Ways to Save on Your Dream Holiday Home

From exploring pre-loved models and taking advantage of current offers to considering part exchange, flexible finance or letting your home when you’re not using it, there are several ways to make the costs more manageable.

At Waterside, we believe in helping you understand the full picture, from the initial purchase price to the ongoing costs of ownership. By setting a comfortable overall budget and looking beyond the headline price, you can make a more informed decision and find a holiday home that suits both your lifestyle and your finances.

Here are some practical ways to make your dream holiday home more affordable.

Before browsing holiday homes for sale, work out what you’re comfortable spending, both upfront and each year. It’s easy to focus on the purchase price, but the initial cost is only one part of the picture. 

At Waterside, holiday homes are currently available from around £39,995, offering a range of price points for prospective owners. You don’t necessarily need to invest in a premium lodge or the newest model to enjoy the benefits of having your own place to escape to. 

Your holiday home budget should account for:

- Purchase price: The cost of the holiday home itself.

- Deposit: The amount you’ll pay upfront if you’re using finance. 

- Finance repayments: Your monthly payments, plus the total interest payable. 

- Annual site fees: The fees associated with keeping your holiday home on its pitch. 

- Running costs: Including insurance, gas, electricity, and business rates. 

- Optional extras: Such as decking or other additions that might not be included in the advertised price. 

The important thing is to look at the total cost of ownership rather than stretching your budget simply to buy the biggest or newest model. A home with a lower purchase price and manageable running costs could be a much better fit in the long term, leaving you with more room to enjoy the holidays you bought it for.

For a clearer picture of the costs involved and the finance options available, view our Buyers Guide.

Buying your holiday home is one thing; keeping it running comfortably year after year is another. Understanding the ongoing costs before you commit can help you choose a home that fits your finances in the long term. 

Alongside your annual site fees, you’ll need to account for insurance, utilities and any other applicable charges, such as rates. As a guide, Waterside’s indicative figures include yearly insurance starting from approximately £300, while average owner utility costs are around £600-£800 for electricity and gas.

These figures are intended as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Your actual costs will depend on your home, how often you use it and your individual circumstances. Site fees and other charges can also vary, so it’s worth requesting a full breakdown for the specific home and park you’re considering. 

Knowing what to expect makes it easier to plan ahead and avoid stretching your budget too far. It also gives you a clearer idea of whether options such as holiday letting could help offset some of your annual expenses. 

For a breakdown of the costs involved, visit our finance page.

A brand-new holiday home has its appeal, but it isn’t the only way to find your perfect place by the coast. Exploring pre-loved holiday homes could help you get more for your money, particularly if you have a particular layout or specification in mind. 

Depending on the home, buying pre-loved could mean:

- A lower purchase price than an equivalent new model.

- More space or a higher specification within your budget.

- Existing decking or other additions already included in the price. 

- A wider choice of styles and layouts to compare. 

Unless you decide to let out your unit, Waterside doesn’t currently impose a fixed age limit on holiday homes, provided they remain in good condition. This gives prospective owners more flexibility when considering pre-loved options. 

As with any purchase, look beyond the price tag. Compare the home’s age, condition, furnishings, layout and specification, and check exactly what’s included. A home that costs slightly more upfront may offer better value if it already has the extras you want. 

Take a look at our holiday homes for sale to explore new and pre-loved options and find something that suits your budget.

Sometimes, finding a home that fits your budget is simply a matter of timing. Before settling on a particular model, check Waterside’s current ownership offers to see what’s available. 

Depending on the home and promotion, you may find price-reduced models, pre-loved homes, decking included or other incentives for eligible buyers. Being flexible about the model or park you choose could open up options you hadn’t initially considered. 

Current holiday home ownership offers

Waterside runs promotions throughout the year, so it’s worth checking the latest offers before making a decision. Offers may be restricted to particular homes, parks, dates or new customers, and all are subject to their applicable terms and conditions. 

Current promotional details should be confirmed with the ownership team before publication. The supplied 2026 offers include:

- Site fees included: A promotion for qualifying new-customer purchases scheduled to run through 2027 to include 2027 site fees in purchase price. 

