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.
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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.
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The research shows 1 in 4 (25%) have had to sacrifice social activities to afford a getaway.
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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.
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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.
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Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said many Aussies are long overdue a break.
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"This shows just how desperate some are for a holiday. They're not just cutting back; they're hustling hard to make it happen.
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"For many, travel isn't affordable anymore. But consumers are willing to sacrifice everyday comforts to make it happen."
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Pike said households are having to adopt a variety of measures to enable time away.
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"We're seeing a shift from spontaneous getaways to strategic planning – side hustles, points hacking, and selling pre-loved items to create travel currency.
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"The emotional toll of constant cost-of-living pressure means a growing number of families are eager for a few days away."
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Pike urged holiday hopefuls to add travel insurance to their budget.
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"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."
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Worryingly, 9% of Aussies admit they put travel expenses on credit or went into debt to be able to afford time away.
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Pike said while a trip can be an incredible experience, going into debt to pay for it could be a long-term headache.
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"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."
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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 |  |
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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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