Lifestyle
Half-Term Hacks: 7 Cheap Family-Friendly Activities

With half term coming up, you may be racking your brain for fun activities that will keep the kids entertained. But if you’re on a tight budget, this is easier said than done. While there’s always the option of considering your funding options to pay for family activities, you may wish to choose cheaper alternatives to save money wherever possible. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best cost-effective ideas that all the family will love.
- Explore a museum
You’d be surprised how many free museums there are across the country. Wherever you’re based, there’s likely to be great galleries, exhibitions or art centres that you can explore with the kids. Not only will this keep them occupied, but it will educate them too.
- Take a walk in the park
Are your kids more interested in sitting in front of a screen than going outside? Then it’s a great idea to take them to a local park or gardens for some fresh air. Pack a lunch and take some fun ball games to incorporate some exercise into your day!
- Watch a film
If the weather isn’t kind to you, set up a family movie afternoon. This could be as simple as finding a film on Netflix and buying in some bags of popcorn. Or you could head to the cinema as there’s lots of offers for kids at the Odeon, Vue and Cineworld. Tickets can cost as little as £2.50 for the little ones!
- Do some cooking
Teach your kids essential culinary skills by adorning your aprons and getting to work in the kitchen. There are lots of cheap, family-friendly meals online that can cost just £1-£2 per person and are quick and easy to make. Plus, it means you have some help making dinner!
- Get crafty
Another great option if the weather is bad is to set your kids a craft task and watch their creativity flow. There are lots of fun ideas to choose from, such as drawing or painting, making dreamcatchers, experimenting with playdough and more!
- Enjoy some sports
There are plenty of sports that you and your kids can enjoy on a budget. Take them to their local park to play football, ride your bikes down a cycle path or get competitive during a game of tennis at your nearest sports centre. The Lawn Tennis Association operates many free tennis lessons across the UK, which are well worth investigating if money is tight.
- Go to a free event
With plenty of free events for families across the country, both the kids and your bank account will be happy. For instance, Hobbycraft and Dobbies Garden Centre do free workshops for kids in their UK stores. The National Trust also runs events throughout the year and have plenty of play areas and indoor adventures to enjoy.
We hope this has given you plenty of inspiration for the upcoming half term holiday!
Lifestyle
How To Combine Astrology With Self-Care Rituals To Enhance Daily Living

Self-care looks different for everyone. And it could look different day by day. Sometimes you just need meditation or journaling or a grounding ritual. Sometimes you need movement. Sometimes you need more rest. Have you ever wondered why it’s different day-by-day and why you can’t seem to “stick” to something?
Most of us know something about Western astrology, but have you ever heard of Vedic astrology (Jyotish)? Vedic astrology focuses on your moon sign (which may differ from your Western astrological chart), planetary transits, and Dasha period. These three areas shape how you feel, act, and process emotions every day.
The time management app align27 doesn’t just focus on your typical horoscope. It gives you a personalized Vedic birth chart and a daily favorability forecast based on planetary influences. It uses a simple yet powerful stoplight system — green for favorable times, yellow for neutral, and red for moments when it’s best to slow down — to help you navigate each day with intention.
Why Vedic astrology and self-care go hand in hand
Ever have days where everything flows effortlessly and others where nothing seems to go right? That’s not random — it’s the influence of the planets at play. Vedic astrology teaches that planetary transits and periods, and the Moon’s placement each day all impact your energy.
By understanding these influences, align27 customizes your self-care rituals to work with the planetary energies rather than against them. The result? A self-care routine that feels more natural, restorative, and in harmony with your personal astrology.
How to align self-care with align27
1. Follow your moon sign for emotional well-being
In Vedic astrology, your Moon sign reveals how you process emotions, handle stress, and recharge. The align27 app provides real-time insights into your Moon sign’s current state, helping you plan self-care that supports your well-being.
- Fire Moons (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): align27 will highlight action-oriented times, which are perfect for movement-based self-care like yoga, walking, or a workout.
- Earth Moons (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Your best self-care moments often fall during grounding planetary periods. The align27 app helps you time activities like cooking, gardening, or Ayurvedic oil massages.
- Air Moons (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Mental stimulation is key for you. Use align27’s favorable green time slots to plan journaling, reading, or creative work.
- Water Moons (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional balance is crucial; align27 suggests introspective yellow periods during which self-care like meditation, breathwork, or music therapy can help you reset.
By checking your daily Moon sign insights in align27, you can sync your self-care with your emotional energy instead of forcing routines that don’t feel right.
2. Sync with planetary transits for daily rituals
Planetary movements in Vedic astrology directly influence your daily energy. Instead of following the same self-care routine every day, use the align27 app to check which planets are strongest and which ones need balancing.
- Green periods: Ideal for action — schedule workouts, deep work, or personal projects.
- Yellow periods: Best for reflection — meditation, light reading, or connecting with loved ones.
- Red periods: Time to pause — prioritize self-care, avoid big decisions, and rest.
For example:
- If align27 shows a red period under Mercury’s influence, it’s a sign to unplug from tech and practice silence (Mauna) instead.
- A green period during a Moon transit suggests a great time for emotional processing through journaling or spiritual rituals.
- If Saturn is active, align27 might recommend structured self-care, like a disciplined yoga practice or fasting.
The daily timing feature of align27 takes the guesswork out of self-care, helping you plan around when the universe is actually working with you, not against you.
3. Use your Venus sign for beauty and self-love rituals
In Vedic astrology, Venus (Shukra) represents luxury, pleasure, and how you experience beauty. But your Venus sign in your birth chart tells you what kind of self-care truly nourishes your soul.
- Venus in Fire Signs: You love bold, energizing self-care. Ayurvedic herbal treatments, bright colors, and invigorating scents like sandalwood or saffron uplift your energy.
- Venus in Earth Signs: You prefer high-quality, natural self-care. Organic skincare, silk bedding, and nourishing food rituals align with your Venus energy.
- Venus in Air Signs: You thrive on social and intellectual beauty. Try mantra recitation, decorating your space with art, or engaging in deep conversations.
- Venus in Water Signs: You need emotionally fulfilling self-care. Essential oil baths, soft textures, and music therapy create a calming atmosphere.
4. Strengthen your planetary weaknesses through rituals
Each planet in your birth chart has strengths and weaknesses based on its placement. You can balance planetary imbalances through specific self-care rituals:
- Weakened moon? Drink warm milk with cardamom, wear white, and meditate under the full Moon.
- Struggling with Rahu energy? Reduce digital distractions, light camphor, and chant “Om Rahave Namah.”
- Mars overactivity? Avoid spicy food, practice slow yoga, and wear cool colors like blue or white.
The align27 app personalizes these remedies based on your birth chart and daily planetary shifts.
Align your self-care with the stars
When you integrate Vedic astrology into your self-care routine, you’re not just following trends but tuning into the ancient wisdom of timing and energy alignment. Instead of forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all self-care plan, you can create rituals that genuinely support you based on the cosmic influences at play.
With tools like align27, you can easily track your best days for rest, action, and reflection — making self-care effortless and aligned with the universe. Because taking care of yourself isn’t just about doing more — it’s about doing what’s right for you, at the right time.
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