- Holiday refund: Eligible purchases of a holiday home may be able to claim a refund of their most recent Waterside holiday, up to £1,000, for purchases completed before the end of November 2026. Only applicable if purchase is made during the current holiday. 

- Owner referral rewards: Waterside also operates a referral programme offering financial rewards for eligible referrals. 

- End of season savings on ex-demo models: Another opportunity to make your budget go further is Waterside’s end-of-season sale. Selected ex-demonstration holiday homes will be available at reduced prices, giving you the chance to secure a model for less than the cost of buying the equivalent brand-new home. Ex-demo doesn’t necessarily mean a home has been used for holidays. Some models may never have been occupied, other than for display purposes, making this a great opportunity to explore homes that offer the feel and specification of a new model at a lower price point. 

The right offer can make a difference, but it’s still important to compare the full cost of ownership. A promotion is the most useful when the home itself, its ongoing costs and its location are right for you. 

Already have a static caravan, touring caravan or motorhome? You may be able to put its value towards your next holiday home through Waterside's part-exchange scheme.

Part exchange offers an alternative to selling your existing vehicle or holiday home privately before buying another. Your current asset is professionally valued, and, if eligible, its agreed value can be put towards the cost of your new purchase. 

This could reduce the amount you need to find upfront, making it easier to move into a different home without having to fund the entire purchase separately. 

It can be particularly useful if your needs have changed. Perhaps you’re looking for more bedrooms, a different layout or a lodge with a little more space for family and friends. Rather than starting from scratch, your existing holiday home or vehicle could help you take the next step. 

The value offered will depend on the item being exchanged, its condition and the scheme’s requirements. Ask the team about eligibility and request a valuation to understand how much you could put towards your new home.

Find out more about part exchange with Waterside.

If paying the full purchase price upfront isn’t practical, holiday home finance could offer another way to spread the cost. 

Waterside offers finance options with deposits starting from 20%, with flexibility to explore different deposit amounts and repayment arrangements, subject to eligibility and the terms available. Depending on the agreement, payments may be made monthly or quarterly. 

Current listings include representative finance examples at 9.9% APR, with terms available up to 120 months. These are illustrative examples, not a guarantee of the rate or terms you’ll receive. Always check the details of the specific home and finance agreement. 

Finance isn’t a discount on the purchase price, but it can make the initial outlay more manageable by spreading payments over an agreed period. The important thing is to choose an arrangement you can comfortably maintain alongside your other commitments. 

Before deciding, compare:

- The deposit you’ll need to pay.

- Your monthly or quarterly repayments.

- The length of the agreement. 

- The interest rate and total interest payable. 

- The total amount payable over the full term.

- Any applicable fees and conditions for early repayment.

You can explore options available by using our finance calculator on individual holiday home listings to compare potential repayments.

If you have savings available, it’s worth comparing how different deposit amounts affect your finance options. 

Putting more money down generally means borrowing less, which can reduce your regular repayments and may reduce the total interest payable over the agreement. The exact difference will depend on the finance terms offered.

However, using all your available savings for a deposit may leave you with less money for unexpected expenses. Consider what you can comfortably afford while keeping enough savings available for other commitments. 

Use the calculator to compare a few scenarios and choose an arrangement that works for your circumstances.

Your holiday home doesn’t have to sit empty whenever you’re not using it. If you’re happy to welcome guests during selected periods, holiday letting could generate income to help offset some of your annual ownership costs.

Waterside’s Let 2 Help Offset scheme allows eligible owners to let their holiday home when they aren’t using it themselves.

For owners using Waterside’s managed letting service, the team handles key parts of the process, including marketing, bookings, guest correspondence, payments, key handling and check-in, cleaning and associated operational arrangements. 

Waterside currently charges a fixed commission of 22% plus VAT for the managed service. Make sure you understand the commission, any additional costs and the terms of the arrangement before signing up. 

Waterside has indicated that owners could potentially offset annual running costs in as little as nine weeks of letting during peak weeks. This is based on historic figures and is not guaranteed. 

