Book Your Holidays In The Sun

Dr Brown prescribes YOU a plastic chair.

Is it me or is every man and his dog away on hols right now? The phenomena of the summer holiday appears to be eroding, replaced by the 'two holiday' approach - one in spring, the other one at the end of summer, or autumn.  For those of us still stuck in the boat of one summer holiday a year, I invite you all to ease your envy and worries with the following advice.

Carry on saving for that big holiday. That trip to the Maldives with Nigel in October can still be a reality, but if you think you're going to crack up before then I really advise a pre-holiday holiday.

The annual holiday is something to be treasured and anticipated and enjoyed. Whether it's Colchester or Cancun, we all need a decent break and the ability to change our environment once in a while and relax in it. I shudder at tales of city types who have the scant statutory 23 days a year, and are crying into their mulled wine when they realise they can't carry the 14 days they neglected to take into the following year because they were "waiting for that bonus" or "seeing the project through".

So if you are sitting reading this in your office and you can't see how you can get the cash together for scuba diving in the Red Sea this side of summer, here's my advice: just go somewhere NOW.

Unless you earn less than something like £20K a year, you can afford your two hols a year. Simple wise moves will enable you to increase your freedom that you didn't see as it was right under your nose the whole time. A week's plastic chair holiday in the Canaries can cost as little as £150. It may only be 18 degrees there at this time of year, but after the extended winter misery we've had, for most of us that will do nicely, thanks very much.

For the slightly richer among us, Egypt's coming in at £300 for a week. That is less than I get paid in a week (just), and in the grand scheme of things I get paid bugger all. I know we've all got mortgages to pay, cars to run and shoes to buy, but spaffing the money in a thoughtless one-ner will probably do you good in the long run. One less meal out a week, one less Topshop dress, sacrificing Pret for a week and ASDA instead of Waitrose will get you the cash together for that hol in the Canaries within 10 days...

Another reason I think a prelim' holiday is good as you have already had a headbreak from work, and that you won't be sitting in the Maldives in October unable to move, speak or think as you won't have had 10 straight months of perpetual emails, meetings and appraisals to turn your brain and body to jelly. Having an Easter holiday will enable you to start the clock all over again and count down to your 'proper' holiday and be in more of a fit state to enjoy it when it comes.

So here's a tip. For attached ladies, get on the cheap deals websites now - insert your card details for the trip you desire, say 'Ibiza, 1st week in April, £150' out loud and the moment your man nods hit 'Confirm'. For the girlfriend holiday, email your chums with the following: 'Ibiza. Apr 1 - 8. £150. Y/N. By 5pm today pls' and execute the same move.

Job done. You now have something to look forward to and I promise you the money won't be missed. It'll have just been spent on slightly odd looking winter sale clothes you'll never wear and end of season discount UGG boots that you won't be wearing in a fortnight anyway.

And think of the fun you'll have putting two sets of pics on Facebook of you looking sunkissed and gorgeous for your friends to pick over. You can give the impression of the champagne lifestyle on Panda Pops wages, you've just got be smart about it.

And above all, make your friends jealous. A good enough reason to get clicking NOW. You deserve it.