DCL cruise vacation budgets

[smchan]

While I've read guidelines on how much to budget for automobiles, mortgages, education, retirement, I've never seen good guidelines for vacations, I'm curious how much folks typically budget for their DCL vacation as a percentage of their gross household income.

Sam

 

[praisehisname]

We've never been able to squeeze it out of our "regular" budget, but my dh gets an end-of-the-year bonus and that goes for the following year's vacation.

Denise C. in MD

 

[makaylee]

My hubby is in the USAF and and we all know that will never get you rich (we are very proud though). Well, as you can see by my count down clock it will take me over a year to save the $4000-$5000 it costs us to go on the cruise. Its well worth it to me though. We had the time of our lives in May. Then I pulled all $5000 ( that included $1700 military discount) out of our savings to go. The only way I could talk hubby into this trip was to promise to pay out of our regular budget. That explaines all those days on my coundown timer. Oh well, at least I know I WILL be going back someday. I also have my fingers crossed for another military discount.

 

[WDWLVR]

I voted in a different category based on what we spend, but the quote "vacation is important to me" fits us best!

 

[smchan]

I don't know about y'all, but I'd like to make friends with the person that voted 8-10%.

Sam

 

[clh2]

DH says we can't go back unless the whole entire trip is prepaid.

We did a fairly budget minded vacation...but he still didn't like the amount that got charged while we were on the trip (i.e. tour of Atlantis, souveniers, etc.)

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by clh2
DH says we can't go back unless the whole entire trip is prepaid.

I think your husband is wise. Prepaid is a way of enforcing a budget.

On my first cruise, our extras were easily 40-50% of the original fare! It shocked me too.

For my next cruise, I've started an envelope for cruise expenditures. Extra income and unspent budget goes into it to fund our excursions and anything else that's either not part of the original fare or suggested tip amount.

Sam

 

[SeaSpray]

I don't think your poll is set up correctly. For example, if someone's gross income is $200,000. and they pay $10,000. for their vacation, then that's 5%. But if someone's gross income is only $100,000. then for that same exact $10,000. vacation, it'd be 10% for them. A cruise costs what it costs, regardless of how much you earn, know what I mean?? LOL Because a vacation costs less, PERCENTAGE WISE, of someone's income, does that make them "cheap" in comparison to the other person?? I don't think so!!

 

[smchan]

SeaSpray, point taken and I did consider that before posting the poll.

In financial planning, percentages of our income are dedicated for certain expenditures. For example, a good rule of thumb of savings is 5-10% regardless of income. Likewise, we're told to have 3 months income in the bank for a rainy day. I suppose the theories suggest that our standard of living is relative to our income, ergo our spending habits are measured relative to our income.

I think it's valid, for example, to ask what someone might spend on a car or house relative to income for planning purpose. It is also valid to ask an absolute amount, but that gives me no data on how much one budgets relative to their income.

I suppose the confusion comes in the phrases I associated with the values. That was my lame attempt to be cute.

The point of my poll was to see if others budget similar amounts - relative to their incomes - for their vacations. There are still plenty of missing data points (I asked for "per vacation" not "per year" for example).

I have less house that most at my income level buy but tend to take what I consider nicer vacations. I was wondering whether my spending level is out of line with others or not.

Mind you, I consider a nicer vacation something that involves no fast food and no kids.

Sam

 

[SeaSpray]

I understand the concept, Sam! Hey, if we left our kids at home, our vacations would cost a lot less, and therefore would cost us less, percentage wise. Hehehe

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by SeaSpray
Hey, if we left our kids at home, our vacations would cost a lot less, and therefore would cost us less, percentage wise. Hehehe

You mean you don't? For what I've spent on "Thomas the Tank Engine" stuff, I figure I'm due a vacation w/o the boys!

Seriously, the other day my wife asked my 3 year old "would you like to go see Nana Sandy?" and he started crying while replying "No! I wanna go on the cruiser boat!" The kid had no idea we were going without him - he just guessed!

Sam

 

[WDWLVR]

Sam,

SeaSprays point easily goes to those in the 8-10% bracket. A budget that could be someones trip of a lifetime percent wise might be an every year occurance for someone else. Interesting poll.