Ten penny-pinching solutions for holidaymakers

The collapse in the value of sterling has left many people facing a hole in their holiday finances. With a summer holiday booked, you're committed to travel, but with the currency still not exchanged, you're going to get far fewer euros or dollars for your money. Fortunately, seasoned travellers have come up with ten unusual penny pinching tips to help your money go further on holiday.

1. Wearing extra clothes on the flight
Over one in ten (12%) people have worn clothes from their suitcase to avoid paying excess baggage charges. It can also mean you can travel with just hand luggage - saving you from paying for a suitcase at all on a budget flight.

2. Weighing down hand luggage rather than the suitcase
19% of people have put heavy items in their hand luggage to avoid paying excess baggage charges. It's worth bearing in mind, however, that if airline staff see you struggling with heavy hand luggage, they may well ask you to check it in for safety reasons.

3. Not buying the airline's food
One in four (25%) people have wisely taken a packed lunch on a flight to avoid buying in-flight refreshments. When a sandwich and a packet of crisps can set you back the best part of £10, this is a very sensible option.

4. Making lunch from the breakfast buffet
1 in 4 have taken food from the breakfast buffet to be used for lunch - although gratuitously filling a Tupperware pot direct from the counter is generally frowned upon.

5. Taking the kids out of school
One in ten people have gone on holiday during term time - even though it meant the children missing some school. This is a more controversial approach. Some parents feel a day or two makes no difference, and that the fine is a small price to pay, while others are keen to stay within the rules - not least for the sake of their school's Ofsted report.

6. Boozing on the balcony before going out
Some 29% of people have drunk alcohol in their room before going out in the evening. Pre-loading is never going to be glamorous, but it can help keep the costs down.

7. Lying about child's age to save entrance money
One in 20 people (5%) have lied about a child's age to get cheaper entry to an attraction. It is, however, always worth checking there are not safety reasons for age restrictions before taking this approach.

8. Stock up on drinks/ice cream from the local supermarket
Some 45% of people have bought ice-cream/bottled water from a local supermarket instead of the more expensive, touristy small shops and kiosks.

9. Fibbed about it being a special occasion
6% of people have said the holiday was to celebrate a special occasion, perhaps an anniversary or birthday, in order to receive a perk.

10. Complaining to get a freebie
Some 1% have naughtily made a false complaint to get something in return. For most people this is a step too far. However, it is worth emphasising that when services are poor, it's important to make a reasonable complaint, because even if you don't get a discount, you will give them a chance to put things right.

The list was put together by iCarhireinsurance.com, which unsurprisingly also highlighted a less morally complex approach - buying your hire car insurance excess before you travel. This isn't the car insurance for your hire car - the hire company sets this up. Instead it covers the excess if you have an accident - which can otherwise run into thousands of pounds.

It's worth shopping around for the right provider, but it's definitely a good idea to get this insurance before you travel. If you wait and get it from the car hire company on the desk, you will end up forking out around £100 over-the-odds insuring a week's car hire.

The question is whether you would go quite as far as the more penny-pinching approaches. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.