can get from the government, read our guides to child benefit and tax-free childcare.

Around 800,000 parents are missing out on help towards childcare costs, which could add up to £2,000 a year - are you one of them?

With average childcare costs rising, and the cost of holiday childcare on the up too, it makes sense that parents benefit from all of the support they can get from the government. You might already be claiming child benefit to help you with the cost of raising your kids, or maybe you are eligible for the childcare portion of Universal Credit. But there are hundreds of thousands of parents who are eligible for another form of support from the government, and aren't yet claiming it - tax-free childcare.

According to money-saving expert Martin Lewis, the scheme is 'terribly named' and 'awfully confusing', which is likely a large reason behind why so many parents aren't claiming it. But as the summer holidays arrive, this scheme could help you pay for certain activities for your child over the break.

As Martin explained on a recent appearance on This Morning, 1.3 million people are eligible for the tax-free childcare scheme, but only 500,000 currently claim it. That means 800,000 parents are missing out on a substantial amount of cash towards their childcare costs.

While this scheme can be used for nursery care and childminder costs throughout the year, it's really timely as it it can also be used for holiday camps and clubs over the summer. The club must be registered with the tax-free childcare scheme and be regulated by a body such as Ofsted, the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register.

To be eligible:

• you need to be working (if you have a partner, they need to be working too)
• earn at least minimum wage equivalent for 16 hours a week, and less than £100,000 a year
• your child or children need to be age 11 or younger (16 or younger if your child is disabled).

Under the scheme, for every 80p you pay into your childcare account, the government will pay in 20p - up to a maximum of £2,000 per year, per child, £4,000 if your child is disabled. But while there is an annual cap, there is also a cap of £500 every three months. This means that it is worthwhile paying into your childcare account all year round – even if you don’t need to pay for any childcare one month.

To claim, you'll need to set up an online childcare account which you can do through the tax-free childcare website. You’ll need your national insurance number to set up your account and, if you are self-employed, your unique taxpayer reference. Then you can add the money by standing order or debit card, and the government top-up should appear within 24 hours. You then pay for the childcare directly from your childcare account.

It's worth knowing too that you need to reconfirm your eligibility for the tax-free childcare account every three months, but the good news is, it only takes a couple of minutes and you'll get an email reminder when you need to do it.

For more help with the cost of raising your children, make sure you understand what child benefit is, how child benefit could soon become fairer, and the repercussions of not claiming child benefit.

Morrisons has launched a new Family Picnic Box, and it's perfect for days out with the kids over the summer.

When you consider how long the school summer holiday is in the UK, it's no wonder some parents are dreading the school break as they try to make ends meet. While it can be expensive to plan things to do with kids, when all the schedule juggling and childcare is sorted you can settle down, now could be the time to slow the pace and throw a picnic to connect with your kids again.

Head to a Morrisons Cafe this summer and you can get a family-sized picnic for just £20 (or £15 if you have a Morrisons More card). You simply fill out a form with your selection, and they'll make it up for you in less than 20 minutes. The box includes:

• 2 x adult sandwiches/rolls (choose from egg & watercress, smoked ham & cheese, tuna crunch, chicken & bacon)
• 2 x kids sandwiches (choose from ham or cheese)
• 1 x savoury snack (choose from a pack of six sausage rolls, or six cheese and onion rolls
• Crisps (choose from a six-pack of Walkers Variety or a 125g bag of Morrisons' The Best Cooked Sea Salted Crisps)
• Sweet treat (choose between a pack of five strawberry doughnuts, five milk chocolate chunk cookies, or five custard doughnuts)
• Fruit pack (choose from a seven-pack of oranges, a five-pack of bananas, or a six-pack of apples)
• 2 x adult drinks (take your pick from spring water, 7UP, Pepsi Max, Oasis Citrus, or Fanta Zero)
• 2 x kids drinks (choose from spring water or a Fruit Burst in either orange or apple and blackcurrant flavours).
  

Better still, for every picnic box you buy, you'll get a £5 voucher to redeem on your next visit to a Morrisons Cafe.

We think this is a super offer, and a great option for busy parents who are trying to juggle work and childcare over the next six weeks. Plus, it's perfect for avoiding high food prices on a day trip out, as well as for a bit of fun at home or in the local park. For a family of four, it works out at just £5 per head (£3.75 if you have a Morrisons More card) which is highly likely to be considerably cheaper than buying food at any attraction or venue you may be visiting over the summer. Depending on your selection, you can get up to 32 individual items, which, if you are a member of Morrison's reward scheme works out as 47p per item. Plus, the only forward planning required is a quick stop at a Morrisons Cafe on the way to your day out, so it's a great way to reduce just a little bit of that mental load.

Want to read more? Recent research suggests school holidays cost parents £3,000, but luckily we're here to share all the ways you can save a bit of money over the summer , including the discounted kids tickets you can get for a whole host of Merlin attractions, including Alton Towers and SEA LIFE.

The price of childcare during school holidays has risen by six per cent compared to last summer, according to a new report.

High average childcare costs have been a headache for working parents for years, but even more so when it was announced that those costs has risen by more than seven per cent. But with school's breaking up for the summer, the news that holiday childcare costs are on the up will be unwelcome for a lot of parents.

According to the Coram Family and Childcare Holiday Childcare Survey report, working parents in Britain now face an average bill of £175 per child per week when it comes to childcare over the school holidays. Over the course of six weeks, this works out at more than £1,000 (£1,049).

But as the report also found, higher costs aren't the only challenge parents are facing. The survey found that the number of holiday childcare places available has dropped too:

• Only 17 per cent of English local authorities have enough holiday childcare available for parents who work full time. This is down from 24 per cent in 2023.
• Just three per cent of councils in England are reporting enough holiday childcare for disabled children (down from five per cent in 2023)
• Only three per cent are reporting enough supply for parents working atypical hours (down from nine per cent in 2023)
   

Ellen Broomé, Managing Director of Coram Family and Childcare, said: “Too many families dread onset of the summer holidays. Rather than a time for families to rest, play and have fun together, many parents worry about how to pay for holiday childcare during the long summer break. And with ever growing shortages of available childcare, finding a place will be a challenge this summer, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities."

Even though the free childcare scheme has been expanded, this applies to term time only and leaves a large gap for families to bridge when the summer holidays roll around.

How to keep costs low in the summer holidays

If you're worried about making ends meet over the summer holidays, then there are a few things you can try to ease some of the pressure on your family finances. You've probably already considered some, if not all, of these, but they may help to tide you over until much needed childcare reform takes place.

• Make a summer holiday budget - knowing how much you have to spend each day or week can help you avoid overspending
• Keep your eyes peeled for special offers for days out - Merlin is offering discounted kids tickets at a load of its attractions this summer.
• Look at your outgoings to see where you might be able to cut back - check your bank statements for any subscriptions you no longer use that can be cancelled, or whether you might be able to save money by changing providers for things like your mobile phone or internet. Switching to a cheaper supermarket for the summer holidays could also help free up some cash.
• Join forces with other parents - see if you can take turns looking after each other’s children for a few days over the holidays to avoid having to pay for childcare.
• Check whether you qualify for support - For those with children in Reception up to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals, the government also offers the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which gives children access to free healthy meals and fun activities. 
  

If you're heading out with the kids with summer, try this mum's ice lolly hack to save on buying snacks while out and about. If you're heading abroad, you can also try these tips for saving money at the airport.

Experts reveal the three telltale signs families need to know to help protect their loved ones from 'grandparent scams'. 

We know it's important to protect kids from the darker sides of the internet, with many wondering if TikTok is safe for kids and teenagers, but it's not just the younger generations we should be looking out for when it comes to phone safety. 

That's because cybercrime is massively increasing and now, in a similar vein to the cruel WhatsApp scam that's targeting parents, criminals are scamming grandparents out of vast sums of money by pretending to be their grandchildren and requesting money from them. 

