Schools Out For Summer… Savings!

9 in 10 parents rely on deals for summer days out

• New research from Three UK reveals the cost of keeping a family of four entertained over the school holidays has risen by 41% over the last five years, as the average day out costs £58.65 more than in 2020
• Three has teamed up with money saving guru and TV presenter, Jordon Cox (AKA Coupon King), for hacks to help families cut the costs of time together this summer
• Customers on Three+ can enjoy a range of deals and rewards on meals, shopping and activities this summer and save up to £335* 

It’s no secret that keeping kids happy an occupied over the school holidays can come with a hefty price tag. The average family of four spends up to £201.89 on a day out compared to just £143.24 five years ago – a whopping 41% increase. To help ease the costs, mobile network Three is offering a range of perks and discounts on its Three+ rewards app**, helping families enjoy more, for less and save up to £335. 

Today’s research*** from Three shows how parents have come to rely on a good deal as nine out of ten (87%) confess to looking for a good deal or discount when planning for a day out to help ease costs. 

Insistent on getting the family outside to make memories together, Brits can feel innately stressed to find affordable activities (84%) once the last school bell rings. To help ease the pressure, Three has partnered with money saving guru, Jordon Cox aka TV’s Coupon King, to share his hacks for how families can save this school holiday:

• Fun Kids Activity… To EARN Money

Ever thought about writing to a supermarket brand? Most people don’t, but it can lead to coupons and savings. Brands appreciate creative feedback. Try a love poem or having the kids draw a picture. Send it by post, email, or even on social media. It’s not guaranteed, but it could brighten someone’s day – and earn vouchers. I once got £30 in coupons just for a poem! It’s a fun, money-saving activity to try with kids and keep them entertained.

• £1 Iced Drink Hack (Every Week)

Check mobile rewards for lots of freebies and discounts – Three has a great one! The Three+ app offers a barista made drink (of any size) for £1 every week at Caffè Nero. In the summer, customers can enjoy a cold frappe or fruit cooler that could cost over £5 normally.

• Keep An Eye Out While Doing The Weekly Shop

Hidden discounts on days out are everywhere – especially when supermarket shopping. When picking up a weekly shop, look for vouchers on food packaging – such as discounted or ‘2 For 1’ tickets for theme parks, free football camps and more. 

• Free In Store Activities For Kids

All summer, high street shops offer free kids’ events, sports and workshops: no purchase needed. Activities include crafting, meeting animals, learning about plants, or trying new tech. Search ‘free in store activities’ online to find local options.

• Free Cancellation Trick To Save £££ On Summer Holidays

Booked a hotel or car hire with ‘free cancellation’ – do another search now to see if the price has changed on the dates, if it has gone down – cancel, rebook, and potentially save £100s!

From getting the glow of a good deal, to spending time together, parents and caregivers want to create memories that will last. However, the majority (91%) agree the cost of giving kids a good time this summer has escalated over the past half decade, seeing the highest rise in costs with overnight stays (27%) and activities themselves (24%). 

Jordon Cox, money saving guru and TV presenter, said: “It can be a little daunting for families struggling to entertain their kids whilst also not breaking the bank. The power of coupons, deals and being ‘in the know’ of freebies, is such a powerful tool to have – especially during the summer holidays. You might think saving £5 on a cinema ticket or a meal isn’t a lot… but it truly does add up.”

A Three UK spokesperson said: “At Three we understand that the school holidays can feel long and daunting for parents and grandparents.  So, we want to help ease some stress by offering a range of exciting perks and rewards to suit everyone. Whether it’s catching the latest summer blockbuster, cooling off with an iced coffee or enjoying a meal out, our Three+ app helps customers do what they love for less.”

Offers from Three+ include:

• Weekly £1 coffees from Caffè Nero and local coffee shops
• Weekend Cineworld and Picturehouse tickets for just £3
• Kids Go Free to top London shows with Official London Theatre
• £5 off Just Eat when you spend £10
• 25% off an annual English Heritage membership
• 10% off West End tickets with LOVEtheatre

Three UK is one of the brands of the newly merged VodafoneThree, which is the UK’s largest mobile provider. VodafoneThree is investing £11bn in building the UK’s best network, delivering reliable, quality connectivity to all communities – from big cities to small towns, and everywhere in between – reaching 99.95% population coverage by 2034. Over the coming months, Vodafone and Three customers will also start to benefit from unrivalled access to roam across each other’s networks, at no extra cost.

Latest Three+ offers:

FOOD & DRINK

• Caffè Nero and local coffee shops – £1 hot or cold barista made drink (Ongoing, renews weekly)
• Just Eat (inc McDonald’s and KFC) – £5 off when you spend £10 (Expires 31st Aug 2025)
• Local restaurants (inc Papa John’s, Las Iguanas, Ask Italian) – £5 off when you spend £20 (Expires 10th Aug 2025)

DAYS OUT

• Cineworld & Picturehouse – £3 tickets at weekends (Fri-Sun) (Ongoing, renews weekly)
• LOVEtheatre – 10% off tickets (Expires 31st Dec 2025)
• Official London Theatre – Kids go free (Offer expires 11th Aug, tickets can be used up to 31st Aug 2025)
• English Heritage – 25% off annual membership for 2x adults and up to 12 children = £36 (Expires 31st Dec 2025)
• Tiqets (discounted tickets to top attractions) – Get up to 45% off museums, theme parks, zoos and more, plus an extra 10% off with Three+ (Expires 31st Dec 2025)

STAYING OVER

• Trip.com – 10% off selected hotels (Expires 31st Aug 2025)
• Airparks – Up to 30% off airport parking (Expires 31st Dec 2025)

FOR THE KIDS

• Go Henry – Two months free, plus £15 pocket money (Expires 31st Dec 2025)
• Banjo Robinson – Free activity pack (Expires 31st Dec 2025)