Scots are clambering at the thought of hopping on a plane or merely escaping from the four walls of lockdown life but the issue of money is a tricky one- especially among friends.
It might seem like there is no good time to bring up money and it can lead to friends owing each other or even worse one person spending more than the rest.
Establishing these sorts of conversations as the norm in relationships is important as ultimately, communicating well about money matters is crucial for your health and happiness.
If something is niggling you or you’re struggling with your outgoings, then it’s important to share this.
MoneySuperMarket have highlighted some of the most common situations to cause worry around money and they have come up with some advice on how to tackle it.
Pool money
They say that being organised will help you relax and look forward to your break instead of feeling any unnecessary panic or stress and have suggested the use of apps like PayPal money pool or Collection Pot online kitty.
They added: "From booking the initial trip and securing this via a deposit to making payments on time as you count down the days until you get away – if you’re in charge of booking the trip then make sure you’re not left out of pocket. Unfortunately, flaky friends can be prone to dropping out at the last minute so consider pooling the cost of the holiday fairly.
Pay with Credit Card
This advice is for anyone making a payment and the experts say: "Booking any trips by using a credit card is recommended and is especially important if you’re in a situation whereby you don’t receive the service that you have been promised or expected to receive.
"This means that under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, you will be able to claim for any monetary value over £100 up to the value of as much as £30,000."
Budget for each day
Each member of the holiday party might have a different budget so in order to keep it fair the experts suggest planning a budget for each day and asking everyone to contribute equal amounts.
They also suggest getting more than one person involved in so the responsibility is even.
They say: "You could even suggest opening up a kitty or creating a savings pot if you all use a digital bank or app that lets you do this.
"This works well as it means you can all contribute an equal amount to the pool or, donate a total that you feel comfortable with. Budgeting for each day by forecasting what you can afford to spend when you’re exploring will also give you a clear idea of how much money is left in your holiday fund."
What to do if you lend money to someone on holiday and they don’t pay you back
This is a very awkward situation but the experts have some advice: "Firstly, start by assuming good intentions and politely remind them of the money that they haven’t paid you back. It’s important to not get worked up as people can be very caught up in their own business and become forgetful.
"Give the person the benefit of the doubt and approach them with a neutral tone. But if you’ve had to ask a couple of times and this is unresolved then it’s important to call them out and acknowledge that this is becoming ‘a thing’. Setting repayment goals or deadlines for instalments may also be helpful but being direct and communicating clearly is key."
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