Nine clever budget picnic hacks

With the recent rise in food prices, those looking to save extra cash can benefit from going DIY with a picnic blanket and making homemade dips.

Other tips include taking your leftovers from a Sunday roast to use as filling for sandwiches.

Rebecca Bebbington from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “With food prices increasing, people are hesitant to enjoy their time doing simple activities with the family such as a picnic in the park.

“We want people to be able to go and relax in the sunshine and not feel guilty about having some sandwiches and crisps.

“Doing things such as going on a Monday after cooking a roast the previous day or making homemade dips can help save an extra bit of cash.”

Here are NetVoucherCodes’s top tips to save money on a picnic:

Wrap it up

For some people sandwiches are getting boring and they want something different. Making chicken salad wraps or opting for crunchy tuna may be the way to go, with a pack of large wraps typically costing less than a quid.

Batch cooking

If you love cooking big portions in one go for the week, it’s a good idea to bring the goods out to a picnic as a filling dish. Instead of buying pricey fillings for sandwiches, using this easy hack will help save those extra pennies.

Make your own dips

A start of a culinary journey – making your own ‘chips and dip’. A delicious homemade sour cream dip can take just over 20 minutes with only a small amount of ingredients needed. Bringing your own dip won’t only impress people, but it’ll also save those extra pennies.

A bag of potatoes

When people ask, “If you have to pick one food to eat forever, what would it be?” around 8/10 pick potatoes as it’s the most versatile choice. You can get creative with a bag of potatoes for a picnic, from dauphinoise potatoes to baking a simple crisp.

Go on a Monday

If you like to cook a Sunday roast, a great idea would be to organise a picnic for a Monday afternoon. This way, you can bring the leftover meat and pack them into sandwiches, instead of having to fork out over different meats and fillings.

Bring a jug of juice

You’ll be surprised by how pricey providing drinks at a picnic can be. Fill a large jug with juice and leave it in the fridge the night before to keep family and friends refreshed for a low price.

DIY picnic blankets

Making a homemade picnic blanket with the family can make the outing even more exciting. Get a thick durable fabric, some straight pins and get sewing.

Nip into a supermarket for yellow stickers

If you decide to set up your picnic near a supermarket, head inside and hunt for reduced labels to quickly stash inside the picnic basket!

Keep the leftovers

After you’ve all enjoyed a picnic in the park, bring some Tupperware to pack up the leftovers which could be used as part of dinner or even a tasty snack for the evening.