How the fuck can people afford to go on holiday?

We haven’t got savings, can’t afford to save and are struggling to afford one night away in a premier inn. No flying abroad for us. I don’t know how people can afford it either op. People keep saying there is a COL crisis but everyone I know including low paid TAs, hairdressers, waitresses, supermarket workers and NHS admin seem to be able to go away for 2 weeks in the sun!

We have 2 full time wages coming into the house not one.
We have 2 kids not three.
Our kids are older so no childcare, though we have to now pay for 4 'adults'.
We have a monzo pot which I put money into every month and plan holidays 18 months in advance to get cheaper prices.

We've booked 7 nights all-inclusive in Turkey for July 2025 with Jet2, for 2 adults 2 children, and it was £3380.00. Booking so far in advance means we have time to save to pay off the balance. I imagine having a 3rd child is what pushes the cost up so much, as we get away with a family room rather than 2 rooms.

Where do you recommend in Germany? (Thinking ahead for next year.)

I missed that you have 3 kids! Well that’ll make it more expensive 😂

But a monthly holiday savings pot is essential, even for us. Why wouldn’t anyone do this if they could? Not all budgets allow for it but if they do… it’s just what people choose to prioritise.

We are fortunate to have savings. Not enough to willy nilly go on £10k+ luxury breaks without thought but we get away each year. We earn more than we spend each month so just save regularly.

Some of it is basic income vs outgoings, and it seems like you aren’t maximising your income as a family. DH could surely work more hours when you’re at home to look after DC?

Some of it is priorities. I live in a teeny tiny cottage that really wouldn’t suit many people. I drive a ten year old small car. I haven’t redecorated or updated my house for about five years.

I absolutely prioritise holidays and spend about £10k a year, out of a £50k gross income (just me and 2 DC)

@Figuringitout unfortunately the bulk of the cost is the flights (which have gone up massively since COVID). We can access cheap accommodation in Tenerife for Oct half term but it’ll still cost best part of £2k just for the flights for 3 of us if we go. £3.5k AI for 4 is on the lower side.

We have three kids and prioritize travel; happy to miss out on other things. We always buy each component separately - cheap flights - and then always stay in a VRBO rather than a hotel. Having a kitchen means that we save money on eating out, of course.

Other than college and retirement funds, most of our disposable income goes on trips.

Any of these any good to you https://www.cheekytrip.com/results?t=sun&r=0&p=c&a=0&d=2024-08-01&f=3&n=7&b=ANY&h=0&s=0&l=0

Not if you pick the right ones, Ive never paid that much (and nor would I)

It depends on area and how picky you're being

If you want all bells and whistles, you're going to pay for it

It's about priorities.

When DC were little I was a SAHM so we didn't eat out or get takeaways. We had days out but took our own food.

That meant that we could go away but self driving through the tunnel and self catering. It's spending time all together somewhere different, seeing new things, but not a week in August on a Mediterranean beach.

Yes, we have a holidays fund that we pay into each month. But if you don't camp, holidaying anywhere in the summer holidays is expensive, £4k is what you'd expect to pay, especially with three kids. I guess lots of people don't go abroad every year, unless they earn a lot above average. Or they live in debt.

Most parents I know with preschool kids put it on a 0% credit card and pay off each month, and even roll some over knowing they'll eventually be both be back at work or without childcare fees.

Personally we earn above average salaries but spend below average and really watch the pennies to the point it sometimes does my head in

Your DH needs a job that’s not merely seasonal unless he makes the same as others do all year round.

We don't have expensive hobbies, earn a decent amount, DD is out of childcare and we alternate between more expensive ones and cheap-ish S/C. No camping though.

I save every month into a separate account. S/C normally is paid upfront or split in 2 or 3 installments. Flights or tunnel is booked as soon as we book accomodation.

If we do a package deal we pay a deposit and the rest is paid around 2 months prior to departure, so we save up for it.

It also helps that DD and I hate the heat so we never do the Med AI resorts anymore. If we want some sun we do Easter, May or October and accept that we will get the odd day of rain.

I used to save £60 a month ie £720 a year and that was enough for a week somewhere cheap, just me, sharing with a friend. £300 each for room, £150 each flights, £100 car hire. Then ate mainly cheaply there (bread, salad and cheese in room) and had 2 good meals out. I also saved another £75 a month to buy cheap flights to visit a family member 2-3 times a year, mainly staying with them.

That worked up until 2022, but after cost of living increases, rise in holiday costs, the loss of some extra income and having had to buy a 2nd hand car on a loan it's just impossible.

The people I know who can afford to do anything nice have inheritances they are using or their mortgages are paid off.

If you get organised & book a few premier inns in advance & have a bit of a road trip that can work out quite cheap. We did a night in a city, the lakes & a few nights in Scotland then back via lakes again last year. Also Scotland school hols are different dates than England. We loved it.

We book flights and an Airbnb. We check where flights are cheap at the time we can go and get a cheaper end Airbnb. Last year we did a week in Portugal that did cost us £400 for flights and accommodation. We took £300 for food. That’s just for 2 adults, so obviously adding a child or two would cost a bit more but even double that is still a steal compared to £4k.

I book 1 + year in advance and try to save every month. I tend to pay the deposit at booking then budget the rest over the year. Any remaining amount gets stuck on cc then paid off asap the month or two after and by working any OT I can get as well. We wont go abroad next year as away twice this year (not our norm). Normally we do short haul abroad but this year had a long haul so hence the scale back next year - will have a mini break or two somewhere in uk and with family at some point i’m sure though. Total household income is approx 77K but only one child and we will live in a cheaper part of the country. If I had more children we probably could only go every other year and self cater etc.

@Figuringitout

In my experience (I love researching and booking holidays and also doing it for friends and family!) most people will spend a couple of hours browsing and throw their hands in the air and say omg holidays are too expensive it's not possible! If you devote some time to it then you will easily find a week away for £3k somewhere hot including food and drinks.

Two decent salaries, and an annual bonus that we mostly use for holidays. Also book a year in advance so have ages to pay it off.

It's what I prioritise my earnings for. (After the obvious stuff mortgage, bills, savings etc)

Holidays are my #1 favourite thing. I will therefore gladly go without other things that some won't to fund them.

I agree with a previous poster. Holidays are a priority for some families including ours. We value our holidays hugely and so sacrifice other things in order to ensure we get a very good one every year.

Of course some families will not have the luxury of choosing what to prioritise but for most families we know (middle class suburb just outside London) some families choose camping in France but spend their money on branded clothing, restaurants and nicer cars.

We choose holidays.

We do a lovely all inclusive 2 week holiday every other year which costs about £7k. Then we've got two years to save for the next one. The year we don't go away we focus more on day trips away to beaches or theme parks.

We can't afford to go away every year but do like luxury hot destinations, so that's how we compromise.