do u go on vacation if ur poor??

[tinkercat]

I haven't read the other replies, but since this is the budget board I'm betting that at least some of the replies say not to do it.

MY personal belief is that vacations are an investment in your family. Sometimes you NEED to get away with your loved ones and unwind and have fun. I don't think I'll ever regret taking a vacation with my kids, but I sure as heck would regret NOT taking any.

Again, this is just ME...but if I were in your shoes (wait, I sort of am...LOL)...I'd go for it!

 

[marie1203]

I think there is a lot more things to consider. How stable are your jobs? Is there even a little chance that one of you might lose your job? How old are your cars? Could they break down anytime soon? etc... If there is any chance of any of these things happening then I am going to say put the money in savings. If it could harm you in the future not having that extra money then don't do it.

 

[Kathi OD]

OP, you live in NJ. There are several state parks in NJ that have cabins available for rent. I didn't check out the prices of all of them, but at Bass River, in South Jersey and close to Atlantic City, the cabins are $65/night. The cabins at Byrne are cheaper, $45/night. They're closed now, but I'm not sure if that's because it's winter or they are undergoing some kind of long-term maintenance.

Here's a link to NJ's DEP site, where you can access info about the parks that provide cabin rentals.

 

[katesorad]

Do it! I think that EVERYONE needs a break from the stresses of everyday life, no matter what their income is. In in-laws are very poor and were very poor when DH was growing up. They did a lot of camping and visiting state parks, etc.

Depending on how much your tax return is it, I say spend a portion of it on your vacation and keep the rest for emergencies, because they are always bound to come up. DH and I are getting $1,000 back from our taxes, and plan on spending $500 on a new couch and the rest will go to emergencies that may come up during the next year.

So if you're getting $1,000 like we are, spend $600 on a vacation.. you can do a few days at a $50/night hotel and you'll have room to spend on attraction and event tickets, food, etc.

 

[brookerene]

There is a lot of great advice here....first you need to consider a few things...
1. Put money into a savings for emergencies - at least a month's wages!
2. Next put money in to a vacation savings, even if it is $1 or 5 or what you can afford.
3. Address what is stressing you at home. If you go on a weeks vacation, that stress will be there and creep back after you are home.
4. Until number 1 &2 are met, find ways to turn off the tv, go out and have a picnic. Also, the camping thing is an inexpensive option as previously mentioned. You can get a tent, or borrow one, take your own groceries and get out into nature.
We haven't had a vacation in 6.5 years....due to finances and farm life... we do live in a safe area and are on a farm so we set up the camping tent for the kids and let them camp in our front yard. That's not an option for you... but just tune out the everyday things...like I said turn off the tv, turn off the cell phones, play some board games...etc until you can meet goals you have set for yourselves.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

I couldn't deal if we had to go as long as 4 years for a vacation - I'd say you definitely deserve one!

I would agree with some PPs... don't go into debt for it, and make sure that all of your responsibilities can be taken care of. After that, try to figure out where you can cut from. I would also not suggest taking a vacation that's really long... maybe a 4 day would be way easier on the budget... or even a 3 day (if I assume you're thinking WDW). If it's somewhere within driving distance, take a weekend.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Vacations are VERY important to us. Sometimes a few days away can help to recharge and refocus. We have done cheap and had a blast. Theme parks trips are not easy to do cheap. A beach type vacation can be low cost. Look for a suite type room that allows cooking (it can be VERY simple), google the area for free or low cost things to do, take along board games to spend down time together in the room.

We get away pretty often. Sometimes it is budget and sometimes not. HOWEVER we have no debt, enough in savings and pay our bills on time. Our income right now is lower than it is sometimes and we are planing a WDW trip so our next beach get-a way (maybe next month) will be a low cost one and we will still have a blast.

 

[arminnie]

NO! Absolutely not. Been there and not done that.

I don't know why people think you have to be in a hotel to have a vacation. Just not working is a vacation. I think having time off work is very important - but this idea that you must leave your house is bogus.

If you truly can't afford it, you can't afford it. If you can well then do it.

 

[eliza61]

Vacations can be any thing you want. So yes, I would take a day trip or other frugal vacation.

 

[roscoepc1]

I would do it, as long as you aren't spending money needed for something more tangible, like a new roof or something.

 

[lisaross]

i think u can definitly do it. I would not charge the trip, but if u are getting a nice size refund and put 1/2 towards debt or an emergency fund then i would take the other 1/2 and get away someplace for a few days - i would rather go for 2 or 3 days and really enjoy instead of the 4 days and bring sandwiches etc.

Good luck to u!

We are a low income family with little debt and no savings... we havent been on a vacation in 4 years. we have taken day trips to local places but you still come back to the stresses at the end of the day. Hubby and i are thinking of taking some of our tax return $ that is coming and putting some away for savings and some for a low budget 3 or 4 days..we are in jersey so we are thinking maybe herhey or busch gardens. We feel that maybe its time to take a few days with the family to destress and spend more than one day together. Question is, is it irresponsible of us when we are so very tight with cash or do you see it as a positive? please tell us what you all are doing? oh and moving to a cheaper place isnt possible to save $, it would compromise our safety where we are. Thanks.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Something else we do for vacations is the envelope money. We figure what we can afford to spend and take that amount in cash. Pay your room first and what you have left is what you can spend. When it is gone, it is gone. No chance to overspend.

