Half of UK parents would pull kids from school for cheaper holidays, new study reveals
A new study finds half of families would take kids out of school for a cheaper holiday, with 1 in 3 parents admitting to lying about their kids' absences.
Would you tell a white lie for a cheaper family holiday? A third of UK parents said they have in a new survey.
The survey, carried out by Park Christmas Savings as part of their annual summer ‘Junemas’ campaign, has revealed the growing cost pressures many parents are facing ahead of the school summer holidays.
More than half of the 4,350 Park customers with children under 18 surveyed said that they would take their children out of school during term time to get a cheaper holiday.
And 37% said that they have previously lied to teachers about why their child was out of school so that they could go on a more affordable family break.
The findings show just how far families are having to stretch their budgets this year – and how many are bending the rules to make things work.
The summer holidays are becoming unaffordable
“Our ‘Junemas’ summer savings survey shows just how much cost-conscious families are struggling with the affordability of taking a precious summer holiday,” Katherine Scott, director of marketing at Park Christmas Savings, says.
Package holiday prices increase by an average of 18% during school holidays, according to calculations by GoCompare.com.
“A well-earned family break is becoming impossible,” Katherine says.
Even if families don’t travel during the summer, the six-week break can still be expensive. The survey also found that 75% of families think summer holiday childcare should be free to take the burden off working parents.
What parents are doing instead
With one in five families saying they expect to spend more than they did last year, many are skipping travel altogether, choosing to stay home or plan local staycations instead.
For families unable to get away this summer, low-cost, low-stress alternatives are growing in popularity, from garden camping to themed days at home. The Park survey is part of a broader campaign to encourage year-round saving, so parents aren’t hit as hard when big seasonal costs roll around.
Their annual ‘Junemas’ campaign – named for its midway point to Christmas – aims to help families avoid debt at both ends of the calendar, promoting early saving habits for Christmas spending and summer breaks alike.
Find out more about the hidden cost of parenting in 2025 and what families are having to cut back on in order to buy essentials.