'Catching flights, adventures': Holidays top wish list for almost half of Aussie savers

Australians are defying high costs to keep their travel dreams alive, according to a new report.

NAB data showed holidays were top priorities for almost 50 per cent of savers, ahead of new cars, household gadgets and home deposits.

According to NAB, four in 10 Australians were actively budgeting for a major expense and almost half (47 per cent) of those were saving for travel.

Head of everyday banking Claire Righetti said despite the cost-of-living, people were still putting money aside to take a relaxing getaway or tick off bucket list locations.

"Many are finding ways to spend less, whether it's going on fewer trips, travelling outside of peak times, visiting destinations where they can snag the best deal, or choosing locations closer to home," Ms Righetti said.

"Regardless of how they make it happen, the travel dream remains alive and well - and there will still be many chasing an overseas adventure despite the weak Aussie dollar."

A 2025 study from Money.com.au painted a similar picture, with almost half of study participants prioritising travel over buying a house or saving for retirement.

Gold Coast resident Mitch Cornish, 30, told ACM in January it didn't surprise him, as many of his friends were prioritising saving for experiences over putting their money in the bank for later in life.

"With so many people in my generation, they feel like they'll never be able to afford a home, and it's so expensive to rent that what little money they do manage to save, they just save it for holidays, so they at least get some fun out of life," he said.

The ABS Monthly Consumer Price Index Indicator showed holiday travel and accommodation prices rose 11.5 per cent in December 2024, which was mostly expected in the peak holiday season.

But those same prices rose 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to November, and 8 per cent in the year to October.

An October 2024 report from Money.com.au showed it took a third of Aussies up to a year to save for a holiday. Another third saved for up to six months, while almost a fifth took longer than a year.

The company's finance expert Sean Callery said travel was one expense Australians were not "willing to forgo, no matter their financial goals or income level."

The NAB report showed the other top items people were saving for were a new car (26 per cent), fridges and washing machines (23 per cent), home deposits (23 per cent) and home renovations (22 per cent).

Ms Righetti said with household budgets remaining tight, costs were considered carefully.

"As 2025 gets rolling, millions of Australians are mapping out their budgets to plan when and how they'll spend their money," Ms Righetti said.

"They're researching, shopping around for the best deals and making thoughtful choices to balance their savings and spending goals effectively."