Home > Savings Accounts > Holiday Savings Accounts
Holiday Savings Accounts
Take to the skies with more spending money by comparing holiday savings accounts with Savvy.
Author
Savvy Editorial TeamFact checked
Compare savings accounts
Are you looking to grow your savings? Compare a wide range of savings accounts with Savvy so you find the best deal in Australia and the highest interest rate to help grow your savings.
Up Savers Account | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Use invite code SAVVY10 for $10 upon successful sign-up. (Refer to offer T&Cs on Up website)More details |
- Make 5 successful purchases using your Up or 2Up debit card, Apple PayTM, Google PayTM or other digital wallets in a calendar month to qualify for interest. ATM transactions or transfers are not included.
- Instantly create multiple Savers in-app.
- Use Round Ups to automatically transfer spare change from purchases to a Saver.
Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.
You should always consult a given offer's PDS or further documentation in the process of deciding on which loan to choose, as well as seeking independent, professional advice. If you decide to apply with one of the lenders listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the lender offering that product.
Compare holiday savings accounts
If you’re saving for a once-in-a-lifetime trip overseas or a weekend getaway in your own backyard, finding the right savings account can put more money in your pocket before you hit the road or take to the skies.
Comparing with Savvy to find the best savings account for your holiday funds will help you get the best rate of return on your money. Our comprehensive guide is your ticket to getting the best savings account deal and making your holiday one you’ll never forget.
What is a holiday savings account?
A holiday savings account is a fund where you deposit money for a trip away or special occasion. While financial institutions don’t offer holiday-specific accounts, there are short and long-term savings accounts that allow you to save for an upcoming holiday. Some banks will also allow you to split your savings across different goals. While the money is all in one account, you can group your money into different savings goals. For example, you may be saving for your wedding but also want to put money away for the honeymoon.
Setting up a holiday savings account can be a good way of pooling money for costs associated with the trip, such as flights, accommodation, food and shopping. When you’ve decided where you’ll be holidaying, it’s a good idea to plan out some of the finer details by drawing up an itinerary. This will allow you to budget your spending in advance and consider the costs associated with your holiday. All of this can lead to you having a better idea of what you’ll have available to spend and help ensure you choose the right account for your needs.
What types of savings accounts should I consider for my holiday funds?
Choosing the right account can give you more to spend when you touch down at your destination. When comparing with Savvy, it’s worth considering the following accounts:
Online savings account
A simple and easy-to-use fund, an online savings account gives you a place to house your money over an indefinite period. These low-cost accounts come with 24/7 access to make depositing and withdrawing funds fuss-free. Online savers usually come with one of two types of interest: bonus high interest or introductory rates. You can earn bonus interest if you meet monthly account conditions, such as minimum deposits or balances. For instance, some banks require you to contribute $200 monthly and make no withdrawals to qualify for additional interest. On the other hand, introductory rates are offered by banks to entice customers to open accounts. Account holders get up to six months of high interest before reverting to a much lower base rate. Bonus and introductory rates can be up to ten times higher than their base rates.
Term deposit
If the holiday you’re saving for is far off in the distance, a term deposit is a safe and effective method of long-term saving. Term deposits differ from savings accounts in that your funds are locked away for a set term and you can’t make extra deposits. Your money earns compound interest until the date of maturity unless you provide your bank with 31 days’ written notice. Term deposits have few ongoing or upfront fees and have a fixed interest rate, so you’re rate of return is all but guaranteed. You can use Savvy’s compound interest calculator to estimate how much you can earn over time.
Christmas savings account
A holiday doesn’t have to involve planes, trains or automobiles. It could simply mean some much-needed time off over the Christmas/New Year period. As such, some Australian banks, credit unions and building societies offer Christmas club savings accounts. These short-term accounts act like a term deposit, allowing you to deposit money for nine months of the year and then tap into it from December to January. Most institutions charge you a fee if you dip into your funds before maturity. Christmas club accounts allow you to make year-round deposits, and some accounts come with bonus interest.
Types of savings account
Your account doesn't have to be with a bricks-and-mortar bank. By opening an account with an online institution, you can manage your funds via online banking and apps.
When it comes to growing your savings, the higher the interest, the better. High interest accounts can either come with higher base rates or steep bonus rates.
