Savings alert: Jasmine Birtles reveals how to slash your holiday debt this summer - 'Be careful!'

Saving starts before you go

Before you go on holiday, make sure you’re shopping around for the best deals and offers. This could be for flights, hotels, and even activities.

Remember, too, that you’ll need travel insurance – which could save you a huge debt if you have a medical issue, face big delays, or need to cancel at the last-minute. Shop around and compare prices and cover level before you commit to a policy.

Use cashback websites like TopCashBack to get a percentage of your bookings back, too. The money can take a while to hit your account, so don’t bank on it for extra spending money – but do plan to use it for something else (like gift cards to buy Christmas gifts this year).

Remember to also look for discounts before you buy, too. The old NUS student card is now called the TOTUM card and available for not just students but also professionals who belong to an industry body or union – and if you’re under 35, it includes an International Youth Travel card for some brilliant exclusive discounts. Or, check out Over60sDiscounts if you’re looking for senior travel offers, which could save you as much as 40 per cent on a trip abroad.

Use a suitable payment card abroad

International currency conversions and spending fees can easily rack up extra costs you hadn’t budgeted for on your holiday. A credit card designed for international use is a good idea, as the fees will be nominal (or at least much better than your usual purchase card).

Even better, try to use a prepaid travel card or a multi-currency option like Revolut. You can load the card with your spending money and use it to pay for things with no or low fees, in a local currency. It’s a lot safer than taking lots of cash, too.

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Find ways to make money on holiday

You can make money while you’re away to reduce your holiday debt! This could be renting out your home on Air BnB, renting out your car parking space, or selling your photographs.

If you work remotely or are self-employed, you could also consider setting aside some days to work while on holiday. This can also reduce the mental load of worrying about work stacking up while you are on leave. Many digital nomads significantly extend their time away in the sun without racking up a big holiday debt.

Be careful about travel times

Flying at certain times of day or day of the week can significantly impact your travel costs. Midweek flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are much cheaper than weekends and Mondays.

Some people like to get a very early flight to save money (and travel in a less crowded airport). However, make sure you check your travel to the airport and whether you will need an extra night in a hotel near the airport, which might negate the savings of travelling out of peak hours. For example, there is no point booking a 5am departure if you need to leave home at 3am and the trains aren’t running!

Avoid luggage fees and fines

Learn to pack light. If you’re travelling with a partner, consider sharing one large checked bag between you and sharing essentials like shampoo, to save space in your personal cabin bags.

Make sure you check the cabin bag sizes and rules for your airline well before you travel, too. It’s well-known that airlines can check bags for size at the gate and force you to pay a fine before letting you board, even if you’ve checked the size earlier in your airport journey.

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Choose a capsule wardrobe and remember that if you’re going away for longer than five days, you can wash your own clothes to prevent taking so many.

It’s easy to buy laundry detergent travel sheets which take up no luggage space and mean you can wash some things (like underwear and t-shirts) in your hotel or accommodation.

Don’t go

Now, this might be controversial, but you don’t need to go on holiday. The best way to reduce holiday debt is to not have one.

Or, at least, you don’t need to go abroad. Spend time in your hometown being a tourist, or find a great last-minute deal on a weekend cabin in the countryside in the UK. Many people find the stress of travelling negates the relaxation of a holiday – and staying at home for a few days is actually the best (and cheapest) rest they can get.