NOW that we’re in the midst of the 12 days of Christmas, it’s time to take a look at my 12 months of thriftmas.
I’m a queen of money-saving when it comes to holidays and days out – and here’s my calendar of little-known dates for getting money off tickets.
Some years I’ve saved £1000, just by following my thriftmas calendar.
Obviously we all know about the January sales and Black Friday, but there’s also other deals that pop up month by month that you can make the most of.
In January, cashback sites often boost the amount they offer when booking holiday accommodation or package deals, so you can make a hefty saving while getting your family trip away sorted.
One year, I booked a fortnight all-inclusive in Fuerteventura for my family of five and paid £1,930 upfront for the hotel and meal package, receiving £216 back in my Quidco account a few months later once my cashback had tracked.
Read more on travel inspo
For February, my top tip would be to take a look at which theme parks will be giving out a pair of free tickets on Sun Club or Sunsavers and make a note of when each offer will be launched.
I managed to bag tickets to Chessington in the summer holidays this year by booking as soon as they were on offer on Sun Club in February.
One date that most parents overlook is World Book Day in March.
I’ve got my boys into soft plays and trampoline parks free before, just by turning up as a book character or taking part in a story-related activity.
You need to keep an eye out for posters at the venue or social media posts to see what pops up.
Easter can be a brilliant time to get early season two-for-one tickets as summer attractions start to open and want to bump up visitor numbers.
Sign up to the social media pages of your favourite days out and you’ll be surprised what discount codes pop up on there in April.
And you might even get some early season deals for theme parks at home and abroad.
One Easter we went to Parc Asterix near Paris and kids got in free with paying adults in the first couple of weeks of its season.
May half-term is fantastic for getting ahead before the big summer break if you plan a family day out wisely.
Lots of places convert your day ticket into an annual pass now, which means you’ll be able to use it several times during the summer season.
So if you choose a place like the Space Centre in Leicester and visit it in half-term, you can go back multiple times over the following year.
June is my time for planning days out for the long summer break.
I take a look at how much I have saved in supermarket loyalty schemes like Tesco Clubcard and work out how I can put that to best use over the summer.
Earlier this year, there was even a Clubcard boost that meant if you converted £5 of points into a voucher for a day out, you would get an extra £10 of Clubcard points in your account by October.
Some schools plan inset days in July so you can use these to get into big attractions for term-time prices rather than paying a premium during the school holidays.
We often visit Warwick Castle in the early summer to beat the crowds.
In August, lots of indoor attractions like soft plays or adventure golf have offers to get visitors through the doors, as it can be quiet during holiday season with people away or making the most of the summer weather to get some fresh air.
September is when you get early bird deals for Santa’s grottos and winter wonderland experiences.
One year, I booked to see Santa at Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes for just £29 for five people, using a discount code.
If you fancy a cheeky little UK staycation, October half-term can be the perfect time to get a deal, because the school holidays are often staggered over three weeks so everyone is not trying to book the same week off, keeping prices lower.
We love visiting a caravan park for Halloween or Bonfire Night as you usually get lots of themed activities or even a fireworks display included.
We all know about Black Friday in November and this can be the perfect time to grab discounted tickets to family attractions.
This year, I spotted half-price tickets to my local water park that could be used until the end of the year, so perfect for the Christmas holidays.
December is a great time to check any membership schemes you are signed up to, like Blue Light Card.
They often boost their offers in the run-up to Christmas.
This year, my favourite deal was children go free with paying adults to the Twycross Zoo winter light trail.
Now is the perfect time to get organised for the year ahead and think about what you want to book and when.
A little bit of planning can save you loads over the course of the year.
For other travel deals, here are 15 things to do now to save on your 2026 holiday – how to shave £300 off hotels and save £393 at the airport.
Plus, how to get a cheaper holiday – four tips and tricks revealed by travel experts.
