How do y'all afford it?

[Carrie772]

<<Please think about what you just said.>>

What on Earth are you talking about? So, I have credit card debt, so what? We used our tax return to pay my daughter's private school tuiton, a loan, and are going on vacation. I REALLY don't think I need to be checking in with a complete stranger about my credit card debt.

My daughter is 5 and will only believe Cinderella is truly Cinderella for a little while yet. We want to take her on vacation and enjoy it. I don't feel bad about going on vacation since we did pay off one loan.

Anne, I suggest you keep your comments to yourself. I am not the only person in this world that has credit card debt. I am an adult and don't need your childish comments.

Yikes!

 

[Ragetti]

"It's an actual scientific fact that money doesn't make people happy, once you get past the $30,000-a-year mark. "

This isn't quite scientific. It is the result of a study that most capitalists will deride as rather socialist. I agree that money, alone, can't buy happiness, but it doesn't hurt. The luxury of being financially secure and having the ability to live life however you see fit surely can give the feeling of euphoria. I certainly do not mean to attack the person that posted this as the belief is a very personally matter. We have to balance finance and home life, the ability to say "screw it" sure can make life a little easier.

Maybe money can;t make you happy. But it can be the difference between a decent sized house (in some areas) a car that doesn;t break down every day, and being able to travel a bit.

I've been poor and I've been "upper-middle-class." I know which one I prefer to be!

Having said that, I know folks who make a LOT less than I do, and they manage a very nice lifestlye by prioritizing, planning, and committing to a goal.

 

[Ragetti]

"It's an actual scientific fact that money doesn't make people happy, once you get past the $30,000-a-year mark. "

Please think about what you just said.

Anne

Well, that kind of debt to income ratio is not *good* but it's a reality for a lot of people. I was in that position just a few short years ago. Now for me personally, the money you pay maintaining that kind of debt is outrageous, but it's a matter of priority. If I had to go into debt to take my daughter to WDW at her current age, I would. She will never turn 5 again, and she'll never have the chance to do it while eating at Cindy's. That would be worth a bit of debt to me.

So, while I agree, that holding that kind of debt isn't the best idea, I think we should ralize that not everyone has other options.

 

[ducklite]

<<Please think about what you just said.>>
Anne, I suggest you keep your comments to yourself. I am not the only person in this world that has credit card debt. I am an adult and don't need your childish comments.

All I asked you to do was think about what you had just said. You were the one posting your personal information on a public board. That in itself opens you up to commentary, whether you like it or not.

Anne

 

[leighe]

We have a special savings account set up just for vacations and we contribute to it every month after paying bills, 401K, college funds, etc., but before we go out and buy something new for the house or new clothes or something like that. When we want to take a trip we see how much is in that account and pretty much clean it out except for $300-500 or so - just to give us a head-start for the next trip.

 

[hsmamato2]

kandeebunny, your furbaby Tink is cute! i also have a little furbaby Tink(chi mix) who's a real brat....
I think I'm inspired to get my savings plan in place for my next vacation to WDW.... thanks you guys! We too are in the middle range of income(don't think it's more than OP's) but we go yearly doing basically the same stuff most here are doing....
We have no debt except the mortgage,so that's a big help- otherwise Dh would never agree to go..... our car is 13 years old, but Dh loves tinkering with it and keeping it going, it's a hobby

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

All I asked you to do was think about what you had just said. You were the one posting your personal information on a public board. That in itself opens you up to commentary, whether you like it or not.

Anne

Anne, I didn't see you asking others to "think about what they just said". I'm sure I am not the only one who has credit card debt. I refuse to pass up the opportunity to take my daugther on a vacation when she BELIEVES, believes that there truly is MAGIC in this world, believes that others really are good at heart, when in reality they show up on message boards and ridicule others to make themselves feel better.

We are getting an AWESOME deal at 50% off the Poly, free admission...to me, that's worth it.

Just because I "put my personal info on the board" doesn't give you the right to bring other people down. There is nothing wrong with my situation. I can pay my 260K mortgage monthly payment, my car payment, my credit card payments, am a stay at home mom AND still afford to take my children on vacation. I don't see that as "something I need to think about". I see those as blessings.

