Going broke for a break: 10 million Australians take drastic action to afford a holiday
Aussies long overdue for a break are stopping at nothing to get away, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,014 respondents revealed almost 1 in 2 (48%) – equivalent to 10.3 million people – are getting creative to be able to pay for a holiday.
The research shows 1 in 4 (25%) have had to sacrifice social activities to afford a getaway.
Recycling bottles and cans for cash (21%) and selling unwanted household items and clothing (14%) round out the top three actions Aussies are taking to have a much-wanted vacation.
More than 1 in 10 (13%) have taken on a second job or started a side hustle, while 11% are fanatical about accruing rewards points and frequent flyer points to help fund their trip.
Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said many Aussies are long overdue a break.
"This shows just how desperate some are for a holiday. They're not just cutting back; they're hustling hard to make it happen.
"For many, travel isn't affordable anymore. But consumers are willing to sacrifice everyday comforts to make it happen."
Pike said households are having to adopt a variety of measures to enable time away.
"We're seeing a shift from spontaneous getaways to strategic planning – side hustles, points hacking, and selling pre-loved items to create travel currency.
"The emotional toll of constant cost-of-living pressure means a growing number of families are eager for a few days away."
Pike urged holiday hopefuls to add travel insurance to their budget.
"No matter what sacrifices you make to afford the trip, make sure to include travel insurance – you'll be covered if your dream holiday turns into a nightmare."
Worryingly, 9% of Aussies admit they put travel expenses on credit or went into debt to be able to afford time away.
Pike said while a trip can be an incredible experience, going into debt to pay for it could be a long-term headache.
"If you do take on debt to travel, compare products and budget properly to make sure you can pay it off as quickly as possible."
What lengths are you going to in order to afford a holiday in the next 12 months?
| Sacrificing social activities | 25% |
| Recycling bottles and cans | 21% |
| Selling unwanted household items/clothing | 14% |
| Taken on a second job/started a side hustle | 13% |
| Churning rewards credit cards/ accruing rewards points or frequent flyer points | 11% |
| I put it on credit/went into debt | 9% |
| Renting out a spare room | 5% |
| I don't plan on travelling | 23% |
| Nothing, I can afford a holiday already | 29% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,014 respondents, July 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,014 respondents from July 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
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