September Savings

 

For families, September and the whole back-to-school rigmarole can be one of the most expensive times of the year. However, if you don’t have school-age children, there’s a useful financial advantage: You aren’t tied to the school holidays.

Once the summer rush is over, September can be a great time to look for cheaper holidays, quieter days out and better availability. It’s now ‘off-peak’ time and that’s very much reflected in the prices of flights, and accommodation.

Take Advantage of Off-Peak Travel

If you can travel outside the school holidays, you may have a pleasant surprise when you compare prices for September breaks. You’re likely to find better deals on:

• Hotels
• European city breaks
• Beach holidays
• UK short breaks
• Holiday parks, caravan, and lodge stays
• Spa breaks

Don’t fall into the common trap and assume every September holiday is automatically cheaper, though. Compare several dates and check the total cost, including travel, accommodation, food, parking and activities.

Compare the Holiday Market

There are various comparison and booking sites that are helpful. For flights, Skyscanner will show the cheapest options. You can then look for accommodation from there. Sometimes moving a trip by just a day or two can make a surprising difference. A tip if booking this way is to ensure your accommodation is cancellable, just in case of issues with your flight.

You could also look at midweek breaks. Weekend accommodation is often more expensive because demand is higher, so, if your schedule allows, look at Sunday-to-Thursday stays. You may find:

• Lower room rates
• More choice of accommodation
• Easier restaurant bookings
• Quieter attractions
• Less traffic
• Better availability
• Bargain last minute availability

For couples, friends, retirees and people with flexible working arrangements, this can be a particularly useful way to stretch a leisure budget.

 

Enjoy Cheaper – and Quieter – Days Out

September and October (at least until half-term) can also be a good time to visit attractions now children are back at school.

It’s worth looking for off-peak or midweek prices at:

• Theme parks
• Museums
• Zoos
• Gardens
• Historic houses
• Spas
• Cinemas
• Theatres and cultural venues

Even if they’re not much cheaper, they’re likely to be quieter and thus more enjoyable. Check for advance-booking discounts, memberships, local offers and deal sites, and combined tickets. Always do the maths first, though. If an annual pass costs £100 and you need to visit five times before it becomes worthwhile, make sure you’re actually going to visit five times.

Look Beyond the Headline Price

Cheap deals look good, but they’re designed to drag you in, and, like the discount airlines, prices will rise as soon as you add anything above the basics. And a cheap hotel doesn’t necessarily mean a cheap holiday, either. Before booking, makes sure you’ve calculated the overall cost. That’s flights, transfers, travel around your destination, food, accommodation – it soon adds up and it’s easy to overlook certain expenses.

A hotel that costs a bit less per night may not be cheaper if it means paying significantly more for transport or parking. Look at the whole trip, not just the advertised price.

Use Discounts You Already Have

September is a good time to check if you accumulated loyalty cards, accounts, and other schemes have accrued:

• Supermarket rewards
• Travel points
• Hotel loyalty points
• Gift cards
• Membership discounts
• Vouchers

Use them when they genuinely reduce the cost of something you were already planning to buy – but don’t spend a lot, on something you don’t necessarily need, simply to get a £5 reward!

 

Enjoy Off Peak

One of the biggest benefits of travelling – or even visiting attractions near home – in September isn’t only the price. It’s also that it’s a whole different experience. Fewer crowds can mean shorter queues, easier parking, more choice of restaurants and a much more relaxed day out.

You may be able to visit somewhere that was uncomfortably packed throughout August and enjoy it properly.

Don’t Turn a Bargain into New Debt

It doesn’t matter how big a discount is – whether it’s a bargain break, a restaurant deal, or a ‘70% off sale.’ Nothing is a bargain if you can’t afford it. Be particularly cautious about putting holidays or days out on credit cards or using buy-now-pay-later schemes simply to make the purchase possible.

Before committing to a booking, work out what you can realistically afford without compromising your ability to pay your regular bills or existing debts. The only good deal is one you can enjoy without worrying about the bill afterwards.

September Could be Your Money-Saving Month

While parents are spending a small fortune on school uniforms and stationery, those without school-age children have something valuable: flexibility. Use it.

Travel midweek. Compare off-peak dates. Look for quieter attractions. Make use of loyalty rewards. And always compare the total cost rather than being distracted by a big discount. You may just find that your money goes considerably further when everyone else is back at school.