I rented points - may not be able to go....advice wanted

[mamawanavacation]

Good to hear Jan. Hope everything works out. Thinking of you tonight. Hope some more good news comes your way. My apologies for sharing my story earlier. It's awful to be in this situation.

Lisa

Not a problem. I asked for advice and appreciate it. Thank you!!

 

[CarolA]

Folks you keep telling her to go...

It sounds to me like the choice is "go" or pay the mortgage. I think in this case paying the mortgage should win!

The sad truth is that it sounds like we are assuming there are some "extra" funds (AKA as savings) that the OP does not have.

The cost of the trip is a sunk cost. The question now is can the OP afford the variable costs. Food, transport, tips etc which are probably going to run close to $2000. (And that's assuming she can control five kids and get them to spend NOTHING extra. So no "soda" cups on the ship, etc. Do we really think that's realistic?) And the "hang around the resort" is not going to be free. All those activities you talk about cost money. The kids are going to want to do the surrey bike and things at the community hall. Most of which have a cost..... With only $800 in cash there's just not much of a pad. What happens when something unexpected happens (AKA as a kid falls down and needs stiches?) Groceries at SSR are HIGH so we have to factor in some delivery service. And we need 10 days of groceries for at least six people!

And to the OP, I assume your husband's friend works for JetBlue? And he really thinks he can get SIX of you on a flight using something like "free tickets"? You need to talk to him. You need to FULLY understand this deal. I have flown on airline buddy passes and there is NO way I would try it with 6 people, five of whom were kids. Chances of SIX free buddy pass seats on one flight. Slim and none. And even then you will be ALL over the plane. You will not be sitting with the kids!

IMHO you have a few other things to look into.
1. Call the cruise line. See what happens if you cancel. Will they allow you to reschedule? I have had to do that for work and they did let me with a small fee.

2. Call your owner. Ask if you can try to "sub lease" some or all of your nights at SSR to get your funds back.

 

[PEANUT1]

I don't think anyone would suggest taking the trip over paying the mortgage. It sounds like things are a little worse than it originally sounded. That being said, I am a "live for today" person. You don't know what the future holds.

 

[Laxmom]

Absolutely not! But the thought of losing that amount of money....just plain losing it! The rental alone was over 4 grand, add on airfare, then the cruise for 7 and airfare for that! Yikes. That is not a small pittence. We are simply trying to help the op salvage something and to help minimize the loss. To put it in perspective, she may lose close to what some people make in a year.

 

[CarolA]

Absolutely not! But the thought of losing that amount of money....just plain losing it! The rental alone was over 4 grand, add on airfare, then the cruise for 7 and airfare for that! Yikes. That is not a small pittence. We are simply trying to help the op salvage something and to help minimize the loss. To put it in perspective, she may lose close to what some people make in a year.

And???? The truth is she can't afford the other costs required. Right now there's not enough money to pay the MORTGAGE! Losing the house will be worse. Not having power for the house will be worse. Yes, she is going to lose a lot of money, but I don't see where she has the money to do anything else. Now if DH's check comes in things are different, but right now she does not have the cash to complete this trip. It's just there in black and white.

Plus if there is truly only $800 there are some other expenses that have not been mentioned in OP's post. Food? Gas? DH still has to eat and work while she's in Florida for example! $800 is just barely enough cash to feed and take care of 6 people for 10 days at SSR! Theres basically no pad. What if they have to spend a night in an airport on the way home? (Not unheard of on "free" tickets?) What if ......

 

[StayFLA]

Oh you guys make it sound so easy, lol!

Total $6748, so you see why this isn't so easy? We only have $800 as of right now. Expecting much more....sigh.

Reading this makes me reconsider my last post. I think CarolA is right.

Ralph

 

[msmayor]

And???? The truth is she can't afford the other costs required. Right now there's not enough money to pay the MORTGAGE! Losing the house will be worse. Not having power for the house will be worse. Yes, she is going to lose a lot of money, but I don't see where she has the money to do anything else. Now if DH's check comes in things are different, but right now she does not have the cash to complete this trip. It's just there in black and white.

Plus if there is truly only $800 there are some other expenses that have not been mentioned in OP's post. Food? Gas? DH still has to eat and work while she's in Florida for example! $800 is just barely enough cash to feed and take care of 6 people for 10 days at SSR! Theres basically no pad. What if they have to spend a night in an airport on the way home? (Not unheard of on "free" tickets?) What if ......

Second.

Losing all this dough is a tough nut to swallow, but is a huge wake-up call to everyone to make SURE you have some sort of emergency funds set aside in a savings account for just this situation.

 

[Starr W.]

Second.

Losing all this dough is a tough nut to swallow, but is a huge wake-up call to everyone to make SURE you have some sort of emergency funds set aside in a savings account for just this situation.

Third it.

With at least 3 months of living expenses in the emergency fund.

 

[mamawanavacation]

And to the OP, I assume your husband's friend works for JetBlue? And he really thinks he can get SIX of you on a flight using something like "free tickets"? You need to talk to him. You need to FULLY understand this deal. I have flown on airline buddy passes and there is NO way I would try it with 6 people, five of whom were kids. Chances of SIX free buddy pass seats on one flight. Slim and none. And even then you will be ALL over the plane. You will not be sitting with the kids!

