$10K on a WDW vacation?!?!?--VENT

[Leader of the Club]

Oh, my. I knew you all would understand my distress....

My now former employer is spending $10K on a WDW vacation. His kids are only 1 and 3!

He was really, really taking advantage of me at work. I was working every single weekend, being grossly underpaid and working 50 or 60 hours a week and getting paid for 40 because he, "just couldn't afford any more than that in this economy." Boy, do I feel like an idiot now! I had worked there for six years, loved the job, co-workers and customers. But, I was missing too much of my own kids lives, so I quit. We are struggling financially right now, but the kids are doing great, the house is cleaner and dinner is on the table every night. I know who my 12 y/o is hanging out with, too. That is a big plus for me. And I have actually been able to take the boys to Sunday School and church instead of having them home alone or sitting at work with me.

Anyhow, boss-man calls me up and tells me all about his WDW trip for December. He is spending $10K and is trying to talk his parents into going and will pay for their trip also.

Do you all know how many times I could take my kids to WDW for $10K? Oh, wait, you probably do!

Ok, sorry for the rant. I just wanted "someone" to listen.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

what a classs act he is! not only does he not pay you because money is tight, he calls and brags about his over price trip! good for you for thinking of your family first and quitting. A better job will come along for you when you are ready.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I agree that it was in poor taste to call you and brag about his expensive vacation. But you do realize that there is a separation between the man's business finances and his personal finances, don't you? I don't know a single business owner who combines both in the same place or who uses funds from one to support the other.

 

[KirstenB]

Aaagghhhh!! I feel for you. My frugal gene is working overtime, calculating how many trips I could squeeze out of 10k, and still have money leftover!!!

I'm glad you were able to make this change for your family, but sorry your old boss is such a jerk!!!

 

[maleficentmom]

When people like this agitate me I just quickly thank the good Lord above for what I have(and I try not to be jeoulous)...and that I didn't have to step on anyone to get it.Also, remember sweetie, that as dishonest as his work ethics may be...he may be bustin' his rump to have the money to do this vacation(and you have chosen what is best for you..stay at home mom...Which I can tell you from experience is both a "job" and an honor)...and you never know,it's possoble he may have trouble sleeping at night due to his maxed out credit cards,he wouldn't be the first person.I love what Joyce Meyer says about this...when you think "wow I wish I could have a brand new car,house(etc...)like Mr./Mrs. So-n-So"....are you really willing to do what they did to get it?(whether it was by dishonesty,or plain honest hard work). For example,I love my neighbor's pretty new Lexus...and while she is happy working long hours to have it and I am happy for her...it is worth it to me to stay at home, and drive the Mazda van(aka..the "MouseMobile")...so don't worry...wish him well and live your life...be Happy

 

[maleficentmom]

Aaagghhhh!! I feel for you. My frugal gene is working overtime, calculating how many trips I could squeeze out of 10k, and still have money leftover!!!

I bet all of us were doing the same thing!!!!!!!I was thinking...nice used car....or pay off bills and then still have money for trip....well...you get the idea

 

[crisi]

I agree that it was in poor taste to call you and brag about his expensive vacation. But you do realize that there is a separation between the man's business finances and his personal finances, don't you? I don't know a single business owner who combines both in the same place or who uses funds from one to support the other.

Yep.

OP, make yourself a happier person....choose to believe that this money isn't coming from the business at all - that he had a relative die and leave him some cash, that he invested some money in the stock market in March and saw it double. Choose to believe that he didn't call you to brag, but knowing how much you enjoy Disney, he knew you'd share his excitement. And that you, yourself, have chosen a path that you are content with anyway.

 

[mrsklamc]

It is probably best to just choose to get over it. However, were you an hourly employee?

If so, you can't CHOOSE to work overtime for free just because you are a nice person, and would be entitled to sue for back pay.

 

[msmayor]

I agree that it was in poor taste to call you and brag about his expensive vacation. But you do realize that there is a separation between the man's business finances and his personal finances, don't you? I don't know a single business owner who combines both in the same place or who uses funds from one to support the other.

My thoughts exactly.

