Cancelled, well, postponed trip Rant!!

[ksumn1]

Decided about 3 weeks ago to postpone our August 22-29 trip to WDW. It was going to be a very special trip, in celebration of our 10th wedding Anniversary. DH knew DD's and I have been wanting to go back, so that was his "gift" to me....a trip to WDW!! However, I started feeling bad because our finances are getting a little tight because I'm on college 3 days a week, DH is working out of town and I cut back on my hours at work.

Anyway, Dh and I got in an argument over DH's out of town expenses and eating habits a couple of months ago. After the dust settled, we sat down and had a long talk about our budget, expenses, and frustrations. We decided together to cancel our August trip, with the condition that we go next summer or fall instead. We're using the trip $$ to pay off 1 credit card, and make a good dent in the other 3, put $$ in savings, $$ back for Christmas, and are buying me a new laptop for school. My other one is really big and heavy, works good but it's not really portable enough to carry around campus and to the girls ball practice.

I emailed the TA and she "moved" the trip to December so we don't lose our deposit and trip insurance and when next years rates come out, we'll confirm our dates.

I'm so bummed out about it today. We were all looking forward to the trip, and it almost broke my heart to tell my DD's. I actually cried about it more than they did. They took it pretty well, and I'm very proud of them for being so "mature" about it (They're 10 and 6). I've tried to be upbeat and just divert the attention to our next trip (picking dates, resorts etc) I've really tried to put on a happy face for them. They're gone today to a family reunion today while I stayed home to finish an essay for English tomorrow.


And I am so upset right now. I know we're going next year instead and that when we go we'll be in a much better place financially. (Only a $5,000 loan that we pay on monthly, and that's it) I know it's the mature, responsible, adult, right thing to do but IT SUCKS!!! I won't be watching Wishes on my Anniversary, after dinner at 'Ohana and taking a stroll through POFQ with my DH in the moonlight. UUUUGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!! I HATE BEING A GROWN UP !!!!




Sorry...rant over...I actually feel a little better now. Just needed to vent for a moment to someone who would understand. Thank You!!!

 

[wowsmom]

Decided about 3 weeks ago to postpone our August 22-29 trip to WDW. It was going to be a very special trip, in celebration of our 10th wedding Anniversary. DH knew DD's and I have been wanting to go back, so that was his "gift" to me....a trip to WDW!! However, I started feeling bad because our finances are getting a little tight because I'm on college 3 days a week, DH is working out of town and I cut back on my hours at work.

Anyway, Dh and I got in an argument over DH's out of town expenses and eating habits a couple of months ago. After the dust settled, we sat down and had a long talk about our budget, expenses, and frustrations. We decided together to cancel our August trip, with the condition that we go next summer or fall instead. We're using the trip $$ to pay off 1 credit card, and make a good dent in the other 3, put $$ in savings, $$ back for Christmas, and are buying me a new laptop for school. My other one is really big and heavy, works good but it's not really portable enough to carry around campus and to the girls ball practice.

I emailed the TA and she "moved" the trip to December so we don't lose our deposit and trip insurance and when next years rates come out, we'll confirm our dates.

I'm so bummed out about it today. We were all looking forward to the trip, and it almost broke my heart to tell my DD's. I actually cried about it more than they did. They took it pretty well, and I'm very proud of them for being so "mature" about it (They're 10 and 6). I've tried to be upbeat and just divert the attention to our next trip (picking dates, resorts etc) I've really tried to put on a happy face for them. They're gone today to a family reunion today while I stayed home to finish an essay for English tomorrow.


And I am so upset right now. I know we're going next year instead and that when we go we'll be in a much better place financially. (Only a $5,000 loan that we pay on monthly, and that's it) I know it's the mature, responsible, adult, right thing to do but IT SUCKS!!! I won't be watching Wishes on my Anniversary, after dinner at 'Ohana and taking a stroll through POFQ with my DH in the moonlight. UUUUGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!! I HATE BEING A GROWN UP !!!!




Sorry...rant over...I actually feel a little better now. Just needed to vent for a moment to someone who would understand. Thank You!!!

Yup, being a grown up sucks! Hope your trip is fabulous, when you get to take it.

 

[mmeb144]

I hear you. It will be more enjoyable when you go next year because you won't have to worry about the finances.

