How much does that cost?

[Surfinpiratee]

Do you ever get asked how much something costs or how you afford trips? How do you respond without being rude?

I'd just tell them how much, and tell them I just save up for it! I don't think its rude

 

[NotUrsula]

You can usually tell the folks who are sincerely curious from the ones who are trying to either A) imply you are a spendthrift, or B) snoop into your finances.

When someone is curious I'll let them know that it varies by your travel style and tastes, and if they would like me to send them some tips I'd be happy to, I also make it a point that they need to be aware that getting maximum value for your travel dollar means spending a lot of time and effort on due diligence up-front. If you are not willing to put that effort in, it will be more expensive.

As for the other folks, I tend to match snark with snark. I always like to ask how they afford the vehicle they are driving, or the house they are living in, or their NASCAR habit.

FWIW, I find that people tend to fall into one of two categories when it comes to discretionary spending: there are those of us who value STUFF, and those of us who value EXPERIENCES.
(There are also those who value mind-altering substances, but that's kind of a separate subcategory, ) I find that the people who tend to snark about what I spend on travel (not just theme park travel) are people who tend to drive expensive cars, live in large homes, re-do their kitchens every 5 years, carry iPhones, and wear only name-brand apparel -- in other words, people who value STUFF. From that POV, spending a large sum of money on travel is a total waste, because when the trip is over, what you paid for is gone.

BTW, for the PP who mentioned horses: the answer is, a not inconsiderable amount of money, especially if you don't live on a plot of land large enough to accommodate them. Even if you get the horse itself for free (which is fairly common in horsey circles, due to the practice of trading foals for boarding), there is the cost of feeding them, and the frequent bills from the vet and the farrier, not to mention the cost of things like tack, utilities and maintenance for the barn.. Keeping them at home in a rural area normally costs a bit over $100/mo per animal for routine feeding and care. The expense easily doubles if you have to board the animal at a facility any distance from your home., or if you show the horse. Of course, as with travel, there are ways to reduce the cost, such as learning to do your own routine hoof-trims.

 

[disney1990]

It's funny cause I never get the "we must be rich" line. most of our friends are pretty similar to us so they take vacations annually with their kids.

More often I get the "you're going to disney AGAIN?" statement.

which always tickles me because they will go on a cruise every year and where I live people flock to the Jersey shore like salmon returning to spawn every summer and think nothing of it.

I get the money question from my own sister, who doesn't go on vacation because she doesn't know how to save. From other friends, I get the "you're going to Disney again" question. Yes, many people here in Maryland go to Ocean City for vacation every single year. Actually going to OC is what started us going to Florida. I couldn't believe how much it cost to stay a week in OC and if something came up and you couldn't go, the rooms are always non-refundable. I don't know about the Jersey shore, but the beach doesn't seem to change much year to year - IMHO.

 

[englishteacha]

I have a coworker who said, "We'll never go to Disney. It's too expensive. I don't know how you can afford it." But she has a seasonal campsite with camper on a lake, a jet ski, and spends 3 or 4 weekends a year in nice hotels in Boston and going to sporting events. She also has 3 new cars and a house about 4 times the size of ours. She chooses to spend her money on different things than we do. My response to her comment was, "We save to travel. It's important to us."

 

[calypso726]

I answer honestly. Since we live in Florida, going to Disney World all the time isn't too out of the ordinary and everyone mostly know what it costs. People will say "I'm sure you have annual passes but where do you stay?" I tell them we own DVC and leave it at that.

I do get the question mostly though when it comes to the Disney cruises and the Adventures by Disney trips. I answer honestly there too and have been asked outright how we afford it. I explain that we budget for it. I groom and board a few dogs in addition to my regular job and that goes to the vacation fund. I also explain that we don't pay for airfare or hotels since we've made earning airline miles and hotels points into a hobby fondly known as travel hacking

 

[tcherjen]

I always get, we could go here cheaper...(From other people) So go!

 

[tennisfan]

Do you ever get asked how much something costs or how you afford trips? How do you respond without being rude?

I got asked by a cousin of mine how could I afford a trip to NYC, which annoyed me so I replied that I worked hard and saved for it he soon shut up. It's no ones business to what we spend our money on

 

[loveshak22]

I agree with other posters - it depends who is asking, why and how.

If my parents, close friend, or brothers ask how much something costs then they typically are genuinely interested in how much it costs because either they want to go or just are interested. Earlier in our marriage my one brother and parents would caution us to be careful with our money and not get into too much debt but they didn't say it like jerks. I think they really were just being protective and I never got offended.

If somebody were asking like "How much did that cost? I don't know how people afford that..." in a sarcastic manner then I'd be annoyed. I'd probably just say that people spend their money on different priorities depending on how they save. And point out that we are good savers.

If a co-worker or someone I really don't know asks but seems genuinely interested I'd probably start with "Have you been or are you thinking of going to X?" and if they say yes then I'd say the cost really depends on a variety of factors -where you stay, types of tickets, when you go, etc.

