pay debt or save for trip?

[clarkshel]

I think it depends on the situation. My wife is a teacher so the only time we get to travel is during high season. Well she is currently on a paid professional leave to finish her masters. So we took advantage of traveling during off season. We did a two week trip to WDW and a cruise on DCL his past November. Went to Hawaii a couple months ago. And we are trying to plan another trip to Hawaii this summer. We are spending a lot more on vacations this year than we normally would spend. So less money is being paid on debts than I would like. All of our extra money is being used for travel. This is the only time we will get to travel during low season until my wife retiree. Which won't be for a long time. Had to take advantage of it.

 

[disykat]

I am another who has answered pay debt and didn't vote.

A few years ago I had a virus that we thought might be a chronic illness. The first thing I thought about was the financial security of my family. We didn't take a vacation , we stepped up our college savings because we weren't sure if I would still be working during their college years.

Honestly, vacations were the furthest things from my mind. We have always taken vacations and spent time as a family. I don't consider those optional. However, those vacations have usually been to something much less expensive than WDW. Honestly, our trips to WDW have been all about fun and, while we've certainly been together, they've been less of a bonding experience than our less expensive trips to visit the family, to the beach, camping, or even our regular local daytime outings.

No one here is advocating for not spending time with your family!

I still vote pay your debt, plan something less expensive than WDW to celebrate with your family, and look forward to the vacations you'll be able to take when you no longer have the burden of debt.

 

[EagleScout]

If you insist on going (which you appear to be), then two basic themes of advice:

1) be frugal on the trip (for example, as others have noted, staying offsite can save literally thousands of dollars, and ironically, offsite hotels are often objectively nicer accommodations than the motel-like surroundings of onsite properties);

2) get an additional job to fund the trip (and/or to pay off the debt you insist on accruing), and then maybe keep this additional job into the future to help pay off your other debt even after the "Disney-specific" debt is paid off. Other than truly sick people (like cancer, not psycholological or emotional issues, not just being heavy, not just sore muscles, not allergies, etc.), every able-bodied adult should be able to do about 80 hours per week of work, certainly at least for several months at a time, and certainly you can maintain a 60-70 hour workweek pace forever (my typical week is about 65 hours per week, but has been as high as 80-90). Assuming your current job is 40/week, get a second job. Even something basic like working at a local gift shop or department store (or restaurant) as a sales clerk will pay something, and ideally, your life circumstance permits you to find something that pays a bit more. Grocery stores hire people to lug the deliveries off their trucks - that is typically done after-hours, and it is also in the back, if you are concerned about people "seeing you". We are now getting into painting and construction season - past few years have been tough, but you may be able to find something. Buildings often hire after-hours security guards, and if you live anywhere near a casino, they are frequently hiring (and there are often tips) - these are obviously just suggestions- a quick read of your local "help wanted" will give you more ideas.

Good luck! I have been in debt, and now I am fortunate that I am debt-free (other than a mortgage), but I do know what it is like.

 

[mrsklamc]

Other than truly sick people (like cancer, not psycholological or emotional issues, not just being heavy, not just sore muscles, not allergies, etc.), every able-bodied adult should be able to do about 80 hours per week of work,

OT but the things you list can be truly debilitating.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Pay off the debt and do something nice small that you can easily afford. We didn't do WDW until our 15 anniversary.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[eliza61]

How would feel today if you just lost your DH and are now losing your home to forclosure?

You always talk about all your trips you took in your 20s and. More recent trips. You said your DH loved to fish but you did not go. You have not missed out on living but you will be missing out on the future life that you wanted. Your DH died too young. I am sure your DH is glad you are not homeless or eating at soup kictchens so he could have gone one more vacations.

Time to get off my soapbox.

Not sure. You're right, logically my mind tells me to be thankful for the blessings we did have for over 25 years. emotionally though, I'm pissed. we did the right things and what did it get him? bubsukas!! right now (and like I said, I know i'm in this weird "grief and need counseling" plane) I don't/or can't see that it was worth it. I feel like "yeah, yeah yeah, save save save, live frugally and then watch what happens!! drop dead. what a life".

right now I feel like, gimme me the soup kitchens at least I can say I blew my money having a good time.

I'm contemplating retiring, not because it's the smart thing financially simply because "why bother". why do my 401k if before I reach normal retirement age I'll be 6 ft under. the only reason I haven't is because they say your not supposed to make drastic changes in your life after a major event.


LOL. so maybe I should amend my answer to "I'm an emotional wreck, do not take advice from me"

ignore me, I know I'm whiney

 

[mommy2_3]

we have been planning this trip for years! we have paid off alot of our debt so now we are going. the only debt we have now is our mortage (which i am not waiting till we pay off our house before we go lmao! that would kill me!) and we have another car payment now, since we had to get a new van since my van decided to up and quit on me.

i would wait. i wouldnt be able to enjoy my vacation to WDW if in the back of my mind i would be thinking about how we are going to pay everything off when we got home.

