Have I Lost My Mind??

[EpcotLove]

Okay, so.... without going into too much detail... I am thinking about selling my car to pay for my next Disney trip. Why? Because my parents, younger brother, & nephew, have not had a chance to go to Disney in forever. It's seriously one of the only places that cheers my father up- since he has been through so much in the past 4 years.

I want to make this christmas suprise for them the best- the only way I can afford a nice trip for them (a 6 day stay at Pop with dining plans) is to sell my car. I really don't need my car anymore, I could drive something less nice that would just get me place to place.

So my question is..... is this insane? A good idea? What do you think?

 

[Jill in Chicago]

So are you selling your car and then planning on buying a less expensive car? If so I see no problem with that whatsoever, but keep in mind that an older car can often be just as expensive, on a yearly basis, because everything keeps falling apart and needing repairs.

Or are you talking about getting rid of your car and having no car at all? Depending on where you live this can also work, but you need to think it through. Will there be times when you have to have a car, and if so do you plan to rent a car for those times? If you do, you will have to budget for car rental.

Could you possibly start a part time job to gain some extra money? Is there any way others who will be going along could chip in some portion of the money?

I think it is sweet that you want to surprise everyone with such a huge gift. Please be sure though, that you have very realistic expectations about this size of a gift. In the past have these same people truly appreciated the gifts you have given to them? Or have they been unappreciative? Have you traveled as a group before? Did you all get along well when traveling?

I only ask because I have read so many trip reports, where families had very high expectations for family members to "get the magic," and the family members remained the same pushy, non negotiating, sleeping in, crabby, demanding folks they were before they left. This is in no way saying your family is any of the above!

If after thinking all this through, it works for you go for it!

 

[mrincredible2008]

Okay, so.... without going into too much detail... I am thinking about selling my car to pay for my next Disney trip. Why? Because my parents, younger brother, & nephew, have not had a chance to go to Disney in forever. It's seriously one of the only places that cheers my father up- since he has been through so much in the past 4 years.

I want to make this christmas suprise for them the best- the only way I can afford a nice trip for them (a 6 day stay at Pop with dining plans) is to sell my car. I really don't need my car anymore, I could drive something less nice that would just get me place to place.

So my question is..... is this insane? A good idea? What do you think?

dave ramsey writes books that address issues such as this. saw them for sell at walmart.

 

[EpcotLove]

So are you selling your car and then planning on buying a less expensive car? If so I see no problem with that whatsoever, but keep in mind that an older car can often be just as expensive, on a yearly basis, because everything keeps falling apart and needing repairs.

Or are you talking about getting rid of your car and having no car at all? Depending on where you live this can also work, but you need to think it through. Will there be times when you have to have a car, and if so do you plan to rent a car for those times? If you do, you will have to budget for car rental.

Could you possibly start a part time job to gain some extra money? Is there any way others who will be going along could chip in some portion of the money?

I think it is sweet that you want to surprise everyone with such a huge gift. Please be sure though, that you have very realistic expectations about this size of a gift. In the past have these same people truly appreciated the gifts you have given to them? Or have they been unappreciative? Have you traveled as a group before? Did you all get along well when traveling?

I only ask because I have read so many trip reports, where families had very high expectations for family members to "get the magic," and the family members remained the same pushy, non negotiating, sleeping in, crabby, demanding folks they were before they left. This is in no way saying your family is any of the above!

If after thinking all this through, it works for you go for it!

I would be selling my car and buying a very inexpensive car. I don't have to drive very far where I live, and my Dfi already has 2 vehicles. So, it seems like it would be okay.

My family really "gets" the Disney magic.. that's why I want this for them. They need it.

Thanks for your words of wisdom!