I didn't realize this! Thank you so much for pointing that out. It looks like that's not going to work.

And no, sadly no savings. All that is out with various manufacturers right now. DH decided to switch gears with his business and start a new project(s).

Please keep sending to us! I'm still hopeful for that check. And believe me I do realize that there are much worse things that could be happening with our family, so I'm trying to keep that in perspective.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll post a note if we get to go!

Jan

 

[CarolA]

Just a note...
I just got a phone call from a friend of mine whose DH works for SW. She got to spend last night in the MCO airport. She couldn't get on a plane and "thinks" she will get to her destination late today. It's taken her two days on a "buddy" pass to get home.

These are great if you have time, but if you don't.... YIKES!

 

[edwardscpfd]

Third it.

With at least 3 months of living expenses in the emergency fund.

Sounds like Dave Ramsey has invaded the boards!! lol

To the OP, my thoughts and prayers are with your family and I wish you the best...

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I am sending hope to the OP that it can all work out.

I also work in the $ portion of a self-owned small business. More than once I have had to call customers to try to get the cash flow moving. Somehow they think if there is a $ crunch, the lawyer doesn't need to get paid!

Can you or your DH call the customers and offer to come pick up the check? Sometimes that will get things moving. It won't work if the customers are far away, but if they are local, it can kick their fanny in gear.

 

[lisaviolet]

Folks you keep telling her to go...

It sounds to me like the choice is "go" or pay the mortgage. I think in this case paying the mortgage should win!

The sad truth is that it sounds like we are assuming there are some "extra" funds (AKA as savings) that the OP does not have.


.

I thnk some of us would have had absolutely different posts if we knew the background. Not that the given background was/is any of our business anyway. Just the fact that it was added after comments.

Not me really. I'm really defending those who posted about going for sure before Jan posted extra information. So I don't think posters were saying "forget the mortgage".


It must be so stressful. We have a small business coupled with supply teaching. So I too know how quickly things can change b/c of many factors. Thinking about you Jan. Best wishes,

Lisa

 

[bartman1]

maybe the tax stimulus check will help...its coming out monday.

 

[Mtnman44]

$3,300 mortgage ?
$1,500 utlities?

I'm confused...., but I wish you luck. It is a good point that your prior investments in this vacation are sunk costs. If you don't have money for food and the mortgage, then no, cut your losses and do not go to WDW now. Is it possible you could rent out this reservation? You won't get all your money as it would have to go cheap. you can also cancel your plane tickets and get some credit with the airline to use later, subject to change fees. Not sure about the cruise....?

 

[TisBit]

It sounds to me like the choice is "go" or pay the mortgage. I think in this case paying the mortgage should win!

Actually sounds like the mortgage is in jeopardy regardless of the trip. I think people were trying to help with suggestions about how to make it work. There is a point where yes, it is a cut your losses and walk away, but that doesn't cover your mortgage. If she had the $5000 living expenses for May, but was missing the 2k for the trip, than it would be an either/or.

Frankly, it sounds to me that the OP's problems are bigger than just this trip, it is May mortgage and beyond. Even if this check comes in, how will June-Dec work out.

 

[Laxmom]

Thanks, Tisbit. You said it better than my miserable attempt. I don't think anyone on these boards would ever tell someone to lose their home rather than cancel a Disney trip. I give these people more credit than that and I know that was not my intention. I, for one, was simply trying to help her figure out a way and I think people made some great suggestions in their efforts. The situation may be beyond help at this late date.

I live in a part of the country where bills like the ones the OP has are not very common so I can't even imagine what it takes to make ends meet there. I wish her and her family all the best and I hope she is able to meet those bills.

 

[mamawanavacation]

Ya it's pretty darn expensive out here in sunny So. Cal. And those are middle class payments, yikes! It's very much the average in my area. Of course with the utility payments I added in cell bill, cable modem, Dish network....all bills due in May. Although, last summer our electricity bill alone was over $1k for one month!!

Really, I'm not worried about the future, just the right now. Our mortgage will be paid with steady incoming checks, just not until we've been gone on vacation. By this time next month we'll be ahead again, and it should just keep getting better. The timing with my husband reinvesting in his business just was off, but he did it on assumption of well, two big checks in particular that we should have had by now. Besides the one payment we're still expecting, UPS owes us over $7k from a lost package that looks like they are going to weasel out of now. So you see we "thought" we had everything under control. In hindsight he should have not reinvested in the business... well maybe, because if he hadn't have we might be in real trouble right now.

Things are looking slightly up. DH has made a couple of decent local deals today, and it will afford at the least the kids and I to go to WDW and have a little extra spending money plus air back if we need it. In the meantime, he'll keep trying to make more local deals to meet us in FL and take the cruise! He buys and sells computer components - vintage and new (I'm sure someone is wondering). That's the plan for now. Please keep sending for that check or some amazing local deals so he can go with us. I'm a little scared traveling with all 5 by myself, but gosh darn it, I'll do it, lol!

Thanks all!
Jan

 

[Laxmom]

That is good news! I'm glad it it going to work out. You are going to be renamed "mamaneedavacation" after this!

 

[disneylvrnMS]

Hope everything works out for you and your family. We will be at SSR the same time.

If I see and extremely exhausted mother with 5 little ones I will stop and say hello.