 

[gracie1]

Not sure. You're right, logically my mind tells me to be thankful for the blessings we did have for over 25 years. emotionally though, I'm pissed. we did the right things and what did it get him? bubsukas!! right now (and like I said, I know i'm in this weird "grief and need counseling" plane) I don't/or can't see that it was worth it. I feel like "yeah, yeah yeah, save save save, live frugally and then watch what happens!! drop dead. what a life".

right now I feel like, gimme me the soup kitchens at least I can say I blew my money having a good time.

I'm contemplating retiring, not because it's the smart thing financially simply because "why bother". why do my 401k if before I reach normal retirement age I'll be 6 ft under. the only reason I haven't is because they say your not supposed to make drastic changes in your life after a major event.


LOL. so maybe I should amend my answer to "I'm an emotional wreck, do not take advice from me"

ignore me, I know I'm whiney

I don't think your whiney, I think your seeing things from a different view. Sorry for the loss of your dh

 

[okeydokey]

My choice wasn't listed. Pay off debt and skip the trip. JMO.

 

[Granny square]

Eliza, I am so sorry you are in such a hard place. I suspect that the thoughts you are having are the norm in the course of grieving.

 

[ilovemk76]

we have been planning this trip for years! we have paid off alot of our debt so now we are going. the only debt we have now is our mortage (which i am not waiting till we pay off our house before we go lmao! that would kill me!) and we have another car payment now, since we had to get a new van since my van decided to up and quit on me.

i would wait. i wouldnt be able to enjoy my vacation to WDW if in the back of my mind i would be thinking about how we are going to pay everything off when we got home.

I don't think you should have your mortgage paid off to go on vacation. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You need to focus on paying off the debt. The more you have the more you are shelling out on interest charges. That interest money is just money you are filling someone elses pockets with. Why not pay off the debt and put that interest money back in your pocket for your trip.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I would continue paying on your debts and save a little each month for a trip, even if that means not going for your 10th anniversary. Our 10th anniversary is this year and we wanted to go to Disney and surprise our daughter. We even booked the trip, but when it came down to it, we had to put a new roof on our garage and it was more important to pay cash for that then another trip. So we are going to go on our next Disney trip next year, just like we had originally planned so that we can stick with our original plan of paying off debt and saving for vacation.

 

[ceecee]

My choice wasn't listed. Pay off debt and skip the trip. JMO.

 

[darkwing818]

My choice wasn't listed. Pay off debt and skip the trip. JMO.

Agree 100%. You should pay off your debt, establish an emergency fund & then save for your trip. This also assumes that you are savings for retirement &. Kids education already.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OP:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY in advance!
I think that if it was me with considerable debt as you indicated, Id forgo the trip and try and pay down that debt.
When its paid off is when Id take a trip.... to celebrate the Accomplishment.
Its also a great message/learning moment for any kids (obviously Id not talk about the actual debt but rather the fact that spending what one does not have to spend really can hurt down the line KWIM?) ..its shows the repercussions of having to put stuff off (like a vacation).
No judgement here and wishing you MUCH success in getting Debt FREE!
(I didnt vote because I did not agree with any)

 

[ICF]

Has the OP ever come back? Maybe I missed it, but I didnt see any follow-up posts.

 

[Disneylover99]

Maybe you have a mortgage.
Maybe you have a monthly car payment.
Most people have some form of necessary payment that they make each month.
But if you put your trip down on your credit card and you can't afford to pay it off when the bill comes in at the end of the month, then that is debt. So don't book a trip, if you are unable to pay it off, because in the end, you will probably spend 5 times the amount that the trip is worth in interest.

 

[Colleen27]

I'll be the irresponsible, live for today voice and say... It depends. You just don't give enough info for anyone to offer anything but black-and-white platitudes (whether it is "Paying off debt comes first" or "You only live once"). How much is "considerable" debt and what types? What sort of interest rates? How is your ratio of payments to income? How secure are your jobs? How often have you gone to WDW in the past? How long would you have to postpone the trip to pay off the debt first and then save for a future trip? All those things make a difference, IMO. Life is very rarely as simple as an either/or choice... It isn't "never vacation" vs "Alpo casserole in your golden years". There is a middle ground, but finding it means honestly assessing your financial "big picture", not asking advice on a message board. And if you read here at all you had to know the answers you'd get - this may be the most financially conservative, anti-debt message board you'll find outside of Dave Ramsey's own web site.

 

[Colleen27]

LOL. so maybe I should amend my answer to "I'm an emotional wreck, do not take advice from me"

ignore me, I know I'm whiney