Perhaps he's been saving for YEARS for this trip out of the small income he makes on the business. Maybe someone else is paying for it. Maybe his family is helping to pay. Who knows...and who really cares?

To me, this is just not something worth getting upset about.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I agree that it was in poor taste to call you and brag about his expensive vacation. But you do realize that there is a separation between the man's business finances and his personal finances, don't you? I don't know a single business owner who combines both in the same place or who uses funds from one to support the other.

Good post and I agree.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I agree that his personal money is seperate from the business money. Maybe he has been saving for this trip for years. Maybe his wife has been working to make money for it. Maybe he puts all his business expenses on a Disney Visa and has enough reward dollars to pay for the trip now.
Did you think he should take money out of his family's personal finances to pay you more?

People who own businesses make a profit from them and he probably built up a very nice nest egg and as a business man was probably more prepared for an economic downturn than others. He might be doing all he can to even come close to paying all the bills at work. He will have lower profits this year which will mean less for him personally but he should not have to use the money he saved in years past to pay his employees. He is the one with all the risk involved and with that also comes bigger rewards.

Ironically - when you quit he was probably able to hire someone at a much lower rate and might be able to take the vacation based on the lower overhead costs you created by quitting.

Did he really call to gloat about the trip and actually tell you what he was paying - or did he call you for advice and based on what he told you - you figured out a cost?

 

[tinkarooni]

I agree with PP that his personal and business money are undoubtedly separate but I understand your aggravation completely and would probably feel the same.

I'm just curious why he called you though? Was it business or to ask for your expertise in planning a trip (obviously he's not worried about it being a budget trip )

 

[RitaE]

I think it is absolutely tasteless to tell anybody how much your vacation costs.
As for the job, it sounds like it was a bad situation for you and I'm happy you were in the position to leave it. I'm actually a little puzzled as to why you would even take his phone calls - it sounds like a poor relationship all around. Screen those calls!


However the others are correct in that the man has the right to spend his money however he wishes.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

One thing I realized is that business owners seldom or never take a vacation.
This may be his only vacation in several years and these type of people need to spend $10,000 to get the most out of it as it will be along time before another vacation.

Just another side of the story.

 

[Leader of the Club]

I agree that it was in poor taste to call you and brag about his expensive vacation. But you do realize that there is a separation between the man's business finances and his personal finances, don't you? I don't know a single business owner who combines both in the same place or who uses funds from one to support the other.

Um, I happen to know of one.....

 

[TheRatPack]

I've priced out a deluxe for our family a few times and it's in the 15,000 to 20,000 range....YIKES. I can not imagine dropping that on a vacation, heck I could spend that and buy DVC resales LOL

I understand how you feel though....when you don't 'have' to watch your pennies you never understand that you can go on vacation for a lot lot less and you just book it, rack rate and all LOL

I've been a SAHM for 2 1/2 years now and it's really hard since I LOVED my job, but I know I'm where I'm meant to be and I LOVE my kids We would take our 'value' vacations regardless of whether I worked or not.....so that's a plus....and I know we're blessed to be able to afford that when so many others can't.

 

[Allison]

I don't understand why you would be distressed about what someone else spends on their vacation.

 

[luvsJack]

I agree that normally business money and personal money are kept seperate; but morally if he had the money in his personal account to pay her the overtime he owed her then he should have paid it instead of putting it toward a $10,000 vacation. It would have been the right thing to do.

 

[Leigha]

I understand and my husband owns a small business. You feel betrayed after doing the man a favor, actually many, many hours of favors. He took advantage of your kindness. It is funny how people see things. My thought is who would take that kind of vacation when their business is obviously in trouble in this economy and also how many people on here agree with his actions.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I agree that it was in poor taste to call you and brag about his expensive vacation. But you do realize that there is a separation between the man's business finances and his personal finances, don't you? I don't know a single business owner who combines both in the same place or who uses funds from one to support the other.

Ooooo, I do. My bFF and her husband own a small business and she tells me waaaaaaayyyyyy more than she should. They are always dipping from one account to fund the other etc. I bet it happens way more than people think -- especially in this economy.

It was in very poor taste to call you and tell you that. Why did he want to tell you that anyway ? Didn't he think that would be out of line?