The scammers will text or call, using AI technology to skew their voices, posing as a grandchild. They often claim to be in some emergency situation, ranging from them being stranded somewhere away from home or being in legal trouble, and asking the grandparent to immediately transfer them money to help. 

It's a massive problem. According to the FBI’s Elder Fraud Report, financial crimes against senior citizens in 2023 took a massive $3.4 billion from them. So what can families do to protect their loved ones from falling for these scams?

According to financial experts from Allegius Credit Union, who spoke to Valpo, there are three common signs to look out for when it comes to grandparent scams; 

1. Urgency of request. Scammers create a sense of urgency to pressure victims into sending money without thinking things through properly. This often manifests in demanding language, with the scammer highlighting the distress the 'grandchild' is in to pull on a grandparent's heartstrings. They need the money 'now, now, now!' 

2. Secrecy. Scammers often tell a grandparent not to tell anyone about the money they're sending, pretending that, as the 'grandchild,' they're embarrassed at the situation they find themselves needing money for. Examples might include, "I've crashed my car, please don't tell mum and dad but I need money to get it fixed," or "I'm calling from jail - mum and dad would kill me if they knew, please can you send me the bail money?" 

3. Unknown person making the request. Scammers can't contact you using your grandchild's phone number or email address. To get around this, they may say that the grandchild's phone is broken, or lost, and they're calling from a friend's phone.

While knowing the signs makes them easier to spot, when you've been frantically called by a worried or scared 'grandchild,' it can be hard to keep a clear head and remember what you're meant to be looking out for. So, if you think you may be being called by a fraudster, the experts say; 

1. Do not rush. Despite all the urgency the fraudster is creating, do not panic. Speak to them, asking for as many details as they can give, and then take your time to assess the situation carefully before acting on their request. 

2. Verify identity. Ignore the caller's request to keep things a secret and contact the grandchild whose supposedly calling by using your saved number for them. Reach out to them directly and also to another family member to corroborate the situation and make sure it's really them. When speaking to the potential scammer, also make sure to ask questions that only the person they supposedly are would know the answers to. 

Unless you can verify 100% that it's your grandchild on the line, do not send them any money. If you do, and believe it may be a scam, the experts at Martin Lewis's MoneySavingExpert.com, say to contact your bank immediately. 

"Your first port of call is to contact the bank where your money was taken from, or the one from where you sent the funds, and explain what happened," they say. "While there's no guarantee your bank will reimburse you if you have been scammed, this is your best bet in the first instance. Banks should adopt a case-by-case approach.

"From October 2024, your bank will be more likely to reimburse you if you've transferred money to a scammer thanks to new fraud compensation rules being introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator."

In other money news, parents have opened up about the devastating impact of the two-child benefit cap as 1.6m children are now affected. Plus, primary school is 'costing parents £6,000' according to new research - here's 6 ways to save money. And is Amazon Prime Day actually worth it? We've been writing about it for years - here's what we really think.

A recent survey has highlighted the devastating impact the two child benefit cap has on families, with parents saying the policy causes 'direct harm'.

Parents know the cost of raising a child is significant, and it's made worse by rising average childcare costs. Lots of families rely on support from the government, in the form of child benefit, child tax credits and the childcare portion of Universal Credit, in order to make ends meet. But since the two-child benefit cap was introduced in 2017, many families are being pushed into poverty as they try to deal with rising costs.

Official figures, released last week, show that more children are being negatively impacted by the policy - in April 2024, 1.6 million children were living in impacted households - this equates to one in every nine children. This figure was 1.5 million (one in 10) in April 2023. The two-child benefit cap was introduced by former Chancellor George Osbourne in April 2017 as a measure to reduce welfare spending. It prevents parents from being able to claim child tax credits or Universal Credit for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017. This means that those families miss out on up to £3,455 per year per child, compared to those whose children were born before April 2017. According to the data, 59% of families affected by the policy have at least one parent working.

Responding to a survey by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), parents have reported the direct harm this policy has on their children and family life. Almost half (45 per cent) of respondents said they struggle to pay their rent or mortgage because of the policy. A similar proportion (46 per cent) struggle to manage high childcare costs. Almost all (93 per cent) said the policy has affected their ability to pay for food, while 82 per cent said it meant they struggle to cover gas or electricity bills.

Abolishing the two-child limit could lift 300,000 children out of poverty and mean 700,000 children are in less deep poverty, making a significant difference to the lives of over a million children. It is estimated that this would cost the government £1.7 billion.

Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham urges the Prime Minister to act now, saying: “Children are losing their life chances to the two-child limit now – they can’t wait for the new government to align every star before the policy is scrapped. The PM came to office pledging a bold, ambitious child poverty-reduction plan and there’s no way to deliver on that promise without scrapping the two-child limit, and fast. This is not the time for procrastination or prevarication - the futures of 1.6 million children are on the line.”

Parents on the impact of the two child benefit cap

In response to the survey, a number of parents laid bear the heartbreaking struggles they face as they are impacted by the two-child benefit cap. One single parent, who works full-time and has four children says: ‘One of my children was on a pathway to play under 14’s England netball team but had to stop, I just couldn’t pay monthly fees and take them to training and games.’

Another parent, who works full-time and has three children says: ‘My 12 year old has been off school for over one and half weeks as he doesn’t have the shoes he needs – he ripped his school shoes and went in in a pair of black trainers, but the school refused to keep him in as the trainers didn’t meet the standard. The school said that if he stays in, he’ll be in isolation all day. So, I’m keeping him at home for now. I’m not able to buy a new pair before my next UC [universal credit] payment at the end of the month. My son is embarrassed for not being able to go to school and wasn’t even able to tell his friends why he was off school, he just said we’ve issues at the moment… I’m worried about the knock-on effect on his wellbeing.’

A mum of three, who is currently on maternity leave adds: "My third child – now 6 months old - is more clingy than her siblings as she doesn’t go to groups and places, I took her to a baby playgroup once.... With my older kids we’re up and down in baby classes, playdates with other kids and now I don’t go as I have no money."

"I’ve worked all my life and mostly full-time and now when I need help, I only get support for my two kids and not four. Does it mean that my younger two children don’t matter? And the more I work on UC, the less UC I get, you just can’t win," says another parent who has four children and works part-time.

A couple who work, and have four children also added how the worry affects their mental health, as well as the health and wellbeing of their kids, saying: "My worry over feeding my family is the first thing I think about every morning, and I can feel this effecting my mental health and my ability to perform well at university and work which I am doing to better my family. My days are starting to feel more and more hopeless, it’s a strain on my relationship with my partner."

You might also be interested in reading about the motherhood penalty, whether it's financially worth returning to work after having a baby, and whether you qualify for help with childcare costs.

Merlin Entertainments has joined forces with a set of money-savvy eight-year-old twins, who went viral on social media, to launch a special summer holiday offer at a range of popular attractions this summer, including Alton Towers, Warwick Castle and SEA LIFE.

With summer holidays just around the corner, parents know just how difficult (and expensive) it can be to find things to do with kids. And with research showing that parents are anticipated to spend £3,000 during school holidays in 2024, it's no wonder families are always striving for ways to keep costs down.

Fortunately, Merlin Entertainments have joined forces with the mini social media wonders to launch a brilliant summer offer. Marnie and Mylah took social media by storm last month, with a outburst on the shocking price of an ice cream, racking up more than 10 million views in a day. And now Merlin has appointed the pair Chief Pocket Money Protection Officers, as part of their summer of fun scheme.

Under the offer, from now until 11.59pm on 3 September 2024, families can get:

• 50 per cent off kids tickets to the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, the Dungeons and LEGOLAND Discover Centres. Children under two go free.
• Under 16s can get a day ticket for just £19 at Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND Windsor and Warwick Castle. (Children under 90cm go free at Alton Towers, LEGOLAND Windsor and Chessington World of Adventures. Children under 120cm go free at Thorpe Park).

