What Kind of Vacation Planner Are You?

[aka-mad4themouse]

After seeing so many threads that include people who are seriously in debt and still plan to take WDW vacations, I'm beginning to wonder what's normal and what isn't. I was raised to only buy what I had the money to pay for and to delay spending if I didn't have the money.

Yes, my family takes frequent vacations that are usually very nice. But they're all paid for ahead of time. We have no debt (no mortgage, no car payments, no student loans, no CC balances). We enjoy a higher-than-average income but we're not wealthy. Sometimes I feel that my own situation gives me a distorted perspective.

So, if you don't mind answering the poll, what kind of vaction planner are you?

 

[Julia M]

Well, I do a couple of things.......
1. vacations are a part of my regular savings. I put away a certain amount each month, whether or not we have a vacation planned.
2. However, if I want to plan a "big' vacation, I also try and cut other expenses, so I can add more to savings.
3. I also will sometimes be asked to work extra hours. Last spring I was asked to work extra hours, and I agreed to do it, basically to upgrade our vacation plans (treating dh to concierge at the Polynesian).

I have never charged a vacation or vacation expenses, when I didn't have the money set aside to pay for it. I just couldn't enjoy it if I did.

Julia

 

[disneysteve]

I picked, "I make vacation expenses a part of my regular savings plan." although I really don't feel that describes me well it was the best choice. In no way, shape or form do I budget money specifically for vacation. We plan and take our trips and pay for them. But we don't have a vacation fund. We don't put X dollars a week into a seperate account. And we don't have a certain spending limit for our trips. We just know what we can and can't afford and how much we are comfortable spending. It is impossible to explain but it works quite well for us. As for how we pay for our trips, we put every penny possible on a reward credit card and pay the bill in full when it comes.

 

[RADOPT]

In no way, shape or form do I budget money specifically for vacation. We plan and take our trips and pay for them. But we don't have a vacation fund. We don't put X dollars a week into a seperate account. And we don't have a certain spending limit for our trips. We just know what we can and can't afford and how much we are comfortable spending. It is impossible to explain but it works quite well for us.

IMO, you explained it well but then...it is exactly what we do.

I did not do the poll becausue I wasn't sure what to pick since none of them really expain how we do it.

I did plan a vacation to WDW (our first) for 15 night and lots of activities. I did pay for the hotels, some activities and our season passes but put the rest on a CC. I had a very difficult 4 years and no vacation in 7 years. Though I hate the saying "you deserve it", we did deserve a break and I very definately needed a real vacation - one that I actually got to rest on. It was the best thing I ever did for my daughter and I. Will I do it again - probable not. But there are times in life that what others see as a want may really be a need for you to keep going.

I think it is easy to see how we do things that work for us as the way to do it but everyone has a different situation and comfort zone.

 

[TEK224]

I do almost all of the above.

I do put money away from each pay to help save for vacations. If it's a bigger vacation, I will try to pay off as much as I can ahead of time and then pay the rest when I get home.

And I have just charged a vacation a few times (although I am getting out of that habit). I think I feel this way because I've had a few people close to me pass away suddenly and I feel you just never know when your time is up.
Sometimes, you just gotta get away.

Although I am one of those people in debt with a WDW trip planned, I have already begun taking steps to lower and eventually eliminate the debt.

Terri

 

[bytheblood]

We book and usually have our vacation paid for before we go. My husband is great with the money....I do all the planning and he lets me know when we will be paying for what.