Brit mum says she's saved £15,000 taking kids on holiday during term time insisting she's 'not going to stop'
A British mum has claimed that she's saved around £15,000 by taking her kids on holiday during school term time.
Rachel Smith, 35, has pulled her children, 13-year-old Brayden and 11-year-old Elianna, out of school every year since 2018 so they can enjoy a cheaper holiday abroad.
Normally, doing this would result in a £60 fine per child, it was recently increased to £80 each. Paying the fine is important, however, otherwise you might end up with some angry letters from your local council.
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Fortunately for Rachel, the £80 fines seem to be the only punishment she's facing right now, as opposed to another mum who was threatened with a criminal record after taking her kids to Disneyland during term time.
Rachel and her kids have already been to the likes of Ibiza, Magaluf, Majorca and Turkey.
And it seems clear that she's not going to be deterred by fines from the school and will continue to take the youngsters out during the academic year, as soon as they're done with exams.
She explained: "There is no way I'm paying the prices in the school holidays. I think it's a joke - they find a way to penalise the working class."
The mum, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, spent £1,900 on an all-inclusive holiday in Majorca this June, something she claims would have cost her around £4,000 had she booked for the summer holidays.
The finance worker added: "The more fortunate are in a position to go in the school holidays - not all of us can do that. I wouldn't be able to afford it. I'm not going to stop doing it.
"Why should my children miss out? I wouldn't be able to afford it. I've saved £15k at least."
Despite the fines increasing, Rachel has no qualms about continuing to pay them, if it means an extra day of her kids enjoying the fantastic sites that Ibiza has to offer.
She concluded: "I'm still massively better off. I do it at the end of the school year - after exams. I don't feel I'm affecting their education. I'm not doing anything that is detrimental for them.
"After exams they are winding down. I don't feel I'm doing anything malicious. They do what is needed and then we jet off. It's a big well done."
While most mums look towards Martin Lewis for their money-saving tips, Rachel's more unorthodox method seems to work for her and her family and it appears the only hot water she's landing herself in is the swimming pools of Majorca.
James Moorhouse