Tips for Spending Less on Your Holidays

Everyone needs to take a holiday at least once a year so that they can de-stress and unwind so that they will be rejuvenated and ready to return to work. Read more

Tags: local currency, save money, restaurant, money saving ideas, repayment, cheap holidays, holidays, card

Should you opt for a package deal or a DIY holiday?

Saving money on a holiday isn’t always an easy task, and whilst tour operators are doing their best to try and tempt customers in the current financial climate by lowering their prices for spectacular holiday deals the cost can often still be very expensive, and far more than many of us are willing or able to pay. Read more

Tags: atol, holiday cost, abta, holiday insurance, holidays

Caravans become popular investment for holidaymakers

A recent report has shown that with more and more people now deciding to take their holidays within the UK rather than heading abroad the purchase of a stylish caravan is now considered a good investment. Read more

Tags: caravans, british holidays, cheap holidays, caravan club, holidays

More parents may take their kids on holiday during term time

The high cost of holidays outside of school term time is resulting in many parents threatening to take their kids out of school so that the family can afford to go on holiday. Read more

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Holiday companies may have to offer huge discounts

It has been claimed that due to a drop in bookings holiday companies in the UK may have to start offering huge discounts on holidays abroad in order to generate interest from consumers and get the travel market moving again. Read more

Tags: industry, cheap holidays, United Kingdom, travel market moving, holiday savings, holidays, tour operators, United States

Average family could lose hundreds in holiday spending money

It has recently been claimed that the average family in the UK could lose hundreds of pounds worth of holiday spending money when they go away because of a combination of the weak pound and the extortionate charges imposed by credit card companies when consumers use their credit cards abroad. Read more

Tags: financial headlines, holidays, money, holiday spending, expense, Business Finance, weak pound, family holiday

Have a Holiday at Home and Still Get a Bargain

All sectors of the economy in the UK are experiencing difficulties. The travel and tourist industry has been hard hit because many people can no longer afford to spend money on a holiday when they have recently lost their jobs and need the money to pay for essential household expenses. Many of those who usually travel abroad for their holidays are reconsidering this option for 2009, electing to stay at home this summer instead. Read more

Tags: Hoxton, holidays, british holidays, breakfast basis, holiday in recession

Can you afford to head off abroad?

Traditionally, this is the time of year when many Brits start to think about their summer holidays, with many deciding where and when they want to go and then looking for the best deals so that they can get their holiday booked up. Read more

Tags: cost, air travel, swing, holiday, current financial climate, card handling fees, growth driver, holidays

Many Brits too scared to spend

It has been revealed in a recent report that many people in Britain are too scared to spend money, with a third of Brits having scared themselves into spending less. Read more

Tags: analyst firm, spending, savings, future, fear

Holidaymakers boycott Europe due to value of euro

As most people are aware the value of the pound against the euro has plummeted over the past couple of months, and for holidaymakers that normally head to place such as France or Spain for their holidays this has come as bad news. Recent reports have shown that holidaymakers from the UK are not prepared to be stung by the tumbling pound against the euro, and many have decided instead to head to pastures new rather than be left with little in the way of spending money by having to take out euros. Read more

Tags: Impact, non-Eurozone countries, industry official, pound value, office, holidays, Association

Many more businesses may face closure next year

The UK has been overwhelmed with concern over recent weeks, with some of the best known retailers announcing that they are going into administration, having been unable to continue coping with huge debts as the recession, the global credit crunch, and the continuing economic downturn continue. Woolworths, MFI, and Zavvi are just a few of the big names to have made the dreaded announcement, but there could be many more to come according to some industry officials. Read more

Tags: economic downturn, business closures, closure, stock, early christmas sales, insolvency

Where should you head on your holidays?

