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Holiday costs mount ahead of departure, finds Thinkmoney

Cherry Reynard
Written By:
Cherry Reynard
Posted:
Updated:
05/12/2014

Holidaymakers have already spent a chunk of their holiday budget before they’ve even got on the plane, according to a new survey by budgeting account provider Thinkmoney.co.uk.

Nearly 10% of average holiday budget of £920 is spent before people travel. The majority of this extra spending goes on clothes. The survey found that the average sum Brits spent on travel and accommodation for their last holiday was between £601 and £700. However, extras pushed this total up to nearly £1,000 (£920).

The study shows that around half of the £80 the average traveller spends before they set off for their destination goes on new clothing to take with them (£30 to £40). A further £11 to £20 is spent on sun cream and other holiday toiletries, up to £10 is spent on books and entertainment, and the same sum on travel to the ferry or airport.

Once they arrive at their destination, Brits fork out a further £140 on average over the course of their trip. Of this, up to £100 is spent on food and drink and a further £31 to £40 on souvenirs and other holiday purchases.

Unsurprisingly, women were more likely than men to spend money on new clothes to pack for their travels, with the average spent by female respondents totalling between £41 and £50. Meanwhile, men spent between £21 and £30 on a new holiday wardrobe.

Ian Williams, spokesman for thinkmoney, says: “The annual holiday is something we all look forward to, and while it can be a major expense it’s an event that many people feel is essential to their wellbeing. However, this survey suggests that the majority of holidaymakers are spending more than they need to.

“By simply packing what they already have in their wardrobes, on their bookshelves and in their toiletries cabinets, people could save quite a bit of money. And by doing this, they can cut down on the amount of cash they splash before they even reach the airport and put the money towards treating themselves once they arrive.”