logo
Summer holidays harder than a wedding or a new baby, parents say

Summer holidays harder than a wedding or a new baby, parents say

North Wales Live11 hours ago
Stressed parents claim the school holidays are one of life's biggest challenges - beating launching a business, planning a wedding and even having a new baby. Two-fifths of Brits tear their hair out juggling work and childcare, with starting a business, planning a wedding and preparing for a new baby are believed to be less stressful.
According to research, parents of kids aged four up to 16 admitted when the six-week break begins they feel 'financially strained', 'overwhelmed' and 'disorganised'. More than half of the 1,000 parents quizzed in the survey by Just Eat said they were desperate for a 'summer lifeline' to help look after them and their kids.
Just Eat has launched Just Eat+, a new pre-paid membership service that unlocks unlimited free delivery. Alongside trying to juggle busy schedules, a quarter of parents said summer was the most unpredictable season and 47% said at least half of their summer plans end up cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
From bad weather to children becoming unwell and unexpected overtime at work, there's always something putting a spanner in the works no matter how much prep parents do. Parents also said they have more social plans in summer than any other month, despite this nearly two thirds (63%) wish they could be more spontaneous.
More than a quarter said the fear of splashing the cash held them back from being spontaneous with plans. Almost two-thirds of parents say that during the summer holidays they like to treat themselves to little luxuries more often than usual to keep spirits up.
Parents said on average they spend more during summer compared to winter and Christmas, at £556.72 a month in summer compared to £507.98 a month in winter. 67% of parents actively search for discount codes during the summer break.
With Just Eat+ subscribers have unlimited free delivery and exclusive freebies- including a free Greggs sausage roll.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Controversial 'tourist tax' gets green light in historic first for Wales
Controversial 'tourist tax' gets green light in historic first for Wales

North Wales Live

time3 hours ago

  • North Wales Live

Controversial 'tourist tax' gets green light in historic first for Wales

Staying overnight in Wales will get a little more expensive from 2027 after the country's new visitor levy – dubbed a tourist tax – was green-lighted. The levy is the first local tax for more than 500 years to have been designed and legislated in Wales. In two years time, anyone staying in hotels or Airbnbs will have £1.30 per night added to the cost of their stays – plus VAT in many cases. People overnighting in hostels and on campsite pitches will pay 80p per night. The earliest the levy can be introduced will be in April 2027. With Plaid Cymru's support for the Bill, it was voted through with 37 Senedd Members in support, 13 against and no abstentions. The Welsh Conservatives immediately vowed to scrap the tax if the party wins the 2026 Senedd election. They warned an unlimited levy premium could be added by councils, further inflating costs. In the Senedd today (Tuesday, July 8), North Wales Tory MS Sam Rowlands said the tax was 'bad for Wales and bad for the Welsh tourism sector'. His party was accused by finance secretary Mark Drakeford of trying to 'catastrophise this very modest measure'. 'You really would think that nobody would ever travel to a holiday destination in Wales again,' he told the meeting. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Noting that visitor levies were now common worldwide, the minister added. 'Our research tells us unequivocally that the revenue generated has significantly contributed to environmental protection, the enhancement of facilities and infrastructure, the preservation of natural beauty, while supporting the visitor economy – all without deterring tourism. We want the same for Wales.' The plans have been changed slightly since they were first announced following calls to exempt children and young people. The revised plan, now agreed, is for all under-18-year-olds to be exempt from the lower tier accommodation – campsites, hostels and outdoors centres. This has resulted in higher prices for others (up from £1.25 and 75p respectively). The cost is still 'less than a sausage roll', Mr Drakeford has insisted. Officials hope the tax will raise up to £33m-a-year to improve tourist destinations – but that's only if all local authorities in Wales choose to implement the levy. Already there are signs some will baulk at the idea: in South Wales, Swansea, Newport, Caerphilly, Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf have no current plans to introduce the tax, while Pembrokeshire won't consider it until after the 2027 council elections. In North Wales, Wrexham Council's leader has vowed to fight its implementation. Cllr Mark Pritchard told the Telegraph the idea was 'foolish' at a time when so many Brits were struggling. Since the Hollywood takeover of Wrexham AFC in 2021, the city has seen a 20% year-on-year rise in tourism visits. Most councils are waiting to see the final legislation and say that any decisions will depend on public consultations. Only Cardiff has said it plans to forge ahead, expecting to raise around £3.5m-£4m a year, while Anglesey (Ynys Môn) has said it is 'supportive of the principle'. Cyngor Gwynedd is also expected to levy the extra charge. Despite a negative economic impact assessment, there is strong support for the levy in communities worst affected by tourism. In high season locals must grapple with clogged roads, full car parks, erosion and mounds of litter. The impact on housing is another major bone of contention. The Act also establishes a register of visitor accommodation providers in Wales – this will provide data to support future tourism development. It will also inform 'subsequent phases for regulating visitor accommodation', said Mr Drakeford.

