With the UK expecting a stormy end to August, many people may be searching for a last-minute escape for some sun, sea and sand.

However, as the cost of living continues to rise, affording your getaway could be a struggle.

Self-catering holidays are more popular than ever, but this doesn’t mean you have to fork out a lot of money.

Sam Whillance, a deals expert at discount platform Deal.Town shares five budgeting tips for saving money on self-catering breaks.

Try to be flexible with your dates

Whilst many will want to go away in the middle of the school holidays, booking one at the beginning or the end can actually save you more money than you may think.

It is also important not to get too fixated on certain dates. Whilst your self-catering getaway might be to mark a friend’s birthday or an anniversary, the more flexible you are with your availability, the more likely you will be able to grab the best deal.

When looking, try to play around with a few different dates, as well as looking at the flight costs at the same time – you don’t want to book a holiday and realise the flights are extortionate.

Also, consider whether packaging the flights with the accommodation is the best option. Sometimes booking separately can be less expensive.

Understand acronyms

Many self-catering properties don’t need certifications such as ABTA and ATOL to guarantee customers.

However, there are still ways to check your property meets certain standards to ensure you’re getting the best value for money.

Trustpilot has plenty of reviews of self-catering properties and has a lot of in-depth information which the booking site may not provide.

It is also worth asking what organisations the property is affiliated to. Main accreditation bodies are the national Tourist Boards such as VisitEngland, VisitWales, VisitScotland and VisitIreland etc.

All of these bodies will physically inspect properties and give them a grading based on a fixed set of criteria, which you can easily find online.

Find accommodation within walking distances

It’s all well and good finding accommodation which is cheap as chips, but if it is too far away from supermarkets, beaches and city centres, you may find yourself spending a fortune on travel to have a day out.

Find a place in an area with public transport within proximity, or even in the middle of all the fun. The less money you spend on travel, the more you can spend on food and activities.

Go with a big group

When it comes to larger groups, it will almost always be cheaper to book one larger property than two smaller ones and split the cost.

Generally, larger accommodation will be cheaper on a “per head” basis than smaller ones.

Larger groups may also find it cheaper for eating in as opposed to eating out. With more people, you can stock up the fridge and leave less waste behind when you go.

Generally, buying in bulk is a cheaper option, along with group excursions and public transport.

5. Consider COVID

COVID-19 has definitely changed the way we travel, even when it comes to self-catering holidays.

If someone in your group gets COVID or is unable to go because of close contact, this is where insurance comes in. Therefore, always consider taking it out so you don’t lose out on money.

If you are booking a holiday around the same time as a large birthday party or concert, you are putting your group at risk of coming into contact with somebody that has been infected.

Ideally, choose a holiday date where you will not be socialising much beforehand to ensure you are all fit and healthy to go.