Too broke for a break: 1 in 7 Aussies are booking holidays they can’t afford
Aussies are sacrificing financial stability for the sake of a getaway, according to new research by Finder.
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A Finder survey of 1,014 respondents revealed 1 in 7 (14%) have booked a holiday they couldn't afford over the past year.
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That's 2.9 million Australians who planned a trip over the past year even though they didn't have the money to pay for it.
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The research found 5% went into debt to afford the holiday, while 4% had to borrow the funds from family or friends to take the trip.
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A further while 5% had to cancel their plans due to insufficient funds.
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Young Australians were the most likely to book a vacation they couldn't afford, with 26% of gen Z admitting they had, compared to just 2% of baby boomers.
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Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said Australians are blowing their budgets in the name of a getaway.
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"For many, the lure of a holiday is so strong they're willing to risk their financial stability just to get away.
"A trip might only last a week, but the debt can linger for months or even years – that's often not factored in.
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"Going into the red for a break may give you a few days of relaxation, but it can also undo months of hard work saving and budgeting."
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Kidman said the stress of paying off a holiday you couldn't afford can completely erase the benefits of taking it in the first place.
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"There's nothing wrong with treating yourself, but if the price tag sends you into debt, it can put a lot of financial pressure on the household.
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"If you plan smarter and save first, you can still enjoy the trip – minus the financial hangover when you get home."
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Kidman urged holidaymakers to stash savings in a high interest savings account.
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"Putting aside $200 a month adds up to $2,400 a year which is a great holiday fund."
Have you booked a holiday you couldn't afford in the last 12 months?
| Yes, I had to borrow the money from family/friends | 4% |
| Yes, I went into debt | 5% |
| Yes, I had to cancel/didn't go | 5% |
| No | 86% |
| 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.
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