Do you vacation when you have bills?

[gracie1]

Wow. That is all I can say about this thread

 

[MrsPete]

Update post #15

We want to go back to Disney in 2011, we have credit card bills and medical bills. We've vacationed before when we have bills but this time I'm having a hard time justifying the trip because I feel bad for DH being the only one working and how hard it must be to see bills come in and not being paid off. He does a good job at paying them down and I help out by watching the shopping. We always use our income tax refund to pay for Disney but that money could be used to pay down the bills. The reason we might take the trip is the kids will be little only once, we're all healthy right now so why not take the trip and enjoy it while you can?

Spending money that you don't have because the kids are "little only once" is a rationalization. How many other "onlies" will they have? They'll only start school once. Only turn 10 once. Only have a first date once. Only get a driver's license once. Only graduate once. Only have one last summer before college. You can't use those things as excuses.

Make memories now within the budget you should spend. If that budget allows you to BOTH pay what you should AND go to Disney, great. If not, pay the bills and choose a less expensive vacation.

Isn't credit card debit & living within your means sort of an oxymoron. I mean if people lived with in their means why would they need to accumulate consumer debt?

So obvious . . . but I never really thought of phrasing it that way.

I totally agree.My mother saved everything all her life so she could enjoy retirement.Well as soon as she retired she was diagnosed with a very agressive form of Parkinson's that affected her mentally.Before she got totally incapacitated she said she wished she would have travelled more even if that meant going into debt.All her money went to pay many years of nursing care.

That's a tragedy, but we all know that just as many people -- probably more -- end up running out of money, yet too old or infirm to work. Which situation is worse? I really don't know.

I say go, and be cautious with spending. Before you know it, you will have two cranky, contrary teenagers on your hands, and you will fondly remember the good times.

Just my humble opinion

Or two easy-going, flexible, loving teens with whom you can still have good times. That's what I have.

 

[abmitch01]

I couldn't go if I had debt beside my mortgage and car payment. I'd do a staycation or day trips instead.