Help needed to persuade DH

[wilma-bride]

Right, I'll try and keep this short. I am trying to persuade DH to book to go to WDW next year and take my 2 DDs (will be 12 and 13 - his step-kids).

They do not live with us at the moment but will be coming to live with us next summer and they have had very difficult/traumatic lives so I think they deserve a treat (not to mention the fact that I want to go again).

I have been 'shopping' around and have worked out that the holiday itself would cost us in the region of £3500 (incl. park tickets) but I need help to persuade him that it is a good idea. I think the cost is probably the main issue for him and, to DH, it's not an option to take out a loan or use the credit card as he hates being in debt and wouldn't consider a holiday a worthwhile reason to get in debt.

So, has anyone any suggestions on:

a) How I could reduce the cost (at the moment costs are based on package hols only as flight prices are not available more than 300+ days in advance)
b) Pros that I can add to the list of 'Pros and Cons' (I know, I'm sad)

Thanks in advance

 

[Miffy2003]

Holiday of a lifetime?
Memories they will cherish for the rest of thier lives?

Are you restricted to school holidays? You will find the holiday price can reduce dramatically in term time (I don't want to start a debate about the rigts and wrongs of taking kids out of school, I just thought I would mention it!)

Can you show DH how making savings of X and Y in your household budget (eg cut down on going out / take aways / shopping) could help contribute to the WDW budget? So he would not have to "find" so much money?

I am inclined to agree with him that it's not worth going into debt over a holiday for. Very depressing when you get home, it's all over and you still have to make the monthly payments.

Good luck!!!

 

[Clare D]

Hi
Have you go on line and got a quote from Vigin (for an example) of their Fly Drive price? You can get a quote for these on line now as I have tried it for Nov 06.

I would also say that if you are going to go that you will do this in place of Xmas and b'day pressies and just get the girls a little something.

Also start saving now, if DH can see that you are saving he is more inclined to consider it. My DH is just the same and to be honest I do agree with him as the thought of paying off credit card debt after the holiday buzz has died is depressing This is one of the ways that I talked DH into going again this year and next by saving for it myself. He knows I am rubbish at saving and it has really made me knuckle down and save.

Also do a lot of homework on line comparing prices. If he sees that you have done this and you tell him that you have saved money he may be more willing. If all else fails you could always try the other way (ah em) this is what I do to get my own way from time to time - just don't tell my DH

Good luck

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi
Have you go on line and got a quote from Vigin (for an example) of their Fly Drive price? You can get a quote for these on line now as I have tried it for Nov 06.

I would also say that if you are going to go that you will do this in place of Xmas and b'day pressies and just get the girls a little something.

Also start saving now, if DH can see that you are saving he is more inclined to consider it. My DH is just the same and to be honest I do agree with him as the thought of paying off credit card debt after the holiday buzz has died is depressing This is one of the ways that I talked DH into going again this year and next by saving for it myself. He knows I am rubbish at saving and it has really made me knuckle down and save.

Also do a lot of homework on line comparing prices. If he sees that you have done this and you tell him that you have saved money he may be more willing. If all else fails you could always try the other way (ah em) this is what I do to get my own way from time to time - just don't tell my DH

Good luck

Thanks Clare

Have already told him the girls will be getting little for b-days/Xmas if he agrees - my plan is to give them the actual WDW tickets for Xmas and then perhaps a new outfit for the holiday for their B-Days.

Have compared lots of prices (again, for packages only) and had also considered (although I'm not sure how 'legal' it is) booking a fly-drive just for DH and paying for a car upgrade, then booking plain old flights for me and DDs.

Have also tried the alternative but DH is not that easily convinced (surprising, considering he's a man )

I am already saving quite a bit each month, although at the moment it is going towards the new car that DH wants next year (and, I suspect, that is another part of it - think he can see his shiny new car going down the drain).

Thanks for the tips though. I might start squirrelling away a bit extra each month into a savings account of my own - and then see what he says.

 

[paulh]

the car will allways be there the look on the faces of the kids are worth it honest ask him when he was growing up did he remeber his mum and dad saving up for that nice new car or the hols
Paulh

 

[Miffy2003]

I must admit I keep thinking about a new car but the thought of Florida always wins

Cars depreciate in value, anyway

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Step children moving in can be a difficult thing to deal with, and Im not sure how your 2 daughters feel about your (presumably) new (to them) husband, but I think a well timed holiday to Florida, hopefuly coinciding with the same time they are due to move in, could make things a whole lot easier for everyone concerned during a possibly difficult time. Particularly if you swing it to say that it was his idea and maybe his treat as a welcoming gift, even though it would be your idea.
I know from my own experience, that maybe when I was younger, and I went to live with my dad and step mother (and half brother), maybe it would have worked out better if, instead of awkward conversations where no-body really knew what to say to each other, we had been able to have some fun in the day and spend the evenings talking about what we had done that day, perhaps things might have worked out differently. Instead, Ive not seen any of them for 17 years now, and only just got back in touch with my half brother.

 

[wilma-bride]

Tron, thank you for your insight. You are right, it is going to be a strain. The girls have not had a father figure for almost 7 years so I think it will be a shock to them to have someone else 'bossing them around'

Sorry things didn't work out too well for you with your step-family.

I am going to 'work on' DH when he gets home this weekend.