Many people want to escape the stress of everyday life by traveling or going on a weekend trip. Some people are even willing to book a vacation that they basically can’t afford. This article explains why this is and why a large number of Germans accept it.
Why Germans in particular?
In a country like Germany there is a strong work ethic. Many employees in this country do not take enough time for their health and do not have a proper work-life balance. You work beyond your limits and therefore want to make the most of your free time during your vacation.
That’s why the financial possibilities are often exhausted in order to be able to afford a feel-good vacation. That’s why it has around every second German In 2023, he will have to borrow some money to finance his trip. This trend has been observed more often recently as living costs have risen significantly and therefore there are fewer funds available for travel. This is one of the many reasons why debt is increasing.
German holiday culture
Every nation has its own holiday culture, which sometimes comes to the fore during a trip abroad. Germans particularly value their vacation time and use this opportunity to recharge their batteries or to explore the world. These characteristics characterize the preferences of Germans, while
- The duration of the trip: Compared to other citizens, Germans prefer to take longer vacations than others. These are on average about 13 days. This allows German travelers to fully relax and immerse themselves in the country’s culture.
- The travel destination: Germans are very open-minded and don’t have any specific countries in mind when they want to travel. When planning, it’s more about what the weather forecast is and whether it should be a beach vacation or a city trip.
- Conditions of stay: A large number of German holidaymakers attach extremely high value to standards such as Safety guidelines and hygiene standards. For many other nationalities this does not play a primary role as it does for German tourists. Therefore, more expensive accommodation is often deliberately booked because German holidaymakers assume that it must be cleaner and safer.
- The holiday budget: Germans are more willing to spend on their holidays than other tourists and pay more for their food, activities or souvenirs.
- Travel planning: German tourists tend to plan their trip carefully and book in advance to avoid surprises.
Other causes of holiday debt
To shed more light on the phenomenon, there are a few factors that drive citizens to go into debt for their vacation. These points include the correct handling of money and the temptation of special offers:
- Incorrect handling of money: Many people have no real relationship with money and do not know what consequences, for example, overdrafting their overdraft can have. The wrong handling of money is the reason why some people don’t know enough about budgeting.
- Tempting offers: Some people can’t resist certain offers. They are afraid of missing out on a good opportunity to go on a great vacation if they decline the vacation offer.
Financing methods for vacationers
To enjoy a relaxing vacation, tourists do not have to go into debt. There are a variety of financing options that can help you finance your dream trip yourself without making big losses. This is an overview of the most common financing methods:
- Get a loan from the bank: For particularly expensive trips, a loan is a suitable option to finance your vacation. Some travel portals offer customers the opportunity to pay in installments. This allows travelers to pay the installments with the loan. This means holidaymakers can pay off their travel costs monthly over a certain period of time and still finance their stay abroad.
With a loan calculator, consumers can loan Calculate without obligation. At the same time, you get an overview of how the costs of the loan have changed depending on the amount and term. The loan calculator also takes into account the effective interest rate, which indicates the total cost of financing.
- Credit cards: Using a credit card offers a lot of flexibility and is relatively easy to use. However, users should be very careful about exactly how much they spend, as the interest rates may be higher than expected. With the card it is possible to pay almost anywhere in the world. This is particularly suitable if there is no cash available.
- Travel loans: Some tour operators and banks have special travel loans for their customers. They typically come with lower interest rates and can help reduce the cost of the vacation. The downside is that it may come with certain terms and creditworthiness requirements.
- Grants and travel scholarships: Funding and travel scholarships are available for students and young travelers to help them finance their trips. These funds are often awarded for specific educational or research purposes, such as a project week, semester abroad or seminar trip.
Psychological aspects of holiday debt
The decision to go into debt for a vacation despite financial concerns is psychological. It has far-reaching effects on individual well-being. This is due, among other things, to these reasons:
- Equipping with happiness hormones: The anticipation of the vacation, the planning and the associated purchases bring great joy to the majority of people. During this time, the happiness hormones in the brain are activated and people feel significantly better. Because that Interaction of dopamine and endorphins drives people to be happy.
- To experience these sensations, many people resort to going into debt. This feeling can be so satisfying for some people that they spend money and travel again and again in order to experience this satisfaction again and again.
- Escape far away: Some citizens have so many responsibilities in their everyday lives that they feel a vacation is essential. They want to get away from their problems, fears or even their surroundings. To do this, they are willing to go into debt and take risks.
- Social pressure and expectations: In society, an expensive vacation is often viewed as a status symbol. Through There is more pressure on social media also wanting to brag about his travels like others. This leads to some people booking a luxury vacation that they actually can’t afford.
conclusion
The actually paradoxical thing about Germans’ holiday debt is that the trip is intended to gather new energy in order to come back stronger. But the financial burden that many people impose on themselves makes them more overwhelmed. The stress level rises again and this leads to the desire to take a break again. It is therefore essential to occasionally take time for yourself in everyday life so as not to become too exhausted. This makes sense so that you don’t have to constantly think about vacation.
October 12, 2023