Start with a Budget
Although it is tempting to hop right on to the EasyJet website and book a spontaneous flight somewhere, you’ll likely end up spending a lot more than you intended if you don’t organise yourself properly. The best way to get your expenses in order and plan a cost-effective holiday is to sit down with a pen and paper and start budgeting.
It might seem daunting, but this really is the best way to start. Set a rough budget so you know how much you have to work with, then set out all the expenses that come with a holiday. Flights, accommodation, spending money, transport once you arrive – the costs can all start to stack up. When you have a handle on your money, you’ll realise it can go a lot further!
Do your Research
When booking, be sure that you hunt around for hidden gems. The biggest tourist hotspots are always going to be the most expensive choices, so it’s worth scouting out some cheaper and less well-known holiday options. There are plenty of areas across Europe that are under the radar – check out these spots for some places you might not have heard about!
Choose your Dates Wisely
Although you may be bound by certain obligations like school holidays, it’s always good to check how much you could save by travelling at different times.
If you can go outside of school holidays, you’ll automatically make a huge saving on flights and accommodation, especially if you’re heading to a family-friendly destination. If you don’t have this luxury, it’s still worth trying out different days and times. Statistically, Tuesdays are the cheapest days to fly and, as long as you don’t mind it, a nighttime flight will almost always be cheaper.
Shop Around for your Flights
Flights can be one of the most expensive parts of a holiday, so it’s worth hunting as many sites as possible to get the cheapest deal you can. Check out useful websites like Skyscanner to ensure you’re not overpaying for your fare. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to clear your cookies before searching for flights – if you don’t the prices can increase every time you revisit the site to check prices!
Check out other Transport Options
Maybe your first thought was to just hop on a flight and head to the nearest European airport, but it’s worth investigating if there are other routes to your holiday destination. If you’re heading to mainland Europe, there are loads of options – check out ferry, train and coach options to see if you could save some extra cash by doing an unconventional journey!
Once you arrive at your destination, rather than renting a car, which can be a big expense, research how reliable the local transport is or how walkable the town is, then see if you could go without your hire car. If you can save on the insurance, petrol, and extra costs involved in hiring a car, you’ll have so much more to splurge on accommodation or dinners out while you’re away!
Pick your Accommodation Wisely
Accommodation can play a really big part in whether your holiday is a resounding success or a little half-baked. Although it’s tempting to cut costs with the accommodation by telling yourself ‘we’ll only be sleeping there – we’ll be out all day!’, it’s important to find a place that meets your needs and makes your stay enjoyable. This doesn’t mean you need to break the bank – just do your research! If you have little ones with you, ensure your choice of accommodation has amenities for them if needed; similarly, if you’re travelling with anyone less mobile, ensure you’re not on the top floor of an elevator-less hotel.
If a hotel is looking a little out of your budget, delve into the world of AirBnBs or hostels. These are often slightly cheaper options, but remember you are unlikely to have any extras thrown in, like breakfasts, toiletries or on-site advice and help. Weigh it up for yourself to decide if you can afford to have a more independent holiday without a hotel – it can mean big savings!
Don’t Cut Corners on the Important Stuff
As tempting as it is to skimp on some holiday necessities, it isn’t always worth it. Important holiday requirements like travel insurance are so important, and although it’s easy to forego them and save an extra £20, you could end up paying for it down the line. Trust us – you’ll be glad you shelled out an extra few pounds for travel insurance if your flights end up getting cancelled or you end up in hospital abroad for any reason. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Consider a Trip Closer to Home
If a foreign holiday looks too financially ambitious this year, there’s nothing wrong with a good old fashioned staycation! There are so many beautiful areas around the UK that are worth seeing, plus they’re often far less expensive than travelling further afield. Check out these options for some more affordable holidays and remember – it’s better to stay home and feel financially secure, rather than spend your time abroad worrying about every single penny.
If you’re desperate for a trip outside of the UK, start planning even earlier and start a holiday savings jar for summer 2023. It may seem a million miles away, but if you plan and book this far in advance, you’ll save a ton of money and you’ll have something to look forward to all year!
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There’s nothing better than a bit of family time. But rather than sit around the telly, watching in silence, why not play a fun little board game to keep you all entertained? It’s a great way to bond and have a great laugh together.
1. Cranium, £19.79
Fun for the whole family, Cranium combines brains with creativity. One team chooses a card from the category that matches their space on the board (either Creative Cat, Star Performer, Word Worm or Data Head) and has to successfully complete the task before the timer runs out!
2. Smart Ass, £12.99
This game consists of asking ‘who, what and where’ questions and any person is allowed to shout out the answer. But be careful – if you get it wrong when you shout it out, you can’t answer again! Whoever wins takes their turn next, so if you keep getting them wrong you could be stuck behind!
