It can be difficult to tear the kids away from their games consoles, but whatever the weather and whatever their age, there are hundreds of fantastic days out for families in the UK – many of which are completely free of charge.

Many of the UK’s best attractions can be found on your doorstep. It is estimated that 20 million people live within an hour’s drive of a National Park – the Peak District is thought to be the second most-visited national park in the world. Fresh air, great walks and stunning scenery can be enjoyed by all the family and bringing along a tasty picnic can add to the sense of fun.

When the sun is shining, head for the beach – Britain has over 8,000 miles of beautiful coastline and young children are often at their happiest when building sandcastles and paddling in the sea. Search out Blue Flag beaches which have been judged to have the highest quality of water, safety, facilities, environmental education and overall management.

Online websites such as MoneySavingExpert.com feature a round-up of the latest free days out for families, including savings at theme parks, zoos, theatres and cinemas. Sign up to their free newsletter to make sure that you take advantage of the latest deals.

Look on your council website for other attractions near you – some museums, stately homes and parks offer free entry to local residents and some councils provide free leisure passes which give further discounts.

When only a day of thrills and spills will do, look out for 2-for-1 deals at theme parks such as Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park or go online to book your tickets in advance. Families can also save significant amounts of money by taking their own food and drinks, as onsite catering outlets are usually busy and extremely pricey. Note that some theme parks won’t allow you to bring your own food, so make sure you fill the kids up with a hearty breakfast before you arrive.

For more ideas for cheap days out visit www.visitbritain.co.uk.

Taking the plunge to go it alone and become self-employed can be one of the most daunting things that you’ll ever do, yet it can have real financial rewards. Working from home and eliminating the need to commute can be extremely cost-effective, and there are many other benefits to take advantage of if you look around. Read on for some top tips on saving money and making the most of your career:

• Tip One – Get out there and start networking. Walking into a room full of strangers can be daunting, but it’s surprising how many connections can be made if you make the effort to socialise.  Many groups in major towns and cities host free business networking events where you can chat with like-minded individuals over a few drinks. Some are women-only and others are open to everyone. Check online for upcoming events in your area.
• Tip Two – Sign up for free business cards, pens, rubber stamps and more from online suppliers such as Vistaprint. You only pay for postage and processing and any upgrades such as ordering bigger quantities or the ability to upload your own company logo.
• Tip Three – Use social networking to spread the word about your business for free. Popular sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn allow you to promote yourself and to build a wide circle of industry contacts, all without leaving your desk!
• Tip Four – Cut the cost of expensive business calls by signing up with a low cost phone network such as 18866.co.uk which allows you to make international calls at extremely low rates. Alternatively encourage your suppliers and clients to contact you via free VOIP sites such as Skype.com. All you’ll need is a headset and microphone.
• Tip Five – Use free online PR tools to spread the word about your company. If you’re not used to writing press releases, use one of the templates to make the process easy. It’s also worth remembering that local journalists love to hear about small businesses making a name for themselves – if you have a great story, why not get in touch with your local newspaper or radio station to see if they can feature you?

Your wedding day should be all about celebrating love with your friends and family, but with the average wedding in the UK now costing an astounding £20,273 according to bridal magazine You and Your Wedding, it seems that more and more couples are left with a stack of bills rather than happy memories of their big day.

Of course, there are some aspects of your wedding which you can’t scrimp on – the registrar’s fees and your marriage certificate for example. But there are still many ways to cut costs without compromising on your dreams. Read on for our 5 best tips on how you can save money while still enjoying a day to remember for the rest of your life.

• Tip One – Many brides dream of a Summer wedding and few couples want to risk a downpour on their big day, but the truth is that couples can save a fortune simply by getting married in Spring or Autumn. These months are often classed as ‘off-peak’ by wedding suppliers and come with unexpected benefits – a wedding in March for example, allows brides the pick of the prettiest (and often cheapest) springtime flowers for their bouquets.
• Tip Two – Crafting has become incredibly popular in the past few years, so brides can now have a go at designing their own unique wedding invitations for a fraction of the cost charged by professional stationers. You could also try making your own table menus, seating plans and save the date cards – stores such as WH Smith and Hobbycraft have a huge selection of low cost crafting kits to choose from, and you can also buy supplies over the internet.
• Tip Three – Make eBay your friend! Many professional wedding suppliers now sell through online auction sites, and you can find extremely cheap wedding decorations and accessories. Many brides recoup money after their own weddings by selling off surplus invitations and even top-end designer wedding dresses at bargain prices.
• Tip Four – Save on your wedding cake by selecting a delicious off-the-shelf iced occasion cake from a quality supermarket. Alternatively you could ask a family friend to make your cake instead of purchasing a traditional wedding gift.
• Tip Five – Food and drink costs can often spiral out of control, with some wedding venues insisting on expensive set menus. Do your research on wedding websites to find venues who will allow you to supply your own wine, and ease the stress of wedding planning by enjoying a low-cost booze cruise across the Channel as part of your wedding preparations!

Thousands of people join the gym each year in an effort to get fit and lose weight, but for many the good intentions are soon forgotten and the monthly direct debit membership fees become a real drain on finances. Read on to discover ways of keeping fit for less.

If you’re looking to improve your overall fitness, but don’t want to get tied into a contract, it’s worth knowing that many gyms now offer free trials, which allow you to sample what’s on offer before committing yourself. Most of the big gyms will give you a free one-day pass – all you need to do is visit their websites online and sign up. The Gym Website has all the latest deals from clubs such as Fitness First, LA Fitness and LivingWell.

Alternatively, if you know a friend or family member who regularly attends a local gym, ask if they have any free guest passes. Many health clubs give these to members in the hope that they will recommend others to join once they’ve tried the facilities for free.

Once you’ve decided to join a gym, try asking the staff at reception to see what deals they can give you. The lowest prices can often be negotiated during the summer months when most people have abandoned the New Year’s fitness resolutions that they made in January.

If you’re in the fortunate position of living somewhere with multiple gyms, don’t be afraid to haggle with the reception staff – you can save significant amounts of money if you’re prepared to be forceful and have the option to take your business elsewhere.

To save even more cash, check out the fitness facilities at your council leisure centre or local college/university campus. There may not be many frills such as juice bars and fancy changing rooms but you can usually pay per visit, meaning that you’re not tied in to a contract.

Many fitness activities, such as walking, running and cycling can be done completely free of charge in your own neighbourhood. Even a half-hour trip to the park with your neighbour’s dog can prove to be a real workout if you have the energy!  Or if you prefer to exercise with a friend, why not buy a fitness DVD or a copy of Wii Fit and have a giggle trying to keep up with all the moves?