149: Saving with Steve with Steve Sexton - Episode 149149: Saving with Steve with Steve Sexton - Episode 149
UK Health Radio Podcast
Steve Sexton talks with travel specialist Tara Busch and savings expert Antonia Bensusan Milley about planning shoulder-season holidays and cutting back-to-school costs. The conversation focuses on practical ways to align trips and everyday spending with personal priorities while stretching household budgets further.
44:56•10 Oct 2026
Travel Smart and Save Big: Shoulder Seasons and Back-to-School Hacks
Episode Overview
- Start any trip by deciding what matters most to you so your time and money go toward experiences you genuinely care about.
- Use shoulder seasons to find better prices and fewer crowds, but check dates carefully as they differ by destination.
- Contact smaller hotels directly to ask about matching online rates, longer-stay discounts, non-refundable deals and possible upgrades.
- Prioritise location over luxury if being close to transport and sights will save time, stress and extra transport costs.
- Reduce back-to-school costs by combining store sales, rebates and discounted gift cards on brands you already use.
“Nobody is the authority of what your trip should look like but you.”
Ever wondered what it really means to travel smart and save big at the same time? This episode of UK Health Radio’s "Saving with Steve" brings together travel expert Tara Busch and savings strategist Antonia Bensusan Milley to unpack how everyday people can stretch their money further without sacrificing quality or fun. Host Steve Sexton kicks off with Tara, founder of a boutique travel company, who shares why shoulder-season trips can cut costs while avoiding crowds.
She explains that shoulder season varies by destination – May in the Italian Dolomites, much earlier in Greece – and stresses that your own priorities matter more than any "top 10" list. As she puts it, "Nobody is the authority of what your trip should look like but you." Tara encourages travellers to start with what they truly want from a holiday, then use that vision to choose locations, timing and accommodation that fit both budget and experience.
Tara also talks about the power of booking directly with small, family-run hotels. Reaching out by email or WhatsApp can lead to matched or better rates, upgrades, longer-stay discounts, non-refundable deals and extra help with transfers or local tips. Her message is clear: the relationship with a real person on the ground is often worth more than a few pounds shaved off by a big booking site.
Antonia then shifts the focus to back-to-school spending, highlighting just how pricey this season can be for families. She explains how discounted gift cards on everyday brands like Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Home Depot can trim costs instantly, especially when combined with existing sales and rebates. Used regularly, this simple habit can become part of a wider money-saving strategy that supports family budgets all year round.
If you’re keen to make your next trip or school shop cheaper and less stressful, which of these ideas could you start testing this week?
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