Both offers are subject to availability and you can claim up to three discounted tickets per transaction. Half price discount is based on the standard on the day price. For more details, including and height and age restrictions, visit merlinentertainments.biz/real-fun-deals.

It's important to note that tickets purchased via this offer may be excluded from any Rainy Day Guarantees that the attraction may offer.

Talking of their involvement in the summer holiday savings offer, Marnie and Mylah say: “Pocket money doesn’t always go as far as you’d like these days – and we should know! But, good news kids, we’ve told the bosses at Merlin they need to help us out and do you know what, they’ve listened to us. So, this summer they’ve come up with some special priced kids’ tickets for their amazing attractions because kids always deserve brilliant school holidays!

“And what’s more, we’ll be giving out free ice creams during the summer holidays at different Merlin attractions across the UK – so keep an eye on our socials and come say hi!”

And if you missed their spot-on rant on social media, take a look below.

For more money-saving tips, take a look at how you can save money at the airport if you are going abroad for your family holiday this year. If you've not booked a holiday yet, we also share how free child places can cut the cost of your family holiday. Not going away? Find out how you can get Disney+ for free.

Primary school costs parents more than £6,000 per child, according to new research, but there are ways that parents can keep these costs as low as possible.

High living costs over the last few years have stretched family budgets more than ever before. Average childcare costs are rising, school holidays cost parents more than £3,000 per year, and parents with school age children are scrambling for ways to save on back to school costs.

And now research from TigerTags has found that the expenses parents face for getting their kids through primary school - including packed lunches, uniform and school trips - can exceed £6,000 on average by the time your child leaves year six. Let's take a look at the breakdown of those costs:

• School Dinners (190 days at £2.30 per day): £437 per year, £3,059 over seven years(source)
• Packed Lunches (190 days at £2.73 per day): £518.70 per year, £3,630 over seven years(source)
• School Trips (2 per year at £36.63 each): £73.26 per year, £512.82 over seven years(source)
• Uniforms: £287 per year, £2,009 over seven years(source)
• School Bag (1 per year at £25): £25 per year, £175 over seven years(source)

If you opt for packed lunches, the average costs work out as £6,326 over the course of seven years of primary school. That's the same as about £904 per year. Those who opt for school dinners will pay a little bit less, with average costs working out at £5,755.82 in total, or £822 per year. If you want to swap the type of lunch your child has while they are at school, make sure you read out comparison of school dinners versus packed lunches.

The challenge of school uniform costs

The data shows that school uniform is a challenging expense for a lot of families too. According to a recent report, the most common support activities reported by schools include providing uniforms and clothing to pupils. The report also found that 40 per cent of primary teachers have observed an increase in the number of pupils coming to school without adequate clothing, including proper uniforms or winter coats and shoes. This figure has risen from 12 per cent in 2023.

But there are ways to ease the cost burden of school uniforms as Sonja Adams, founder of TigerTags, explains:

• Buy second hand uniforms: Sinja explains: “Many schools have second-hand shops where uniforms can be bought at a fraction of the cost. These shops offer used uniforms that are often in excellent condition and by purchasing from these shops, parents can save significantly compared to buying new items. This not only helps reduce expenses but also promotes sustainability by recycling clothing."
• Set up a uniform swap: “Parents can organise uniform swaps through Facebook groups or the school PTA to exchange uniforms that their children have outgrown. It’s a cost-effective way to refresh a child’s wardrobe without spending money."
• See if you qualify for a school uniform grant: “It’s a good idea to check your eligibility for government grants that help cover uniform costs as they can provide substantial financial relief. Many local authorities offer grants to support low-income families with school uniform expenses."
• Try buying a size bigger to make it last longer: “I always used to buy my son’s uniform a size bigger, to help it last longer. There are loads of options now for clothing with adjustable waistbands and skirts with elastic that can also accommodate growth spurts, helping you avoid repurchasing the next size too soon."
• Try some simple maintenance: “Using labels on all your children’s clothing and even items like bags and shoes can mean the difference in more months' wear or them becoming lost property forever. I’d also recommend learning basic sewing skills for minor repairs, such as fixing hems and replacing buttons, which can extend the life of uniforms. And lastly, encouraging children to change out of their uniforms immediately after school can reduce wear and tear, allowing items to be reworn more often before needing to be replaced.”
• Look out for school uniform sales: It's also worth keeping your eyes peeled for retailers putting school uniform essentials on sale so you can stock up for a fraction of the price. The M&S school uniform sale is now on, and supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Aldi regularly have uniform bargains up for grabs so keep your eyes peeled.

Once your child has outgrown their uniform, you can also try these ways to turn that into cash to put towards any new items you need to buy. To keep costs as low as possible, it's also worth checking whether your child is eligible for free school meals too.

A pub chain is offering free drinks to mums over this weekend to reward them for this sweet reason.

As a parent, sometimes finding things to do with kids can be a challenge. And, when it comes to their sports clubs, they often involves a huge commitment. Everybody knows they couldn't do it without you - just look at what the England Euro Squad said about their mums.

If you're a football mum, dealing with all your child's Euro 2024 obsessions, on top of feeling like you live on the sidelines (come rain or shine) while cheering on your budding Beckham, then head to a Hungry Horse this weekend. The pub chain is offering football mums a free drink as a reward for all your support of your child's football passion.

Take your pick of free drink from a glass of El Mazo, a pint of Fosters, Carling or Strongbow, or a glass of Coke Zero, when you order food during one of the following Euro 2024 games:

• Georgia vs Czechia 2pm (Sat 22 June)
• Turkey vs Portugal 5pm (Sat 22 June)
• Belgium vs Romania 8pm (Sat 22 June)
• Switzerland vs Germany 8pm (Sun 23 June)
• Scotland vs Hungary 8pm (Sun 23 June)

To get your free drink, you can either bring your child in their football kit, or have a medal or footie picture to hand to prove your football mum status. The offer is valid for one free drink per day, with food orders during the specified games and while stocks last.

The offer can't be used in conjunction with any other promotion or discount, for example if you are a Greene King member or receive friends and family discounts. View all the terms and conditions here.

Not sure you deserve a reward? It was previously reported that mums spend 577 hours per year watching their kids play sports and other activities - over the course of their childhood, that tots up to a whopping 112 days.

If you want more freebies, check out how tired parents can get free coffee, the birthday freebies you could get for the whole family, and the trick to getting free Deliveroo Plus.

With private school fees on the rise, some parents could be forced to take their children out of private education altogether.

Much like childcare costs, inflation has lead to an increase in private school fees too. But for those with children in private school, the removal of a long-standing tax-break means that fees will rise further from January 2025.

We take a look at what this increase looks like, why it's being introduced and the impact it could have, as well as how parents with kids in private school can mitigate the impact.

Are private school fees going up?

According to the Independent School Council's annual census, school fees for the 2023-24 academic year, increased by eight per cent, meaning the average cost for day pupils currently sits at around £18,000, rising to £42,000 per year for those pupils who board. This is largely down to inflation.

But there is another increase on the cards, that is due to come into effect in 2025. School fees are currently exempt from VAT, but new Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that VAT will be added to private school fees from 1 January 2025. By removing this tax break, the government will fund 6,500 new state school teachers in key subjects. As a result, school fees will go up by 20 per cent. There are reports that state that adding VAT could see a quarter (26 per cent) of children leaving private education.