Opening an account for your child can be a great way to give them a head-start with their savings and help teach them about the responsibility of managing their money.
Keeping track of your funds and growing them is important as a student. Some providers offer special accounts with high interest and no fees to help you boost your savings.
There are many reasons why you may need a joint account, such as if you're combining funds with your partner or managing your parents' money with your siblings.
Businesses have different needs when it comes to their savings, so many banks and other financial institutions offer specialist products designed to offer flexibility.
Many savings accounts offer bonus interest, which can offer a much higher rate if certain conditions are met, such as a set number of deposits or linked transactions.
Why compare savings accounts with Savvy?
100% free
You won't have to pay a cent to compare savings accounts with us, so you can do so at any time you like.
Online from start to finish
There's no need for you to worry about visiting any banks, as you can compare accounts and open one online.
Reputable partners
We're partnered with trusted financial institutions around Australia to bring more quality to your comparison.
How to make the most of your holiday savings
Find a competitive interest rate
Opening a savings account with a competitive interest rate will spur growth and earn you a greater return on your holiday fund. Similar to shopping around for the best price on a car, doing your homework will help you lock in the best interest rate the market has to offer.
Compare with Savvy
Interest rates, accessibility and fees: these variables come together to make up the inner-workings of a savings account. By comparing them with Savvy, you’re sure to find a fund which can help you achieve your holiday savings goal.
Create a budget
Holidays come with a range of costs, including flights and accommodation. Before selling yourself on the dream getaway, draw up a budget and work out how much you can comfortably afford to put towards your upcoming trip. Savvy has an easy-to-use budget calculator to simplify this process.
Avoid peak travel periods
Flights are more expensive during peak travel times because demand is sky-high. For instance, flights to the US are more expensive during their summer months because it’s considered peak time for tourists. As such, choosing to fly during a country’s off-peak period will be cheaper and leave you with more leftover spending money.
Keep an eye on exchange rates
Watch out for the currency exchange rates your institution is offering. If the exchange rate is high, it can be a good idea to secure it by getting a travel money card. Institutions offer these prepaid cards so you can spend overseas and avoid foreign transaction fees.
Frequently asked holiday savings account questions
Yes – there’s no real limit to how many savings accounts you can have if they’re all with different institutions. If you want all your money under one roof, some banks allow you to have up to nine separate savings accounts. That being said, pooling your money in one account will maximise interest, allow you easier access and reduce fees.
Yes – joint savings accounts can allow you and a friend or partner to save towards a holiday using one pool of money. You can have two or more account holders on most types of savings accounts and they’ll come with ‘one to sign’ or ‘both to sign’ protections. ‘One to sign’ means any account holder can withdraw or modify the fund, whereas ‘both to sign’ requires the authorisation of all parties to make any withdrawals or changes. It’s worth discussing what happens to the money if you need to close the account unexpectedly.
Yes – it’s wise to set up an emergency savings account which you can access if you’re overseas. You can tap into this account if you experience a life emergency while you’re travelling abroad, but it’s important to have one regardless of whether you’re travelling.
Opening a savings account is as simple as visiting a bricks-and-mortar branch or applying with an institution online. To open an account independently, you will need to be over 14 years old and an Australian resident. For youngsters under 14 who want to tuck some money away for the family holiday, they can open an account in-branch if they’re accompanied by a parent. You’ll also need to verify your identity with two forms of photo ID, which can include a driver’s licence, passport, birth certificate or Medicare card.
Our savings calculators
Use our savings calculator to help you calculate how much you could save over a set timeframe based on different deposit sizes and frequencies.
Your savings can put in work for you. Crunch the numbers to see how much interest you could earn on top of your interest by compounding daily, monthly and annually.
It's crucial to have a clear idea of your monthly household budget to see where your money is going and where it could potentially be better spent.
If you're applying for a loan or need to know what your salary is for your tax return, you can use our annualisation calculator to work out what you'll earn this financial year.
Setting savings goals is important. With this tool, you can work out how much you'll need to deposit to reach your financial aims over a set timeframe.
Just as important as knowing how much to deposit is working out how long it'll take to reach your goals. This savings goal calculator can help you do just that.