Brits can buy a home for €1 in French town that's set in a majestic natural park & gets 300 sunny days a year
Brits can buy a home for €1 in French town that's set in a majestic natural park & gets 300 sunny days a year

Scottish Sun

time10 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Brits can buy a home for €1 in French town that's set in a majestic natural park & gets 300 sunny days a year

The bargain buy comes with a long list of terms and conditions BON VOYAGE Brits can buy a home for €1 in French town that's set in a majestic natural park & gets 300 sunny days a year Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FRENCH town is offering Brits the chance to up sticks and purchase a house for just one euro. The quaint village, located in Auverne, central France is struggling with a declining population, so is offering the bargain properties in a bid to entice newcomers in to the area. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The quaint village is struggling with a declining population Credit: Alamy 5 Just 6,500 people currently live in Ambert Credit: Getty 5 The town is famous for the Forme d'Ambert cheese Credit: Alamy Italy launched a similar scheme back in 2017, with thousands relocating to idyllic Italian properties purchased for as little as 86p. Declining population Just 6,500 people currently live in Ambert, with locals hoping that the scheme will help to boost the population. The town, which is famous for the Forme d'Ambert cheese, has revealed a five year plan to improve the number of residents, with 60 percent of properties left vacant in one suburb. The wider scheme appears to have proven successful so far, as an extra class was added to the local school two years ago. Read more news stories APOCALYPSE NOW Inside abandoned British ghost town that looks straight out of Walking Dead Two one euro homes are currently on the market, both of which need significant renovations doing to them. Situated within a natural park Those who choose to purchase the homes will find themselves living within the surroundings of the stunning Natural Regional Park of Livradois-Forez. The natural park features rolling hills, deer, beautiful landscapes and plenty of quaint towns and villages to explore. In Ambert itself, you can find the Museum of Cheese, dedicated to Fourme d'Ambert, a blue cheese which dates back to Roman times. The town also has a paper mill, and a circular town hall called La Mairie. Plus, residents bask in 300 days of sunshine a year. I bought a one euro house in Italy - it now has its own spa and wine my dream home Homes come with strict terms and conditions Although the homes may seem like an absolute bargain, they come with their fair share of terms and conditions. To start with, anyone looking for a second-home is prohibited from snapping up the one euro properties. Plus, although the initial cost is extremely low, the two homes will be expensive to renovate. Once the houses have been made habitable, the owners are required to live in them for at least three years. Four cheap home renovation tricks YOU don't have to spend loads to give a room a new look. Here are five other home renovation tricks you can try. Kitchen cupboards One way to give your kitchen a complete transformation for less is to change the look of the kitchen cupboards. There are loads of different vinyl coverings out there to choose from, and it's a quick and easy way to update your home. Handles Another thing you can try that won't break the bank is to change up the handles. You can pick up relatively cheap handles in DIY stores, or even in the charity shop. Adding new ones to your kitchen cupboards, or doors in your house, can be extremely effective. Leftovers Most of us have old half-used tins of paint in the garage, but they're often forgotten about. However, there may be enough in the pot to paint a feature wall in another room, and you won't have to spend a penny. Freebies It's worth checking your local Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle, to see what other people are getting rid of. As they say, one person's trash is another person's treasure. And if someone's planning to revamp a room, they might want to get rid of a sofa, or a coffee table, which you could use to give a lounge a new look. If they do not, hefty fines could be given out, including paying back any government grants given out for refurbishment. If you're looking for a job once you've moved to Ambert, the town's historic chamber of commerce and industry building is currently undergoing renovations. Once it reopens in 2026, it will bring lots of new jobs for locals. You will of course, have to brush up on your French though. One Brit who previously bought one of Italy's one euro homes, told how it hardly cost anything to renovate. Another revealed that hundreds are now desperate to pay to rent his one euro home. 5 The Church of Saint-Jean d'Ambert in the town centre Credit: Alamy

Summer holidays harder than a wedding or a new baby, parents say
Summer holidays harder than a wedding or a new baby, parents say

North Wales Live

time11 hours ago

  • North Wales Live

Summer holidays harder than a wedding or a new baby, parents say

Stressed parents claim the school holidays are one of life's biggest challenges - beating launching a business, planning a wedding and even having a new baby. Two-fifths of Brits tear their hair out juggling work and childcare, with starting a business, planning a wedding and preparing for a new baby are believed to be less stressful. According to research, parents of kids aged four up to 16 admitted when the six-week break begins they feel 'financially strained', 'overwhelmed' and 'disorganised'. More than half of the 1,000 parents quizzed in the survey by Just Eat said they were desperate for a 'summer lifeline' to help look after them and their kids. Just Eat has launched Just Eat+, a new pre-paid membership service that unlocks unlimited free delivery. Alongside trying to juggle busy schedules, a quarter of parents said summer was the most unpredictable season and 47% said at least half of their summer plans end up cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. From bad weather to children becoming unwell and unexpected overtime at work, there's always something putting a spanner in the works no matter how much prep parents do. Parents also said they have more social plans in summer than any other month, despite this nearly two thirds (63%) wish they could be more spontaneous. More than a quarter said the fear of splashing the cash held them back from being spontaneous with plans. Almost two-thirds of parents say that during the summer holidays they like to treat themselves to little luxuries more often than usual to keep spirits up. Parents said on average they spend more during summer compared to winter and Christmas, at £556.72 a month in summer compared to £507.98 a month in winter. 67% of parents actively search for discount codes during the summer break. With Just Eat+ subscribers have unlimited free delivery and exclusive freebies- including a free Greggs sausage roll.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store