Lynda Moore says at the end of the day, your kids won’t measure their holidays in dollars spent. They’ll remember the laughter, the little adventures, and the moments of connection

The school holidays are here again. If you’ve got school-age kids, you’ll know exactly what that means: excitement for them, logistics (and costs) for you. Suddenly, there are two full weeks of days to fill, meals to prepare, and activities to organise—all on top of the normal work and household juggle.

Holidays can be a wonderful chance to spend time together, but they can also bring financial pressure, especially when money already feels tight. The challenge becomes finding a balance: making sure your kids feel like they’ve had a great break without blowing the budget or running yourself ragged in the process.

I’m well out of the school holiday juggle, but I do remember what it was like trying to run my business, and keep my daughter entertained as well.  I would dread the dates in the calendar getting closer as I worked out what days I could take off to spend with her.

Which family members she could visit, and which friends, who didn’t have both working parents, she could stay with.  Plus of course there was the guilt I felt as I farmed her out left right and centre so I could keep working, which I had to do. Welcome to the world of parenthood!

So how do you manage it? Let’s break it down.

The Reality of Holiday Programmes

One of the biggest costs parents face during the school holidays is childcare. Holiday programmes can be fantastic—kids get to run around, make new friends, and try out fun activities—but at $40–$60 a day (sometimes more), the numbers add up quickly.

For two children, two weeks of full-day programmes can easily hit $800 or more. That’s a huge chunk of most family budgets. Some parents decide it’s simply not possible. Others sign up for part of the break and look for lower-cost options to fill the gaps.

This is assuming of course that your little darlings want to go to holiday programmes; as I recall, there is a certain age when it’s just not ‘cool’ anymore…

If you’re lucky, you might have family members or friends who can step in and help. Maybe Grandma takes them one day, or you swap with another parent: you take their kids for a morning, they take yours the next day. These arrangements can save money and sometimes give the kids even more fun because they’re with people they love.

I would send my daughter unaccompanied, with all the other kids flying round the country, to spend time with relatives.  My grandparents loved it, they took her out and did lots of fun activities (I think her favourite was going to the snow), she got to spend time with her uncles and cousins as well, which was a real treat. It also got me off the guilt trip, as I knew she was having a great time.

Who Takes Time Off?

Then there’s the question of work. Does one of you take leave to cover the school holidays? That might mean missing out on annual leave you’d rather use later, or losing income if you’re self-employed.

There’s no right answer here, it depends on your situation and your values. Some parents decide being there for their kids during holidays is worth the trade-off. Others need to keep working and find solutions elsewhere. Sometimes, you end up with a patchwork approach: a few days off, a few days of holiday programme, a bit of family help.

What matters is that you make the decision consciously, rather than sliding into whatever seems easiest at the time.

As a single parent, it wasn’t easy to work through this one, particularly if your ex has a new family and is doing the same juggle as you.

Talking to Your Kids About Money

Here’s another challenge: how do you explain to your children why they can’t do all the activities their friends are doing?

Kids notice. They hear about classmates going to theme parks, ski trips, or holiday camps. It’s natural for them to want the same. And it can feel awful as a parent to say no, especially when you’d love to give them those experiences.

But here’s the thing: saying no is part of teaching them about money. If you frame it carefully, it doesn’t have to feel like deprivation.

You might say:

• “We’ve decided to spend money on one special activity this holiday, and the rest of the time we’ll do fun things that don’t cost much.”
• “We can’t do everything, but we can choose what matters most.”
• “We’re saving up for something important, so we’re going to keep holidays simple this time.”

These conversations help kids learn about priorities, trade-offs, and the reality that money isn’t unlimited. They also show that fun doesn’t always mean expensive.

Low-Cost (and No-Cost) Holiday Ideas

Not every holiday memory comes with a price tag. Some of the best ones don’t cost a thing.

Think back to your own childhood. What do you remember most? Was it the big-ticket outings—or the small, simple things like playing outside, baking with Mum, or building a fort in the lounge?

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas that can still feel special:

• Neighbourhood adventures: Bike rides, scavenger hunts, or exploring a local park.
• At-home fun: Baking, craft projects, board games, or movie afternoons with popcorn.
• Community activities: Libraries often run free holiday programmes. Councils sometimes put on events too.
• DIY projects: Build a fort, start a veggie patch, or let the kids plan and cook dinner one night.
• Playdates: Team up with other parents to share the load and keep costs down.

What matters most is the sense of togetherness—and giving kids space to play, relax, and be creative.

Planning Ahead

School holidays come around four times a year, yet many families treat them like a surprise. If you can, start thinking ahead. Could you set aside a small amount each pay specifically for holiday costs? Even $10–$20 a week adds up over a term. By the time the next holidays roll around, you’ll have a little buffer ready.

Planning also helps with time. Book holiday programmes early if you need them—they fill fast. Map out the days so you’re not scrambling each morning to figure out what’s happening. A simple calendar on the fridge can save a lot of stress.

A Balanced Holiday

At the end of the day, your kids won’t measure their holidays in dollars spent. They’ll remember the laughter, the little adventures, and the moments of connection.

For my daughter and I, it was about quality time.  She understood our situation, and I always made sure we had at least one day a week during the holidays that we spent together. I didn’t answer my phone, and she could decide how we spent the day. We had some really fun times together.

If this year is tighter financially, that’s okay. In fact, it’s a chance to model resilience and creativity.

By showing them that fun doesn’t always come with a price tag, you’re giving them a lesson that will serve them for life.

So don’t feel pressured to keep up with everyone else. Do what works for your family. Take the pressure off yourself. And remember: sometimes the simplest holidays are the ones kids treasure the most.

*Lynda Moore is a Money Mentalist coach and New Zealand’s only certified New Money Story® mentor. Lynda helps you understand why you do the things you do with your money, when we all know we should spend less than we earn. You can contact her here.