GOT TO KEEP THE CHILDREN AMUSED THIS SUMMER?

With a little help from Direct Debit, it doesn't have to break the bank

~ Spread the cost of school holiday activities with Direct Debit ~

SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE A FACT OF LIFE FOR ALL PARENTS, testing your ability to keep them busy whilst at the same time not breaking the bank. How, you ask, when the average family day out in London alone costs £11 per head before transport and refreshments*? All it takes is a little bit of early planning and some financial help courtesy of a free booklet produced by the UK banking industry.

For a Carefree Summer - A Cure for the Summer Bills Blues is a handy, pocket-sized 16-page booklet, edited by personal finance expert GILLIAN BARTON, providing helpful pointers on how to handle your finances generally this summer.

Tips include:

• Start planning days out during term time, putting a little money aside into a short-term savings account.
• Discuss with the children what activities they would like to do (it may not always mean going out) and programme in these ideas across the summer.
  
• Make up a household rota to share the chores - after all, they're at home as much as you are now!
  
• Arrange your bill payments with Direct Debit, so you can spend time enjoying yourself with the children, and not having to worry about posting cheques or queuing to pay bills.

With Direct Debit, it's almost as though the bills take care of themselves! Now if only it could take care of the washing up, ironing, vacuuming, babysitting....

To get your FREE copy of For a Carefree Summer - A Cure for the Summer Bills Blues, send a 16cm x 16cm SAE to For a Carefree Summer - A Cure for the Summer Bills Blues, Freepost LOL 1954, De Havilland Road, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 5BR.

*Source: (London Tourist Authority)