Enjoy the planning. Keep your eyes peeled for those Disney specials on the travel channel. Listen to your disney music.

 

[Lucky4me]

You did good. Disney will be there next year.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

That does stink, but you did the right thing! And, what a great example to your kids that responsibilities come before fun. I hope you will be able to have a magical trip next year, but I applaud you for your decision!

 

[clh2]

Yes - you did the right thing!

Do yourself a favor - make dinner ressies for that one restaurant in your area that you would never, never go to on a regular basis. We started doing this at our 10th anniversary...and we have enjoyed doing this every year since. Different restaurants...but always a special night out.

Once you have the ressies - at least you will be looking forward to something special. Be sure it is a restaurant you need to get dressed up for - make it a special night.

Congrats on 10 years!

 

[ksumn1]

Yes - you did the right thing!

Do yourself a favor - make dinner ressies for that one restaurant in your area that you would never, never go to on a regular basis. We started doing this at our 10th anniversary...and we have enjoyed doing this every year since. Different restaurants...but always a special night out.

Once you have the ressies - at least you will be looking forward to something special. Be sure it is a restaurant you need to get dressed up for - make it a special night.

Congrats on 10 years!

Thanks...the only way I can get DH to get dressed up (or at least in a suit) is for a funeral. Well, he did wear a suit to our wedding and then his sister's wedding! I'll be honest, I like nice, grown up meals but we seem to have the most fun and be the most "ourselves" when we go out to a local restaurant that has live music in the bar upstairs that serves killer Cajun food. We're pretty simple people, but we are doing *something* special, we just don't know what yet.

Thanks for all the encouragement. The only other part of the postponement is that if we go in the summer next year, it's definately going to cost more than our cancelled August trip. We booked 7 nights, 8 days at POFQ with free dining for around $2400. I don't want to think about what summer 2010 will cost. Especially since DH promised the kids a day at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon in addition to a couple of extra days more than our August trip.

We could hope and wait for the free dining again but in GA we have attendance policies and WDW is not an acceptable reason to miss school. And DD starts 6th grade in 2010 at the middle school, which is a big adjustment for her.

So cancelling our trip to save $$ is costing us $$
We'll be OK, and we'll enjoy it more next year but IT STILL SUCKS!!

 

[kckmom]

So sorry, it is hard to plan and get excited about something only to have it not work out. But if the timing is not right for you financially, then your decision is absolutely the right one for you and your family.

Would you be happier knowing that you could go in August and have to watch every penny you spent, or go next year and really enjoy the trip, with less debt to slow you down? Might be a bit more money, but who knows what deals WDW will have then. Enjoy your summer, and good luck with your plans, be brave, God bless!

 

[mommapea]

I'm very impressed! Seriously, this takes courage, and you totally have it!!!! Your trip next year will be much more sweet and enjoyable because of this!!

 

[Schmoodle]

I'm sorry for your disappointment, but you did the right thing and your family will be better off for it. Next year's trip will be extra magical! I hope you have a wonderful anniversary anyway.

 

[secretpantssam]

You did the right thing. And at least you still have a trip to look forward to, even if it is a year away.

 

[Microcell]

I know exactly how you feel! I knew before our trip last September that we needed to get out of debt first, but I let my emotions take over and we went, and were miserable! We felt poor and that we couldn't afford anything so we resolved not to go this September and are bummed about it..

We couldn't wait till next September though, and will be mostly out of debt in Feb 2010 so we plan to go then and I look forward to being much happier about paying cash for it!

It may not be the same, but you might be able to make a menu of Disney favorite foods for your anniversary! We did that on Mother's day and it felt nice to have a Dole Whip, Canadian cheddar cheese soup from Le Cellier and Pot Roast from LTT! Oh and Tonga toast for breakfast!

 

[splash5]

I think you did the right thing. However, that being said, you never know what tomorrow will bring. You hear about people who wait until they retire to take "dream trips" and then one of the spouses gets sick and they can't go. This happened to my parents - my mom got a brain tumor and was gone in 6 months.

I just think that when all is said and done, I'd rather have the debt and live with the memories of happiness with my family, than pay off the debt and never get to take the trip.

I know people will flame me, but we spend too much time worrying about money/debt - life needs to be fun!!!

