This is a featured, guest post.
Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few years, you can't have failed to notice that money is tight in the UK in this recession - and tight for countries in the Eurozone too.
Even so, plenty of us weren't going to let a thing like a global downturn get in the way of celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee! We got creative and thought of ways to celebrate that didn't cost the earth. So, with a four-day weekend ahead of us, we were planning street parties, picnics in the park and dusting down the Golden Jubilee bunting.
The Jubilee was a day of national pride for many people, as we marked 60 years of the Queen as Head of State. In fact, a survey by www.thinkmoney.co.uk found that just 5% of people planned to head overseas for the Jubilee, and the rest of us were celebrating right here in the UK, with many focused on saving money at the same time.
There are so many things to do and see in the UK that don't involve spending much money, and if there's one thing we've (had to) become good at, it's entertaining ourselves on a rainy Bank Holiday!
So in the spirit of austerity, here are some family entertainment suggestions for a rainy Bank Holiday weekend the next time around.
DIY
DIY seems to get more popular during a recession, and it's not hard to see why. It's cheaper than paying someone else to fix or paint your house and it can even add value. A lot of people can't move home at the moment because of issues in the mortgage market, so fixing up your home is often a great idea.
Four days off work is the perfect time to get small jobs done around the house and it can be a great way for families to bond too - with everyone mucking in. And even small children can get involved in DIY - especially painting - because let's face it, they usually love anything messy!
Parks, areas of natural beauty, historical interest sites
You don't have to have membership to the National Trust to visit places of historical interest in the UK. There are places that are free to visit, like the Cerne Abbas chalk man in Dorset, the historical city of York, or any number of free nature trails in and around the UK.
You can find areas of outstanding beauty all around the UK. Just in England, the North has the Lake District, the Midlands has the Derbyshire Dales and the South has the stunning coastlines - and often better weather to enjoy them.
Staying at home
If you want to entertain your children closer to home, a party or picnic with their friends shouldn't make a massive dent in your wallet. Or, there are lots of museums and parks that allow free entry. And local swimming baths and sports centres often arrange subsidised child-friendly activities when they know the schools are closed.
Finding ways to spend a rainy Bank Holiday can be a nightmare for parents because kids can get crabby when they've been shut in all day, but in many ways, you're only limited by your imagination - which costs nothing.
What are your favourite things to do on a rainy Bank Holiday?