My DH and I travel quite a bit. But we don't have kids and we both work full-time and are blessed with decent salaries. We are decent at saving money although we just bought a new house and things have been tight so we need to kick into super-saver mode here soon!

The only time I think I got annoyed by something like this was when my MIL once made a comment when we went on one of our trips about needing to save money and not be so wasteful with our money. But again her comment was based on her perception of spending too much money. We rarely spend money on clothes, decorations for the house, shoes, extra food outside our grocery list, etc. She spends $10 or $20 here and there all the time on needless items (tons of stuff for the house, crafts, bulk food that stays in the freezer because she's only one person, etc.) and she thinks "Oh I only spent $20 on these shoes that cost $40 so it's a good deal." That may be true but spending $20 here and there constantly adds up to $100's of dollars quickly. Like others have said, we all have our priorities when spending our money.

 

[bethy]

Personally I feel it is rude to point out where other people spend their money - money that could theoretically be used on a Disney vacation. Just as my finances are no one's business, neither are their choices my business.

As to folks wondering how much a trip costs in general, that's what the internet is for. They can easily spend a half hour on the internet and get a general idea.

If someone were to genuinely tell me that they are trying to find a way to go and are looking for tips on how to make their trip more economical then I would be happy to give them a few ideas to start with.

All that said, there a lot of people in this world who have no problems affording both smartphones and also a nice Disney vacation. Without going into debt and without putting themselves in financial peril.

 

[texasroni75]

Like previous posters mentioned, it really does depend on context. I will gladly tell them how much my WDW vacation cost, if I believe they are asking because they probably are thinking they want to plan a trip there too. I am proud of how well I can budget a trip there, and want to share my knowledge. So, a good example typically begins "oh, I want to go to Disney too!, how much does it cost?". But, if I get the feeling they just want a number so they can turn it into an attempt to shame me about how much I'm spending on a vacation or that Disney is overpriced, and THEY went to (name a place) for HALF that (never mind that their family is half the size of mine!), etc., and did I charge the trip to my credit card (nope! but none of their business!), blah blah blah - I change the subject.

Most times you can sense where the conversation is going ahead of time and just redirect it. I have certain family members that I refuse to talk about money with in any way shape or form because I know they will get up on their soapbox.

 

[Stefecatzz]

Personally I feel it is rude to point out where other people spend their money - money that could theoretically be used on a Disney vacation. Just as my finances are no one's business, neither are their choices my business.

As to folks wondering how much a trip costs in general, that's what the internet is for. They can easily spend a half hour on the internet and get a general idea.

If someone were to genuinely tell me that they are trying to find a way to go and are looking for tips on how to make their trip more economical then I would be happy to give them a few ideas to start with.

All that said, there a lot of people in this world who have no problems affording both smartphones and also a nice Disney vacation. Without going into debt and without putting themselves in financial peril.

I'm w/you there! I get questions & judgments from people at work sometimes who wonder how I can afford to go. If you really want something, no matter what it is, you will make some sacrifices to get it, whether it involves money or not. That's all there is to it, really. It's a bunch of lifestyle choices you make to get what you need & want. When people ask rudely, they are most likely speaking out of jealousy. If it's not a vacation, they will find some other reason to be jealous so I don't worry much about them.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

If it is someone I don't know well and they ask how much did something cost, I ask 'why do you want to know?' There is generally no response to that question.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I answer with a rounded off response when it's regarding my Disney vacation. $3000 or $3500. IMO most people ask because they are generally curious because they want to go. They think it's a very expensive which it can be but it doesn't have to be.

My aunt called me a few weeks ago because she priced out a vacation on the WDW website and it gave her almost $9000. She was yelling (in a joking manner) "how do you afford this." lol I talked her down and told her how I afford it for WAY cheaper. I'm working with her now to take her kids.

If someone asked me snobby I would still tell them how much. I really don't get offended by much. If they asked me how I afford it I would tell them the truth and go from there. I have a savings account at work I put some money in. I pay monthly. Or whatever it may be.

I don't tell people to get rid of their iphones or internet or cable. Heck me, my SO and DS all have iphones. I have a high cable package compared to people on this board. My DS has a PS4. My DD has an ipad. Do I have a huge fancy house? Nope. Do I have a luxury car? No. I love my Accord. Could I get rid of all that and go more often? Sure but I don't want to. I love my iphone. I like my premium channels. We also like to go on other trips.

I have a friend who goes on vacation often. I ask her how much. Everyone does. Because everyone knows she is the master of the vacation deals! Thankfully she doesn't get offended and loves sharing her tips. She even coordinates group trips for us with the deals she has found.

 

[mefordis]

Easy tell them the cost. As for the question of how you afford trips? Say we work that's how we afford them. I don't think it sounds rude to answer honestly.

Ditto. I don't understand the problem. I have no hangups about money. It's just money. Plus there is no way of anyone knowing my net worth by my telling them how much I paid for something.