Most parents will spend the next few weeks desperately trying to think of ways to keep the little ones entertained.

Unfortunately, as with most other things in the current climate, the cost of keeping children happy can be high.

There is a plethora of reports on people getting in to huge debt trying to keep their children happy and keeping up with the Joneses, with summertime one of the biggest threats to household finances.

We know travel companies bump up the cost of holidays at peak times, so much so that around 1.8 million families are planning to “trade school days for cheaper holidays”, according to research from Gocompare, in a bid to save an average of £664 on their holiday spending.

Of course, this is not an ideal solution. And for many parents, even taking a holiday in term time is becoming just too expensive, so they plan to holiday at home instead.

Whatever you decide to do this summer – whether you are going away or staying at home, here are some simple ways to reduce the amount you are spending:

• Use a cashback site to book holidays and days out- saving money on items you are going to buy anyway is a no brainer, and using cashback sites such as TopCashBack and Quidco means you will be paid for buying things you need. There are often deals on adventure parks, spa days and trips to the cinema – just keep an eye out as deals tend to have a time limit.

• Vouchers – you can get money-off vouchers for everything from meals out to days out, and it is definitely worth searching a variety of sites to check for the deals that suit you best. Try Bownty.com – they gather deals from various sites in one place. Also, make sure you actually use the vouchers you buy; otherwise it’s a waste of money.

• Book your travel early – if you plan on using trains on a day out make sure you book as early as possible. Experts say that you should start looking for cheap tickets as soon as 10-12 weeks before you need to travel to get the best deals, so now is the time to book a trip for the summer holidays. Travel website thetrainline.com has a useful ticket alert system that tells you as soon as cheap rail tickets are released.

• Check your council website for freebies or summer offers – everything from fun days at the leisure centre to drama courses aimed at kids will be on offer. They are normally free or at a discount and are good way for your kids to acquire new skils. Check local websites for details.

• Cheap or free days out – visitbritain.com and visitengland.com both have a range of ideas for cheap and free days out across the UK. You can also check out dofreestuff.com which breaks attractions down by county, and dayoutwiththekids.co.uk gives you an interactive search tool to help find the best local days out for you.

• Try the local carboot sale – if you’re looking for a paddling pool, a cheap BBQ or even some deck chairs to enjoy the sunshine in your own back garden, head to your nearest carboot sale. You’ll often nab these essentials at a fraction of their retail price. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like heading out – sites like eBay are a good place to have a look through what other people are getting rid of and to get some serious discounts.

• Bulk buy – supermarkets often have summer specials on meat for the BBQ, snacks for the kids and other goodies. Stocking up on those could make the world of difference if you manage to get the right deal.

• Summer toiletries – this is a no brainer. Throughout the seasons, most retailers offer big discounts on things like sun lotion and after sun, conditioner etc. Make sure you stock up when the discounts are good, rather than pay the otherwise very hefty prices. If the shop you are buying from has a reward/points card – use it. These cards are a great way to make extra money to pay towards things later down the line.

• Dining out – there is nothing nicer than having a meal out on a summer’s evening. Make the most of your budget by using discounts where possible through sites like TopTable or the tastecard offers. Look out for big discounts in some top name restaurants.