How to Save for a Holiday? (2024 Guide)

Going on a holiday is a great way to escape the daily grind and relax for a few days. But saving money for that perfect getaway can be challenging. Especially if you’re living pay check to pay check. But there are things you can do to save for that break you deserve.

1. Create a budget and stick to it

Creating a budget is always top of the list of things to do when it comes to managing your money. When you know where every penny of your income is going, you have more control over it.

1. Take the time to work out how much you need for essentials. This covers things like rent or mortgage, energy bills, and council tax.
2. Work out how much you need for more variable items. These would be for things like eating out and subscriptions to streaming services like Netflix.
3. Whatever you have left, put straight into a savings account. This is a key part of saving for a holiday budget.

2. Cut down on unnecessary expenses

It’s easy to let money slip through your fingers on. Look back through your bank account to see where your money’s going. You’re likely to find something to cut back on.

• Take your own sandwiches or snacks if you’re going to be out of your home for a few hours
• Take a flask with a hot drink instead of buying a coffee
• Plan your weekly meals and shop accordingly so you’re less tempted to buy takeaways
• Check if you can pay less on some of your monthly bills
• Buy cheaper brands. Value priced foods don’t mean they’re poor quality

3. Track your savings

When you start putting money away keep track of it. It’s encouraging to see your savings account grow. Most banks will let you set up savings accounts that you can label with what you’re saving for.

Name one of your savings pots as ‘holiday’ to help inspire you to save. You can set up a standing order to go out when your wages go in, so you hopefully won’t notice it as much.

4. Look for deals when booking your flights

Shop around for cheap flights. Ryan Air or Easy Jet are examples of where you can get cheap flights to popular holiday destinations. By comparing deals you can save money on your travel.

Try leaving from different airports as it might be cheaper to fly from one further away. As long as the extra travel costs to get there don’t make it more expensive, you could save money.

5. Choose off peak flight times

You might prefer to fly during the daytime, but you could save money by flying at night. If you don’t mind sleeping on the plane, the night flights might be worth it.

Some flights will also be cheaper on certain dates, especially if you fly during school term time. Changing your flight by a week can sometimes save you hundreds of pounds.

6. Clear cookies when searching for flights

Some travel agents will track what flights you’re looking for and amend the price as you search. The way they do this is by using cookies. They’ll try and get you to book by increasing the price when you go back to look at it again.

You can stop this by clearing your cookies from your browsing history. You can do this by going into your settings on your browser. From here there’ll be an option to clear your browsing history, it may be listed under your privacy or search settings. But once you clear your cookies, the travel agents won’t be able to see what you’ve been looking at before.

7. Consider cheaper travel options

Travelling by plane isn’t your only option. You could try other forms of transport like travelling by train or ferry. These could be cheaper as you can get a whole family in one car on a ferry instead of paying for individual flights.

There are also beautiful places to visit in the UK which you don’t need to fly to. Take a train to somewhere you haven’t been before for a different type of holiday.

The UK has amazing landscapes and vibrant cities that are worth exploring. And having a summer holiday in the UK helps our economy too.

8. Use public transport when travelling

Wherever you go on holiday, there are likely to be local transport options that you can use. Shuttle buses are common in holiday resorts and they’re usually cheap. Find out what forms of transport are available. It’s a great way of seeing how people live in the region and its cheaper than getting taxis.

9. Use points when booking hotels

Collecting loyalty points when staying in hotels is a no brainer. You can set up free accounts with some of the big hotel chains and booking sites like Booking.com. The benefits you get help your holiday balance go further.

• You can get loyalty points which build up over time to give you free nights at some hotels
• You can get special discounted rates when you book through your account
• You might get free room upgrades or a free breakfast

10. Book low cost accommodation

There are different ways of finding low cost hotels. You can:

• Find out if your holiday would be cheaper if you booked the hotel and travel direct yourself rather than through a travel agent
• Choose a slightly lower star hotel with good reviews to get a cheaper hotel rate
• Airbnb offer great alternatives to hotels when looking for somewhere to stay. As they don’t have the overheads of hotels, they can be a lot cheaper

11. Consider staying with friends or family instead of hotels

Have you got friends or family staying in the area you want to visit? If so why not see if they have a spare bedroom you could stay in. Catching up with people you care about can be a good way of spending your holiday. You’re not only guaranteed good company, but they’ll know all the best places to visit too. And it’ll give you more holiday money to spend.

12. Look for package holidays

When you add up all the extras you need, you might find that the cheap hotel you found doesn’t mean it’ll be a cheap holiday. Your flights, airport transfers and other travel expenses can soon add up. Package holidays take care of your day to day expenses, especially if you’re staying in an all-inclusive hotel. Choosing a package holiday can save you time and money.

13. Save money by cooking meals at home

It’s all too tempting to pick up a takeaway after a long day at work when you can’t be bothered to cook. But planning quick and easy dinners in advance mean you can have a home cooked dinner ready in 20 minutes. That can be quicker than waiting for a takeaway.

Making the effort to cook not only saves you money but it’s better for you too.

14. Take advantage of rewards programs and loyalty cards

Check the offers on your loyalty cards for ways to save money on your next holiday. For example, with Tesco Club Card you can use your vouchers to spend with their travel partners. This includes hotels and other travel companies. The best thing about these vouchers is that you get three times the value of each one. So, a £5 voucher can be worth £15 at a hotel or restaurant.

15. Use cashback sites to get discounts

Cashback sites pay you money when you shop through their website. You’ll have to check if the company you want to book with is available through the cashback site. But if it is, you could make yourself some decent cash.

Remember you can use cashback sites when hiring a car, paying for airport parking or for your travel insurance. But clear your cookies before you book through them so that the company knows you paid through the cashback website.

16. Research cheaper destinations that offer great experiences

Holidays don’t have to be in 5 star hotels to be enjoyed. There are some fantastic places to stay that offer unique experiences for a lot less. Here are a few ideas.

• Go glamping

This is an upgraded way to go camping but without the price tag of a hotel. There are places around the world where you can experience this comfortable way of getting close to nature. It’s a great way to spend your summer holiday.

• Get together with friends or family and stay in a villa

France has some gorgeous properties with amazing views and private pool. If you go with a group of friends, you can split the cost between you making it a cheap holiday. Plus going on holiday with your friends can be a lot more fun.

• Get off the beaten track

Search for destinations that are less touristy. You’ll get to experience the local culture and enjoy local cuisine for less money.

17. Sell unwanted items online for some extra cash

You’re likely to want some new holiday clothes before going away. But what about the clothes in your wardrobe? Are there any you don’t wear anymore and could sell? You can top up your holiday fund by selling clothes, bags, and shoes you don’t wear anymore.

Look around the house for other items you don’t use and see if you can make some money from them. Selling unwanted items declutters your home while helping you top up your holiday savings account.

18. Start a side hustle for extra income

If you can, why not make some extra income by getting a part time job. Give up a few hours to work each week in the months leading up to your holiday. You can add the extra earnings to your holiday fund.

You might find it takes a lot of effort, but it’ll be worth it when you’re relaxing on your holiday.

Final words

FAQs – How to Save for a Holiday?

Disclaimer: The information given above is provided for reference only. This is not financial advice.