After living in lockdown for over 18 months, many of us just want to go on holiday. Like any major expense, if you plan for it, it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Many tourist destinations and establishments are offering great specials, making it more affordable for us South Africans to experience our own country.

You will also find that prices for accommodation and flights differ based on what dates you travel.

December is considered peak holiday time, but even within the month there are different rates. As  general rule having your holiday before Christmas is less expensive than the very popular period from Christmas through to the first week of January.

This also applies to flights, and if you are prepared to fly at a less convenient time – like very early in the morning or late in the evening – you will pay less for your tickets.

Those reward programmes can be really useful to make that holiday budget stretch a bit further, with discounts on flights, car hire and accommodation.

Once you and your family have selected a destination and worked out how much it will cost, remember to add in those incidentals like toll fees and petrol if you are driving, as well as day-to-day expenses. How much are you putting aside for entertainment and eating out?

Get the family involved by encouraging them to save their pocket money for holiday spending money, and to forego other treats to reach the goal. If you have a goal in place, it will be easier to not buy that extra pair of shoes, if it means being able to go on holiday.

Maybe you have decided to throw caution to the wind and plan on pulling out the credit card to fund your break. While this strategy is not recommended, at least have a repayment plan in place. Work out how much you need to repay each month and make sure you clear your holiday debt over a short period of time.

With a bit of planning and some bargain hunting you can enjoy that much-deserved break.