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What do you spend on holidays as a percentage of income?

46 replies

sellotape12 · 07/01/2026 19:36

Don’t think we can afford a family holiday this year because I’ll be on maternity allowance and still have some nursery bills from DC1.

Anyway, I just popped over to that crazy place Reddit and saw a question where someone else asked what percentage of salary people spend or budget for their holiday

I’m pretty astonished by the replies. A lot of people saying that they spent 10K on a family holiday, but “if they want to keep it under 3.5K, it’s usually just drive to France and rent a villa.”. They’re talking about one or two children, usually in school holidays. Am I being naive? Do you need about £4000 + to spend on a family summer holiday?!

OP posts:
kirinm · 07/01/2026 19:41

We often do an air BnB in France in the summer and easily spend £3k just getting there and hiring the apartment.

There is me, DP and DD7 I do insist on not flying with the budget airlines at weird times so probably could get the flights slightly cheaper but not by a huge amount.

Christmaseree · 07/01/2026 19:44

Pensions are 80k and my DH and I spend approximately 45k, we like to travel.

somanychristmaslights · 07/01/2026 19:45

We’re spending about £4.5k for a summer holiday this year. £100k income between me and DH.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 07/01/2026 19:49

2k driving to France for 10 days for summer holiday, 3 teens. Salary between us 100k.

Frynye · 07/01/2026 19:50

Once you are tied to the school holidays prices shoot up

Advocodo · 07/01/2026 19:50

Around 15%.

mondaytosunday · 07/01/2026 19:55

I’ve just bought the tickets for our trip to Boston and that was £3k alone. So I’d say it will be close to £6k if not more and I earn £40k before tax. We only go every other year.

MidnightPatrol · 07/01/2026 19:57

Flights for 4 of you to a typical ‘holiday destination’ during a school holiday could cost you the best part of £2k now.

Pepperedpickles · 07/01/2026 19:59

I don’t know.. I think around 10-15%. Some years more than others. We are fairly low income (pip / dla / husband works full time but not very high earner) and we prioritise holidays above all else. I have degenerative health issues and it’s very important to me to do as many trips as I can before my health goes downhill.

MissAmbrosia · 07/01/2026 19:59

Somewhere between 10 and 20% of take home pay, maybe more. I value travel over many other things.

ReignOfError · 07/01/2026 19:59

We are retired, so have more time, if a bit less money. I’ve been known to spend a year’s income on a six month trip. Last year we spent maybe 35% of our income, this year (due partly to a phenomenal increase in travel insurance costs thanks to my husband’s bastard life-limiting illness), I estimate we will spend over 50%, and next year, should it be possible to go, we plan another long trip with stupid insurance costs which I think will work out over 100% of our normal income. We will rent out our house to cover our costs at home/add a bit to our budget, but will have a few months living in savings when we get home.

sellotape12 · 07/01/2026 19:59

Well, yes, I’ve obviously been ignorant to this because we haven’t experienced the school holiday need before. We’ve always gone off peak because we could. Do you guys budget for it a year in advance?

OP posts:
Needlenardlenoo · 07/01/2026 20:25

About 10% I think. We're both teachers, so lots of weeks to fill. We rarely go for more than a week though as we drive each other a bit mad after that!

There are still cheap things you can do. We like National Trust campsites that have the camping pods, and Eurocamp (although ferries are expensive).

Crikeyalmighty · 07/01/2026 20:39

Around 8% (10k a year) - but split it into 1 10 day summer one and 3 other 4/5 day city breaks ( new year, spring and autumn) but there’s only the 2 of us now

PensionMention · 07/01/2026 20:40

We have always spent a decent amount on holidays plus we have family overseas, a typical year is a 2 week holiday overseas plus a trip to family in America for me and DH nipping off to Spain to see his relatives. Plus maybe a long weekend or a week in Europe. Budget for the 2 week holiday would be 8 to 10k which was about 7% of our income last year. Most expensive holiday was a month in America, we actually decided to not add up the entire cost after we hit a particular number.

Walkingonbrokenglass · 07/01/2026 21:26

yes I would say that since DS started school our family holiday has been about £4k. I book it about a year in advance and pay in installments so it doesn't feel quite so painful! These aren't luxury holidays. That was 2 weeks at eurocamp.

HarvestMouseandGoldenCups · 07/01/2026 21:31

Usually about 2% Not much at all in the grand scheme. Although last year we went travelling and spent about 2/3rd of a years wages.

user1471538275 · 07/01/2026 21:35

0% - don't do holidays. They're non essential and expensive.

Only went on 1 as a child (to relatives) - so no expectations of it.

ThirdBanana · 07/01/2026 21:42

About 10%. With 4 kids, it is expensive.

Burntt · 07/01/2026 21:47

We do butlins always book last minute. With breakfast and dinner it’s never more than £800 for the week usually less. Although I home educate my kids as one is not provided a school place by the LA (autism and complex needs) so we never go in the school holidays

around 5-10% of my income I guess but as my boy needs full time care my income is very very low

DrMadelineMaxwell · 07/01/2026 21:49

About a month's salary. It's just DD and I who go away together, so cheaper than a family of four would be, although we do have to stick to school holidays.

TiredofLDN · 07/01/2026 21:51

Probably about 10% of take home

One foreign holiday per year- usually spend about 2.5-3k for me and 1DC Inc. flights, accommodation, spending money etc

One week in the UK (holiday cottage etc) - probably spend about 1.5k for me and 1DC - again all costs

Then one or two weekends away at around £500 a time

being tied to school holidays is excruciating financially

frozendaisy · 07/01/2026 21:51

Go out of peak whilst you can

and don’t expect holidays to be the same once baby then toddler is going with you

RollOnSunshine · 07/01/2026 21:58

Surely you should be asking how much people spend relative to disposable income, rather than income.

selfcentred · 07/01/2026 22:04

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