If your past year has been anything like ours, it’s time for that long-awaited holiday. With the opening of the Cook Islands and Trans-Tasman bubbles, now is the perfect time to dust off your passport and start planning that getaway you’ve been dreaming of! Whether you’re travelling for pleasure, an emergency or to reunite with family overseas – we’re here to help.

How to Budget for a holiday

Whether you’re planning the trip of a lifetime in the (hopefully) near future or just wanting to get out of town ASAP, you’ll need to think about your travel plans, budget and how you can make it all possible – that’s where we come in. Here are our top 'how to budget for a holiday' tips to help make your next trip unforgettable!

1. Decide how you want to travel

When we talk about how you want to travel, we’re not talking about by bus, plane, or car – we’re talking about how you want to indulge while you’re away. Are you planning to backpack through the Australian outback, treat your family and friends when you catch up or relax & unwind at a beachfront villa in Rarotonga?

Deciding what kind of holiday you want to have will influence your budget and will make sure you’re not surprised by costs down the line.

If you’re looking to get away but don’t think it’s within your financial reach, get in touch with our team about a travel loan and how we can boost your finances to make your plans possible!

2. Suss the details

Lives can get hectic, so planning in advance is always your best course of action. Decide when you want to go and get in on those early bird flights, reduced room rates and start banking some coin for your trip. Look up the average food and drink costs at your destination to get a rough idea of how much you’ll need to save up too. Remember, the earlier you start planning, the longer you have to compile your holiday funds!

3. Decide on your travel non-negotiables

There are always one or two 'must-do' things we have on our list. Your non-negotiables might be swimming with dolphins, or jumping out of a plane, or even something frivolous like visiting every theme park on the Gold Coast. It doesn’t matter what it is – put it down on paper and carve out space in the budget for it!

If there’s anything on your must-do list that feels unattainable, a travel loan from Instant Finance can close that gap and ensure you come home with absolutely no regrets. There’s no better time than now!

4. Set your budget and start saving

Figuring out your budget has never been easier. Focus on this two-step process:

Step 1: Combine your expenses for…

  • Your flights
  • Accommodation
  • Activities and non-negotiables
  • Food & drink
  • Gifts for family & friends

Step 2: Figure out how much you’ll have to save up each week by dividing your expenses by the number of weeks until you fly out! Easy. Well, not always. If you find yourself coming up short, talk to us. We can make heaps of things possible!

Plus, since you’ve already put in all the leg work figuring out what you want to do and the average living costs at your dream destination your itinerary will come together on its own.

5. Pack your bags

Lastly, and arguably most importantly, pack your bags. Write up a quick checklist with the most important stuff first; passport, wallet, itinerary, and clothes. Make sure you take a quality camera to capture all the memories too. If you’re in need of an upgrade, check out MyHome for a range of cameras and electronics to ensure you don’t miss a thing!

Planning makes perfect, so you can kick back and enjoy your trip stress-free.

6. And go!

Now you have everything you need to make this trip one to remember, book those flights and enjoy your holiday – it’s been a while for heaps of us, so enjoy it now you can!

Busting to take a holiday?

Apply now!