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School Holiday Ideas That Won’t Cost The Earth

Hooray! The kids are out of school and your days seem to be filled with more shouting, playing, and laughing than any other time of year. In this post, we’re letting you in on some our favourite holiday ideas that’ll keep the children busy and your wallet safe from destruction.

In recent years, our team at Cigno have seen a spike in the amount of school holiday loans we’ve had to help people with, so we know all about the financial pressure that a lot of parents will be feeling over the coming weeks. Have a look through these quick ideas to keep things under control. If you are experiencing financial need, feel free to apply for a school holiday loan.    

Community events

Check out your local community calendar (often put up by your local council) and take the gang to the nearest community days being held. These kinds of events can include sports days, festivals, and interesting one-offs, all of which should be free to join. When money is tight, the last thing you’re going to feel like doing is going out on a spending spree with your credit cards and cash in hand. Community days are vibrant, all-day events that usually contribute to some form of great cause.

Check out new podcasts for kids

Don’t fancy going out? Save money by staying in instead! Podcasts are great because there are loads of publishers releasing great child friendly entries that are free to listen to. They’ll be kept calm and peaceful for hours while safe and potentially learning from a wealth of valuable content.

Podcasts are usually always either filled with easily digestible lessons or are wildly entertaining. This one’s a life saver if you’ve had enough of hysteria and want a solid hour or two to unwind.   

One of the best ways to save on your monthly costs is to cut back on pricey groceries. Take the kids out and they’ll likely be harassing you every time you pass something sweet looking. Keep them in for some great listening and you’ll steer clear of tempting treats.

Bake something

Of all the constructive things you could do in the house, baking is perhaps one of the easiest to control in terms of spending limits. Bake bread and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable all the ingredients are. You could even save youself a pretty penny by baking a large batch and freezing the excess for future meals. Things might get messy, but that’s half the fun!

Make a homemade movie

If you’ve already got a camera or a smartphone, why not play hollywood and get the gang to create a fun stab at a homemade movie. It’s absorbing, free if you already have the camera, and can serve as a great creative project. You don’t have to take out a personal loan to fund a production value masterpiece. Get the kids to write a script, cut out any overly elaborate parts, and get filming. Before you know it, the day will be spent and you’ll have a piece of film to tuck away in your album collection.  

Museum trips!

Not only are museums great if you’re low on cash, they’re educational too! Most large museums are free to enter and include collections large enough to keep your little learners occupied for most of the day. Bring a packed lunch to land extra savings!

Most indoor activities will cost you a small fortune for the whole family, so a museums a great option if you think you might struggle to make it to your next payday.   

That’s it! These are the main ways you can avoid falling into mountains of debt while keeping the kids well and truly entertained during this school break. The most important thing is to pick activities that are both easy to economise and give the kids something to be excited about. Even if it’s free, simple games you can play in an open field will only last so long.

At this time of year, it can seem hard to keep on top of your finances. At Cigno, we do all we can to provide school holiday loans that fit your budget and individual circumstances. You can apply online, pick the exact school holiday loan amount amount you need, and have the funds paid to your account within hours of your approval. 

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Read more about our school holiday loan products here, or in our previous blog post: Where To Get Online Loans With Instant Approval In Australia

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Cigno Loans’ articles do not replace advice from an accountant or financial advisor. All information provided is intended to be used as a guide only, as it does not take into account your personal financial situation or needs. If you require assistance, it is recommended that you consult a licensed financial or tax advisor.

NOTIFICATION OF MISCONDUCT BY CIGNO AUSTRALIA

Ordered by the Federal Court of Australia

The Federal Court of Australia has found that Cigno Australia Pty Ltd (Cigno Australia) and BSF Solutions Pty Ltd (BSF Solutions) have breached the law by engaging in unlicensed credit activity and charging prohibited fees.

In the period from July 2022 to 3 October 2023, over 100,000 consumers have been lent a total of $34 million, and charged fees of over $70 million, under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’ operated by BSF Solutions and Cigno Australia. At no time has either BSF Solutions or Cigno Australia held an Australian Credit Licence.

The Court also found that Mark Swanepoel (director of Cigno Australia) and Brenton James Harrison (director of BSF Solutions) were involved in these breaches of the law.

With effect from 24 May 2024, the Court has granted permanent injunctions preventing Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions from:

  • demanding, receiving or accepting fees or charges, including amounts of loan principal, from consumers in relation to credit provided under the ‘No Upfront Charge Model’; and
  • engaging in further credit activity pursuant to the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’, including by entering into new agreements with consumers, for so long as they do not hold an Australian Credit Licence.

Cigno Australia was ordered by the Court to, by 5th July 2024, send written communications to consumers who between July 2022 and December 2022 entered into agreements with Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’.

The Court will later determine whether (among other things) Cigno Australia and Mark Swanepoel ought to pay a pecuniary penalty in respect of this conduct, and whether Mark Swanepoel should be restrained from carrying on a business engaging in credit activity.

Cigno Australia, BSF Solutions, Mr Swanepoel and Mr Harrison intend to appeal the decision of the Court and have filed an application for leave to appeal. If the appeal is successful, some or all of the orders of the Federal Court of Australia may be set aside.

Where can you get more information?

Where to go for further support

You can access legal advice in your state at: Free legal advice – Moneysmart.gov.au.

If you are experiencing trouble with debt, or money worries in general, contact:

  • the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or online chat (9:30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday).

If you need someone to talk to, contact:

  • Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours) or their crisis support online chat or
  • Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 (24 hours) or their webchat