How much $ for vacations?

[iwrbnd]

There is no answer to this question. Everyone values different things differently. We spend a LOT on vacations both in real dollars and as a percentage of income. However, that is what we value most...travel. Now, other people value other things more. We don't have any electronics (wii, Xbox, etc.), expensive cars, private school or a boat or a cabin (VERY common in Minnesota). Those are not things we value. Others spend a lot of money on electronics or entertainment or clothes or whatever. Everyone values things differently.

I agree! Many times I'll have someone say "We could never afford Disney" but then they dress nicer than me, drive nicer cars, have nicer furniture/homes and eat out more than me. I'm not jealous, I'm just saying that if I bought all those things we couldn't afford Disney either. Give me memories over stuff anyday! Stuff just ends up in a garage sale or a storage shed!

 

[mrsklamc]

You post leaves me with questions of my own. It sounds like your DH agreed to vacations before you got married and now doesn't want to? I'm not saying people can't change their minds but if he knew it was important to you before you got married, I think he should make allowances for it. DH isn't crazy about travel either but we make compromises.

I also don't get the comment about you can't "hold it over his head" because you use it too.Are you not planning on taking him with you on your trips?(doesn't sound like it.) Was it really torture for him to see your girls enjoy Disney?

Anyway, as to what we spend...We've not spent over $1500 on a single trip to any destination, but we split a house at Windsor Hills with my sister for the Disney week which took a huge amount off our lodging costs. Plus, no kids yet makes the price lower.

Depends on where you are going and for how long as well. Hawaii is going to cost us much more, when we go someday, and we did our Disney cruise for less than $1500 as well but it was only a 4 day.

 

[KKB]

I would much rather take more vacations, rather than fewer "with all the stops"
DH & I get away for a LONG weekend at least twice a year, and actually due to grad classes out of town, we get an overnight monthly.
We used to say a week (well, 9 days w/ weekends...) as a couple one year, and and one week as a family one year...cruise, Disney, whatever. But as DS14 gets older there is so much I want to do before he graduates...we may be on annual family trips, and shorter dates for us.
Annual budget? I am sure we spend at least $10k/YR, i suppose. I guess we could do one "all out" trip /year...but frankly I LIVE for those trips...obsess, actually. It is what gets me thru the day to day...

 

[deerhart]

We are going more deluxe this year. Probably not something we will probably do every year, but we want convenience and are willing to fork over the dough for it.

I can spend each and every day working to do things within a tight budget on everything, or I can pick and choose which things I want to "splurge" on and which I want to scrimp. Sometimes it changes year to year, month to month, or even day to day.

I have scrimped on vacations previously and I really didn't like it. I would rather save more on clothes (buying clearance or getting great deals on the more expensive clothes I like) groceries, etc... then on my vacation. Even more so with the more stressful type job I have.

I have just learned over the years that there are just not some things I will go on the budget/cheap/limited side. For example, I had to stop buying my youngest the cheaper payless/walmart tennis shoes and start buying the more expensive named brand shoes. He was going through a pair every 6-8 weeks (destroyed, toes of the shoes just ripped out), where the name brand would last 6+ months. SO I could spend $10 every 6 weeks or $30 every 6-8sometimes 12 months (since his feet aren't growing as quickly anymore)

BTW it will cost us between $750-$1300 to fly my family of 4 to Orlando. That doesn't leave much of a $2k budget to use at Disney. Further driving doen isn't an option (neither DH nor I could do it, we fall asleep on long drives *sigh* nor would we have the time to add 2 driving days on each side of our vacation)

 

[2 lil'princesses]

Thank you again for all the responses.
DisDreamin', thanks for the good idea on a percentage of the net income. I think that would be a fair way of looking at it and maybe keep the difference of values placed on vacations in check a little.

 

[2 lil'princesses]

You post leaves me with questions of my own. It sounds like your DH agreed to vacations before you got married and now doesn't want to? I'm not saying people can't change their minds but if he knew it was important to you before you got married, I think he should make allowances for it. DH isn't crazy about travel either but we make compromises.

I also don't get the comment about you can't "hold it over his head" because you use it too.Are you not planning on taking him with you on your trips?(doesn't sound like it.) Was it really torture for him to see your girls enjoy Disney?

