HELP pay in full due in 2 weeks. Need advice!

[JnDRader]

do NOT borrow money or sacrifice long term investments to make up your trip. Yes you only live once, but making the hard choices and staying the course with financial discipline will reward you much longer, you never know what else can happen. downgrades or rebooking last minute if you still plan to go are solid options, along with skipping an excursion, etc. Disney isn't going anywhere

This right here. I know all of our friends would absolutely understand if we couldn't make a planned vacation due to finances not working out as expected. If they don't understand, they aren't your friends!

 

[Twofebboys]

We both agree that 'sometimes timing stinks'...(That's why I said it.)

That's a fine decision for you to make for your family. It doesn't necessarily mean its the only decision for the family making the decision to decide.

They are asking for suggestions but ultimately it is their business, and not for us to arbitrarily say they have to this or have to not that.

I wish the OP the best, and I'm glad that you are debt free.

I'm also glad no one ever told me I had to miss my parent's anniversary. Nothing is 100% cut and dry, that's all.

No worries, we can all give suggestions and the OP can make up his/her mind.

I will say it is an amazing feeling not to worry. Don't get me wrong, there were times I said no to things. But, the piece of mind is wonderful! When we want to do something or buy something we save and do it!

Good luck, Ms. Mermaid!

 

[Twofebboys]

Thank you for all the advice everyone. We are still trying to make it work. My wife is picking up extra hours. As a nurse this add up very quickly.

I would like to say that the idea of borrowing from retirement was not mine, and not something I ever even considered. That is just one step above getting a payday advance from a "check into cash" type place. Not gonna do it.

We sat down last night, and we think we will make it. Probably downgrading room type and upgrading later. It will be tight, but bills will be paid and there will be food on the table...one other expense we had slated for this month we were able to push back to a "pay what you can when you can"

I am still thinking of canceling and hopefully re-book at a GTY rate...but that is risky and my wife is not totally on board yet. We are not going to make any final decision until the 10th.

Thanks again.

Looks like you are working together to find the best way for you! I will say that I let out a sigh of relief when you said you would not borrow from retirement! (Sometimes it is hard to renown who said what on a thread.)

If there is anything I can do to help please let me know!

Smooth sailing...

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

After reading all the responses in this thread I have to agree with several PP's that said since you are asking how to pay off this trip that OBVIOUSLY means you probably have ZERO in your savings account. I can't imagine paying $2500 to go on a cruise that I could not afford and having no emergency fund or savings account. Not to be rude but that sounds very financially irresponsible.

That seems like priorities are way off base.

I would refocus my energies and all the overtime into a savings account and let friends and family know this trip is just not something you can afford at all.

 

[Justacruiser]

After reading all the responses in this thread I have to agree with several PP's that said since you are asking how to pay off this trip that OBVIOUSLY means you probably have ZERO in your savings account. I can't imagine paying $2500 to go on a cruise that I could not afford and having no emergency fund or savings account. Not to be rude but that sounds very financially irresponsible.

That seems like priorities are way off base.

I would refocus my energies and all the overtime into a savings account and let friends and family know this trip is just not something you can afford at all.

This might be a bit rude. The poster is looking for advice because they don't desire to get any further into debt. They are finding a way to get it done. They are also trying to go with 2 other families, so this might be something special.

Yes, the best scenario would be to have that pot of gold sitting in the bank for extra cruises, but for some to include me, that's not the case.

The DW and I have a budget and actually have a portion of my pay specifically identified for future DCL cruises. Cruising is our vice. We don't use credit cards or go into debt to cruise. but we often just make it by from pay check to pay check to help budget for those things we enjoy and of course paying the bills.

I am sure if the poster wasn't going with other people it would be a much easier decision. I do recommend that if posters don't have a budget and indentify within their budget those purchases or trips that they want to take and budget over time to achieve the desired outcome, that they begin as soon as possible. $50 a month can even give you some money over time to cruise or make a purchase without a huge sacrifice. FWIW

 

[MND]

Thank you for all the advice everyone. We are still trying to make it work. My wife is picking up extra hours. As a nurse this add up very quickly.

I would like to say that the idea of borrowing from retirement was not mine, and not something I ever even considered. That is just one step above getting a payday advance from a "check into cash" type place. Not gonna do it.

We sat down last night, and we think we will make it. Probably downgrading room type and upgrading later. It will be tight, but bills will be paid and there will be food on the table...one other expense we had slated for this month we were able to push back to a "pay what you can when you can"

I am still thinking of canceling and hopefully re-book at a GTY rate...but that is risky and my wife is not totally on board yet. We are not going to make any final decision until the 10th.

Thanks again.

I'm glad that things are going to work out. I am also glad that you took one of my suggestions.

Mike

 

[swimfly]

What I love most about this thread is the # of responders who used Dave Ramsey quotes. So intriguing.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Suzy made an appearance too.

 

[cruisecrasher]

What I love most about this thread is the # of responders who used Dave Ramsey quotes. So intriguing.

Live like no one else!

 

[tweis]

What I love most about this thread is the # of responders who used Dave Ramsey quotes. So intriguing.