Anne, I pray that when your life isn't always going as "planned" that strangers have compassion for you and don't "kick you while you're down" the way you have done me.

 

[ducklite]

Anne, I pray that when your life isn't always going as "planned" that strangers have compassion for you and don't "kick you while you're down" the way you have done me.

I won't ever have to worry about being "financially down" as I have more money in the bank than debt, including my mortgage, and it will always be that way because we live below our means.

FWIW, I didn't "kick you while you're down." I just asked you to think about what you had said. You are the one calling names as being ugly.

Anne

 

[mom2my3kids]

A big chunk of our tax refund, plus we plan a year out. This give us plenty of time to pay off our package with dining etc.

 

[MEM]

DH and I both work and live well below our means. Since we both work hard, a couple of vacations per year are important to us. No credit card debt and no car payments help a lot.

We save, save, save and use some of those savings for our vacations.

NMAmy - I just have to say, the photo of Sunny and Santa just cracks me up - how dear!!

Getting back on topic, we have a single income household - I am the worker bee and DH is the SAHD who is now looking for paid employment. I don't care about "things" - I care about "experiences"

I bought my LR sofa from a neighbor for $10 but you would never guess it.
My dining room chairs are solid-wood freebies from the library at the University where I work. I consider saving money to be a game and I am constantly challenging myself to do even better. I cut DH, DS12 and DD10 hair myself and DH trims mine. I bring my lunch to work and take advantage of the coffee and tea (and cocoa) provided by my company.

Every month $300 of my paycheck goes to an account in a distant credit union. I cannot access it on-line and can only withdraw money in person.
I have learned the fine art of Ding! fares from Southwest and last summer snagged fares of $49 each way from Providence, RI to MCO. Parking is cheap at TF Green and it was cheaper than the airport van to Logan.

We belong to AAA and in the absence of codes or free dining, we book our on-site room through them. I have also rented DVC points in the past for the Sunday-Thursday part of our stay. We are a family of four and will share 3, sometimes 2, counter service meals. We were spoiled by free dining in August 2006, but having done that, I don't need to do it again.

I wish I could earmark our tax refund for travel but DH rolls it over into our real estate tax account

 

[perd]

I won't ever have to worry about being "financially down" as I have more money in the bank than debt, including my mortgage, and it will always be that way because we live below our means.

Anne

My goal is to be like you! I want to get all this crap that is sucking up all of our disposable income paid off so our money is OURS! I figure we made choices that got us where we are now, and now we're making choices that are taking us the other way! But congrats to you for being there already!

 

[mom2my3kids]

<<Please think about what you just said.>>

What on Earth are you talking about? So, I have credit card debt, so what? We used our tax return to pay my daughter's private school tuiton, a loan, and are going on vacation. I REALLY don't think I need to be checking in with a complete stranger about my credit card debt.

My daughter is 5 and will only believe Cinderella is truly Cinderella for a little while yet. We want to take her on vacation and enjoy it. I don't feel bad about going on vacation since we did pay off one loan.

Anne, I suggest you keep your comments to yourself. I am not the only person in this world that has credit card debt. I am an adult and don't need your childish comments.

Don't worry about what people online say, do what you think is right for you family. If that means treating yourself to a disney vacation so be it, I am sure you work hard for your money and a little time off is needed.

 

[beanjean]

We are going by a savings account we set up just for this trip and also our income tax refund.

 

[heatherlynn444]

i understand everyone needs a vacation....but if I was extremly far into debt I just don't think i could justify it. or if anything, I would stay at a value resort if I just HAD to go....

 

[SuperTink]

My husband and I make a fair income combined, but I went back to graduate school and just started working and have graduate school loans (and other debt) to pay. We also have two kids who are in middle school next year and will be going to college in 8 years.

It's true that we could be spending the thousands of dollars on Disney vacation to pay down the debt or save for college, but when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, we realized that life is short and none of us is guaranteed to be here tomorrow. We are trying to enjoy each other and balance our hopes for the future with the time we have today.

