Debt Dumpers - 2017

[Dentam]

Arrrrghhhhhhh I feel like this always happens. We're trying to cut back on spending, first hot day happens, get in the car to go food shopping and...the fans in the car sound really weird. Like they're struggling. Sure enough about ten minutes into the trip? They die completely. We roll the windows down and keep trying...they're completely dead. So it looks like we have some car repair costs to factor into next month's budget

When I lived in FL for a summer (internship at Epcot) my car's AC was dead. Talk about fun!! I had a tube of deodorant liquify in my car one day.

 

[amalone1013]

My dh and I are going to Vegas for 3 nights the first week of May; I'm budgeting $1500 (because I'm planning to hit the Premium Outlets just off the strip as well lol) but hoping to come in under that. We aren't planning on seeing any Cirque shows (seen a couple there already) and are not renting a car (choosing Uber or Lyft instead). But have other things planned of course. What is this Vegas Power Pass you mentioned? Off to google it

Edit to add: I found this on Costco Canada's website, is this similar to the pass you got? https://www.costco.ca/Las-Vegas-Explorer-E-Pass---Choose-4-Attractions.product.100216403.html

That is a similar deal that is available on the US Costco site too, but they also have one called the Las Vegas Power Pass. What I did was get on the regular sites for each card (the go card has a few options, inclusive, explorer, or build your own) and I compared which card had what attractions, and figured out which one worked best for us.

Here are the sites:
http://www.smartdestinations.com/las-vegas-attractions-and-tours/_d_Las-p1.html?pass=Las_Prod_Exp
https://www.lasvegaspass.com/

The US Costco site sells the 3 day Power Pass for $122, which is just under the regular price for the 2 day pass. Right now the Power Pass is 10-20% off through tomorrow, but if this is like the London Pass I used two years ago, those sales happen pretty often. Usually you can also find a promo code via google. If we had been able to use three full days with our pass, we could have easily gotten another $100 value each with the things that interested us. If my fiance gets the job he went out to quote, he'll have to go back, and we might make another weekend of it, but I don't know if the Pass would be worth it a second time because some of the things are one-and-done for us. It was great for a first trip though, or if there's lots you want to see again.

ETA: I also noticed with the Go Card, that the Costco one is special with 4 attractions, the regular site sells 3/5/7 attraction cards. The Costco one is about the same price at the 3 attraction one.

 

[Ngwira]

Can you tell me what hotel you stayed at? We live in Boston and its about a five hour drive from here. I would really like to do a four day weekend.

We stayed at Le. St. Martin Hotel Particulier. It was very nice. Centrally located, clean and modern. We'd stay again.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...tel_Particulier_Montreal-Montreal_Quebec.html

 

[Ngwira]

We're going Fourth of July week.

Aww, end of July for us. Boo. Hiss.

 

[MEM]

We stayed at Le. St. Martin Hotel Particulier. It was very nice. Centrally located, clean and modern. We'd stay again.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...tel_Particulier_Montreal-Montreal_Quebec.html

Lovely, but not in the budget.

 

[MEM]

I'm not Ngwira but we went in August and stayed at the SpringHill Suites in the old city. Very convenient to everything. Wasn't cheap though, was about $300/night CDN when we were there.

Thanks! Nothing in Montreal is cheap - at least hotel-wise. That's about $225 US at the moment, so not terrible. Plus valet parking though at 28 CDN. Its a little odd that only two guests per room get the buffet breakfast even though I will have 3-4 adults.

 

[Ngwira]

Lovely, but not in the budget.

I'm sorry it's not in the budget. Have you tried priceline and hotwire? I do have a $50 off $350 hotels.com promo code that I won't be using. Let me know if you want it. Just send me a pm.

 

[Ngwira]

Called today to make another $300.00 payment on the window loan and almost fell off my chair when they said it's down to $3500. You will recall in July 2016 when we took out the loan, it was $7200. Less than a year later, it's less than half that amount. Very pleased and we should be done paying it off in April 2018 (if not before) having paid no interest.

 

[Eureka]

Thanks! Nothing in Montreal is cheap - at least hotel-wise. That's about $225 US at the moment, so not terrible. Plus valet parking though at 28 CDN. Its a little odd that only two guests per room get the buffet breakfast even though I will have 3-4 adults.

There was no limit on the buffet when we were there (4 of us). That said, we didn't eat in the hotel much. That was the end of our trip and we were sleeping later!

 

[DnA2010]

My dh and I are going to Vegas for 3 nights the first week of May; I'm budgeting $1500 (because I'm planning to hit the Premium Outlets just off the strip as well lol) but hoping to come in under that. We aren't planning on seeing any Cirque shows (seen a couple there already) and are not renting a car (choosing Uber or Lyft instead). But have other things planned of course. What is this Vegas Power Pass you mentioned? Off to google it

Edit to add: I found this on Costco Canada's website, is this similar to the pass you got? https://www.costco.ca/Las-Vegas-Explorer-E-Pass---Choose-4-Attractions.product.100216403.html

Do Allegiant Air out of Bellingham! Seriously a bargain! I've been to Vegas 4 times I think and all have been on Allegiant- their flights are direct, cheap and good! Their hotel and flight packages can be a mega deal! I think I got an email this morning that you get 2 free cirque tickets if you book- I can go look for it? Seriously I've never paid more than $600 for flight and hotel!

 

[bcwife76]

Do Allegiant Air out of Bellingham! Seriously a bargain! I've been to Vegas 4 times I think and all have been on Allegiant- their flights are direct, cheap and good! Their hotel and flight packages can be a mega deal! I think I got an email this morning that you get 2 free cirque tickets if you book- I can go look for it? Seriously I've never paid more than $600 for flight and hotel!