3. Absolute Balderdash, £17.98
In this hilarious bluffing game you try to make your opponents believe your made up answers to amusing questions about events, initials, people, laws and more. You’ll be crying with laughter at the end of each game!
Absolute Balderdash, £17.98 from Amazon
4. Pictionary, £20.99
This classic quick-draw game has been around since the 80s, but has lost little of its charm since. With each card you pick up you have to draw something so that your teammates can guess it. It’s basically like charades but for drawing. And don’t worry if you’re bad at drawing – that’s half the fun!
Pictionary, £20.99 from Amazon
5. Articulate for Kids, £15.99
This is truly the best fast-talking description game. 2,000 topics have been chosen by an educational specialist so that children can enjoy this while also learning! And did we mention it’s super fun too? Oh? Well it really is!
Articulate for Kids, £15.99 from Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
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We brits LOVE a holiday, don’t we? But we don’t always love the price tag that comes with it… So, just for you, we’ve created this guide on how to save money on your holiday.
Use cashback websites
Save money by using cashback websites, such as TopCashback. Head to their travel section and you’ll find that you can get cashback on accommodation, flights, trains and insurance with Booking.com, Hotels.com, Skyscanner and more. You can get this cashback deposited right into your bank account or take it out as a voucher to use on more travel!
Jack’s Flight Club
If you haven’t heard of it already, sign up now. Jack’s Flight Club was started by Jack, a guy who is just really, really good at finding cheap flights and has decided to share his unique talent with the world. You can get these offers via email – just sign up to his free (yes you read that right, free) newsletters by entering your email into his website. If you’re really impressed, you can sign up to his membership for just £12 for months (£19 for 6 months or £35 for a year) – which is totally worth it.
Collect and use air miles
Another fantastic way to cut costs is to use air miles. If you’ve been lucky enough to go on enough flights that you’ve built up your air miles, you can use these to get discounted or even completely free tickets, depending on how many you’ve saved.
Tesco Clubcard rewards
Use your Tesco Clubcard at every purchase you make there and you will gradually build up enough reward points to withdraw vouchers. Use these to save money on your holiday – for example, you can get British Airways Avios air miles points as well as vouchers for accommodation and cruises. They have a whole section devoted to travel vouchers, just check them out here.
Compare travel insurance plans
I hope you’re not planning on going away without travel insurance, are you? It’s not just for your belongings – if you choose the right one you will be covered for certain medical procedures and repatriation, which, although you may not be worrying about now, are extremely important in case of an accident. Use comparison websites, like Compare the Market, to compare the best value for money travel insurance offers.
No fees abroad with Starling Bank
Did you know that Starling offer no fees for spending abroad? They also offer fantastic exchange rates and 24/7 customer service. In addition, it’s easy to split the cost of holiday spending with your travel buddy, as they have an easy to use ‘split’ function in their app.
That’s it for now – hope you enjoy your discounted holibobs!
Gosh – it’s getting pretty chilly out, isn’t it? To keep you warm if you’re pinching pennies, here are our top 5 affordable winter coats. As the cold weather approaches, you might be thinking about expanding your wardrobe to include some stylish and cosy winter jackets. You don’t have to sacrifice your style in order to save – we’ve got these great recommendations for you to browse today!
1. Dark Green Faux Fur Longline Coat, New look, £45.99
This dark green faux fur coat from New Look looks like the warmest thing on earth! You’ll never be cold again with this lovely thing wrapped around you all winter. It’s so versatile – dress it up with a jumpsuit and heels, or go casual with some trousers and a cute top for a chilled day out. Plus, at a bargain price of just £45.99 for such a beauty, you won’t be out of pocket either.
Dark Green Faux Fur Longline Coat, New look, £45.99
2. ASOS DESIGN Parka with Detachable Faux Fur Liner, Asos, £70
Stand out with this stunning pink parka for £70. It has everything you need – style, warmth and lots of pockets. This classic fit coat will suit just about anybody, and let’s be honest; parkas never go out of style so you’ll have this number for many years to come.
ASOS DESIGN Parka with Detachable Faux Fur Liner, Asos, £70
3. Funnel Neck Pocket Detail Puffer, Boohoo, £22
Look chic with this LBD of the coat world – everyone needs one. It looks great with jeans and trainers while also looking oh-so-fabulous with a dress and boots. Warm and cosy, it also has room for warm jumpers inside for extra snugness.
Funnel Neck Pocket Detail Puffer, Boohoo, £22 (on sale – usually £55)
4. Khaki Faux Fur Hood Belted Puffer Coat, River island, £60
This parka-puffa jacket hybrid is hot – in both senses of the word. Warm and cosy while also being hot to trot, this fabulous coat will see you through winter and back again. You can also detach the fur trim so that you can wear it in autumn and early spring.
