Enterprise Nation

San Sharma knows that life isn't all ha-ha-hee-hee. But he's all too aware that sometimes we need a break from our home businesses too - and so do our loved ones. With a recession looming, he hunts down some credit crunch beatings tips and cheap days out for homeworking families.

Having been born into the most literal kind of home business - in a flat above my parents' corner shop - it's no wonder I ended up working for myself. But back then, when business meant stocking shelves and sweeping floors, I couldn't understand why my pleas to go to Alton Towers were met with my parents' dire response: "It's too expensive, San," they said. "We're in a recession."

The only thing receding, I thought, was the summer and any chance I had of riding the Thunder Looper. But now we're entering a recession of our own, and feeling the pinch and punch of a credit crunch, I'm beginning to answer pleas from my own loved ones with similarly dire responses.

So if, like me, you're trying to beat the credit crunch, without smashing the hopes and dreams of your loved ones, here are some tips on how you can save money and have fun with cheap days out and free events, starting, of course, with Alton Towers...

Theme parks

With a little bit of forward thinking, families can save up to £50 on the cost of a trip to most major theme parks. All you have to do is look online! Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Drayton Manor, Legoland and Thorpe Park all offer discounted tickets if you book in advance from their websites.

You can even halve costs by looking on Lastminute.com, where, for example, they've been selling Legoland tickets for £19.50 for adults and £17.50 for kids, compared to gate prices of £34 and £26 respectively.

• Lastminute.com

Museums

Since 2001, all national museums, such as the National Railway Museum in York, plus loads of art galleries, including the Tates Modern and Britain, have been free to the public. For little ones, London boasts the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, which will send little ones gaga (or rather 'argh!') with its extraordinary dinosaur displays.

• Family Days Out

Trains

Of course, booking in advance will save you money on your family's train fare, but did you know that most train companies offer special deals when you travel by rail. For example, you can get 2 for 1 entry at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham if you travel with the London Midland company. Search for special offers by region on the link below:

• National Rail Special Offers

Photo credit: Flickr user ChinchillaVilla.

San Sharma is a creative thinker, blogger and designer, as well as a writer on popular culture, technology and business.

• www.sansharma.com