Suzy made an appearance too.

Yeah, I had no idea you could get so much financial advice from the DIS. Obviously I need to save more and stop vacationing

This might be a bit rude. The poster is looking for advice because they don't desire to get any further into debt. They are finding a way to get it done. They are also trying to go with 2 other families, so this might be something special.

Yes, the best scenario would be to have that pot of gold sitting in the bank for extra cruises, but for some to include me, that's not the case.

The DW and I have a budget and actually have a portion of my pay specifically identified for future DCL cruises. Cruising is our vice. We don't use credit cards or go into debt to cruise. but we often just make it by from pay check to pay check to help budget for those things we enjoy and of course paying the bills.

I am sure if the poster wasn't going with other people it would be a much easier decision. I do recommend that if posters don't have a budget and indentify within their budget those purchases or trips that they want to take and budget over time to achieve the desired outcome, that they begin as soon as possible. $50 a month can even give you some money over time to cruise or make a purchase without a huge sacrifice. FWIW

Well said.

No pot of gold here either but we still put money aside for DCL/vacations.

 

[MND]

Suzy made an appearance too.

I don't think Suzy would allow anyone to take a Disney cruise.

 

[Twofebboys]

What I love most about this thread is the # of responders who used Dave Ramsey quotes. So intriguing.

Could you tell? DR made a huge difference in our lives!!!

 

[quickcat]

Yeah, I had no idea you could get so much financial advice from the DIS. Obviously I need to save more and stop vacationing

Yes- me too! Better stop cruising and start saving!
Suzy would be proud of me for listening to her advice, not so proud when she'd see me waving to her from the sail away party not actually taking her advice!

 

[Twofebboys]

Yes- me too! Better stop cruising and start saving!
Suzy would be proud of me for listening to her advice, not so proud when she'd see me waving to her from the sail away party not actually taking her advice!

But, Suzy is ok with credit card debit and Dave is not!!! This beach vacation (where I am sitting at this very moment) has been paid for with cash! Our cruise will be paid for with cash!!!! I gotta work to save so we can do the dolphin swim at the blue lagoon! But, I am really WERID and it feels great!!!!

 

[Kendal]

OK Dissers, I need you advice on the best way to go about this.

My PIF date is Aug 13 for Oct 27th cruise. I was supposed to get a commission on the 9th that would have covered it but the deal just fell through which is rare. We owe about $2,500 still.

We are traveling with 2 other families so we want to make things work. Commissions will (most likely) be coming in at the end of the month and in September.

Option 1: downgrade to a Cat 11B to lower the balance to $1,900. This will make things tight, but barely manageable. We can then hope to upgrade later based on availability. It might end up costing more for the veranda...or less...or the same.

Option 2: cancel all together, sit on the money and re-book when we can. Running the risk of the ship selling out, prices going up. Also having a chance of special rates being offered.

Option 3: Any other ideas?

Thanks for your input.

I would have never stopped paying on my cruise on a whim that other money might be comeing extra money is never a sure bet!!! Hind sight is always 20/20 so

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I don't think Suzy would allow anyone to take a Disney cruise.

Haha! So true! My Twinkie quotes her all the time... Still loves Disney cruising tho!

 

[MondaysChild]

I am not sure if true, but when we booked our cruise the Disney rep said all category rates are locked in for us. SO if we upgraded later, even if the latest public rates were higher, our rate would be whatever it was when we booked the lower category.

If that holds true, you should be able to downgrade then upgrade without paying more as long as there is still availability.

Good luck!

 

[NWmom]

Glad the OP is still thinking and evaluating the situation until PIF on the 10th.

I was reading all the posts and thought I saw the financial principles of a few well known advisors.

Maybe some new thoughts and ideas for a future cruise were also mentioned that will be helpful no matter what is decided on this particular cruise.

So many people sharing what they have learned trying to help. Nice to know there is such caring on the DIS.

Suzy made an appearance too.

What I love most about this thread is the # of responders who used Dave Ramsey quotes. So intriguing.

Could you tell? DR made a huge difference in our lives!!!

I coud tell.

None said "Snowball" or "babystep" but I could stll tell.

I'm older. I'll add Larry Burkett that my mom used to listen to on the radio when I was a teen. (he's passed on)

I have to say though that I do prefer the simplicity of DR.
He sure made it all finally click in my head.

 

[Meghatron]

I find it fascinating that all the judging posts made a huge assumption that the OP has no safety net savings for emergencies. The whole point of things like that is for EMERGENCIES so it would not be relevant to a post about paying for a vacation. I certainly wouldn't consider my emergency fund to be an option, so I wouldn't include it in my post asking for advice.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

 

[lizabu]

I find it fascinating that all the judging posts made a huge assumption that the OP has no safety net savings for emergencies. The whole point of things like that is for EMERGENCIES so it would not be relevant to a post about paying for a vacation. I certainly wouldn't consider my emergency fund to be an option, so I wouldn't include it in my post asking for advice.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

Me too. I just pretend my emergency savings aren't there. It would take something pretty major for me to touch that.