{"id":12210,"date":"2023-10-31T10:39:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T10:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cooncampsprings.com\/?p=12210"},"modified":"2023-10-31T10:39:01","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T10:39:01","slug":"i-spent-9k-on-12-holidays-in-a-year-everyone-should-use-time-off-each-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cooncampsprings.com\/travel\/i-spent-9k-on-12-holidays-in-a-year-everyone-should-use-time-off-each-month\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I spent \u00a39k on 12 holidays in a year \u2013 everyone should use time off each month’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A woman spent \u00a39,000 on 12 holidays in just one year – and says everyone should take time off once a month to have a break from work.<\/p>\n

Mel Anyamene, 24, has always loved travelling and made a New Year's resolution in to visit a new country every month in 2023. After finishing an undergraduate and masters degree in engineering and landing a job in November 2022, Mel wanted to make sure she took a good break each month – vowing to go on holiday 12 times in one year.<\/p>\n

Mel booked her first trip in January to Malaga, Spain, and has since been to Dubai, Lisbon, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, Miami in the US, Nigeria, St. Lucia, Grenada and Cyprus.<\/p>\n

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Mel has jetted away with friends and family – and spent \u00a38,300 so far on the holidays – and says she was able to afford them as she lives rent-free with her parents. She has a trip to Milan, Italy, planned in November and another to Lagos, Nigeria, in December – to complete her year of holidays.<\/p>\n

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Mel, a consulting analyst from London, said: "I made a New Year's resolution to travel to 12 countries in 12 months in 2023. I wanted to explore more. I've been continually in education for a very long time and since I had just started my grad job – I thought it would be the perfect way to spent my money.<\/p>\n

"The money will come back – experiences won't. I'm supposed to be enjoying myself. Everyone should be taking time off at least once a month. Take time off for yourself."<\/p>\n

Mel went away with her parents every year growing up and got a buzz for travelling, especially as they "never went to the same place twice". In November 2022, she decided to take on the challenge of travelling every month and booked a booked a trip to Malaga, Spain, in January and her mum, Ifesi, paid for a holiday in Dubai in February 2023.<\/p>\n

She used a British Airways Amex card to rack up points to get cheaper flights for her future destinations, and was able to afford the travel as she lives with her parents rent-free as well as finding holiday deals. <\/p>\n

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Mel loves travelling in "affordable luxury" and spent \u00a3360 on a bohemian luxury hotel – La Zambra, Malaga, and a return flight.<\/p>\n

In March, Mel went to Lisbon for a weekend solo trip for \u00a335 return flights and enjoyed a cooking class. She was offered a sponsored trip to Romania and was able to go for free and hopped over to Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Montenegro in April.<\/p>\n

Mel said: "Croatia was absolutely amazing. "I always did a boat trip everywhere I could."<\/p>\n

Mel loves visiting interactive museums on her trips and made the most of her 30 days of annual leave – which run from September to August – and bank holidays by going away over the weekends. She jetted off to Miami in June before heading to see family in Nigeria in August – cashing in her British Airways points to bag a return flight for just \u00a3100.<\/p>\n

In September, Mel crossed off a further two countries – St Lucia and Grenada – on a family holiday. October saw her head to Cyprus, and she has trips planned to Italy and Nigeria for the final months of the year. <\/p>\n

She said: "It's full on. I'm used to jam packed days. I'm used to being on the go."<\/p>\n

Mel estimates she will have spent \u00a39,000 in total on her 12 trips this year – but says you could travel for cheaper than she has. In total she has visited 33 countries over the years and already has some trips planned for next year – to Greece, Norway and Thailand.<\/p>\n

But she isn't taking up the challenge to go on quite as many holidays in 2024. She said: "My parents say I need to relax. I'm lucky I don't have to pay rent. Travelling is an education. I'm thankful I have done it."<\/p>\n

Where Mel travelled<\/h3>\n