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Holidays are seen mainly as a treat rather than a necessity, but in fact taking a break from the stresses of our everyday life is something we should all do. Holidays are important both physically and mentally. And let’s face it we all deserve a break every now and again from the nagging boss and rubbish UK weather. If you’re still feeling guilty about going on holiday, maybe because of a money factor, then here are some reasons why holidaying is essential.

As mentioned, stress is a big factor. If work is getting you down then its worth taking a break, a sunny destination is exactly what you need. In the long run it will do you a world of good. By breaking routine, taking in new surroundings and meeting new people, you will be relieving stress. Once you’ve had your bit of fun in the sun, you can return to work fully charged and refreshed. Caribbean holidays are particularly noted for their relaxation, laze on a soft powdery beach or go for some spa treatment the choice is yours. Who knows, you may need to have a few nights out on the town. Barbados holidays have a particularly good nightlife which stands out among Caribbean getaways.

Solitude could be exactly what you need. If you’re sick of dealing with customers and work colleagues then you may need some alone time. If you’re looking for an excluded paradise then Maldives Holidays are worth highlighting. A bit of time to think about how luck you really are could be exactly what you need. With a number of idyllic beaches and awe-inspiring natural scenery, the Maldives is perfect for some solo time.

In times of financial difficulty, the first budget restrictions many impose is their spending on leisure. Whilst we all need downtime, many of us probably spend far more on enjoying ourselves than we would admit. My girlfriend and I had this very problem when we first moved into our small flat. Whilst we cherished our new home and spared little expense on filling it with gadgets and modern furniture, we left ourselves no budget with which to enjoy ourselves. When surprise costs arose, such as fixing my vandalised car and extortionate council tax bills, we could ourselves edging nearer to financial crisis. Our time was divided between places of work and at home, watching the large television we had nearly bankrupted ourselves to afford. We began to resent the very flat we had been so desperate to move in to. Soon, these problems escalated as we began to bicker and encroach on each others space, unable to spend money on leisure.

We decided we needed to resolve our situation and invest ourselves in more leisure pursuits, even if they cost little or no money. For a couple, or common-law partnership as modern society romantically refers to it, there is little to do that does not cost money, especially during the winter months. I decided to join a local gym, getting fit and allowing me to escape the flat for a couple of hours. Costing just £30 a month, this seemed a great idea, but given my girlfriend’s lack of interest it was not something we could indulge in together. An extra £13.50 each a month allowed us to visit the local cinema unlimited, and for a while this was a great success. However, after four months we began to tire of our constant trips to the cinema, and it became more of a chore than excursion, perhaps because we were keen to get value for money from the cards by visiting at least once a week.

Eventually, we reached the conclusion that since meeting over three years ago on a holiday in Bulgaria; we had not enjoyed a holiday together. Indeed, she had not been away at all while I had enjoyed a draining lad’s week away in Magaluf. Certainly, we had had no period of extended downtime and the stresses and strains were beginning to show. A holiday was the answer, and after a lucky break (a win on a football accumulator coupled with a refund on an overpaid bill) we were keen to get away from it all. Being early autumn and keen to get away as fast as possible, we were limited on destinations. The cliched Canaries were instantly dismissed, and we decided to spend that little extra and travel further afield. Maldives holidays appealed but further investigation showed that it was far from ideal season. Caribbean holidays were the obvious solution, with temperatures still soaring into the thirties in October and November, although with a chance of rainfall. Ultimately, we settled on Barbados holidays given the excellent deals offered and luxurious accomodation. We now have the answer to our problem of a mundane life with nothing to look forward to. However, having spent most of the money on the holiday few funds are left for spending money so perhaps we’ve made little progress after all!!

Martin Lewis started his religion as a “Money Saving Expert” from humble beginnings, but ingenious tips and the onset of a cruel economic recession has seen the thrifty miser rocket to fame. I recommend visiting the Money Saving Expert website, if you haven’t already, and signing up to his weekly email packed full of bargains and tricks to beat the system. Even if you think you are a seasoned pro at firmly keeping your hands in your pocket, it’s certainly worth a look as it highlights up-and-coming offers as well as invaluable tips to handle financial institutions. Indeed, he has started a one man war against the banks by highlighting the ongoing battle regarding bank account charges, and through the advice on the website I managed to reclaim a large amount.

In our flippant society, we sometimes neglect to give our finances the stringent supervision they need. Almost everything can be bought for a lower price if we are willing to put in the effort and shop around. Sometimes the reward doesn’t match the effort, and there is a happy medium between the two extremes. Sometimes it is easier to pay the full price, to walk into a large high street chain, pay the full retail price and walk out with a shiny product. Occasionally that privilege is worth the extra expenditure, but often it is worth a bit of extra work to save on the RRP. An excellent example is holidays. I recently decided to surprise my girlfriend with a holiday before anyone deludes themselves by thinking I am a romantic, I should point out that this was a holiday long overdue! My first stop was a large travel agent chain where a pleasant man in thick make-up advised me of the various offers, and how booking quickly would save me a small fortune. After I’d managed to stop myself being transfixed by the layers of foundation, I examined the prices and felt my hand hover over my wallet. Just as I was poised to pay the deposit and settle for the initial offer, Martin Lewis’ stern lesson encroached on my conscious.

A brief hunt on the Internet at both holiday providers and advice websites told me that for the same price as that previously quoted I could enjoy a far more lavish holiday. I was also booking prematurely and that for the time of year that I would be travelling it was recommended to hold off for another six weeks. I reluctantly obeyed the advice, eager to get something concrete booked. My excitment peaked as I began seeing prices for Caribbean holidays fall to within my budget. The credit earned with my girlfriend would be enormous. I’d be exempt from castigation for weeks afterward! I continued to wait, and before long Thailand holidays fell within reach. I had heard only good things of Thailand and had been keen to go. It was only on further investigation that I noted some travellers had complained of Thailand’s rising cost, and that for a similar excursion Vietnam holidays were an alternative, given that the exchange rate was favourable and spending money required for a luxurious holiday was considerably less. Instantly, I clicked the button marked “book”, entering my card details furiously before the deal could disappear from my grasp. I cannot wait to tell my other half – thank you Martin!!!