How much do you spend each year on holidays?

[peachjuice]

We're pricing up for next year, haven't been since 2015 as we "can't afford" it, yet our household income is ok - about £90k gross. There never seems to be spare money though.

Curious to know how much other people spend on their holidays each year as a proportion of their income.

We spent about £600 this year for slightly less than a week in a European city. This was a bit of a blow out for us as it was our honeymoon. The previous year we went camping in the north of Scotland which I suspect cost us about £80 taking into account fuel to get there and rebuying some camping stuff we couldn't find on the morning we set off. I will be brutally honest and say the city break was significantly more enjoyable, but the camping was still better than staying at home.

When I hear of people spending thousands of pounds on a couple of weeks away as a normal occurrence my mind honestly boggles. We do ok for ourselves financially but if I had a 4 figure sum burning a hole in my pocket I'd pay a chunk off the mortgage or something. Each to their own I suppose but it's like a window into another world reading posts on here sometimes.

From the looks of this thread we proportionally spend about average.

Usually £5k, this year £10k as going abroad at Christmas as well as earlier in the year. Income similar to yours.

Last year £10k ish (2 family holidays, 1 couple holiday) this year only £3k max (1 family holiday) next year about £6-7k (1 family, 1 couple holiday) our income is only £60k a year but holidays are a big priority for us, I put £300 a month into a holiday saver (and top up as and when needed) the last couple of years we've had work bonuses that have paid for the extra holiday. We went years without holidays when paying childcare, it's a big priority for us now, so much so we deliberately bought a smaller house so we could have a smaller mortgage to go on holidays.

Fucking hell I feel like a loser reading this shit!

Oh and just to add they're all foreign except 1 stint in Center Parcs last year, mixture of all inclusive and fly drive US holidays.

MrsDoyles I completely agree, my husband and I aren't big spenders, we don't drink or smoke, we don't have debt, mediocre cars, as I say we deliberately bought a smaller house than we technically "needed" to but holidays are a priority for us. I'm sure friends think we earn more than we do or that we put it on credit cards but for us it's just something we prioritise now we can not having a childcare bill large than our mortgage!!

We have a £10k holiday budget each year. That covers usually 2 holiday abroad, 1 weekend at CenterParcs with DH'a family and approx 4 or 5 long weekends away in the UK and that's just for DH and me - we don't have kids

We average between £5-8k for a family of 5 - this usually includes 2-3 family holidays abroad (summer and autumn, and sometimes skiing) at least 1 short break Ireland or UK, ski trip with friends for DH and a couple of short breaks for just us, usually closeish to home but sometimes Europe.

Holidays and travel are a priority for us - above cars, brand name clothes or expensive phones etc. We have a household income of close to 130-150k pre tax, but don’t tend to have particularly expensive holidays - we search for cheapest flights, best accommodation etc ourselves and mostly go self-catering.

A week in UK costing £650 self catering. But, as a pp said, you spend money on the hints you want to (if you have it). Two new cars, furniture and carpets have taken care of a good chunk, but I like my home and am happy to be there. Don’t see the point in going somewhere I’ll be less comfortable than I am at home.

We live near the sea anyway, so I can pop to the beach whenever.

About £1300. A week with the grandparents on the cost, paid for by them and Centerparcs toddler break. We have an income of £60k . Next year we will go away with grandparents again and spend about 2k. Its my husband, myself and toddler.

About 4-5k this year but got new baby, Income 80k

Loads this year - about 15K for three of us. But we had a two week holiday in the US over the summer and an Easter break in Europe, we're going abroad for a long weekend for DH's significant birthday, and we're having a break in Spain at Christmas. Basically making the most of being able to travel pre-Brexit - not expecting to spend nearly as much next year.

Last year we opened a separate bank account for holidays and put money into it monthly. Regardless of your income, you probably have to be organised: save monthly and book in advance, otherwise summer’s here before you know it and there’s not enough in the bank to book a holiday.

These kind of threads usually get dominated by the higher earners spending 900 gazillion pounds on holidays every year. I'd take it all with a pinch of salt and recognise the MN demographic posting aren't necessarily representative of your 'average' family

Then again, grossing £90K doesn't exactly make you the 'average' family either, OP. It sounds like something's potentially going wrong with your finances if you're clearing thousands a month and yet you still cannot afford a budget week away every few years. If you're finding there isn't much left in the pot, I'm assuming your outgoings must be exceptionally high? Is there anything you can scale back on, any small changes you could make?

In the last few years, on my old £18K net income as a single mum to one, we've had some incredible bargains and managed to go away three times a year - two UK breaks (Butlins, Haven, coach trips, visiting family, etc.) and one foreign holiday (usually a cheap week or two in Greece or Spain using basic package deals with budget flights and accommodation). Nothing terribly fancy but all great fun. DD and I just like our adventures! Probably around £2K ish all in per year. I got us a 4 day coach trip a few years back for less than £300 - included a day in London and a day at LEGOLAND. It was brilliant!

We live very cheaply day-to-day. We never go without but I learned to be thrifty in years gone by, and my habits have certainly stuck. I'm good at digging up a bargain. I'd sooner save for a holiday than spend full whack on unnecessary luxuries. I drive a 10yo car, pay buttons in rent (cheap but beautiful area) and I don't splash on unnecessary shit. I guess it just comes down to different people having different circumstances, outgoings and priorities.

Openup if you're talking Florida yes you'd be looking towards that figure, but if you want to do anywhere else in America it is exceptionally good value to fly there at the moment. Hotels and food can be cheap, it's just a shame the pound is so weak atm. But you could easily go on an American adventure for less than half that, it's just Florida that can be extortionate. Flights can be picked up for less than £300 each to many part of the states atm, good airlines too.

About 4k, all UK breaks though spend similar if abroad.

I should say though there are two of us and we got out of the school holidays. The place we had a week in in April was 800ish and 1800 in the holidays..

It varies. This year, £850 for a week in a beautiful cottage in Cornwall, plus £250 on school trip.
Last year, a week in Northern Spain, about £1400 plus £300 on school trip.

2016, £2200 for a week skiing and nothing on a week with a relative in Devon.

Christ. I can't compete with households on £150k. Two weeks caravanning in our caravan in Dorset just isn't going to cut it with you lot, is it?

Less than £1000 a year, usually closer to £500. I'm a sahm, and we wouldn't be able to afford anymore than that.

Wow guys, some big earners and spenders on here. We have a total income of about 55k and we’re excited to have just booked a holiday for £400 for half term. Will be more with spending money. We haven’t been on a holiday for ages but we are lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the uk so can get the holiday vibe by heading to the beach on a sunny day with a picnic - free mini holiday😀

Holidays are incredibly important to us so we make them a priority. We don't drive fancy cars or busy designer clothes.
Income is about 110K for the household. We are a family of 3. We do lots of city breaks and LOVE them. I am for at least 3 per year + a longer trip. This year Australia. On average we spend 5-7K but every other year we do a long haul like this year so bringing costs up.
I feel we are very fortunate and it is a definite advantage of having an only child (not by choice) Dc has been many, many places and is very lucky.
I also travel to lovely places with work and love it. This year between work and holidays I have been to Italy twice, France, Spain and before the end of the year will be in Australia and we are thinking of either Vienna or Bruges in December.
I would rather save and travel than most other things except food / books