Am I Nuts?

[wendydarling826]

Well, DH lost his job today. No business, company cutting back, yada, yada. DH worked for the same company for 25 years, and now this is the second bout of unemployment in less than 3 years.
We decided that since our trip next month is already paid for, we're going anyway. We have AP's, airfare is already purchased and of course we're staying on points. All we need is money for meals, and we'd have to eat if we were home anyway. I know there will be raised eyebrows from some who will not understand how we could go to Disney World for 9 days in a time like this, but we don't see a reason to cancel our trip. Do you think we're crazy for going ahead with our trip?

 

[my3weasels]

I don't think you're crazy - the majority of the vacation is paid for like you said. Go have fun!

We are in a similar boat - DH got laid off 4 weeks ago. We have a trip planned for October. Airfare is purchased and we are staying on points. We're still going. It would be like throwing money away at this point.

 

[wildernessDad]

I'm very sorry that you DH lost his job. This economy has been shaky for way too long now. Go have fun and come back ready for new challenges. One never knows, but your next job may be the best job you've ever had.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

Going on trips is good for you, have fun. Our first Disney trip was planned just before I got canned. I didn't feel bad about it. You shouldn't either.

 

[js]

Well, DH lost his job today. No business, company cutting back, yada, yada. DH worked for the same company for 25 years, and now this is the second bout of unemployment in less than 3 years.
We decided that since our trip next month is already paid for, we're going anyway. We have AP's, airfare is already purchased and of course we're staying on points. All we need is money for meals, and we'd have to eat if we were home anyway. I know there will be raised eyebrows from some who will not understand how we could go to Disney World for 9 days in a time like this, but we don't see a reason to cancel our trip. Do you think we're crazy for going ahead with our trip?

I, too, say go for it. You have most of your trip planned and your husband can come back rested and ready to look for a new job. I wish him much luck!
Just don't ask this question on the Budget Board. You'll get very different answers

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I don't think you're crazy especially since it's already paid for. No better way to forget about your problems and relieve some stress than WDW. Enjoy!

 

[Muushka]

I am so sorry about your husband's job loss.

I am pretty conservative about spending money, saving money, yada yada yada.
We have been in that situation a few times over the years, and did the same thing that you are doing.
Go on that vacation and have a wonderful time. You are not nuts.

 

[arthur06]

i lost my job June 1st this year. We went out of town the Weekend of Jun 11th. I didn't feel bad about it. Also, we almost bought tickets to WDW for this next week, but couldn't commit, as I have been interviewing for a couple of weeks and didn't know what the week held.

Sometimes, just getting away is a great solution!

I say go for it!

 

[Redbudlover]

boy I sure know the feeling - and have gone before even when finances were tight because I feel so much better after going. But - but but but. It all depends for me on the rest of your financial situation. How many months can you live on your savings? Are one of you working? Will the trip not make much difference in your overall welfare or will you have to go in debt to pay for expensive meals at WDW? If you are stable enough and have enough savings to get through 6 months I would go. But if it means going in debt I would not. That being said, I remember a trip I took to Cabo and came home hoping I had enough money left to pay for dinner at the airport!!! I had a check coming, but was skinning by....

 

[adminjedi]

Today, you're not nuts.
Next month if he is still unemployed, you're not nuts.
In 2 years if he is still unemployed, you will not look back and say, "if only we had stayed home and spent $200 on groceries instead of $400 at DW, we would have $200 dollars in the bank."

In the big picture, IMHO, the $200 isn't really going to be the problem, rather the thousands upon thousands of dollars of other expenses!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[kim532]

Sorry about your struggles, but no you are not crazy. Go have fun!

Kim

 

[wendydarling826]

boy I sure know the feeling - and have gone before even when finances were tight because I feel so much better after going. But - but but but. It all depends for me on the rest of your financial situation. How many months can you live on your savings? Are one of you working? Will the trip not make much difference in your overall welfare or will you have to go in debt to pay for expensive meals at WDW? If you are stable enough and have enough savings to get through 6 months I would go. But if it means going in debt I would not. That being said, I remember a trip I took to Cabo and came home hoping I had enough money left to pay for dinner at the airport!!! I had a check coming, but was skinning by....

We won't be going into debt at all for the trip, and I do still have my job. Things will be tight whether or not we go, but going will not make any difference in the big picture.
Thank you everyone for the kind words and for your honest perspective. It's good to have this place to come to!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Go have fun.

I hope your husband can find something quickly!

 

[DenLo]

You'd be out the money and possibly the points, go, go, go! And try to have some fun and leave some of the worries behind you. Meals in the villa will help you save some money as well. Good luck and hope this is a short lay off again.

 

[nblank]

I am so sorry to hear about your DH's job. I don't think you are crazy at all! Like others have said it is already paid for and it will be good for everyone to go and have some fun! And don't worry about what others think....Life is too short to have regrets!
Have a GREAT time and I will send a some prayers upstairs that your DH finds something soon!

 

[DVC Grammy]

ITA with all the rest of the posts: go and enjoy the pre-paid vacation! The only expense would be food, and since I'm guessing that you're staying in a villa, having some meals there wouldn't be much more than at home, especially if you bring some staples with you and only purchase perishables during your stay. Also, eating at CS places can actually be quite reasonable (counter to the prevailing view that WDW food costs a "fortune"). Seasons, Mara, EofS, etc. offer good food at good prices, and your total food bill might not be much more than if you stayed home. After all, how much you spend on food is totally under your control.
Good luck to your husband in landing a wonderful job when he returns all rested and de-stressed from being in "the happiest place on earth".

 

[Disney Spaz]

Here's another vote to just go. I think with everything going on you need the break.

 

[dizplanner]

I agree - go and have fun. (Not that you need our permission)
It is not like you are going to get your money back for your airfare and you already have APs. I don't know how close your trip is and if you could bank the points, but you could easily be in a use or loose them sitation.

Only thing I would do is be a bit frugal on the meals - eating some meals in the villa (breakfast is the easiest), maybe eating more counterservice than you normally would, etc. But if nice table service meals are important to you, do include at least one - don't go to extremes unless you are really tight on finances.

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

DH and I did the same thing last August 2 weeks after he was let go. Spent a blissful 11 days in WDW and it was worth every penny for our sanity. DH needed that vacation... and so did I! Like you, I still had my job, and it was going to be tight but we'd be fine, and airfare/points/AP's were already had so it was just meals.

We bought TIW as we still wanted to eat a lot of meals out. We also ordered from garden grocer, got soda, water, snacks, and breakfast foods. I am certain we saved money by doing this, as DH is addicted to coca cola, and what we spent on the entire order, including delivery, was less than if he'd just drank an equivalent amount of Cokes (which I am sure he would have). We also went to more of the cheaper TS places than we normally would have, ESPN numerous times, Beaches and Cream. We do normally eat CS for lunch and I think we did one CS dinner this time (normally don't do any). I think one day we ate lunch in our room too.

We didn't go on the tours we were planning on going on, and maybe spent a bit less on souveniers than normal, but really, that's all we cut back on.

Enjoy your trip, relax, and be happy with all that you do have!

 

[tea pot]

As others have said
Go!!!! no your not nuts ! You'd be crazy to throw a paid for trip away.
You and your family need and deserve this vacation.
Sending Pixie Dust for a better job in your future