We don't go to Disney every year (and I'm not going this year without a major discount ), but we take some vacation every year, sometimes twice a year.

It works for us.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Anne, I didn't see you asking others to "think about what they just said". I'm sure I am not the only one who has credit card debt.

In defense of Anne (not that she needs it shes quite capable of defending herself) no you are not the only one with credit card debt. But you are the only one on this thread that has admitted to having HALF of your annual salary tied up in debt. I really dont care what you do with your life or your money, but i will say that that is a really scary figure to think about if (fate forbid) something happened to decrease your annual earnings. I think thats all Anne was trying to say.

As for us, we use part of out tax return and we live significant below our means, and not out of chepness or deprivation.We just dont need most of the trappings that many people find a requirement. We do not have cable, or cell phones, we hold no credit cards or loans(which i know some say is just as risky) and our house is paid for. We have ONE car, and use coupons and save whenever its possible without going without. We just went to Disney in October for under 4000.00 everything incl. for 9 days and we will be there again in December for 7 days for less than 4000.00

I do not work and we make 28,000.00 per year, and are a family of 4. I also live in ONE of the most expensive states in the US - NJ. We have money in the bank, and several investments in case anything should happen.

It can be done, its all in the priorties.We were luckier than most in that we got our house for very little from a relative and we paid it off in 5 years.But it can stillb e done especially if you have a higher annual earnings.

 

[emerymt]

Maybe money can;t make you happy. But it can be the difference between a decent sized house (in some areas) a car that doesn;t break down every day, and being able to travel a bit.

I've been poor and I've been "upper-middle-class." I know which one I prefer to be!

Having said that, I know folks who make a LOT less than I do, and they manage a very nice lifestlye by prioritizing, planning, and committing to a goal.

I agree, we'd all prefer to have more money rather than less. However, fulfilling a preference doesn't always increase the happiness quotient, whatever that is. I don't think happiness is easily correlated or defined. There are plenty of psychologists and psychiatrists working in Beverly Hills and Palm Beach. I can honestly say I am no more happier than when we made a lot less. I am happier because we have three kids. We have more fun, take more vacations, etc., but I don't think that long-term we're happier because of it. We have fun at the time- but even then there are times when I think said vacation was not worth it in terms of stress levels.

Money creates its own problems- particularly if it's poured into objects because then people worry about the objects. I see this all the time. Money also multiplies one's choices, which is great to an extent, but I for one am easily overwhelmed by too many options. My mom always used to say "I just want a shanty down by the river," (which in retrospect was what we had at the time ). Now I completely understand what she meant. My house is too big- I've got too much stuff- what if someone dents my new car etc. etc. etc.... and I'm not the only one.

I mean, Real Simple isn't a popular magazine for nothing.

The best thing is to have money and not care if you have it or not. I'm just about there. My husband has always been there, thank goodness. However, except for one year, I have always been the primary breadwinner so I just guess it's been my cross to bear- and it's time to put it down.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Just out of total curiousity, and Im probably getting a little too personal, but...

How do you guys afford these vacations? I went online and checked for rates to WDW for 10 days at POP and it was quoted at $1,800 before airfare. This doesnt factor in meals, spending money, etc. DH and I dont make much yearly (about $60,000 a year) and we cant even imagine spending that kind of money on a vacation, unless we come into some major money!

Anyone have any ideas?

I have them take more taxes out of my paycheck which I really don't miss, and then come Feb of each year I have a nice vacation savings already for me to use.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Spend it you cann't take it with you.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SAVING. I MEAN DONT GO INTO DEBT TRYING TO GO TO DISNEY BUT YOU HAVE TO USE THE TIME AND MONEY WITH YOUR FAMILY WHILE YO CAN BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS UP.

 

[emerymt]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SAVING. I MEAN DONT GO INTO DEBT TRYING TO GO TO DISNEY BUT YOU HAVE TO USE THE TIME AND MONEY WITH YOUR FAMILY WHILE YO CAN BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS UP.

I second that. (Third it?).