What to do if you're concerned about private school fees

If you are concerned about rising school fees, then there are avenues that you can try in order to mitigate the impact of any further increases. Gianpaolo Mantini, Chartered Financial Planner at Saltus and founding member of the Institute for Financial Wellbeing, shares his top tips:

• Speak to family – If you have concerns over paying school fees it's good to act as soon as possible, rather than waiting for fees to rise further. Gianpaolo says that it's worth 'pre-emptively speaking to family about your concerns, trying to give as much advance notice as possible, to see whether they may be in a position to provide any assistance – not at the point it becomes an ultimatum and immediate action needs to be taken that could disrupt your child’s education and development.'
• Speak to the school – more than a third (33.5 per cent) of private school pupils receive help from bursaries or scholarships so it's worth speaking to the school to see if you qualify. Gianpaolo says: "Support may be available from your school, so it is always worth asking the question to be able to assess all options. You may find that the school also offers discounts for siblings, as well as for children whose parents are private school teachers themselves, are in the armed forces, or are members of the clergy. These are unlikely to be advertised anywhere so it is worth asking."
• Pay the fees in advance – "If you are able to pay the school fees up front the savings are likely to be sizeable, both in terms of the discounts offered by the school for having more money to invest upfront, and the savings you’d make in terms of VAT." says Gianpaolo. "It is worth speaking to both your family and the school to see if this is possible. Anyone over 55 could take a lump sum from their pension to pay fees in advance, which could offer a tax efficient way of paying the fees up front."
• Switch schools – Opting for a different school or arrangement can also help if you are concerned about rising costs. Day school is cheaper than boarding, and school fees vary significantly so there could be savings to be had. Gianpaolo explains: "For example, half (50 per cent) of the parents we surveyed said they plan to keep their child or children in private education if VAT is added but will have to make changes – either moving them from boarding to becoming a day pupil (26 per cent), or removing them from their current school and enrolling them in a less expensive one (24per cent)."
• Seek financial advice – Gianpaolo adds: "Although it can sometimes feel daunting, if you are worried about the affordability of private education for you and your family, it is important to seek advice from an expert. A financial adviser can provide a clear view on the current shape of your finances and outline ways in which parents – and other family members if they want to help support – can most effectively finance their school fees."

For more school news, research has found that children can lose two years off their reading age during the school holidays, but there are ways to prevent it. It can also be helpful to find out how much you could be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time.

We've scoured the internet and found a stack of places that are offering dads something for free for Father's Day.

Father's Day is just around the corner - this year, it falls on Sunday 16 June. While you might celebrate the dads in your life year-round, when it's Father's Day, you might be tempted to go the extra mile to show your appreciation. Maybe you've been looking for a brilliant Father's Day gift idea, helping your kids with what to write in a father's day card, or sharing fun facts about Father's Day to show them how much you care.

But if you're looking for something extra to make the day feel special, without breaking the bank, then check out all these places where dads can bag a freebie or a discount on the big day. From a free beer to a free visit to a number of attractions around the country, there's something on this list for everyone.

Places where dad can go free this Father's Day

1. Free entry for dads at Sealife Centres across the country - From 10-16 June 2024, a parent can go free if you purchase one full-price ticket - with visits valid until 4 August 2024. Choose from nine locations, including Birmingham, Manchester and Great Yarmouth.
2. Dads go free to Dartmoor Zoo - If dads are accompanied by a full paying adult or child on Sunday 16 June, then they can get free entry to the zoo. Tickets are limited so you need to book online in advance.
3. Father's Day special offer at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre (Birmingham and Manchester) - one parent goes free with any full price child ticket purchased. Tickets available from 10-16 June 2024 for visits up until 4 August 2024. Child must be in attendance during visit.
4. Dads and grandads go free to the Eden Project, Cornwall - valid on Sunday 16 June 2024 only, dads and grandads can get free entry to the Eden Project when accompanied by their child(ren) or grandchild(ren). Tickets for the whole visiting party must be booked in advance.
5. Get 2-for-1 tickets on the London Eye for Father's Day - buy an individual ticket (£42) between now and 16 June 2024 and get one free for dad with this great London Eye offer for Father's Day. Tickets must be used by 19 July 2024, and you can reschedule before then if your plans change.
6. Free entry to Gulliver's Kingdom (Warrington, Milton Keynes and Rother Valley) - An adult gets free entry when a full price child ticket is purchased. Offer is available on both Saturday 15 June and Sunday 16 June 2024.
7. Free beer for dads at TGI Fridays - download the Stripes Reward app and book your table in advance, and dads can get a free pint with their main meal from 14-16 June 2024.
8. Dads go free to Woodlands Theme Park, Devon - on 16 June 2024, if you buy a full price child's ticket to Woodlands, then dad gets to go for free. Tickets must be booked online and in advance.
9. Free main meal for dad at All Star Lanes in London - buy a full price adult main meal from the  à la carte menu at All Star Lanes in one of four London locations, and you'll get a free main meal for dad. Offer valid on 16 June 2024.
10. Dads go free to Yorkshire Wildlife Park - Over 15-16 June 2024, dads can get free admission when you have two paying visitors (either children, adults or seniors/students).
11. Free entry for dads at Dudley Zoo and Castle on 15 and 16 June 2024. Dads who are accompanied by a full paying child or adult, get free entry over Father's Day weekend. Tickets must have been booked online in advance.
12. Dads get free entry to Cotswolds Farm Park in Cheltenham - purchase a full price adult, child or toddler ticket online for the 15 and 16 June 2024, and you'll get a free ticket for dad.
13. Free admission for Dads at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire - buy an adult ticket online and in advance, and you'll get a free ticket for dad over 15 and 16 June 2024. Grab a main meal in The Coach House and they can also get a free pint.
14. Dads go free to Whitehouse Farm Centre, Northumberland - book now, and when you buy a full price child's ticket, you'll get a free ticket for dad.
15. Dads get free entry to The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards, Northern Ireland - get one free ticket for dad per paying toddler, child, adult or family ticket. The website says the offer is available on the Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day weekend.
16. Free admission for Dads at Twinlakes Park in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire this Father's Day weekend - one dad gets free entry per paying customer (adult/senior or child/toddler ticket). The paying customer needs to pre-book, but there's no need to pre-book the free ticket.
17. Dads go free to Wheelgate Theme and Water Park in Nottinghamshire - with free entry on both the Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day weekend, when another full-price ticket is purchased.
18. Use the code FREEDAD to get free entry for Dad at Powderham Castle & Grounds in Exeter - this is great one if your dad is a bit of a history buff. Code is valid for visits on 16 June 2024 only, and will grant you a free adult or senior ticket when used at the online checkout. Only one use per order is allowed.

We've got you covered if you need more ideas on things to do with kids, as well as some indoor activities for kids if the weather isn't great on Father's Day.

Kids earned more than £274m in 2023, according to new data, with the average child now getting £8.35 per week in pocket money.

After weighing up the pros and cons of pocket money, not all parents decide to give it to their children, but those who do are paying close to £10 per week per child. That's according to new research from GoHenry, the prepaid debit card and financial education app for kids aged 6-18. If you want to move away from giving your children cash and use an app instead, we've rounded up the best pocket money apps to help you choose.

The new data, which is based on a sample of 739,660 active GoHenry members throughout the majority of 2023, shows that average pocket money values varies from £3.33 for six year olds, peaking at £15.78 for 15 year olds, then dropping slightly to £13.01 for 18 year olds.

Average pocket money payments by age

The GoHenry data breaks down the average pocket money value by age, showing that the average six-year-old gets £3.33 per week, rising to £6.67 by age 11, and peaking at £15.78 for 16-year-olds. 

• Age 6 - £3.33
• Age 7 - £3.47
• Age 8 - £3.81
• Age 9 - £4.29
• Age 10 - £5.14
• Age 11 - £6.67
• Age 12 - £8.77
• Age 13 - £11.08
• Age 14 - £13.17
• Age 15 - £14.84
• Age 16 - £15.78
• Age 17 - £14.96
• Age 18 - £13.01

However, when the stats are broken down by gender, as shown in the table below, they show that up until the age of 10, on average boys get more pocket money than girls, but from age 11 to 17, girls get more. While the amount of pocket money a child gets tapers off after they turn 16, when they might be starting to earn some money through part-time work, when kids turn 18, boys tend to receive slightly more than girls (£13.17 versus £12.83).