Anyway, as to what we spend...We've not spent over $1500 on a single trip to any destination, but we split a house at Windsor Hills with my sister for the Disney week which took a huge amount off our lodging costs. Plus, no kids yet makes the price lower.

Depends on where you are going and for how long as well. Hawaii is going to cost us much more, when we go someday, and we did our Disney cruise for less than $1500 as well but it was only a 4 day.[/QUOTE

No, I guess there was no formal agreement, especially one with an amount attached to it. We have just put off travel trying to get everything else in order (wedding, kids, house, etc) so after only a few small trips and two bigs ones, I guess he has gotten used to not spending a lot on vacations.
As far as not taking him, I have actually gone to Gatlinburg without him (took my mom, dad, brother, and my kids) because he had no interest. He said Disney was okay, but he was in no hurry to return. What is funny is that after I started planning my next trip my 2011 without him (taking my mom as a gift for watching my kids for many years), he has already asked to come with us so I guess he did enjoy it. The problem I have is that he wants to do everything as cheap as possible and I feel like I scrimp and save all the time, he gets most of what he wants, and vacations have be so cheap because he doesn't value them as much. I was just posting to try and figure out a "reasonable" amount that should be spent based on what we save each month.
Thanks for the post.

 

[eliza61]

I'm lucky in that my husband loves to travel. He's not a big wdw fan so I tend to do that vacation with just me and the kids.

Generally, we spend ~5,000 on a 8 day vacation that involves airfare. LOL. That would be for 4 adults since my kids are teens now and considered adults.

Basically we discuss where we want to go and then figure out if we can comfortable afford it. There have been years when the beach was as good as it gets.

 

[jowler]

between 3 and 10k depending on where you go and what it means to you. If you can put 1.5k a month in savings....Personally I value travelling more than materialistic things...

 

[JoiseyMom]

You post leaves me with questions of my own. It sounds like your DH agreed to vacations before you got married and now doesn't want to? I'm not saying people can't change their minds but if he knew it was important to you before you got married, I think he should make allowances for it. DH isn't crazy about travel either but we make compromises.

I also don't get the comment about you can't "hold it over his head" because you use it too.Are you not planning on taking him with you on your trips?(doesn't sound like it.) Was it really torture for him to see your girls enjoy Disney?

Anyway, as to what we spend...We've not spent over $1500 on a single trip to any destination, but we split a house at Windsor Hills with my sister for the Disney week which took a huge amount off our lodging costs. Plus, no kids yet makes the price lower.

Depends on where you are going and for how long as well. Hawaii is going to cost us much more, when we go someday, and we did our Disney cruise for less than $1500 as well but it was only a 4 day.[/QUOTE

No, I guess there was no formal agreement, especially one with an amount attached to it. We have just put off travel trying to get everything else in order (wedding, kids, house, etc) so after only a few small trips and two bigs ones, I guess he has gotten used to not spending a lot on vacations.
As far as not taking him, I have actually gone to Gatlinburg without him (took my mom, dad, brother, and my kids) because he had no interest. He said Disney was okay, but he was in no hurry to return. What is funny is that after I started planning my next trip my 2011 without him (taking my mom as a gift for watching my kids for many years), he has already asked to come with us so I guess he did enjoy it. The problem I have is that he wants to do everything as cheap as possible and I feel like I scrimp and save all the time, he gets most of what he wants, and vacations have be so cheap because he doesn't value them as much. I was just posting to try and figure out a "reasonable" amount that should be spent based on what we save each month.
Thanks for the post.

Reasonable is hard to define. As you have seen by the posts. I have spent as little as 3k on a vacation (10 days to WDW plus airfare) to as much as 10k for 15 nite cruise plus some days in CA (this was a Trip of a Lifetime though). I am lucky as my DH is ok with the vacations I plan and has enjoyed them.

You have bigger issues. It seems like money isn't a problem, your DH just doesn't like to spend it, but gets what he wants?? Well you need to plan the vacations you want. With deals you can get AKL for a decent price. It is one of our favorite resorts. You can looking into renting dvc points to for a less expensive trip there. Just plan your trips the way you want. But you and your DH have to agree to disagree. If at some point your income isn't equal is he going to control what you spend and how you spend it?? This raises flags for me.

