Your ultimate bank holiday survival guide

Bank Holidays are a welcome reset for many of us but if you don’t have a plan in place it can become expensive very quickly – especially when it’s twinned with a payday. 

Whether it’s the local coffee shop calling, an array of pastries from the bakery, a soft play or a beer garden, a bank holiday can throw even the most financially astute of us off our game.

Here’s your survival guide to get you through the other side whilst still being in control.

1. Don’t ignore it

Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to your budget. Be sure to incorporate bank holiday spending into your budget. Planning to see friends or taking a stroll down the river? Whatever your plans, now could be the time to up your entertainment, eating out or fun pot. 

Don’t bury your head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening

2. Budget is permission to spend

If you’re on a debt free journey or find yourself being uber frugal, a bank holiday could be a great time to allocate some funds in your budget to spend on you. Whether that’s treating yourself to a coffee, an ice cream or a good old fashioned Pick N Mix. You can still experience life’s little pleasures without breaking the bank and derailing your money journey.

3. Track your spending

Committing to tracking your expenses can help you retain some control over the extended break. A bit like a healthy eating plan, when you’re committed to writing down and tracking you’re less likely to waver from your plan. 

You can track your ‘actuals’ spending in the Financielle Budget Tracker.

4. Remove your triggers

If you follow an influencer that triggers you to spend, spend, spend, now’s the time to unfollow them. Bank holidays are a great time to create content for social media and a prime time for them to promote things on their channels. Whether they are taking their kids to a boujee play centre, indulging in a beauty haul or sipping champagne in the local wine bar as much as you want to see it, if it can evoke impulse spending it’s time to look the other way.

5. Find your people

Stick close to the Financielle Community this weekend, There are people grinding out their money journey just like you and remember a bank holiday is just another day!

Check out our simple step-by-step guide to creating a budget you can actually stick to here