Friday, October 30, 2009
Category:
Home Improvements
The Autumn half term break is almost at an end. Prior to the start of the break Post Office Travel Services carried out research which found that 4.8 million people were planning to go abroad during the time off school.
Many of those planning to go away said that they would leave planning and buying holiday essentials until the last minute.
According to Post Office Travel Services, whilst many plan to get a last minute holiday deal, it is not a good idea to get holiday cash at the last minute. Fees and poorer exchange rates could lead to an increased currency cost of as much as ten percent.
Seven percent of those surveyed said that they leave buying their foreign currency until 24 hours before their departure, collecting it up the day before their holiday or on the day of travel. Four percent of people actually buy their foreign currency once they have reached their destination point.
Another holiday essential, travel insurance, is left off the list for one in five holidaymakers before they leave the UK. Regionally it is those living in East Anglia who are most likely to go away without travel insurance. Also left until the last minute is packing. Over a third of those surveyed said that they don’t commence packing until the day before they leave.
According to the research from The Post Office, the habit of doing everything last minute is common across the whole of the UK. Londoners are the worst at buying foreign currency and as many as ten percent wait until the day they travel to make the purchase.
Sarah Munro, head of Post Office Travel Services, said: "With the half term holiday looming it's a great time to escape for a relaxing break, but those who leave their planning to the last minute are creating stress for themselves and more worryingly putting themselves at risk. Buying foreign currency at the last minute can leave you with less cash to spend while you're away due to hidden fees and poorer rates. We also urge consumers not to leave their travel insurance to the last minute either to ensure they are covered for cancellation should an illness or an emergency happen before they travel."
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Homeowners who opt for a half term staycation rather than a vacation, might consider making some home improvements. Those looking to fund their home improvements could consider taking out a
secured loan. A secured loan is one of many options to fund home improvements and can be used for an array of projects. For example, homeowners may want to increase their living space by means of an extension or conservatory. A secured loan could also be used to fund extending upwards into loft space or downwards into the basement.
