Mum, dad... I’m bored! Here’s a few tips for parents on how to keep their children entertained for less during the summer holidays.

They have been drawn up by a Great Yarmouth debt counselling charity with those having to watch the pennies in mind.

Pat Hillier, Great Yarmouth CAP debt centre manager, said: “Parents across the land are asking one question: What can we do with the kids on a limited budget? When we see local families, who have little or no money, the people who suffer, often in silence, are the children.

“The last thing on the mind of their parents is a day out or doing something, because there is a general misconception that this costs money. Hopefully, these tips will show that this isn’t true.”

The tips come from the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Great Yarmouth Debt Centre, run by Park Baptist Church, which has helped 20 local people in the last six months.

1 Kitchen Fun: Baking buns, making iced lollies and doing the dinner are always great activities. You will find the BBC Good Food website a treasure trove, with a special children’s section filled with simple cheap recipes. Go to www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/cooking-projects-kids

2 Movie club: Get together with some other parents and take it in turns to host a movie night once a week. Save money on snacks by making popcorn from kernels on the hob; you can get a 500g bag for just 99p and it’s fun to watch them pop. Second-hand DVDs are just as good, so hunt in the charity shops.

3 Creative mess: Start filling a shoebox with bits and bobs today. Whether it’s old toilet roll tubes, magazines, plastic bottles or loose bits of string, keep it all. When a rainy day comes, you’ll have a go-to craft box to keep the kids entertained. It’s amazing the things you can make with a toilet roll tube and a bit of imagination!

4 Free places to go: There are many that don’t charge for admission. A comprehensive lists can be found, along with special offers for paid attraction, at www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-days-out

For debt help call 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org