Over half of us (55%1) don’t plan our holiday spending, and even those of us that do often overspend. Our Spend Survey showed that only 36%2 of travellers who set a budget actually stick to it. But doing so can help you make the most of your money, allowing you to travel more than you otherwise might.
With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, managing our money is more important than ever, so we’ve put together a list of 6 of the best apps to help you budget for your holidays, which could save you money and stress.
TravelSpend
Available on iOS and GooglePlay.
This handy app is great for travellers to track their spending while on holiday. Iit even works offline, so you don’t need to worry about mobile data while abroad. Simply enter your expenses as they happen and the app tracks your spending each day. It also converts currencies for you, saving you the hassle.
PocketGuard
Available on iOS and GooglePlay.
This budgeting app lets you link all your accounts and cards with it. PocketGuard then automatically updates and categorises your spending as you go, letting you know how much spare spending money you have. It can even automatically build a budget for you, based on your income and expenditure.
TriCount
Available on iOS and GooglePlay.
TriCount is fantastic if you’re travelling in a group or with family, allowing you to keep track of shared costs. The app keeps track of how much everyone has paid for expenses such as eating out. You can divide the costs evenly, or manually, depending on how you want to split the bill. With an easy-to-use interface and PayPal integration, TriCount makes sharing the bill on holiday a breeze.
TrabeePocket
Available on iOS and GooglePlay.
Another great app for holidaymakers looking to stick to a budget, TrabeePocket lets you set a limit, and tracks your outgoings against it, letting you keep on top of your spending. While you can pay to upgrade and set your own spending categories, the free version comes with plenty of ready-made ones for you to use. TrabeePocket also uses local currency and can let you know when you’re close to the limit of your budget.
TripCoin
Available on iOS.
Designed specifically for iPhone, TripCoin works offline so you can use it to track your spending without having to rely on wifi or roaming data. This extremely convenient app keeps track of your outgoing costs and splits them by category, letting you see everything in a simple, clear display.
TripMate
Available on GooglePlay.
Only available on Android phones, TripMate is a great basic expenses tracker. The app is easy to use and also lets you add other users if you’re travelling as part of a group. TripMate is simple to use and a fantastic app to try if you’re new to budgeting for a trip.
One of the best ways to keep your trip from costing more than you planned is to invest in quality travel insurance. Doing so means you’re not left to foot the bill if something unexpected happens. You can save time and money with an annual multi-trip travel insurance, which covers all your trips under one policy.
1 Based on 9,734 survey responses, November 2022.
2 Based on 7,111 survey responses, November 2022.