Whilst most of us are trying to make cutbacks wherever possible in the current difficult financial situation, most of us do not want to give up our annual treat of some time away on holiday. Read more

Tags: financial situation, whilst, bank, shorter period, recession, advice, holidays, family

7 percent fall expected in Christmas spending overall

According to recently released figures an overall fall of around 7 percent is expected in Christmas spending for this year, as consumers continue to try and cut back on their expenditure. The cutbacks will be made in a range of areas, such as gifts, food, clothes, entertainment, and socialising. The survey was carried out by research group Deloitte, and showed the different areas in which people were planning to cut back on their Christmas spending. Read more

Tags: Business Finance, Opinions, holidays, Deloitte, Verdict Research

Long haul package holidays being slashed in price

With the global credit crunch still underway and soaring household bills and living costs impacting on consumers’ budgets it is little surprise that many people have decided that they either cannot afford to take a holiday at all or that they can only afford to take a break somewhere local within the UK rather than heading to some far flung destination that costs a small fortune when it comes to flights, accommodation, and all the extras. Read more

Tags: United Kingdom, trip, bargain, holidays, different deals, advance, fuel, way

Price of oil and food could remain high for some years

Consumers have been given a stark warning over the past couple of weeks, with officials stating that the cost of food and oil in the UK could remain high for years, which means that household finances will continue to remain strained. The warning came in a report from the government, with officials from the Treasury warning that shortage of supplies couples with growth in both population and world economy could result in many years of higher oil and food prices. Read more

Tags: uk, Brits Food prices, whilst, higher borrowing costs, holidays, today, higher bills, credit

Holidays still important to Brits

According to a recent report holidays are still important to Brits despite the fact that the global credit crunch has impacted heavily on household finances. In fact, the report suggests that many people would actually rather cut back on every day goods and luxuries than have to give up their yearly holiday, even though many are suffering from really strained household finances. Read more

Tags: food, repercussions, conscious travellers, way, arrangement fees

School holidays could mean more insurance claims

With the long stretch that is known as the school summer holidays, many parents are trying to think of ways to keep their children amused for the six week break, which any parent knows is not always easy.

Many children spend a great deal of time in the house over the school summer break, and particularly in the case of younger kids this can often lead to boredom and mischief. There is also an increased risk of accidents occurring when the kids are in the house all day every day, and according to a leading insurer this tends to result in an increased number of insurance claims.

According to officials from Halifax Home Insurance 20% of all claims for accidental damage are made during the months of July and August, when the kids are off school, and are often running amok in the house. These two summer months see claims for accident damage rocket by around 23% according to the insurance company, with claims for accidents ranging from smashed windows and damaged carpets to broken equipment and more.

Officials from the Halifax have been urging parents to make sure that they have accident damage as part of their home insurance policy, and also to ensure that they have an adequate level of cover in case of costly accidents. Without this type of cover parents could find that the summer holidays turn into a far more expensive time than they ever imagined, as they will have to foot the bill for accidental damage themselves.

One Halifax Insurance spokesperson stated: “It’s particularly important at this time of year for parents to check their home insurance policies and make sure they are covered for accidental damage to the home and contents. This summer’s heavy rains show little sign of abating, meaning children may well find themselves cooped up indoors for hours on end when they want to be outside playing, so they may get restless and find mischievous ways to amuse themselves.”

Tom Smith
13th September 2007

Tags: accidents, holidays, cover, damage, claim, school, home, Insurance

Consumers using bonuses to ‘pay off’ mortgage

Almost one in ten diligent Britons are using their annual bonus to pay off chunks of their mortgage, new research carried out by Birmingham and Midshires shows.

Figures released by the financial provider indicate that Britons are proving to be particularly savvy when using their bonuses, with nearly two-fifths having saved all or most of their bonus over the past year.

With regard to their mortgage, people from the Midlands and Wales are found to be the most financially astute, with nearly two-thirds paying off their mortgage.

In total, Britons collected more than £24 billion in bonuses last year, with the average employee receiving £1,758 from grateful employees, allowing many to invest in other avenues than their mortgage.

While some saved their payouts, over one in ten splashed their hard-earned cash on holidays and electrical items.

Jason Robinson, director of savings operations for Birmingham Midshires, said: “It’s easy to be tempted to splurge when we get paid a bonus so the fact that more than half are using their extra cash sensibly is great news.

“You don’t need a huge amount to save or invest so lucky bonus recipients should try to find a healthy balance between rewarding themselves for a year of hard work and squirreling their cash away,” he added.

Tags: new research, jason robinson, holidays, Wales, half, Financial services, two thirds, Birmingham Midshires