Would like to go again, but have bills to pay....

[ChisJo]

I have a high interest credit card that I NEVER carry a balance with. Instead, I book all my trips and pay for school with it. I also have an incredibly low interest borrowing account that I use to pay off my credit card so I do not carry a balance. Even with the borrowing account completely used up, I still pay very minimal interest.
This gives me the opportunity to save some money every week. I have money that comes right out of my bank account into a "vacation fund" account. I save a minimal $75 per week, and if I can afford more, I do. I am a full time student and a part time worker (in a low paying job) and I still manage to save over $400 a month for holidaying. It really adds up over time.
Additionally, I still am able to pay all my bills and my borrowing account.
I started saving $20 per week until I was comfortable with saving more, and just added to that as I could.
This may not work for everyone, but it works great for me. I already have my trip paid for for when I go in September, and it wasn't very painful in doing so because it didn't really seem like I was saving at all since the money was taken right out of my account to go into a savings account.
J
P.s. - the vacationing savings account I do not have access with my bank card, therefore I do not touch the money until I am ready to leave for my holidays!

 

[HenDuck]

Hi There. I am not new to these boards, although I have only lurked until just recently.

I think we all have bills to pay. Usually, more than we'd like to have to carry. If I waited until all my bills were paid to take my DS to Disney, we would never go. I pay my bills down as much as possible every month. As of next month, I will have no credit card debt! Just a car payment and mortgage along with the usual household bills.

The problem for me (us) is that my husband is incapable of saving money and carries his own credit card debt (another story altogether). So all our trips (including Disney) have to come from my saving skills. Mostly I just save my own personal money until I have enough to pay for the whole trip. That way, I don't add to my bills by going on vacation. And I usually over-budget so I come home with extra money too!

We just came back from an 8 day trip to DL. All paid for in advance. I knew I would still have 2 more payments on my credit card bills when I returned, but that was ok. Our trip was wonderful and it was my DS (3 1/2) first, so I was not going to skimp or wait forever to do it! I'm so glad that we went. It was as magical as I could have hoped for. No regrets. That's the best was to live!

I think you can find a happy medium. Keep at paying those bills down and at the same time put some money into the Disney fund. You have to enjoy today as well as take care of the past and future...otherwise, you'll end up like this



Good luck!

 

[nana2tots]

i AGREE W/ EVERY1, ABOUT NOT USING CREDIT CARDS FOR VACATION. MY DH AND I LEARNED THE HARD WAY, CHARGED EVERYTHING IN SITE, . THANK GOD WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY CREDIT CARDS IN OVER 4 YRS. i F I DON'T HAVE CASH FOR IT, THEN I DON/T GET IT, IT WAS REALLY HARD ON ME THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, CAUSE I WAS A SHOPACHOLIC.6- MORE MONTHS WE WILL BE DEBT FREE, EXCEPT FOR 5 MORE YRS. ON THE HOUSE AND POOL. YOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!THEN IT WILL BE DISNEY, DISNEY, DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!! nana2tots

 

[bigbabyblues]

I think it's reasonable to think you can do both. Obviously, as others said, don't use a credit card for your trip. If you for some reason need to pay with a card, save the full amount in cash and send it to the credit card a month BEFORE you book--that way you know it's paid for, and there won't be any surprises or mistakes when you get back. You know, those things that come up and ruin our best intentions.

We're getting ready to put our house up for sale and move. Trying to get as much debt as possible paid off before we do so, and we're getting there, but we're still allowing the set amount each pay that goes in the Disney fund. I have a Disney fund and so does DH--he's saving for the plane tickets, hotel, and park tix, and I'm saving for food/souveniers/towncar/etc. I really wanted to go to WDW in Sept or Nov this year, but DH so practically pointed out that we won't have all of our money saved by then, so we can't go. He's right, but I didn't like it. We have been amazed at the amount we're able to save every month (not just for our trip, our savings in general) as we pay off debts.

You will get there, just figure out the best way for you, and go from there. I don't think you have to completely scrap the trip until you're debt free, that may be a long time. Just do as you're doing, and look at your trip as a reward for keeping it up, even though you have wait longer than you'd like.

Good luck,
Steph