 

[Allison]

Good for you. I think you made the right decision.

 

[pumpkinfish]

It may not be the same, but you might be able to make a menu of Disney favorite foods for your anniversary! We did that on Mother's day and it felt nice to have a Dole Whip, Canadian cheddar cheese soup from Le Cellier and Pot Roast from LTT! Oh and Tonga toast for breakfast!

Such a great idea! I do this at times with bits and pieces (making the soup takes awhile for me) but never a whole meal...altho that would be perfect!

OP, be very proud of yourself and treat the next WDW vacation as a treat and not "entitlement". Not that you are, but even I get into the habit of putting Disney first at times when it shouldn't be that way. Disney IS a treat and keeping it that way keeps it magical (IMHO).

You have no idea how many times DH has moaned to me in the last month how much he wants to take a quick trip to WDW. How he misses it so much. Well, our APs expired so we'd have to buy tickets again. Yes we have DVC to use but we'd also have plane tickets and food to plan for. I know if I did a weekend trip it wouldn't be fun thinking about how much we could have put towards the house or his student loans.

But it takes a real person to admit when it might not be the right time .
(And I really love the Disney food idea!)

 

[pumpkinfish]

I think you did the right thing. However, that being said, you never know what tomorrow will bring. You hear about people who wait until they retire to take "dream trips" and then one of the spouses gets sick and they can't go. This happened to my parents - my mom got a brain tumor and was gone in 6 months.

I just think that when all is said and done, I'd rather have the debt and live with the memories of happiness with my family, than pay off the debt and never get to take the trip.

I know people will flame me, but we spend too much time worrying about money/debt - life needs to be fun!!!

I agree that life needs to be fun, but people living outside of their budgets (not that OP is) is what got people in the messes they are in today. I think you can still take a family vacation or make quality family memories without spending what it would cost to go to WDW. Growing up we went places as a family (went to WDW once) such as camping or hiking or taking day trips to the park that didn't cost much. I have TONS of memories of happiness .

 

[disneychard]

I know how you feel. We have been going to wdw every year for the pass 5 years. My husband conviced me to go to Williamsburg va, to save this year. He told me next year we will go back though he wants to go in October. Even longer then next July when we usually go.

 

[ksumn1]

OP again. Thanks for all the support. I'm still having good and bad days dealing with postponing the trip. I cancelled (postponed) trip over a month ago, and I just got up the nerve to change my ticker yeaterday. It was pretty sad, but DD's helped me pick a new ticker.

Planning so far ahead gives me more time to save for the extra things like gas, souveniers, etc. I already have DD's goodie bags put up, and most of the toiletries etc so $$ wise, we're ahead a little bit already. It will be much less stressful next summer. No worries about DD's missing school or me missing school and having to make up work. I'm a college freshman and my professors weren't happy to hear I was taking a week off for a trip to WDW!!

So far, we've paid off one CC totally and we owe $400 on one and $1000 on the other. DH has a loan jointly with MIL from where we borrowed $$ to finish paying off our home last year. The balance is $5000. So total debt is $6400. We agreed if we pay off half we'll feel OK about going to WDW. We're mainly concerned with paying off the CC's 1st, putting $$ in saving as well. Kind of a revised Dave Ramsey plan. MIL is fine with us taking the trip, as long as we pay our monthly loan amount on time.

It will be soo nice to go and not worry about the CC bill that's going to roll in next month. That's how we did our last 2 trips. This time we're using our income tax return, and the $$ we've saved up. No plastic except what we will use for charges on our KTTK . With the cash put back in savings to pay off the bill when we come back form the trip!!

I still believe it sucks, but I'm puttin on my big girl panties and looking ahead!!!

 

[PinkRhombus]

I hear you. It will be more enjoyable when you go next year because you won't have to worry about the finances.

DEFINITELY! Nothing worse that worrying about it before hand AND afterwards.

 

[verlee]

We did the same thing a couple of weeks ago. We were planning a trip late Aug. for just dh and I, but it just did not feel financially right. (We were just there in Jan '09) We are now going as a family next summer. We can put away aprox. $5.50/day and we will have a debt and guilt free trip!

But as you can see...I am still scanning the Dis. Oh, I so want to go back