Wednesday 26th July 2006
Holidaymakers spend £4.1 billion before they reach the airport, Post Office credit card has revealed.
In our excitement to prepare for the perfect getaway, the average UK holidaymaker spends £121 on purchases in advance of their break.
Many go even further, with six million sun seekers splashing out more than £200 on purchases to take away.
More than two thirds of us will buy a whole new holiday wardrobe and, although this refers to more women than men, the difference is not as big as might be expected: 78 per cent of women get a new suitcase of clothes, compared to 59 per cent of men.
It is not all about vanity though, as a quarter of holidaymakers spend money on books and travel guides before their trip.
"People want to make sure they look their best and have fun on holiday and for many this means a lot of preparation before they even board the flight – spending that perhaps isnt always realised in the total cost of a holiday," said Gary Fitton, head of Post Office credit card.
UK credit card debt has increased by £7 billion over the last two years, according to financial comparison site uSwitch.
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