 

[bellebud]

of course everyone needs to de-stress, but just make sure the de-stressing (the cost of the vacation) isn't going to stress you even more afterwards. And it will if you don't have it paid in full before you go.

So start a savings plan for it - try to save $10 off your regular grocery bill every week, put it in your vacation fund. Don't get that cup of coffee out - put that money in your vacation fund. Do you guys smoke, drink beer, wine or soda? Cut that stuff out if you do it - it's very expensive. No extra junk snacks in the shopping cart (no one *needs* snacks, and they're expensive). Eat out of the pantry and fridge every single thing before you go on a regular shopping trip again. Just get the essentials. No magazines or anything. Use the library for dvd's, magazines and books. No eating out.

Look at it like a challenge or a game - cut out everything 'extra' for a specified amount of time - it won't be forever. Do you have cable tv, land line phone and cell phones? Can you get rid of some things like that for a few months and put that money away? Others have suggested yard sales, craigs list, etc... try it if you can.

Can either of you get a very part time job, for a short while? I don't know what kind of area you live in.... house cleaning? dog walking? join a temp agency? again, not forever, but to get some savings going.

My dh and I used to work 3 jobs each for a few years and share a car. We simply had to.

Good luck getting out of debt and getting some savings. Look at planning a vacation as the reward for doing these things.

And keep track on paper every dollar you save - pin it up on the fridge so you see it every day, it will be motivation!

 

[Agri]

To answer your question - yes. But we have extenuating circumstances - our APs are going to expire soon and my mom's brain tumor might be back, so we went as truly our last trip for quite sometime. Possibly forever for her.

Now the rest of this month is going to be very tight and we're going to have to cut some corners to make up for the extra spending. And I'm totally stressing it! But I'm so glad I have those memories with my mom and that she had the time of her life - it was definitely the best trip we've had.

Would I have done it if we didn't have these circumstances? Heck no. I hate stressing over money.

 

[kelly1218]

We've done Busch Gardens pretty cheap. I've gotten decent rooms in Williamburg from Orbitz.... $49-79 a night with free breakfast. The cheaper rooms didn't offer breakfast...and with my family of 4...even a quick meal at McDonald's was about the same as paying the extra few bucks and staying in a nicer place (plus the nicer places had pools)
Early June...or Columbus day weekend in october seems to be cheaper. October has the Halloween stuff too.

There are a few places outside the park to eat cheap. The Golden Corral there is a MUST for my family

I have no idea about the cost of park passes though...we had Passes that included admission.

 

[torinsmom]

If I had waited until I had a great emergency fund and all my debt paid off to go on vacation, I would never have gone on one. I have a little money in savings, but I do have debt, and we go to WDW every year. They are budget trips, but we make lots of memories. I don't think I'll ever look back and regret not having $1000 in the bank, but I do think I would regret it if I put all my extra money in savings and didn't do anything fun with my son while he is still willing to go with mom. Just my opinion though!

 

[bartleby1]

How about a trip to Knoebels in PA? We've never camped, but I know they do have a campground. If you've never heard of it, check out their website. It is an amusement park but is very reasonably priced. They don't charge an admission fee or for parking. You buy tickets for rides but they are pretty reasonably priced. Food prices aren't too bad either, but you can bring food in a cooler and eat at the picnic area.

 

[MrsPiglet]

i say go on vacation...memories will be well worth it...

You deserve the vacation....

We took our first vacation in 2000 to WDW. i was a college student and we budgetted for months. we at macroni and cheese and hot dogs or similar cheap food to be able to go. We had a blast and Jenny has talked about it since. Since we have been on 5 trips to WDW and 1 cruise. of course I finished school and now have a fulltime job. This year since jenny is in college we are pinching pennies, but plan to go to Branson. I pricelined the hotel and got a 2 1/2 star hotel for 40 a night which includes breakfast. I will buy attraction tickets as a get any extra money.

Anyways, I would give nothing for our memories of vacations.

 

[tweedlemom]

Is there any way you could vacation in someone else's home while THEY go on vacation? My brother and his wife didn't have enough money to get a hotel to go on vacation. (They live in Northeren NJ.) However, they asked my parents if they could stay at my parents house while my parents went away on vacation. (My parents live in Central NJ.) So while my parents were away, my brother and his family stayed in my parents home, swam in their pool and took daytrips to the beach, local parks, etc. They bought groceries instead of eating out and enjoyed their family time together, alone, and away from all the hubub at home. Just a thought. Good luck!

 

[Helene]

How about a trip to Knoebels in PA? We've never camped, but I know they do have a campground. If you've never heard of it, check out their website. It is an amusement park but is very reasonably priced. They don't charge an admission fee or for parking. You buy tickets for rides but they are pretty reasonably priced. Food prices aren't too bad either, but you can bring food in a cooler and eat at the picnic area.

I live about a half hour from Knoebels. Very fun and family friendly. Even though we live so close, I am thinking of renting a cabin for a few nights this year as a mini vacation.

Mid-week they offer "pay one price" wristbands. These are great. Since admisssion is free, I can buy these for the kids but pay as I go to the rides DH & I go on.

Here's the link with their pricing information:

http://www.knoebels.com/rates.asp

Happy planning...