Khaki Faux Fur Hood Belted Puffer Coat, River island, £60 (on sale – usually £85)
5. Quilted Parka Coat, Monki, £60
We are in love with this coat – it’s like a duvet that you can wear out the house! It’s oversized, meaning you can fit lots of lovely, warm jumpers inside without looking like a stuffed olive. It’s black, which, of course, goes with everything so whatever your outfit, you’re covered (literally).
Autumn has fallen upon us, as has soup season – those warm, delicious bowls of joy that we all look forward to every year. And we’re here to prove that you can make those oh-so wholesome soups even when you’re on the teeniest of budgets.
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Leek and Potato Soup
So simple, yet so delicious. Leek and potato flavour is one of our favourite soups, as you only need about 5 core ingredients and it’s close to impossible to get it wrong.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 knob of butter
1 white onion, sliced
300g of potatoes, cubed
3 leeks, sliced,
1L of vegetable or chicken stock
200 milk
Salt and black pepper
To serve
Double cream or creme fraiche, if desired
Method
– Put the butter in a pan then wait until melted. Then add the onion, leek and potato, season well with salt and black pepper, and cover for 15 minutes.
– After that, add the stock and milk, cover and let simmer for another 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
– Now, with a potato masher, mash the ingredients into the soup until not quite smooth with a few lumps. If you like a smoother soup, you can choose to liquidate it with a blender.
– Add a swirl of cream or crème fraîche before serving.
2. Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween – they’re also brilliant in soups! Filled with lots of fantastic vitamins, this soup is both healthy and tasty.
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
2 white onions, finely chopped
1kg of pumpkin, deseeded and chopped into chunks
650ml vegetable stock
140ml double cream
Best served with fresh crusty bread or croutons
Method:
– Heat the olive oil in a large pan and gently cook the onions for about 5 minutes, until nice and soft but not coloured.
– Then, add the pumpkin to the pan and carry on cooking for around 8-10 minutes. Stir it occasionally, waiting until it starts to turn soft and golden.
– After that, pour all of the vegetable stock into the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring it to the boil and simmer it for 10 minutes – until the pumpkin is very soft.
– Pour in the cream, bring it back to the boil, then grab a hand blender and puree it. If you like your soup very smooth you can pour the soup through a fine sieve.
– Serve hot with crusty bread or croutons!
3. Simple Chicken Soup
Simple – yet delicious, this hearty chicken soup is enough to warm anybody’s cockles.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Italian seasoning
60g Chicken thighs
140g Spinach
400g Fire-roasted tomatoes
250g Spiral pasta
500 Chicken stock
1 Lemon
Salt and pepper
Parmesan (for garnish)
– Start off by seasoning the chicken thighs with the Italian seasoning, adding a pinch of salt.
– Then heat the oil in a large pot over a medium-high heat and sear the thighs for five minutes on both sides.
– Pour in the chicken stock, tomatoes and pasta. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes – until the pasta is al dente.
– Take out the thighs with tongs and shred them, then put them back in the pot. Wilt the spinach directly in the pot and squeeze the whole lemon in, too. Seasons to taste then serve – garnished with grated parmesan.
(Recipe from Bev Cooks)
4. Tomato and red pepper soup
Mmmmm-mh! Who doesn’t love a big, hot bowl of tomato and red pepper soup?! Super simple and easy to make, while still being tantalisingly tasty.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 large red peppers, seeds removed and roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
600g ripe tomatoes, quartered
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1l chicken stock or vegetable stock
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil, to garnish
Extra virgin olive oil, to garnish
Method:
– Begin by heating the olive oil in a large saucepan, then saute the onions, peppers and garlic for five minutes.
– Add in the fresh tomatoes then cook them for 3 to 4 minutes.
– Then pour in the tinned tomatoes, the stock and 250ml of water. Bring this to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer it for around 30 mins.
– After, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Then, puree the mixture with a hand blender, strain it through a sieve and then, if desired, add a little stock.
– To finish, season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve, garnished with basil and a lovely drizzle of extra virgin olive oil – delicious.
5. Lentil and Bacon soup
Incredibly tasty and packed full of healthy fibre, this soup has it all.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 x 70g packs pancetta cubes
1 carrot (about 120g), finely diced
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp turmeric
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 chilli, sliced
2 low-salt stock cubes
250g red lentils, rinsed
Method:
– Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, then put in the onion, one of the packs of pancetta and the carrot. Cook this on a low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until the onions are quite soft.
– After that, add the cumin, turmeric, garlic and chilli and cook for a further 1 or 2 mins.
– Pour in 1.25 litres of boiling water, crumble in the stock cubes and add the lentils. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 mins, stirring occasionally to ensure the lentils aren’t sticking.
– Meanwhile, fry the other packet of lardons in a small frying pan for about 10 mins until nice and crispy. You don’t need to add any oil as plenty will run from the pancetta.
– Serve the soup with a sprinkle of crispy lardons on top.