Making extra money for a holiday

Take a break – you’ve earned it! Learn how savvy travellers have subsidised their sunbathing by swapping homes, renting out their parking spaces and even looking after livestock.

It can sometimes feel as though everyone else has been stashing money away for a big holiday. But what if you don’t have disposable income to set aside? Here are a few different ways to fund holidays – and potentially have fun in the process.

Monetise your driveway

Depending on your location, you could make a pretty penny listing your driveway on online booking platforms.

'As a single parent of two who doesn’t own a car, having an empty driveway felt like a missed opportunity', says Lisa, who runs her own travel agency in Hove.

'It was just sitting there when it could have been making money'.

She advertised her space on an online platform at the beginning of 2024, 'and the bookings started rolling in'.

Lisa says she’s earned almost £500 in nine months – the foundation of a serious summer holiday.

'Combined with the earnings from renting out my house for the season on another platform and my own travel agent deals', she says, 'I was able to take my kids to Spain for the whole six weeks of summer'.

House-sit

Annaliza Davis, who currently lives in France, likes to take a short solo writing break every year.

Annaliza would usually spend around €300 (£250) per week for a studio with a kitchenette – until she enrolled in a house-sitting platform.

'I pay $29 (£22) for a year's membership', she says. 'You can look through various assignments and select the ones that best fit your preferences'.

Annaliza’s most recent stay, in an area where holiday lets are limited and renting an entire property for 18 days can cost upwards of £745, set her back nearly nothing.

'I didn't need to contribute anything to the costs of running the house – I only had to pay for my own food', she says.

Use your points

Some cards offer great airline miles and hotel discounts. Event planner Sian Downes managed to get a holiday to Miami by redeeming a reward voucher. 'In my work, I often pay for events on my card before invoicing clients, so I am able to collect a lot of points'.

Flights were £150 instead of £700, and accommodation that would have cost at least £1,000 was £300 – a total saving of over £1,000.

Her brand loyalty has also paid off. 'I’ve stayed in hotels at huge discounts because of points I earned with my favourite hotel group', she says.

Volunteer on a farm

Megan Lomax, who runs a picnic mat company, regularly cares for a friend’s animals in exchange for accommodation.

'My sister’s friend’s mum has a farm in Dartmoor and was looking for cover while she visited her family', she says.

'We first did it with my sister in the summer holidays, then, as our kids got older and left school, we realised we could go at other times'.

'It’s a great arrangement. We get a gorgeous home to stay in Dartmoor and she gets care for her animals by people she trusts – and we both get holidays we enjoy'.

Allow your house to be used as a filming location

Megan has also swapped her own property for a short stay away – and a significant sum.

'A few years ago, a location scout knocked on the door looking for a house to use in a TV drama', she says.

The film crew took over the house for a week while she and her partner stayed in a short-term rental.

Lomax says she made around £7,200 plus expenses for the experience. 'It was quite disruptive', she admits, 'but it seemed worth it!' Remember that the first £1,000 you earn is tax-free but any money earned above this is taxable. Check with HMRC (Opens in new window) for more information.

Looking for somewhere to keep your savings? Bank with Chase and you can open a saver account. Start saving with as little as you like, and we’ll calculate your interest daily and pay it monthly.

18+, UK residents. A Chase current account is required to open a saver account.

Recommended reading

• 7 ways to earn a passive income
• How you could fund your dream holiday
• 6 ways to get more cash

Disclaimer: The Hub is intended as a knowledge portal to provide information on a range of topics, including financial products. Articles may reference products and services that Chase UK does not currently offer. This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. We do not offer any tax advice.