Many of us love having a holiday but often the cost of it can be a problem. Some people choose to borrow money to pay, but some do not want to borrow or do not have a good enough credit rating to be able to borrow. This means that they have to find a different approach. Having a budget holiday could be a way around it.

It might sound appalling to have a budget holiday and you may feel it would be better not having one at all. However, there are some things that tend to happen on holidays which you may be able to replicate at a lower price. You might also be able to compromise on a few things and this could means that you will be able to get all of the relaxation and fun without having to break the bank. There are different things that you can do which will lower the cost.

• Do not travel as far – one big part of holiday expenses can be the actual travelling. The cost of a plane, boat or even train or bus can be very high. With fuel costs high, petrol or diesel is also expensive. This means that trying to cut down how far you travel could make a significant difference to the cost. It can be good to compare the costs of travel to different destinations and this will help to give you an idea of how much you pay just for this. If you already have a destination in mind then perhaps comparing costs on travel will be worthwhile. There may be some methods of transport which will be considerably cheaper which although perhaps less comfortable and slower could save you a significant amount of money.
• Go self-catering rather than hotel – a hotel is very much more expensive than self-catering. This is partly because you will need to pay towards the food that comes with your hotel (assuming breakfast is included) as well as having to eat out for other meals which will cost more than cooking your own. You can still eat out a bit if you self-cater, but perhaps making a few meals and taking them with you or buying some ready meals which will be cheaper than eating in the hotel or a restaurant.
• Do not holiday for as long – the longer you stay away for; the more expensive your accommodation costs will be. Therefore, if you stay for a shorter time then it will be cheaper. You could consider having a long weekend, short break or a week away rather than a fortnight. If this does not feel like it would be long enough then perhaps it would be better to wait and save up until you can afford a longer holiday.
• Do not buy new things before you go – often a holiday can be a great excuse to buy some new things. New luggage, clothing, mini size toiletries, sunblock and all sorts of other things are often bought in readiness for your trip. They are normally not necessary as all and just cost extra. If you do not get new clothes then there will be more room in the case for the normal larger size toiletries which are better value for money. Do not worry about luggage, it will hardly be used – just for the journey so it is unlikely to need replacing. If you are travelling by car you can always use boxes and bin bags anyway, especially if you are self-catering – it may look a little odd taking a bin bag of clothes into a hotel!
• Keep entertainment free – we often like to do things to entertain ourselves on holiday. This might mean going to shows, cinema, events, museums, day trips and things like this. These all cost money of course and they could be out of your budget. There are free things that you can do though such as walks, picnics, free monuments, beaches, parks and things like this. If you find out before you go, about what things are available to you, then you will be able to plan some free or all free activities. This could save a lot of money.

If you are imaginative, you should be able to think of lots of ways that you can have a holiday which will not be so expensive. It may not fill you with excitement, but look at all of the options that are available for the money that you have before you dismiss it. It could be that you will be able to put together a really great holiday without having to pay more than you can afford. It might be hard to imagine that people really enjoy budget breaks and some even have lots of fun just being a t home as a family. Try to imagine what it might be like for you and whether it is something that you think you will be able to do.