According to Go Henry's data, the most popular tasks that warranted pocket money payments were doing homework, reading everyday, feeding pets, making the bed or tidying their bedroom. But while this approach may work for some parents to help them incentivise their kids to help around the house, for others, those tasks aren't pocket money worthy. GoodtoKnow's Family Editor Stephanie Lowe says: "I want my son to understand money and earning it, but I also don't want to 'pay' him for things around the house that I want him to grow up doing because that's part of being a family. When he's old enough, mowing the grass could be a 'paid for' thing but making his bed, tidying his room, setting the table are family expectations."

Mum-of-two Emily, gives her nine-year-old twins £3 per week, to spend on what they'd like rather than as payment for chores around the house, saying: "I give the boys the same amount each week, just to help them start to learn about the value of money. My husband and I obviously still buy them everything they need, but if we're out and about and they want a toy or a magazine or some sweets, then they have to use their pocket money, and if they don't have enough, then they have to wait until they do."

How much pocket money should you give a child?

The amount of pocket money you give a child will likely depend on their age and your own family budget. But as Louise Hill, co-founder and CEO of GoHenry says, the act of giving pocket money can have real benefits for your child, regardless of the value: "The amount you give - whether 10p or £10 - isn't what matters; it's the act of regularly providing pocket money that's important. It encourages conversations about finances at home and helps children think about the four key pillars of managing their own money: saving, spending, earning responsibly and giving. Giving kids pocket money helps them understand where money comes from, the importance of saving, the concept of budgeting, and the value of donating to those in need. 

"Pocket money is particularly useful when kids might ask you to buy them something which is out of your budget - or something you don’t feel is worth the spend. Instead of saying no, you can help them earn some extra pocket money (e.g. by doing extra chores around the house or washing the car) so they can save towards it themselves."

Whether or not you choose to give your child pocket money, it's worthwhile knowing the important money lessons all parents should teach their kids, the money games for kids that can help. If you have a teen, it might also be useful to explain the safe ways teens can start earning their own money. 

Grandparents who help look after their grandchildren could see their state pensions boosted, thanks to a government benefit that many people are unaware of.

As most parents will have already found, average childcare costs are rising, so it's no wonder that grandparents are offering their childcare services to help working parents juggle their work responsibilities and family life. But, as it's been reported that more than half of grandparents look after their grandchildren while the parents work, it's often asked whether the government should pay grandparents who provide childcare.

But, did you know that there is a little-known benefit offered by the government that could see grandparents get a pension boost of £1,000s if they help to look after their grandchildren? Here's everything you need to know about how the benefit works and who qualifies.

How does Grandparents' Childcare Credit work?

The grandparents' childcare credit, officially called Specified Adult Childcare Credit, essentially allows a parent who claims Child Benefit, to transfer National Insurance credits to an eligible family member who helps look after their child. The family member will get a Class 3 National Insurance credit for each week (or part week) they provide care for the child.

Receiving these credits can help to plug any gaps in their National Insurance record, and maximise how much state pension they receive.

However, various criteria and stipulations need to be met.

• You can only claim if you were looking after a child under the age of 12
• The parent(s) must be claiming Child Benefit - if not, there is no NI credit to be transferred
• There is only one credit per Child Benefit claim, regardless of the number of children. So if you looked after your child's two children, there is only one credit to transfer. But if you looked after your son's child and your daughter's child, for example, there would be two Child Benefit claims, and so two credits available to transfer.
• You can only claim the credit if you are under the state pension age, which is currently 66 years old
• Claims can be backdated to 6 April 2011
• The credits can only be transferred if the parent does not need them themselves, and if they agree to your application
• You must wait until 31 October after the end of the tax year you want to apply for.

What about other family members?

But while grandparents might be more likely to claim this credit, it's not exclusive to grandparents - there are other family members who may qualify, including:

• Mother or father of the child if they don't live with the child
• Great or great-great grandparent (as long as they were below state pension age when providing childcare)
• Aunt or Uncle
• Brother or sister (including half, step or adopted siblings)
• A current or previous spouse, partner or civil partner of anyone on the list, or their son or daughter, could also be eligible.

How to apply for Specified Adult Childcare Credits

To apply, you need to fill out a form called a CA9176. You can fill the form in online, or print it off and return it through the post. But you will need to have some information to hand before you begin.

The child's parent should check their National Insurance record and make sure they have the credits to transfer. You will also need to provide your personal details, those of the child you looked after, as well as details of when you looked after them, and details of the child's parent (who should be the Child Benefit recipient). Both the eligible family member and the Child Benefit recipient will need to sign the form.

If you already receive Child Benefit or already have a qualifying year of NI credits, then you shouldn't apply for the Specified Adult Childcare Credits.

When it comes to your own pension, make sure you know what happens to your pension when you are on maternity leave, and how you can maximise your own pension pot if you have take time out of work to raise your children.

A Universal Credit increase came into effect earlier this year, giving those who claim this benefit a boost to help with the cost of living.

Benefits rise with inflation in April each year, which is known as benefit uprating. A formal review is carried out by the Department of Work and Pensions every October, and the September inflation figure is used to decide how much benefits will go up in April the following year. This uprating applies to a range of benefits, including Universal Credit and child benefit.

According to government data, there were 6.7 million people claiming Universal Credit as of April 2024, and that half of all households that received a Universal Credit payment in February 2024 included children. Here we explain what the 2024 Universal Credit increase could mean for your family.

Universal Credit increase 2024

1. Universal Credit went up in April 2024, but some families will only see that increase from June

Universal Credit went up by 6.7 per cent in April 2024, which means a single claimant over 25 now receives £393.45 a month, while joint claimants over 25, receive £617.60 per month. Those with children may be eligible for more.

However, while some might have already started getting the increased payments, others will have had to wait until June 2024 to see the increase. This is all down to when your assessment period falls (Universal Credit payments are assessed each month, and the payment comes seven days later). As charity Turn2Us explains, if your assessment period started before 8 April 2024, you won't have received an increase Universal Credit payment in June. It shared the following example: 'Rachel’s assessment period starts on 26 March. It runs for a complete calendar month to 25 April, with a new assessment period beginning on 26 April.

'Universal Credit payments are paid a week after the last date of each assessment period, so Rachel will receive her payment on 2 May. But as this assessment period starts before 8 April, the new rates will not take effect and Rachel will have to wait until her next assessment period (26 April to 25 May) to get the new rate on 1 June.'

2. There a new rules around the minimum number of hours you are required to work

As of May 2024, those who claim Universal Credit and are able to work, will now be expected to work a minimum of 18 hours a week. Before this, the minimum expectation was 15 hours work a week. This rule change means that 180,000 people will have to work more or see their benefits reduced.

However, if you have children and are the main carer, the expectations are a little different, depending on how old your youngest child is. Until they are three years old, you aren't expected to look for work, but you may be required to complete work preparation activities, such as writing your CV. Once your youngest child turns three, you will be expected to work up to 30 hours a week, rising to up to 35 hours when your child turns 13.

3. Universal Credit can help with childcare costs

If you and your partner (if you have one) claim Universal Credit and have to pay for childcare while you go to work, then you can recoup up to 85 per cent of the costs, up to a maximum of £1,014.63 for one child or £1,739.37 for two or more children. If you have more than two children, unfortunately the two-child benefit cap means you won't receive more money. You will need to pay for the childcare first, then claim it back afterwards.

While you might also be eligible to get 15 or 30-hours free childcare, if you claim the childcare portion of Universal Credit, you are not eligible for the tax-free childcare allowance.

