School's officially out, and if you're already feeling that familiar panic about keeping the kids entertained without breaking the bank, you're definitely not alone. New research has revealed that a whopping 80% of Irish parents are seriously worried about the cost of summer activities – and honestly, we totally get it.
Between entrance fees, snacks, petrol, and those inevitable gift shop purchases, a simple day out can easily spiral into a €100+ expense. And when you're looking at keeping the kids busy for eight whole weeks? The numbers start getting pretty scary.
The research, which surveyed over 1,000 Irish parents, found that cost isn't our only summer headache. Weather worries came in second at 73% (because nothing ruins a planned beach day quite like Irish rain!), followed by work commitments at 53%. Many of us are also stressing about keeping our little ones entertained (75%) and finding enough activities locally (65%).
Despite all these concerns, Irish families are still planning an ambitious average of seven days out over the summer months. We're clearly determined to make memories, even if our bank accounts are giving us the side-eye!
In terms of bank accounts, the survey revealed that families typically spend around €77 per child on summer activities, with a third of parents shelling out over €100 per child. If you have more than one child in your family, these costs can easily make your head spin - but there is now a possibility to slash those costs significantly!
Rowntree has teamed up with the Kids Pass app to offer parents discounts of up to 40% on family days out. This means that you and your little ones could be saving €30 or more on a typical family outing.
The best part? It's incredibly simple. Just pick up a promotional Rowntree's sharing pack (anything from Fruit Pastilles or Randoms, to their new Jelly Tots Tangy), scan the QR code on the pack, sign up for Kids Pass, and you'll get access to over 1,500 offers across Ireland through the Kids Pass app.
This promotion runs until August 31, and is available for new Kids Pass customers only. This deadline gives you plenty of time to stock up and plan some amazing (and affordable) adventures. Whether you're thinking of cinema trips, adventure parks, museums, or activity centres, those Kids Pass discounts could transform your budget.
We all want to give our kids an amazing summer filled with adventures and memories. This little hack might just be the key to doing exactly that – without the financial stress that usually comes with it.
