I do pretty much the same but with Lufthansa, living in Germany my Tesco card isn't much use but I have a Payback card which can be used in quite a few shops and the points can be converted into Lufthansa miles. Lufthansa aren't my favourite airline but using the miles certainly helps toward the costs of trips. I am going to New York in March using my miles.

I have money transferred each month by standing order from my current account into an ISA and that is purely holiday money.

I need to up the amount though as I'm planning on going mad and having two holidays in 2008!

I just let money build up in a different account to my main account. I know some people who will wait to the last minute and out comes the credit card. A little forward planning and big debt is advoided.

I'm the ultimate credit card tart! My annual dance trips to Cuba are paid for by opening up a new credit card account that has a decent interest free period on preferably purchases or balance transfers if the transfer fee is low with a direct debit set-up for just the minimum monthly payment and then setting up a regular savings account with whichever bank is offering the best rate at the time. I then set-up a standing order for transferring into it how ever many instalments are needed to ensure that by the time the interest free period is up that there is enough money in that account to pay off the balance in full. Net result is that I enjoy a virtually interest free loan (I regard the balance transfer fee as 'interest') whilst at the same time earning a higher rate of interest on the savings account that will pay it off.

It sounds complicated when written out like that but really it is very easy! The trick is to make sure that you never, ever use that card for anything else and to also be absolutely sure that when the interest free period comes to an end that you really will have the money to pay it off!

SM

I forgot to mention that I am retired and receive two pensions one from Germany and one from the UK and the UK one stays in the bank and is used purely for my holidays, it gains a bit of interest so each year there is usually enough for a long haul holiday.

not having had proper holidays for over 30 yrs when i decided to opt out move and take a less well payed but less stress full job we started traveling, we usually go either 3 or 4 times a year around Europe, do i save no chance on what i earn now, its a question of look we have some dosh where shall we go or i have found a good deal to.. if there is no dosh in the bank then no holiday

i have weekly dd set up to go into a holiday account and i save tescos vouchers too. i need to do this with booking about 4-6 holidays every year

ummmm..... bank loan?

Oh dear I save £200 a month for my main holiday which nowadays only covers about half the cost . + to add to that my one main holiday is quickly becoming 2 so im afraid I have to pay much of it on the credit card, but if i cant pay the rest off when the bill comes in I transfer it to my barclaycard which i now call my holiday account and they always have a low balance transfer rate of between 4-6% until paid with NO transfer fee . I also use an american express platinum money back credit card for all of my spending in places that accept American express ,including food shopping and petrol. i have just had £250 back which pays for flights /hotel for a weekend break after christmas . I also do all my internet spending via Quidco . I have earnt £130 cashback on quidco since beginning of november just on christmas shopping and transfering my gas and electricity to the cheapest in our area which I do regularly to save the pennies.

lyn

I work sometimes on my days off doing minibus work to and from cardiff/bristol airport...
tips come in handy also

As we usually have a winter holiday in the Canaries,I have two thrifts..one for crimbo and the other, holiday money

I save £2 coins in small sample jam jars. Each jar holds 17 coins, and this year I had 3 jars. Result!! It paid for the train fare to and from the airport, a meal at the airport and a couple of drinks while waiting for train and plane. It's not a lot, but it stops you digging in to the holiday fund.

Getting some good tips here folks, thanks. I think I will try the coins in the jar thing but I'm dubious about whether that would work for me. £1 or £2 coins just sitting there when I find my purse is empty? I'm sure I would be dipping in all the time and end up saving zilch. Worth a shot though.........

Or, as in our case SandC the son dibbing in when he needs bus fare

We have an old white oblong vase, that we throw all the loose change into...husband empties his pocket after a night at the pub it usually pays for one taxi to the airport £80 per year.
As far as saving for a holiday, well I'm afraid living on an abysmal pension leaves no room for saving these days.

We take it out of the bank account that we saved like mad (for this time in our lives) and when it's gone, it's gone, and so will the holidays.

Sanji x

i tend to just book my breaks on a monthly basis.
i wait for a cheap deal on ryanair and just book it.
i have a gallon bottle that i fill up with my loose change every night and when it is full i just change it up for euros and use them for my main holiday.
i can usually get about £250/£300 in the bottle so that buys a lot of vodka and coke in spain

I'm lucky enough to have a very very low mortgage (only pay £ 250 per month ) with a relatively well paid job. Add to that the fact that my better half also works and not having any children, saving for my holidays is never a problem.

Mark

Big head Mark

I used to be the same as Mark (both working at well paid jobs and no children) when I was working and could take lots of expensive holidays but early redundancy and no chance of getting another permanent job because of my age necessated changes. I am lucky that I was able to sell my house in England in the 1990's which has paid for lots of holidays, cleared my German mortgage etc. but like Sanjii I find as a pensioner it is almost impossible to save and if I wasn't able to use my small English pension for my trips, holidays would be probably be very different.