A new online service where people can check their National Insurance record and plug any gaps has been launched by HMRC, and it's great news for parents who have taken time out of work to raise their family.

When you take time off work to have a baby or raise your family, you can find your earnings dip below the threshold at which you should be paying National Insurance. This might seem great at the time, but having gaps in your NI payment record can mean you won't get the full state pension when you retire. And mothers are more likely to suffer the effects of the motherhood penalty, as they tend to be the ones to take the career breaks, and the most likely to request flexible working after parental leave.

But if you have got gaps in your NI record, the good news is you can go back and make voluntary payments to boost your pension if you need to. The Check your State Pension forecast is a joint service by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and launched on 29 April 2024.

What does this new service do and why do parents need to know?

The new service will show parents how much their state pension could increase if they resolved any gaps, and how much they could make in voluntary contributions in order to achieve the requirement to achieve the full state pension (you need 35 year of contributions to get the full state pension).

The online service comes after it was announced that the number of families opting out of child benefit payments has reached a record high. Those who opt-out of the payments could also be missing out on vital NI credits, and not know that it is possible to claim the credits without receiving the payments.

If you want to check your NI record, and how much state pension you are entitled to, you can access the forecast via the government website or the HMRC app.

Personal finance analyst at Bestinvest, Alice Haine, says: “The Government’s new online voluntary National Insurance payments service will hopefully speed up the cumbersome process for people looking to plug any gaps in their contribution record to secure their entitlement to a full State Pension.

“Until now, people wanting to top up their National Insurance contributions had to first check their state pension record for any payment gaps, then contact the Government’s Future Pension Service to assess how many years they could buy and whether voluntary contributions would boost their state pension. They then needed to contact HMRC to secure an 18-digit reference number to actually make the payment.

“The new service will speed this process up by allowing people logging into their Personal Tax Account or the HMRC app to not only view any payment gaps but also check if they can plug those gaps directly through the Government’s digital channels."

If you have a personal tax account (which you will if you claim tax credits or the Marriage Allowance, amongst others) you can access the forecast tool using the same log-in information. If you don't have a personal tax account, you can register for one on the Government website.

I'm back at work after raising kids, how far back can I make voluntary NI contributions?

If you've taken time out of work in the past to raise your family, but are now back in work full time, then it's still worth checking whether you have any gaps that need filling.

For the rest of the current tax year, which ends on 5 April 2025, you will be able to make voluntary contributions to make up any NI gaps over a 12-year period from 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2018. But when the new tax year begins on 6 April 2025, you will only be able to make voluntary contributions for the last 6 years, and not all the way back to 2006.

You might also be interested in the disproportionate impact childcare has on a mother's career, and the data that shows working mothers earned 43 per cent less than fathers in 2023.

Alton Towers is offering some families the chance to visit the resort for as little as £11, but only certain families will be able to benefit from the money-saving offer.

As all parents (and thrill-seekers) know, Alton Towers can be an expensive day out. On paper, visiting the theme park seems like a great thing to do with kids, getting them out in the fresh air and keeping them entertained all day. But definitely wouldn't normally be described as a cheap day out, with on the day tickets costing a whopping £68 per adult. At certain times of year, especially around Black Friday, you can usually take advantage of some hefty discounts, but sadly they're not available all year round.

School holidays can also be an expensive time to visit, which can make it difficult to make ends meet, but there are clever things you can try to reduce the cost of admission.

1. Look for Merlin vouchers on cereal boxes

Cereal fans should check the boxes of their favourite breakfast foods before throwing them in the recycling bin to check whether there is a Merlin voucher on the box. This promotion has been running for years, and offers discounted tickets to those with the 10-digit code (which can be found on the inside of Kellogg's cereal packets with the Merlin promotion). This has historically been a 'kids-go-free' promotion whenever a full-price adult ticket is purchased.

This can be a crucial way to save money if the only time you can go as a family is at the weekend or during school holidays.

2. Book in advance

Turning up to a theme park like Alton Towers on the day and buying your tickets on the door is a sure fire way to pay the highest prices. Instead, make sure you book online in advance of when you go. For example, an on the day pass for Alton Towers costs £68 for an adult, while advance tickets start from £29. The cheapest tickets can be found on less busy days, which is great for adults who can take a random day off work and take advantage of off-peak prices, but can be much harder for families whose kids are in school. Even if you have to visit at more peak times, like weekends and school holidays, booking in advance can help save you some money.

3. Take advantage of the Parent & Toddler Pass

If you have a child who hasn't reached school age yet, then a Parent and Toddler Pass is the way to visit Alton Towers for less. The pass costs £29 and will give a parent and child under 5 access to the whole theme park and CBeebies Land, working out at just £14.50 per person. For an extra £5, you can take an additional child under £5, which works out at just over £11 per person.

While children this age will be too young to go on a lot of the rides in the main park, CBeebies Land (which celebrates its tenth birthday this year) could be right up their street, thanks to attractions including Hey Duggee Big Adventure Badge, Andy’s Adventures Dinosaur Dig, and JoJo & Gran Gran At Home. And new for 2024, there's a chance for a meet and greet with Bluey!

If you were desperate to have a go on some of the adult rides yourself during off-peak times, you could rope another friend in to come along where you could take turns watching the kids. Even buying an advance adult ticket at off peak times, is likely to work out cheaper than an on-the-day adult ticket.

However, this pass does have its limitations. It's only valid Monday to Friday during term time and it is only for children under five. This can be hugely difficult to navigate if you have one child in school and one under the age of five. But if you plan ahead for any TED days that might be in your child's calendar, you might be able to take advantage of cheaper tickets for the whole family.

If you do head for a family day out at an attraction like Alton Towers and it's ruined by the rain. All may not be lost. Check to see if they have a rainy day guarantee in place, that means you can go again free of charge.

Mums are more likely than dads to request flexible working arrangements when returning from parental leave, according to new research.

Flexible working is crucial for parents looking to balance their childcare commitments with work duties and aspirations. But more often than not, those childcare commitments have a larger, disproportionate impact on a mother's career compared to a father's.

While the motherhood penalty is woefully nothing new, recent research from charity Pregnant Then Screwed has shown that there is still a way to go to level the playing field, finding that mothers who work full time are 2.5 times more likely than full-time working fathers to ask for flexible working when they return to work after maternity leave. Further still, mothers with a disabled child are twice as likely to ask for flexible working than fathers, while 41 per cent of single mothers request flexible working when they return to work.

But sadly, despite the abundant need for flexible arrangements to get mothers back into the workforce, while they take on the lion's share of childcare responsibilities, there is a long way to go before employers catch up. According to Joeli Brearley, CEO and Founder of Pregnant Then Screwed: "Just 3 in 10 job adverts offer flexibility, limiting the progression opportunities and earning potential of mothers. Then we wonder why the gender pay gap widens when couples have children and continues to widen further over the subsequent decades."

Beyond that, while the Flexible Working Bill makes it easier for employees to request flexibility, employers still have the right to refuse it. Pregnant Then Screwed found that two in five mothers had their flexible working request rejected. Rejection was twice as likely for mothers with a household income or under £45,000, than for those mothers with a higher household income.

Joeli Brearley goes on to say: "The fact that mothers are two times more likely to ask for flexible working inadvertently tells us that mothers are more likely to shape their careers around childcare. Until we have a more equitable parental leave system this will continue to be the case.” Currently, fathers get only two weeks statutory paternity pay, although 70 per cent of fathers can't afford to take the full two weeks, while mothers can get 39 weeks of statutory maternity pay.

The idea of mothers being primary caregivers is also so deeply ingrained in the societal consciousness, that it feels like there is not one clear and quick fix to level the playing field. But we never stop striving for it.

In other family finance news, mothers earned 43 per cent less than fathers in 2023, and childcare costs have risen by 7 per cent in the last 12 months, putting pressure on family budgets.

