Treats for twins and more that won't break the bank

If you have twins in tow days out can work out as very expensive treats. If you choose a zoo or amusement park not only do you have two sets of entrance fees to pay, you also have to add the cost of snacks, food and the inevitable toys. That's why summer sunshine is such a bonus for twin mums.

You don't have to add much to a warm day to make it into a fantastic adventure, and best of all it needn't cost the earth, even if you are catering for two. For some inspiration here are some cheap or free ways to keep the kids amused on a hot summer’s day, no matter how many you have. 

• Once your children are at school it’s easy to forget how much fun you can have at the park. They might have outgrown the playground –- although don’t bank on it -– but you should be able to capture their imagination by turning a trip to the park into a nature safari. Check out the BBC Wildlife Finder to help you indentify the wild animals sharing your environment. 

• A hot day, plus water, equals happy children. Whether it’s as simple as setting up a sprinkler on the lawn and watching the shriek as they run through it to a trip to a local water playground (if you are lucky enough to have one near you), water is the perfect free entertainment. 

• Pack up a picnic. Feeding children when you are out and about can be costly. Picnics are the perfect solution to economic family catering. The cost of a day out can be halved by packing a few sandwiches and drinks, while a picnic turns a trip to the park into something special. So forget tea at the table, serve it on the lawn instead. For inspiration see Visit Britain’s list of the best picnic sites. 

• Cycling is great exercise and a good way to explore your local area. The Forestry Commission has suggested routes across the UK, some of which offer bike hire if you don’t have your own. Or your local council website may offer advice on local cycle routes. Just remember to always where a helmet. 

• Visit the supermarket or greengrocer and buy up some cheap, seasonal fruit to juice and make into smoothies or ice lollies. They are fun to make, but even better to eat as a cooling treat on a hot day. You can find free healthy juice and smoothie recipes at Change4Life. 

Just because you have twins or more doesn't mean you can never have a big day out though, and there are lots of ways to save money if you have a larger family. It's well worth looking at the deals offered through supermarket loyalty schemes as you can often use points to pay for discounted days out. Local and national papers also frequently print money off vouchers, or run token collect schemes for cut price or two-for-one deals.

If you have twins joining Tamba (Twins and Multiple Births Association) is a good investment as it has negotiated a slew of discounts for multiple parents.  If you haven't managed to be that organised, it's always worth asking on the door if a place offers a twin discount, after all there's no harm in asking and it might just save you some cash.