How the fuck can people afford to go on holiday?

[Figuringitout]

I’m wondering if I am just super naive about how much everything costs. I earn an okish amount, have a small mortgage and don’t feel like we live extravagantly. I have 3 kids who I’d like to take on holiday. My husband earns seasonally (and is trying to increase that) but at the moment his main contribution to our budget is in looking after kids so we don’t have to pay for childcare.
Back to holidays, I cannot find anything somewhere hot for less that £4k and even France we’re talking about £2.5k.
So, do people have holiday funds that they pay into each month? Please tell me how everyone seems to be affording to go abroad once a year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

@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.

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)

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.

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'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.)

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 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!

• 2 working parents or one high wage earner
• fewer children
• booking holiday way in advance so they’re cheaper
• term time holiday
• saving all year
• prioritise a holiday over other things
• or they don’t

We book 18 - 24 months in advance with jet2 and pay in installments for an overseas trip.

Mostly though we camp no more than 1hr away from home.

I've had amazing bargains booking very last minute over the years.

That’s paying off over £600 a month though! OP it seems to me as well that everyone is going abroad but in reality they can’t be if this is the cost.
We’ve not really done foreign holidays as a family - France twice but otherwise UK/camping. We’ve just completed some building work so that has been prioritised recently, but even before we didn’t really have the cash to spend £1000 per person on a holiday. YANBU

We booked Tenerife july 25th 2025
2 adults 2 children
Half board
Playa de las America
£2500