Actual income will depend on factors such as your home’s location and specification, seasonal demand, occupancy, the dates you make it available and the costs associated with letting and ownership.

It’s important to think of letting as a way to help offset costs, rather than an assurance that your holiday home will pay for itself.

This option may suit owners who tend to use their holiday home during particular weeks of the year and are comfortable making it available to guests at other times. If you prefer to keep every week free for your own visits, you may decide that letting isn’t the right fit. 

When comparing holiday homes, the lowest advertised price isn’t always the best value. Extras can quickly add up if you need to purchase them separately, so it’s worth checking exactly what’s included before making your choice. 

Look out for:

- Decking: Is it already installed, or will you need to budget for it separately?

- Furnishings and fixtures: What comes with the home, and what will you need to add?

- Pitch-related incentives: Are any offers or benefits included with the particular purchase?

- Model-specific extras: Are there additional features that affect the overall price? For example, accessories such as inventory pack, bedding pack, TV, and Wi-Fi.

At Waterside, decking already installed on a home is included in its final price. Adding decking to a home that doesn’t already have it will cost extra.

This is particularly worth considering when comparing new and pre-loved models. A pre-loved home with decking already in place, for example, may offer better overall value than a cheaper alternative that needs additional work. 

Compare like for like wherever possible, taking into account the purchase price, condition, specification and any extra costs. If something isn’t clear in the listing, ask the ownership team to confirm before committing.

Saving money isn’t only about reducing what you spend. It’s also about making the most of what you receive in return. 

Your site fees contribute towards the services provided at your park, including maintenance, security and access to applicable park facilities. Taking advantage of the facilities and benefits can help you get more value from your ownership.

Waterside owners can also enjoy the benefits of the Owners’ Card, which provides a range of owner-specific perks. Depending on the applicable terms, these can include benefits relating to dining, activities, transport and guests. 

Make a point of finding out which discounts and offers are available, keeping an eye on owner events and checking what facilities you can use during your visits. If you regularly bring family and friends along, guest benefits can be particularly useful. 

You can also arrange an ownership park visit to get a better feel for the lifestyle before making a decision. Visiting a park gives you the chance to explore the surroundings, see the facilities and ask questions about what ownership involves. 

After all, a holiday home is there to be enjoyed. Making the most of the benefits available can add to the value you get from it throughout the year. 

You’ve worked out your budget, explored the offers and found a few homes you like. Before making a final decision, take a step back and compare your options. 

It may be worth considering a few alternatives, even if you’ve already found a favourite. A different layout, a pre-loved model or another park could offer a better balance of purchase price, running costs and lifestyle. 

When comparing homes, think about:

- New versus pre-loved models.

- Caravans versus lodges.

- Two-bedroom versus three-bedroom layouts.

- The location and facilities at different parks. 

- Purchase prices and what’s included.

- Current ownership offers and eligibility. 

- Finance deposits, repayments and total amounts payable. 

- Likely annual running costs.

- Whether holiday letting could suit your plans.

Browse Waterside’s holiday home listings to explore available models and narrow down your choices.

Once you’ve shortlisted a few options, book a park visit to see the homes and pitches in person. The ownership team can talk you through the available choices and provide a breakdown of the relevant costs, helping you make a more informed decision. 

Taking a little extra time now could help you find a home you’ll feel comfortable owning for years to come.

Finding an affordable holiday home isn’t necessarily about spending as little as possible. It’s about understanding the costs, exploring the options available and choosing a home that works for your lifestyle and your budget. 

From pre-loved models and current offers to part exchange, finance and holiday letting, there are several ways to approach ownership. The right combination will depend on your circumstances, so take the time to compare your options and understand the full picture before committing. 

Ready to explore what’s available?

- Browse holiday homes for sale

- Discover current ownership offers

- Find our about part exchange

- Learn about Let 2 Help Offset

- Explore the Owners’ Card

- Book a Park Visit

Explore holiday home ownership with Waterside and find a place to call your own. With a budget that feels right for you.