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Financial expert shares money-saving staycation tips for the summer

Michele Lucato 11th Jul 2024 One Comment

Reading Time: 3 minutes

According to a recent study, 9 in 10 people in the UK are considering taking a staycation in 2024. This is a 7% increase on the previous year’s figures, with more of us than ever contemplating switching to a holiday on home turf.

63% of survey respondents stated that good value for money is one of the things they look for when choosing their next holiday.

thimbl. personal finance expert Joe Lytwyn, shares money-saving staycation tips for the summer.

  1. Broaden your search
  2. Look into different dining options
  3. Free entertainment
  4. Get your money’s worth
  5. Old dog, new savings

1. Broaden your search

‘According to Sykes, the five most popular staycation locations of 2023 were Yorkshire, Cornwall, the Scottish Highlands and islands, Cumbria, and Northumberland,’ Antony says. ‘The popularity of and demand for certain areas may contribute to a rise in the cost of caravan parks and hotels. One way to combat this is to research lesser-known areas around the destination of your choice, where prices may well work out cheaper.

‘To work out how cost-effective the swap could be, compare how much money you’ll save with how much you’ll be spending on travel costs between your accommodation and the attractions you want to visit.’

2. Look into different dining options

‘Cooking is often the very last thing we feel like doing while we’re away, but committing to self-catering or even bed and breakfast could really expand your holiday budget. This doesn’t mean that you have to fork out on expensive restaurant cuisine every night, either. Before you travel, try to set a weekly meal plan as you would do at home. You may wish to go for easy, ‘picky teas’ that you know like the back of your hand and can quickly rustle up. Stock up on everything you need at the nearest supermarket, factoring in snacks and drinks. Things like homemade pizzas and takeaway fish and chips on the beach are cheap and cheerful options that will still give wonderful holiday vibes.

A fancy meal out could be saved for a last night treat. ‘

3. Free entertainment

‘From beautiful beaches to endless woodlands, we’re fortunate to be blessed with an array of sensational scenery in the UK. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or a family holiday, the possibilities for exploring are endless. The best bit? Days spent blackberry-picking in the forest and building magnificent sandcastles on the beach are gloriously free.

‘Have a glance at your staycation’s local council and social media pages for information on any free community events or festivals that may be taking place during your trip. You can also check out Visit England’s list of free things to do. For more specific results, simply typing ‘free things to do in [your chosen location]’ into Google may give you some further inspiration.

‘It’s no secret that the Great British weather can be unpredictable even in the height of summer, so consider packing a stash of boardgames to while away those rainy evenings. Priceless fun, priceless memories.’

4. Get your money’s worth

‘One of the many perks of taking a staycation is that you can opt to avoid the stress of the airport and lengthy travelling times. Often, the frantic rushing around and the burden of being at the airport for daft o’clock in the morning completely wipe out the first day of our overseas holidays. Exhausted, we often crash into bed early, potentially missing out on the first night’s food and entertainment, which we may have paid for as part of the overall cost of our holiday.

‘Depending on how far you’re planning to go, UK trips could cut back on draining travelling times and wasted first days. This allows us to make the most of our destination and get our money’s worth as soon as we arrive.’

5. Old dog, new savings

‘You can expect to pay around £125 a week to put your dog in a licensed kennel while you take a holiday,’ Antony states. ‘Staycations could be a suitable solution to this expense. In a recent survey, 75% of dog owners said they were planning to take their dog away with them in 2024.

‘You can specifically search for dog-friendly properties on sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com. You may also be interested to know that up to two dogs per passenger are allowed to travel on all British trains, free of charge.’

thimbl. has shared money-saving staycation tips.

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.



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Ed G
Ed G
4 months ago

Great singihts!

Jasmine Birtles

Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.

Jasmine Birtles

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