Cheapflights reveals what Australians are giving up in 2015
A 2015 New Years Resolution to give up smoking can have reformed smokers holidaying in some of the world’s most glamorous getaways in 2016.
Research conducted by online travel search company www.cheapflights.com.au showed that nearly half of Australians (47%) had made New Years resolutions with 40% committed to sticking with it for the long haul.
Cheapflights travel expert Oonagh Shiel said many of the resolutions involved giving up a guilty pleasure to get healthy or to get away on holidays with the savings.
“Just ditching takeaways, stopping the cigarettes or giving up their favourite drinks could see Australians on their dream holiday by this time next year,” says Ms Shiel.
The top five things Australians resolve to give up in 2015 are smoking (20%), soft drinks (13%), watching bad TV (13%), takeaway dinners (12%) and alcohol (10%).
“A pack-a-day smoker will save a whopping $7,300 in a year – equivalent to an all-inclusive stay at the six-star qualia resort on Hamilton Island or a week of skiing for two people in Aspen, Colorado,” says Ms Shiel.
She said anyone who thinks a holiday is beyond their reach this year will find it surprising to discover that simply giving up little things like takeaway food, alcohol or soft drinks on a daily basis can add up to some significant savings.
“Just one month of eating at home instead of having takeaway dinners will cover the cost of a weekend away in a city or the beach for around $250 per couple.”
Saying no to a daily bottle of soft drink adds up to more than $1500 which equates to a 14 night cruise sailing on the Emerald Princess from Barcelona, Spain via Valencia, Malaga, Seville, Lisbon and Madeira to Fort Lauderdale, USA. From $1280 per person, on sale until September 2015.
Setting aside the Pay-TV account and opting for free-to-air television will save between $450 and $1590 per year, depending on your entertainment package. Even at the lower end of the scale, that’s enough for return flights from most capital cities to the Whitsunday Islands.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average couple aged under-35, spend $41 a week on alcohol.
“If you can persuade your partner to say ‘no’ to a tipple and yes to you, this could saving of around $2100 could cover the cost of a romantic honeymoon to Bali or Fiji or see individuals jetting off to exotic destinations in Africa (return flights from $1988) or the Middle East (return flights from $1551).
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Susan Sullivan, Public Relations for cheapflights.com.au
