1. Savings tip: free camping instead of a hotel vacation
You met the old family tent in the attic? Perfect! Because that's what you need for this exciting savings tip:
Instead of a vacation in an all-inclusive holiday park, you will experience a real adventure during this vacation. It's off to family camping — but with all zip and zapp, please! Simply pitch your tent in a cozy corner in the garden. In the evening, you sit comfortably in front of the campfire, grill marshmallows and tell each other scary stories before you all snuggle up in your sleeping bags.
You don't have a garden or do you like it a bit more exciting?
Then it's time for family camping level 2. Ask a local farmer if you can pitch your tent on one of their fields. During the summer vacation season, many fields have already been mowed, so there is nothing wrong with a short camping night. If you are particularly brave, do you perhaps even pitch your tent in the middle of the cow pasture?
But be careful: A campfire is then, of course, taboo. Whether cow pasture or not: In the open field, the risk of fire in the summer months is too high for an open fire.
You don't have a tent or are you particularly close to nature?
Then family camping level 3 is just the thing for you. Instead of sitting in a tent, you simply snuggle up in your sleeping bags or under the blanket in the open air. Count shooting stars, search for constellations and, of course, tell exciting stories. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?
And all this for zero euros.
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2. Savings tip: Pay for an adventure pass separately instead of paying everything separately
Theme park, swimming pool, zoo, and, and, and. This quickly adds up to a few hundred euros for the whole family — even if you use coupons and family days. And somehow you think three times before every visit to the swimming pool whether that really has to be the case, right?
Having carefree fun and enjoying your holidays is different. With experience passes, for example!
Experience passes are available for a one-time purchase price. This is, of course, higher than a single park entrance fee for now. In return, it opens the door to many attractions for you — and suddenly the purchase price is a real bargain. Because you can use many of the participating attractions completely free of charge, others with significantly reduced admission prices.
Popular experience passes include:
- The RUHR.TOPCARD (Ruhr area/ NRW)
- The Merlin adventure pass
- The Berlin Super Vacation Pass
- The discovery pass for the Nuremberg metropolitan area
Many cities and regions also offer special holiday passes for children, which allow your kids to travel completely free of charge during the summer vacation. These holiday passes are usually available for just a few euros.
So just find out what savings offers and adventure passes are available in your region!
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3. Savings tip: Say “yes” instead of “no”
Just become a “yes-man.” Huh? That doesn't sound like fun at all. And pretty expensive too.
Admittedly, we were also a bit irritated at first when we heard about it. But now we find the experiment super exciting: Just let your kids take charge for a day. And you say to everything: “Yes, of course! ”
“Do we eat marble cake for breakfast? ” — “Yes, of course! ”
“Are we going on a bike ride and having a picnic along the way? ” — “Yes, of course! ”
“Are we having a pillow fight all over the apartment? ” — “Yes, of course! ”
You'll be surprised how this day unfolds. Definitely completely different from what you imagine him to be. You can find a great review of the experiment here.
By the way: If you have several kids, each of them will of course get their own boss day. That way, there is no dispute.
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4. Savings tip: Do it yourself instead of buying
A trip to the ice cream parlour? Going to the pizzeria in the evening? Not on DIY Day! Because today you do everything yourself.
This holiday trick is suitable for both sunny and rainy holidays and is guaranteed to be super fun and super delicious.
You do everything from A to Z together. First, you buy all the ingredients you need for your homemade day together. Yeast and flour for the breakfast rolls, cream, milk and chocolate for the homemade chocolate ice cream, cheese and delicious toppings for the pizza. And then it's off to the kitchen.
As a family, rummage through the recipes, try them out, snack on the dough and be proud of your delicious creations together. This strengthens the sense of family and makes you all a bit fitter in everyday family life. Who knows: Maybe you'll keep up with one or the other cooking or baking ritual even after the holidays?
By the way: The DIY Day is also a great idea when mom or dad has to work during the holidays. After work, those staying at home surprise the hard-working bee with a delicious 3-course meal — completely homemade, of course.
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5. Savings tip: Just do nothing instead of doing something every day
Just don't do anything? Sounds wonderful! At least for you as a mom or dad. After all, this is far too neglected in stressful everyday life. But it's not for kids. It's way too boring, isn't it?
This boredom fallacy is common. But the truth is that it is important for children to simply be bored. Your kids don't need an entertainment program from you 24/7. Just let them do it and see what happens.
The dreaded “Mom, Dad, I'm soooo bored! “You skilfully overhear the sentence for that. And that's when it gets exciting.
Boredom promotes creativity and opens up completely new opportunities. Your kids suddenly come up with games for themselves, invite friends over, invent stories or start crafting their very own world.
Just give it a try!
But beware: watching TV, playing computer or gaming on the game console is of course taboo during this time!
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Extra tip: Leave the budget planning to your kids
Another ice cream when you visit the outdoor pool? Or going to the movies on the weekend? Just leave the cost planning to your kids! With the Bling Card, you give them a special budget that they have to manage during summer holidays, when visiting the outdoor pool or strolling around. Over time, they find out for themselves what they can afford and what they can't afford.
Of course, this also works when shopping for DIY Day, “Yes Man” Day and all other plans for your summer vacation. Here you can find out exactly how the bling card works and how your child can make money wise by the way.
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