We've already booked. We're going out of Vancouver, $900 all in for us both for air and hotel (upgraded room at MGM Grand). Plus I got $90 cash back from Itravel2000 because we cashed in some Petro Points, so really, it's $810 I know lots of people use Allegiant but I have heard NOTHING but horror stories (from people that I know, let alone people I don't) so we would never ever consider Allegiant.

 

[DnA2010]

We've already booked. We're going out of Vancouver, $900 all in for us both for air and hotel (upgraded room at MGM Grand). Plus I got $90 cash back from Itravel2000 because we cashed in some Petro Points, so really, it's $810 I know lots of people use Allegiant but I have heard NOTHING but horror stories (from people that I know, let alone people I don't) so we would never ever consider Allegiant.

Oh wow crazy! Ya the last time we went we upgraded to a HUGE suite at MGM - stunning view - the bathroom was seriously bigger than most hotel rooms, for 3 or maybe it was 4 nights, and with flights is was like $625 I think? I think we've used Allegiant for Vegas 4 times, LA 2-3 times, San Francisco a couple of times, Phoenix once and no issues!

Not sure if you are into Buffets but we've done the 24 hour buffet pass once- it was fun and we used it for dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner

 

[bcwife76]

Oh wow crazy! Ya the last time we went we upgraded to a HUGE suite at MGM - stunning view - the bathroom was seriously bigger than most hotel rooms, for 3 or maybe it was 4 nights, and with flights is was like $625 I think? I think we've used Allegiant for Vegas 4 times, LA 2-3 times, San Francisco a couple of times, Phoenix once and no issues!

Not sure if you are into Buffets but we've done the 24 hour buffet pass once- it was fun and we used it for dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner

A friend of mine told me about the 24 hour buffet pass a few days ago so we looked into it. Definitely a good deal but we are only there for a short time (land 9pm on a Monday and fly out 8pm on the Thursday) and there are so many restaurants/buffets that we want to try lol So I think we are going to forgo. If we were there longer then I would probably get that pass for at least one 24 hour period ;-) The only show we are going to try and see is Brad Garrets comedy show at his club. We have no interest in any more Cirque shows, etc. We just want to lay by the pool, enjoy some good food and walk around. Very low key. Possibly just a tiny bit of gambling

 

[DnA2010]

A friend of mine told me about the 24 hour buffet pass a few days ago so we looked into it. Definitely a good deal but we are only there for a short time (land 9pm on a Monday and fly out 8pm on the Thursday) and there are so many restaurants/buffets that we want to try lol So I think we are going to forgo. If we were there longer then I would probably get that pass for at least one 24 hour period ;-) The only show we are going to try and see is Brad Garrets comedy show at his club. We have no interest in any more Cirque shows, etc. We just want to lay by the pool, enjoy some good food and walk around. Very low key. Possibly just a tiny bit of gambling

Oh for sure! Our last trip was a budget trip so it covered a lot of meals cheap- handy!
Do you enjoy old Vegas? Always fun to go there, do you prefer the north outlets or south?

 

[bcwife76]

Oh for sure! Our last trip was a budget trip so it covered a lot of meals cheap- handy!
Do you enjoy old Vegas? Always fun to go there, do you prefer the north outlets or south?

I looked at both their websites and there are more stores that interest me at the North premium outlets so we'll head there for a couple of hours, too ;-)

Hopefully Freemont street for sure! Have only done that once before and have yet to see the light show. Not sure I'm up to ziplining down it though

 

[javeyloveschelsi]

Alright, debt dumping is going to be going into full force for our family...DH has had enough of his job (and I absolutely cannot blame him or say he hasn't tried to make it work--he has been with the company for 5 years now), but he has now put in his application at several other places, but it may mean a decent pay cut for us, depending on what he is offered. He worked his way up from an hourly position to a salaried position at his current company and has an interview tomorrow for a position that may involve commissions eventually, so that would be new territory for us. I have no doubt in my mind that he would work his butt off (he is the hardest worker I have ever met), and do very well, but I want to make sure all our bases are covered and we don't need debt causing us any issues or holding him back. I did pay off one other CC a few days ago and have a couple balance transfer offers available with 0% interest that I am looking at helping with some of our higher interest rate cards so I can pay those off even faster.

 

[pblack]

Alright, debt dumping is going to be going into full force for our family...DH has had enough of his job (and I absolutely cannot blame him or say he hasn't tried to make it work--he has been with the company for 5 years now), but he has now put in his application at several other places, but it may mean a decent pay cut for us, depending on what he is offered. He worked his way up from an hourly position to a salaried position at his current company and has an interview tomorrow for a position that may involve commissions eventually, so that would be new territory for us. I have no doubt in my mind that he would work his butt off (he is the hardest worker I have ever met), and do very well, but I want to make sure all our bases are covered and we don't need debt causing us any issues or holding him back. I did pay off one other CC a few days ago and have a couple balance transfer offers available with 0% interest that I am looking at helping with some of our higher interest rate cards so I can pay those off even faster.

I'm a big fan of balance transfer offers. If you're able to do that I would definitely say go for it.

 

[AquaDame]

Checking in post-Japan... we had a blast! More or less did the damage I assumed - set ourselves back a month or so but it was well worth it. We'll see if I feel the same way when we turn around and tread water again in June due to the next vacation...

 

[Tygerlilly]

Well, somehow I got my pay period weeks confused and I actually ended up with a half check this pay day. I plan on going back in two weeks, so that means I'll only actually be paycheckless for one full check. Plus in June I'll have 3 paychecks and our quarterly bonus. So I actually don't think we will fall behind like I thought we would.

 

[momtosam]

Checking in, but nothing earth shattering to report. I mailed our $1190 check to the IRS yesterday . That won't be happening again next year!!