Martin Lewis, the renowned money-saving expert, has shared an insightful hack on how to get the most out of your annual leave.
With many Brits dreaming of escaping the gloomy UK winter for sunnier destinations, this tip couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Annual Leave Hack
Martin Lewis recently revealed a clever strategy for stretching your holidays in his latest newsletter. While most workers in the UK are entitled to 28 days of holiday annually, Lewis shared a way to effectively double that time off.
By combining your annual leave with weekends and bank holidays, you can get much more time off than you’d initially expect.
This year, with Easter falling just two weeks before the May bank holiday, it’s the perfect opportunity to make use of this trick.
Last year, the gap between Easter and the May bank holiday was five weeks, so this alignment is especially beneficial for maximizing time off in 2025.
How It Works: Combining Leave Days
For those looking to make the most of their time off, Martin suggests a simple plan: by booking off a few key days, you can bridge the gap between holidays and significantly extend your break.
For instance, booking from Tuesday, April 22, to Friday, April 25, and Monday, April 28, to Friday, May 2, can connect the April 21 weekend to the May bank holiday, effectively doubling your time off.
Alternatively, with five days off, you could turn them into 11 consecutive days off work.
Booking April 11 to 14 and April 16 to 17 could provide you with an extended break.
There’s even a way to transform two weeks of leave into over three weeks by booking strategic days across the end of April and early May.
The Best Time to Book Your Holiday
Once you’ve maximized your leave, Martin also shared some tips on when to book your holiday to save even more.
If you’re considering a package holiday, sometimes booking last minute is the way to go.
Typically, waiting until eight weeks before travel can result in significantly lower prices, though it’s worth noting that your choice of destinations may be more limited.
However, when booking flights, Martin recommends booking as early as possible.
Airlines often release seats up to a year in advance, and early bookings tend to offer cheaper options.
Package Holidays and ATOL Protection
Martin emphasized that when booking a traditional two-week getaway, package deals often offer the best value, particularly for those seeking peace of mind.
Many package holidays come with ATOL protection, meaning you’re covered in case of unexpected issues.
He also suggested calling around different travel agents to find the best deal, as this could save you up to 5%.
Marriage and Money: Martin’s Financial Tips
In addition to his holiday advice, Martin also recently discussed the financial benefits of marriage. With the number of married couples in the UK falling below 50% for the first time this decade, Martin outlined several financial advantages that apply exclusively to married couples or those in civil partnerships.
For example, married couples benefit from the Marriage Tax Allowance, which helps with inheritance tax.
They also enjoy tax-free capital gains up to a certain threshold.
Martin pointed out that even in the event of a breakup, married couples have better legal protections than cohabiting couples.
So, whether you’re planning to maximize your leave or considering the financial perks of tying the knot, Martin’s tips can help you save big in 2025.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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