Martin Lewis issues all working Brits with clever annual leave hack that will ‘double your time off’

Martin Lewis has used his weekly Money Saving Expert newsletter to explain to Brits how to maximise their time off work this year, 'doubling' the amount of days off you have for one period.

The explainer comes as January pay packets land in millions of bank accounts around the country. And now that the struggle from Christmas to February is out of the way, it's time to look forward at when we can enjoy some downtime.

Whether that's fun in the sun or a weekend break to a city centre with a vastly rich cultural history, making sure we're using our annual leave in the best possible way is something important to millions of Brits on a yearly basis.

Well, going by the advice flagged in Lewis' latest MSE newsletter, you can make turn one period of annual leave in to a huge break from work to wind down and truly turn off from the stresses of daily life.

Maximise your time off (Getty Stock Images)

'This only happens every four or five years'

"Chilly January is the hottest month for holiday bookings - especially for the summer getaway," Lewis writes in his latest newsletter.

"Many are booked, some are booking, and others have it burning a hole in their to-do lists. So we've tips on how to keep costs grounded and hassles away, whether you're booked or planning to."

The major point making his list is how to turn nine days of annual leave in a huge 18 day break from working life.

"This only happens every four or five years, so sort it quick, as soon everyone will be trying to do it," he urges.

9 days creates 18 away from work (Getty Stock Images)

So, how can you get 18 days off for nine days of annual leave?

It's all to do with when you're looking to slot in those nine days of paid leave.

The law in the UK days you can get 28 days holiday every year. Some employers give you this including the eight bank holidays Brits get every day, with the extra nice ones putting those eight days on top of the 28.

2025 is the year to take advantage of when these bank holidays fall.

MSE states: "As Easter is in late April this year, you can bridge the gap between Easter Monday on Monday, 21 April and the early May bank holiday on Monday, 5 May by booking Tuesday, 22 April to Friday, 25 April and Monday, 28 April to Friday, 2 May as annual leave."

Martin Lewis and his MSE team have put the hack together (ITV)

Want short or longer? You're in luck

If you've only got five days to play with, you can turn it into 11 consecutive days off by booking Friday, 11 April, and then Monday to Thursday, 14 to 17 April.

For those wanting a longer escape, use 13 days to get a whopping 24 consecutive days away from the office.

"If you want a longer break, you can take over three weeks off by booking Tuesday, 22 April to Friday, 25 April, Monday, 28 April to Friday, 2 May and Tuesday, 6 May to Friday, 9 May as annual leave," MSE explains.

"Whether you can do this may depend on if there's any limit to the amount of time off your employer allows you to take in one go."