Grey Getaway Saves Credit Crunch Hit Families £4.7 Billion
Two thirds (61 per cent) of grandparents regularly looked after their grandchildren for up to 40 hours a week this summer. Influx of Grandparents to holiday resorts this October as they look to relax after stressful summers
Online, September 29, 2010 (Newswire.com) - GREY GETAWAY SAVES CREDIT CRUNCH HIT FAMILIES £4.7 BILLION
With the kids back at school and Grandparents starting to feel the after-effects of the long summer break, money saving website for the over 50s, OscarUK.co.uk, has revealed a new phenomenon sweeping the nation- The Grey Getaway - with the autumn set to be the busiest time of the year for holiday travel of the over 50s.3
New research by OscarUK has revealed that after 2.8 million4 UK grandparents changed their holiday plans to look after grandchildren this summer, saving their families a staggering £4.7 billion2 in childcare, 61 per cent3 are jetting off during September to recover, causing an influx in UK and European holiday destinations.
Peter Simpson, chairman of OscarUK, said: "Looking after the Grandchildren full time during the summer break can be a stressful and often expensive time for Grandparents, with an estimated two thirds (66 per cent) 5 having paid out for new and exciting activities and some (15 per cent) 5 even funding extra special treats, such as new computers.
"September is usually the time of year when the over 50s can start preparing themselves for the countdown to Christmas, but this year there is a surge in the number of Grandparents going on holiday to relax before it all begins again in the October half term!"
To help, OscarUK.co.uk has brought together a new set of special offers and discounts designed especially for the Grey Getaway so that generous grandparents can relax on their holidays and only worry about the weather!
OscarUK.co.uk, which recently launched a new forum facility for members, can provide yearly savings of up to £1,249 6 per person in the UK. Discounts range from membership of associations, to football league season tickets and National Express half price fares.
Top Tips
The current top summer discount tips featured by OscarUK.co.uk*:
• Best at Cruises - Special Offers on Worldwide Cruises for the Over 55s
• APH Airport Parking - 5% discount for Oscar members
• RIAS Travel Insurance for Over-50s - Specialist insurer offering competitive rates to over-50s
• Travel 55 Membership - 5-10% discount on holidays for Over 55s for one-off £5 membership fee
• Shaftesbury Hotels - London - 10% discount on accommodation for senior citizens
• Theatremonkey.com - Guide to London theatre and concert venues with special offers
• Center Parcs Holidays - Up to 15% discount for over 55s
• Eurogroup French Holidays - Up to 30% off accommodation all year round
• Bite Discount Card - 20% off at food and drink outlets at railway stations
• Laterlife Travel - Travel offers for the over 50s
Ends
Case studies available on request.
Notes to Editors
* Log onto www.oscaruk.co.uk for terms and conditions relating to offers and discounts
1 - Statistic taken from Saga US http://www.maturetimes.co.uk/node/5274
2 - Childcare charged at £7 per hour for 8 hours per day - 40 hours per week
Based on ONS statistic - 17.1 million families in the UK (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/fofam1007.pdf)
3- Data from Saga Travel Insurance 2009
4 - Figure taken from online poll of OSCAR UK's 4,000 members and number of grandparents in UK taken fromFigure taken from http://www.grandparents-association.org.uk/home.html
5 - Data from Grand breaks and University of Brighton report into how grandparents like to spend time with their grand children
6 - Savings based on six simple savings on essentials = £1,249 a year
• Average of £340 a year on utilities by using Energylinx
• Winter fuel allowance from government for over 60s of £250 a year
• Pension top ups guaranteed by the government of £6.25 a week on average (£325 p.a.)
• Free bus fares (based on one trip at £2.50 per week = £130 p.a.)
• National Express savings of 50 per cent (estimated at £100 a year)
• Free swimming (based on a £2 swim once a week) saving £104 a year
Savings can be in excess of this figure - an average of 4,000 offers on site at any one time and many people will take advantage of up to a third of offers. If offers are on average worth £10, each person could save £1,333 p.a.
About OscarUK
OscarUK is a website service aimed at the over 50s, offering thousands of concessions, benefits, savings, offers and opportunities all in one place. The site also offers practical information for the over 50s, including articles and topical comment, as well as opinion polls and a fun section.
OscarUK.co.uk parent company Senior Concessions Ltd is an independent company based in Leeds and backed by a strong leadership team. Oscaruk Editor, David Douce is a writer and Research Consultant with extensive experience in the over 50s market.
He is backed by three Leeds-based marketers, chairman, Peter Simpson, formerly commercial director at First Direct, Glenn Patterson, managing director of successful agency Intermarketing Group and Jason Madeley, managing director of Hatch Communications, a public relations, events management and sponsorship agency.
For further information and comment/interviews from OscarUK's chairman Peter Simpson please contact:
Katie Eborall, Rosie Everard or Jason Madeley at Hatch Communications on 01943 855630 or email [email protected]
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Tags: credit crunch, grandparents, holiday, money-saving
