SUMMER school hols need not burn a hole in your pocket.

Withsummeractivities costing around £500 per child, many families are choosing to spend time together instead - but even cute day-outs can end up costing a fortune.

Luckily, one cash-savvy mum has come to rescue with easy tips that will slash the costs - and turns out, there's even a simple way to get petrol for less when driving around.

Offering a helping hand to fellow parents, mum Kelly, from Portsmouth, took to TikTok to share hacks to keep the expenses as low as possible.

One of these, she recently revealed in the video, is preparing lunch and taking it with them when out and about - saving a fortune on going to a cafe or a restaurant for some grub.

''I can't tell you the last time I didn't pack a picnic and that's just because they're really expensive.

''That can whack on an extra £40 - and I don't want to spend that on food.

''The kids never ask to eat and they're used to having a backpack - and actually, if you're walking around, it doesn't restrict you, you can just eat on the go.''

The same, she added, goes for drinks as well, with the mum carrying three to four water bottles to keep the brood hydrated.

As well as having their food ready, the parents also avoid popping into gift shops - unless it's someone's birthday.

''I don't buy anything from the gift shop and the kids have never wanted that because they've never known it.

''And that's probably got even easier as they've got older cause now they understand the value of money more.''

If your child, however, insists they do want that new overpriced toy, you should remind them of the teddy or another toy that's just now sitting in the corner.

While out and about you may also want some coffee for that extra energy kick - however, with coffee shop prices higher than ever, your dose of caffeine can easily all add up.

To keep the expenses as low as possible, the budget-friendly mum now carries a thermal flask with coffee which she can enjoy whenever and wherever.

''Lastly, getting to places. I'll calculate roughly how much petrol it's going to cost me.

''I will use an app called Petrol Prices to look for the cheapest petrol station in my area.

''There can be a massive difference between the most expensive to the cheapest, so I will plan that in advance.''

She went on: ''The most I spend on a day out whilst I'm there is probably £7 on ice creams - I'll let the kids have an ice cream - but that's usually about it.''

Kelly, who posts under the username @kellybudgetingandfamily, wrote in the caption: ''The days out themselves aren’t too bad, but when you start adding drinks, food, gift shop etc it all starts to really add up and before you know it you have spent hundreds!''