Ahh, the summer holidays. That magical stretch of time when the days feel longer, the kids seem hungrier (constantly!) and the budget… well, let’s just say it gets stretched. There are so many things to do during the school holidays that the costs of entertaining little ones soon add up.
So let’s figure out some ways that you can make the most of your time off over the school holidays with a few simple money-making habits. These can make all the difference to your family budget this summer – and most of them can be done from home, in your flip-flops, sitting in the garden with an iced coffee in hand.
Here are my favourite ways to earn, make, save and even win a little extra during the sunny season…
Declutter & Cash In: Selling Secondhand Treasures
Every summer, I seem to get the urge to fling open my wardrobe and have a good clear out. Maybe it’s the sunshine, maybe it’s the fact that I can actually see the bottom of the laundry basket for once after hanging all those loads of washing on the line. Either way, decluttering is the perfect excuse to make some extra cash over the next few weeks.
Here are my go-to places to sell secondhand items:
- Vinted – Brilliant for clothes, shoes and accessories. I’ve sold everything from dresses to handbags here. I’m popping some almost-never-worn sandals on there later today, so fingers crossed for a quick sale. The good thing about Vinted is that you can keep all your earnings within your balance and withdraw a nice lump sum at the end of the school hols!
- Facebook Marketplace – Ideal for bulky items like furniture, garden bits or kids’ toys. Often, this is a quick-moving option for selling stuff; if you price it well, an item can be picked up quickly, and you’ll have cash in your hand by lunchtime, ready for when the ice-cream van comes around the town!
- eBay – Great for collectables, electronics or anything with a niche audience. You can sell things with buy-it-now prices if you want a quick sale, or wait for a week-long auction to end and see what you get.
- Car boot sales – A fun weekend activity, especially if you rope in a friend. You’ll be amazed how quickly those 50p items add up. Plus, the kids can choose to sell their own items and make some extra pocket money.
- Depop – Perfect if you’ve got vintage or quirky fashion pieces.
- Gumtree – Still a solid option for local selling, especially household items. Plus, if you need to get rid of something in a hurry and are happy to give it away, I’m sure someone will come to pick it up for free in super-fast time.
Here’s a handy tip for selling online: Photograph everything in natural daylight. Summer sunshine = instant “ooh that looks nice” vibes. I’ve previously written about 5 things you can do with your clothes after a clear-out, so be sure to have a read of that article for more ideas.
Home-Based Ways to Make Extra Money (Around Family Life)
If you’re juggling childcare, picnics, day trips to the seaside or zoo, and the occasional meltdown (yours or theirs), you’ll want flexible ways to earn money that fit around family life.
Here are some ideas that have worked for me and friends:
- Freelance writing or admin tasks – Websites like Fiverr or PeoplePerHour are full of bite-sized jobs with no future commitment.
- Pet sitting or dog walking – Summer is peak holiday season, so demand is high.
- Crafting and selling handmade items – Think jewellery, personalised gifts or upcycled home décor. There are masses of outdoor markets and craft fairs at this time of year where you can sell your creations.
- Renting out unused space – A driveway, a shed, a parking spot near the beach, you’d be surprised what people will pay for.
- Tutoring or teaching a skill online – Whether it’s maths, a language or crochet, there’s always someone looking to learn and you can organise your appointments around family life. For example, I’m doing some knit-along classes online this summer with LearnToKnit and it’s so much fun!
The beauty of these? You can dip in and out whenever you have a spare hour.
Winning Money or Prizes You Can Sell
Now, here’s a fun one and a bit of a personal favourite. I’ve always loved competitions – not the “spend £5 to enter” type, but the free or low-cost ones that feel like a tiny thrill of possibility. Remember #FreebieFriday from many years ago? Plus, I love a raffle at the local summer fete!
The important thing is understanding how online prize competitions actually work, and how to make the most of them on a budget. The key is to spot a fair one, so you need to look out for clear terms and conditions, transparent closing dates, a list of previous winners, no pressure to buy anything and a UK-based promoter with contact details. The most legitimate competitions fall into one of these categories:
- Free prize draws – No purchase necessary.
- Skill-based competitions – Answering a question or completing a small task.
- Raffle-style competitions – Usually low-cost entry, often supporting a charity or small business.
Rather than spending out ££s to enter competitions, I stick with the free ones, and I set myself a tiny “competition budget” each summer – usually no more than £5-£10 for local events and raffles at the summer fete – and stick to it. You can absolutely enjoy the hobby without spending anything at all, especially if you focus on free draws and entering competitions online like those you’ll find at Coast Competitions.
And here’s the best part: if you win something you don’t need (a gadget, a hamper, a gift set), you can sell it on Vinted, eBay or Marketplace. It’s like a little bonus income stream. Just remember to keep it fun, light-hearted and low-pressure – and don’t ever commit too much money to the venture.
Image from Beach School by Georgina Maw
Make the Most of Summer Discounts, Freebies & Clever Savings
One of my favourite things about the summer holidays – aside from the ice creams, seaside strolls and the excuse to eat dinner in the garden – is the glorious abundance of seasonal discounts and freebies from attractions and restaurants. Honestly, if you keep your eyes peeled, you can save a surprising amount just by being a little bit savvy.
Every year I make it a mini mission to hunt down offers that help stretch the budget when I’m taking my nieces and nephews out for the day. It’s become a bit of a game – let’s see how much we can save! Here are some of the best ways to save money while still enjoying the sunshine:
- Local attraction deals – Many UK museums, farms, parks and heritage sites offer discounted entry during the holidays. Some even have “kids go free” days, and you can find entry vouchers in newspapers or on cereal packets etc.
- Restaurant apps & loyalty schemes – Summer is prime time for freebies. Think free coffees, birthday treats, bonus points and 2-for-1 offers. Almost all supermarket cafes, many takeaway chains and some restaurants promote ‘kids eat free’ offers during the school hols.
- Supermarket yellow-sticker hunts – I swear the best ‘whoopsie’ bargains appear around 6pm. Grab reduced picnic bits or BBQ items and freeze anything you don’t use straight away.
- Community swap groups – Facebook groups and local WhatsApp communities are brilliant for toy swaps, book exchanges and free garden furniture.
- Library events – Free craft sessions, Lego club, reading challenges and kids’ activities save money and keep little ones entertained. And just borrowing library books is a great way to encourage reading (maybe on a picnic blanket in the garden!) over the school holidays. Plus, our local library loans out sports equipment and other items too, so see what’s available to borrow at yours.
- Summer sales – If you need something, buy it during the seasonal sales rather than full price. But only if you actually need it: no “just browsing” unless you’re feeling very disciplined.
- Local days out – There are so many free days out you can enjoy locally – playing in the park, strolling through the woods, splashing around at the seaside. Add an activity like making a journey stick and the little ones will stay entertained all day long.
The best part of making the most of freebies and discounts? Every pound you save is an extra pound you can redirect into your summer budget, rainy-day fund or a little treat for yourself. And honestly, there’s something quite satisfying about knowing you’ve outsmarted the budget without sacrificing any fun.
Summer is such a lovely time to refresh your space, try new things and give your budget a gentle boost. Whether you’re selling forgotten treasures, picking up a flexible side-hustle or entering a few fun competitions, every little bit adds up and it can feel surprisingly empowering to be making the most of your time off, financially.
I’d love to hear what you’re trying this summer. Drop your ideas, successes or questions in the comments, or explore more money-saving and money-making tips in my family finances blog post. Let’s make this the season of sunshine and side-hustles together. 🙂
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