|PIC1|More than half of all Brits are finding themselves in financial difficulty because of poor money management before and during their holidays, warns debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

A CAP survey into the holiday habits of Brits also found that more than half (53%) of all Brits confessed to finding themselves in financial difficulty in the period following their holiday, whilst a third admitted that they do not save to go away.

Despite the global credit crunch, many holidaymakers show no sign of reining in on their spending whilst away. The CAP survey found that nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of the 334 people polled had no spending plan during their holiday and that many were forced to cut back on their spending when they returned because money was tighter.

When it comes to money-saving, people are more likely to head abroad, according to the survey results. Almost half (47 per cent) of those polled said they thought staying in the UK was the most expensive holiday destination, above a number of European countries, including France, Italy and Greece. Spain was voted as the least expensive, with only 1 per cent of people thinking it would cost the most to holiday there.

CAP said it was concerned that many people are unaware of the financial implications of going away, and at a time when the UK's personal debt stands at £1.4 trillion, the charity is issuing top tips that will help people save adequately for their holidays and avoid falling into the red. The tips include setting aside money towards the cost of the holiday each month, and being realistic about what you can afford.

Matt Barlow, the UK Chief Executive of CAP, said: "With so many already facing the misery of struggling to make debt repayments, we really want to encourage people to save and plan financially for their holidays. It would be a real shame if the cause of their relaxation were also to become the cause of spiralling debts."

According to Mr Barlow, estimates suggest that Brits will spend more than £750 per household on holidays in 2008.

"Through our top tips and research, we want to highlight the fact that, with a little planning and putting money aside each week, we can afford to go away without the worry that our vacation will push us over the tipping point financially," he said.

"We would never begrudge anyone a much-needed break, but we want to urge everyone today if they have got into financial difficulty through a holiday to use our online calculator and seek appropriate help too."


Christians Against Poverty's Top Five Tips for proper holiday budgeting:

• At the start of the year, look at your annual budget and decide how much you can spend on your holiday. Divide this total by twelve and save this amount of money each month to make sure you don't over-spend
• Stick to your budget when it comes to booking your holiday - we all want a fortnight in the Maldives, but we can't all afford it, so be realistic and avoid the temptation to 'keep up with the Joneses'
• Search the internet to find the best deals and if finances are tight, look for cheaper alternatives like camping, instead of staying in catered accommodation
• Save a small amount of 'pocket money' each month for 10 months leading up to your holiday - we all love to take spending money away with us and it will mean you can relax if you want that extra meal out whilst away
• Buy your sun-cream in winter when prices are cheaper!


For more information, visit www.capuk.org