Just plan pay for it and enjoy!! Buy him a new pool float before you leave!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

A % is the best way to plan. I think it changes as you are further along in your career too.

When DH and I were first married we also spent many vacations at Table Rock (Branson) in a tent camping. Through the years we have moved up the lodging scale until a few years ago we bought a lake house. At this time in our lives it is not unusual for us to do 2 "large" vacations (cruise or Disney or both) plus every bit of lake time we can possibly manage in a year. But we are well established and at a good time in our lives to do those things. I guess I am saying you can't really tell by the $$ number unless you know the rest of the financial picture.

I would try to talk with your DH and explain what you want and need in terms of vacation and then budget for it together. I have said this many times both here and in real life. You only get 18 summers with your kids and it goes really quickly. Use the time with purpose.

 

[delmar411]

There is no answer to this question. Everyone values different things differently. We spend a LOT on vacations both in real dollars and as a percentage of income. However, that is what we value most...travel. Now, other people value other things more. We don't have any electronics (wii, Xbox, etc.), expensive cars, private school or a boat or a cabin (VERY common in Minnesota). Those are not things we value. Others spend a lot of money on electronics or entertainment or clothes or whatever. Everyone values things differently.

I agree with this. The dollar amounts don't matter because everyone has a different financial picture but what you value most does matter.

And OP, I didn't quote you but I read where you said your DH gets all he wants while you scrimp and save to make that happen. It really makes me sad to see that. I scrimp and save for our family but I get happiness in doing so because it leaves us with the extras for everyone to enjoy. Not just one person.

I hope you are able to come to some sort of agreement with your DH on this. You shouldn't just hang up your wants just because he's content w/ staying in the house to relax.

 

[JoyG]

We feel comfortable spending 3% or less of our annual salary on our vacations. And we make that money really stretch. I'm a uber budget traveler. Last summer my family of five flew cross country and had a fabulous week in California for less than $2000.

 

[Pigeon]

I'd been married for almost 25 years before we took a real vacation--a week at Disney. We did it again two years later. Other than that, we really don't do much besides relaxing around the house and doing home DIY projects.

Our Disney trips cost over $5,000 because we must go during the school vacation weeks (dh is a teacher) when everything is sky high.

 

[2 lil'princesses]

I'd been married for almost 25 years before we took a real vacation--a week at Disney. We did it again two years later. Other than that, we really don't do much besides relaxing around the house and doing home DIY projects.

Our Disney trips cost over $5,000 because we must go during the school vacation weeks (dh is a teacher) when everything is sky high.

Wow~And I thought 7 years for me was a huge stretch. And as far as the school vacation weeks go, I totally understand. I'm a teacher, too What is really hard for me is that my daughters are in a different school system so the only time we get off together is Christmas and the summer (no spring break or fall breaks.)

 

[2 lil'princesses]

We feel comfortable spending 3% or less of our annual salary on our vacations. And we make that money really stretch. I'm a uber budget traveler. Last summer my family of five flew cross country and had a fabulous week in California for less than $2000.

Wow, that is impressive! I can barely get airfare from Louisville to Orlando for less than $1000 which is why we drive everywhere.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We are 2 adults...no kids.

We average about $2500-3000 for our last few cruise vacations including air. cruises are really a great deal for us and we usually stay in an upgraded room

For WDW we usually spend about $2400:

room - moderate $1000
air - $600
food - $800-1000 for 7 days (don't need much for souvies after 15 trips)
tix - this year - zero (but next year we will need to buy AP's again....$800...ouch

We have gone on 2 trips a year for the last few years...so I just realized we spend about $5000 a year on vacations.....and don't regret a penny.

This year we have paid all cash and its all about saving and sacrificing other things.

 

[aimlyles]

If we do a big trip like Disney we typically set aside $5000 - 6000 from a bonus or tax return money.

If we are doing something closer to home, say going to the mountains for 2-3 nights in NH we try to set asid $1000. Generally we take a mini ($1000) every summer but Disney is every 2 years or so.

We also have to "vacation" in LA to see the IL's once in awhile so that always determines what/where we are going too