The Jubilee weekend is almost upon us, and with it comes an extra day off work and the opportunity to spend some quality time together.

But holiday periods can involve a lot of stress for families, especially those with kids. Pressure to keep everyone out of the house and entertained can cause money worries, and let’s face it, after four full days together cabin fever can start to set in.

But a bank holiday weekend is a great opportunity to spend time as a couple or family, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Read on for our budget-saving ideas that’ll help you make the most of your time together.

Go Bluebell hunting

It’s set to stay dry over the Jubilee weekend, so why not head off into the great outdoors for a spot of Bluebell hunting? It’s coming to the end of the season, but look hard enough and there’s still a few to be found.

The perfect activity for little explorers and romance-seekers alike, a bluebell hunt in a woodland beauty spot is not only free, it’s educational too. You can even help further research into bluebells and climate change by printing off the Natural History Museum’s Bluebell Survey 2012 and submitting your findings to the project.

Find your nearest blue carpeted wood on the visitwoods.org.uk website, set up by conservation charity The Woodland Trust.

Alternatively, log on to their dedicated kids’ website www.naturedetectives.org.uk and download some ‘spotter sheets’ to see what other woodland wonders you can find on your adventure.

Get baking

Here at the CoupleConnection we find nothing gets us bonding quite like a bit of baking. It’s a great team activity that’s sure to put a smile on everyone’s face as you share a feast of all your favourite treats at the end.

If you’re feeling in the mood to go further than a Betty Crocker cake mix, why not invite some friends and round and make a Jubilee party out of it? Ask guests to bring samples of their own home baking along and you could even hold a “Great British Bake-off” competition.

Kids will love a Royal fancy dress theme – have an arts and crafts session in advance and help them dress up as Kings and Queens for the day. It’s guaranteed fun, whether you’re a royalist or not.

Do some DIY

If you’ve been nagging your other half to finish the DIY project they started the last time Changing Rooms was on air, use this time to complete it – together.

It doesn’t matter if it’s simply building a piece of flat-pack furniture or repainting the entire house, the shared sense of pride and achievement you’ll get once the project’s completed will help bring you closer as a couple.  Not only will you have built something that’s representative of your future together, you’ll have put all those past DIY squabbles to rest. At last!

How will you be spending the Bank Holiday weekend? Share your ideas with other CoupleConnection users below!