The number of families opting out of receiving child benefit has hit an all-time high, according to new government data. But opting out of child benefit could have serious consequences when it comes to your pension.

The latest government statistics, based on those claiming child benefit as of August 2023, show that fewer families were claiming and receiving the benefit compared to the previous year. In August 2023, 7.65 million families were claiming child benefit, 47,000 fewer than in August 2022. Similarly, 6.91 million families actually received the benefit, 106,000 fewer than in the previous year.

The decline in families receiving the benefit is down to the controversial High Income Child Benefit Charge that was introduced in 2013, by then Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne. Aspects of child benefit, including the High Income Child Benefit Charge, have long been thought to be unfair. This tax charge means that once you start earning over a certain amount (in the last tax year, this was £50,000, but is now £60,000), you effectively have to start repaying some of the child benefit you receive in the form of the High Income Child Benefit Tax. In the current tax year, by the time you earn £80,000, you are effectively repaying all of the child benefit you receive.

Parents can choose to claim child benefit, receive the payments and pay the charge, or they can opt out of child benefit altogether. The number of families opting out of child benefit payments, hit 741,000 in August 2023, almost double those who opted out in 2013.

Child benefit in a nutshell

Introduced in 1977, child benefit is a payment from the government to help families with the costs of raising a child. If you are responsible for raising a child, you are eligible to claim. As of 6 April 2024, it is paid at a rate of £25.60 per week, which works out as £1,331.20 per year, for your first child. For any subsequent children, you will receive £16.97 per week, which equates to £882.44 per year.

While some benefits are subject to the two-child benefit cap, child benefit isn't - there is no limit on how many children you can claim for.

What happens if you opt out of child benefit payments?

Parents can choose to opt out of receiving child benefit payments, especially if they have to pay some or all of it back, but this can have serious repercussions. This is because claiming child benefit will earn you national insurance credits that work to build your entitlement to the state pension (and you need 35 years of national insurance contributions to get the full state pension).

According to analysis from our sister brand MoneyWeek, 'Just one year of missed credits could lead to a reduction of £329 a year in state pension, or around £6,500 over a typical 20-year retirement.

'Someone who doesn’t go back to work until their child is of primary school age, and therefore misses out on four years of National Insurance, could end up £1,316 per year short on their state pension if they don’t claim their credits. Over 20 years, this would be worth £26,320.'

But it is possible to claim the NI credits without getting the money - there's a box you can tick on the child benefit form to that affect.

If you have previously opted out of receiving child benefit, you may also find that due to threshold changes that came into effect in April 2024, you might now be eligible to receive the full amount without repaying any of it, or now be entitled to tapered payments where previously you had to repay it all. The threshold at which you have to start repaying any of the child benefit has been raised from £50,000 to £60,000, and the upper limit at which you repay the whole amount raised from £60,000 to £80,000. You can find out about how to restart your child benefit payments here.

If you have missed out on NI credits by not claiming child benefit, all is not lost. From April 2024, parents will initially be able to claim credits dating back to 2013 - after that they will only be able to backdate claims by six years.

To better manage your family budget, make sure you factor in average childcare costs. You might also be interested in whether it's financially worth returning to work after having a baby, and how you might be impacted by the motherhood penalty.

Seven out of 10 fathers only only used part of their paternity leave because they couldn't afford to stay off work any longer, according to new research.

While maternity pay and maternity leave works differently to the options available for fathers, both parents are entitled to take time out of work to bond with their new baby and get to grips with what the first weeks of a newborn's life are like. But despite this entitlement, new data from charity Pregnant Then Screwed, has found that dad's are struggling to take the time they need to spend crucial time with their newborn.

The survey into the uptake of paternity leave and the barriers faced by dads wanting to take their full entitlement found that three in five (63.7 per cent) fathers took two weeks or less paternity leave following the birth of their most recent child. Only 29 per cent of fathers had access to enhanced paternity pay as an employee benefit through their place of work, dropping to around 20 per cent for those in households with an income of less than £60,000 a year. Statutory paternity pay is currently paid at a rate of £184.03 per week, or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

But while some fathers had access to enhanced paternity leave, roughly half (48.3 per cent) were still only able to take two weeks or less paternity leave.

Joeli Brearley, CEO and Founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, comments, “Paternity leave isn’t a break from work, it isn’t a holiday – it is crucial bonding time. We know that paternity leave has huge benefits for the whole family: children do better in the education system, and there is research to suggest they have better physical health. Paternity leave reduces the divorce rate – couples are more likely to stay together. It has benefits for the physical and mental health of mothers, and we know that many dads are desperate to spend more time with their children.

"When fathers and partners take paternity leave, it supports the mother’s return to the labour market. We need a parental leave system which recognises and supports the crucial role dads play in families.”

For those fathers who took two weeks or less paternity leave, only a third (32.3 per cent) felt that they were physically ready to return to work when they did, with only 14 per cent ready to return mentally, and just over one in 10 (12.8 per cent) ready to return emotionally.

While there have been recent changes to the law around paternity leave, there is strong argument that the changes are not enough. Under the Paternity Leave Amendment Regulations 2024, fathers of children born or adopted after 6 April 2024 will be able to split their paternity leave into two one-week blocks in the child's first year, instead of having to take one two-week block. However, campaigning groups, including Pregnant Then Screwed, say that the amendment fails to address the overall low rate of statutory paternity pay, or the overall length of paternity leave. Pregnant Then Screwed is calling for paternity leave to be extended to six weeks at 90 per cent of salary.

This new data follows research that found that 85 per cent of parents blame high childcare costs as the reason they aren't having another child, and that working mothers earned 43 per cent less than fathers in 2023, highlighting the impact the motherhood penalty still has.

Campaigners are putting pressure on the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which they say is pushing children into poverty.

The cost of raising a child is significant for many families but made even harder by rising average childcare costs and the high cost of living. There are various benefits available to help families manage these costs, including child benefit, child tax credits and the childcare portion of universal credit. But since a controversial two-child benefit cap was introduced seven years ago aimed at reducing welfare costs by getting parents back into work, the policy has ultimately impoverished families, leaving some families thousands of pounds worse off each year.

The two-child benefit cap was introduced by former Chancellor George Osbourne in April 2017 as an austerity measure to reduce welfare spending. It prevents parents from being able to claim child tax credits or Universal Credit for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017. This means that those families miss out on up to £3,455 per year per child, compared to those whose children were born before April 2017.

Since its introduction, the End Child Poverty Coalition estimated that 1.5 million children (one in every ten children) live in affected families and many organisations have called for it to be abolished, including Children's Society, the Joseph Rountree Foundation and the Church of England. In an analysis of official data, the End Child Poverty Coalition also found that a quarter (25 per cent) of all families affected by the two-child cap are single-parent households, where the parents would not be required to work under current Universal Credit rules. Furthermore, around 87,700 (20 per cent) families affected by the policy have at least one disabled child.

On 5 April 2024, marking seven years since the policy's introduction, campaigners took their protest to the government, saying that an estimated 250,000 children were being pushed into poverty as a direct result of the cap - and it's projected to get worse. According to think-tank The Resolution Foundation: "When 100,000s of families lose out on £1,000s of benefit income a year, poverty rates soar. In 2013-14, 34 per cent of children in larger families were in poverty, but this is projected to rise to 51 per cent in 2028-29. In contrast, the proportion of two-child families in poverty is projected to remain more or less constant over the same 15-year period, at around 25 per cent."

Despite the opposition to the policy, the policy is still in place. It is expected to save the government an estimated £2.5 billion in the 2024/25 tax year, rising to £3.6 billion if it applies to all families receiving universal credit, according to The Resolution Foundation.

However, the think-tank also states that the cost of abolishing the policy "are low compared to the harm that the policy causes, and scrapping the two-child limit would be one of the most efficient ways to drive down child poverty rates. If abolished today, 490,000 children would be lifted out of poverty."

