That FOMO feeling hits around April, doesn’t it? You start seeing friends’ Greek holiday pics and suddenly the financially savvy decision to stay in the UK starts to feel a lot less empowering.
Lydia, a Financielle community member, recently made the brave call to skip the abroad holiday this year to work on her money goals, and the FOMO crept in.
But a UK staycay on a budget doesn’t have to feel like the consolation prize. Done right, it can feel like exactly what you needed.
What you’re saving by skipping the abroad holiday
Lydia put it perfectly:
“I was trying to do too much at once – building my emergency fund, saving for a summer holiday, putting money aside for future mat leave. The moment I decided to focus, my anxiety reduced.”
If you’ve chosen a staycay because you’re working through the playbook – building your emergency fund, ditching debt, or saving for something big, well done for making an intentional decision.
Give yourself something to look forward to
Think about what you want from a holiday. Is it rest? New experiences? Something that feels a bit special? You can build all of that into a UK break, you’ve just got to be deliberate about it.
Some things that work:
- Book a few events or day trips in advance so there’s genuine anticipation. A festival (even just for the day), a summer ball, a market town you’ve never explored.
- Create a proper itinerary, like you would for a city break. Heading to Norfolk? Search Instagram for the hidden gems – the independent beach cafes, paddleboarding spots, and lovely coastal walks.
- Lean into what makes the UK brilliant. The countryside, the pub gardens, the gloriously unpredictable weather that makes sunshine feel like a gift.
You don’t need to pretend you’re in Santorini, just make a plan that leaves you feeling like you’ve had a proper holiday.
Set up a sinking fund for the good stuff
A staycay doesn’t mean white-knuckling it over every purchase. Plan for the nice bits – think of all the good food, ice creams and activities.
Set up a sinking fund specifically for your holiday activities. Even £50-£100 saved over a few months means you can say yes to things while you’re there, instead of mentally calculating whether you can afford the fish and chips. Keeping a ‘running total’ in your head takes you out of the holiday entirely. Having a chunky sinking fund keeps you present and stress-free.
The first holiday you don’t put on a credit card
“We haven’t been abroad for a year and a half, but we’re now planning a holiday for August – and it’ll be the first I’ve ever been on that I haven’t put on a credit card. I would never have been able to do this without the Financielle method and making those sacrifices.”
~ Lizzie (Community member)
Your next holiday abroad (whenever that is) is going to feel amazing because of what you’re doing now. Remember that the UK staycay isn’t the lesser version, you can make some amazing memories.
So – what’s one thing you’re planning to do this summer to make a UK break feel genuinely special?