In a parliamentary research briefing on the impact of the policy, it was found that employment rates among larger families with low income has not significantly increased since the two-child benefit cap was introduced, despite increasing employment being a key objective of the policy.

The briefing also states that while relative poverty (defined as poverty in relation to other members of a community or society) is still rising, the government focuses on a decline in absolute poverty (which is based on a defined minimum standard of living) and questions the use of relative poverty measures.

With the next general election due by the end of 2024, Joseph Howes, chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said to The Guardian: “These new figures clearly show that the two-child limit is a policy which pushes single parents, and families with disabled children, into poverty – the very families that our benefit system should be helping. In this election year, scrapping this cruel policy should be the top priority for every political party.”

You might also be interested in the motherhood penalty, whether it's financially worth returning to work after having a baby, and whether you qualify for help with childcare costs.

Gen Z are costing their parents more than £1,000 a year by not learning how to drive, according to new research.

The cost of raising a child runs into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, and when coupled with the high cost of living, it's no wonder that parents are feeling the pinch on their finances. This can be made worse during school holidays, when parents can expect to pay in excess of £3,000 a year keeping their kids entertained outside of term time. And according to data from Money Supermarket, as reported by The Telegraph, parents are forking out an additional £1,300 a year ferrying around older children who haven't learned how to drive themselves. Motoring experts at Red Driver Training have noticed that in 2016, the average age of a driver passing their test was 25, and that now they are between 26 and 27. And compared to 30 years ago, only half as many 17-20 year olds have a full driving licence today, with cost being one of the major reasons why:

• Cost of lessons
• Cost of buying a car
• Cost of insurance
• Wait times for booking a test
• Impact of pandemic

Lessons cost between £25 and £50 per hour with a recommended 45 hours of lessons needed in order to pass the test. That tots up to between £1,125 and £2,250, and then on top of that there is the cost to take the driving test, which is £23 for the theory test and £62 for the practical.

According to survey of 1,000 adults by personalised number plate provider, Regtransfers, almost nine out of 10 adults (87 per cent) believe that parents should contribute to the costs that come with their children learning how to drive. One third of those felt that it should be an equal split with their offspring when it comes to driving lessons, with 25 per cent feeling it should be the same when it comes to buying their first car.

While some parents might be able to help their children with the cost of lessons, the price of car insurance for young people can be another huge barrier. According to Go.Compare, the median cost of comprehensive car insurance for young drivers is a whopping £1,265, but this could easily be more depending on where you live and if you drive a lot.

The average wait time for driving tests is also a factor. As of the end of January 2024, the average wait time was just over 15 weeks, which can be off-putting to those wanting to pass and get out on the road. The pandemic also had an impact, with lockdown measures pressing pause on the driving ambitions of many learner drivers, to the point where they now may have lost momentum, or given up on the idea altogether.

Elliott Allen, an Independent Financial Adviser at Advanta Wealth, says: “It is entirely individual whether parents would like to get involved in paying for their child’s driving lessons or first cars. Everyone is going to have different opinions, circumstances and values when it comes to money. For those parents who do want to help their children, the best and most simple advice is to start saving from an early age.

"There are products on the market, such as a Junior ISA, which parents can contribute towards. Once your child turns 18, they will have access to the funds, and if you’ve been contributing little and often to this fund, you will have generated a good financial platform for them. People often under-estimate the value of time, and starting as early as possible gives the greatest impact of compound interest for any savers accounts available.”

You might also be interested in other ways to save for your child's future, as well as how the 50/30/20 budgeting rule could help your teen plan the expense of car ownership.

High living costs have been touted as the reason 50 per cent of parents can't afford to help their child with additional learning materials or support, according to new research.

It was recently revealed that parents anticipate forking out more than £3,000 to keep their child entertained during school holidays, so it's no wonder family budgets are still feeling the pinch after months and months of high costs for everything from energy to food shopping. While knowing how to save money can help parents ease the financial pressure to a certain extent, those facing high childcare costs may find it impossible to save any more.

And now a new study by online tutoring company MyEdSpace has uncovered the impact these financial pressures are having on children's education. According to the survey, six in 10 parents would like to find ways to boost their child's education, but the additional cost means it has been pushed down the list of priorities. And 50 per cent cited lack of budget as the reason they couldn't buy more revision materials or pay for additional tutoring for their child, with 53 per cent worrying that it could negatively impact their child's potential.

The survey of 1,000 parents also found that 31 per cent had managed to cut costs elsewhere to pay for tutoring and that 38 per cent resorted to trying their own methods to boost extracurricular learning at home. But almost eight in 10 (77 per cent) parents said that they struggled to inspire older children to revise at home when it came to tests and exams.

It was also revealed that 68 per cent of parents would pay for private tutoring for their child if they could afford it, but that household bills, food shopping and mortgage payments made this unfeasible.

The data also shone light on the struggle to motivate their children to continue their learning at home. Almost a fifth (20 per cent) didn't think their children were particular engaged in learning at home, and that parents resorted to reward systems, goal setting and extra pocket money to help improve interest. When it came to learning during the school holidays, 26 per cent of parents see the school holidays as time for a break from learning, 28 per cent said that they look to strike a balance between relaxing and learning.

If your child is taking their GCSEs this year, make sure you read our GCSE revision tips to help keep them focused and keep stress at bay. When it comes to financial pressures, our money expert shares her foolproof ways to reduce school costs, and how to help make ends meet during school holidays.

Managing your family's budget can be hard work at the best of times, but harder still if there are extra dynamics at play, like your partner earning more than you do.

It can help to know how to talk about money with your partner, but if you happen to be earning less than your partner for whatever reason, it's not unusual to feel a power imbalance in your relationship. Maybe you are on maternity leave and getting maternity pay, or maybe you returned to work part-time after having kids so you could juggle childcare commitments.

Becca Maberly, post-natal expert and author, the name behind Instagram account @amotherplace, posed the question 'Do mums who earn less or don't earn feel guilty about spending money on themselves?' and it sparked an interesting debate.

The question was posted with a poll, with three out of four respondents saying that they did feel guilty, while only one in four said they didn't.

Some mums who did feel guilty spending spilled into the comments section to share their experiences.

One mum said: 'I saved as much as I could while working so I don't have to spend my husband's money while on Mat leave. We both still pay into the joint account as well. I somehow can't bring myself to spend 'his' money...', while another explained why she feels guilty: 'Currently on mat leave, when I used to be the higher earner. Really struggling to spend the money from my husband's job, albeit my husband really pushes for me to have treats. I just know how hard it is to earn money and I don't feel like it's mine to spend.'

Another added '100%! I hide my deliveries!!'

But those who didn't feel guilty were quick to explain why. One responded saying: "My husband reminds me that he can't do his job without my support and looking after the running of the house and the kids...' while another explained that '...it's a household income not individual when you share and home and children.'

Mums also explained that the sacrifices they'd made when having children assuaged any guilt they might feel at spending money on themselves. One explained: '...We sacrifice so much physically, mentally, emotionally...' while another said '...Looking after kids is a full time job. I deserve to treat myself if we can afford it.'

A couple of mums also explained how they set up their finances with their partner to avoid any guilt spending. One mum commented: 'We've set up our finances so I don't have to be beholden to him. Everything goes into one pot, but we have equal discretionary spends. I work full time now but it still worked when i was on mat leave and working part time.'

Another said: 'Both our wages get paid into one account, we pay all the bills and put an amount away in savings and then split what is left equally to spend on ourselves as we wish...'

Mothers earning less than their partners is part of the motherhood penalty, which we are a way away from eliminating, demonstrated by the findings that working mothers earned 43 per cent less than fathers in 2023. This can often leave mothers having to weigh up whether it's actually financially worth returning to work after having a baby.