Holidays - are you really in poverty if you can't afford one?

SammyD_2

I read this week that one in three families are in poverty because they cannot afford a one week holiday once a year...is it just me, or does anyone else find this definition of poverty a bit strange?

When I think of poverty in this country, I think of people not being able to afford decent food, heating, housing, clothing and a few extras along the way to make life worth living ...but I don't think I would say that not having a holiday every year for a whole week counts as impoverished!

I grew up in a family where money was tight, we had one three day holiday in whole time I was growing up. We spent time off together as a family doing fun free things. While I can certainly afford holidays away with my own family now, we would rather put the money into our mortgage and spend time together at the park with our children.

It just seems that the idea that people should "expect" holidays (or MP3 players or expensive clothes or the latest gadgets) is what leads to the sad stories you read on the debt free wannabe board on this site.

Or am I just being miserable?

larmy16

I am on a v. low income, self employed and don't get paid for holidays, therefore to even take some time off, I have to save up to cover the bills for that week, let alone save enough to actually go anywhere! Luckily I am a true home bird, love to have time being housyfied, so going away is not a priority for me, but I could not afford to!!!

Some people I work for however, have at least five holidays planned for the year!

Someone I know goes away loads, bungs it on the credit cards, then asks daddy to help with her bills. She cannot afford a holiday but she takes them anyway.

To me having a holiday is good for you, therapeutic hopefully, but I do not believe it is a definition of poverty to not be able to afford one. People have such high expectations these days.IMHO.:)

j-baby-scotland

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pavlovs_dog

its that classic need versus want debate again isnt it?

yes, holidays are nice, but are not essential to sustain life, and as for sustaining a DECENT quality of life, well i suppose that would depend on your experiences and expectations.

Alleycat

Depends what they class as a holiday. Do they mean that one in three families can't afford a camping holiday in Skegness or wherever or rather a week at Butlins or hotel somewhere?

We must be poor then as we haven't had a holiday for a good few years. We probably 'could' but at the moment would rather spend our money on paying a few debts and visiting family on a regular basis.

Poppy9

I never had a holiday during my childhood. Took my first holiday at 18 paid for by myself.

My father was self employed and my mother a SAHM so no regular income. As another poster mentioned too if you are self employed you don't get paid holidays. We were impoverished for a couple of years when my father had a serious accident at work (no insurance) and his sick benefit was just £10 per week. My mother had to go out to work and we got by - just. It wasn't unusual then though not to have holidays. Many of my school friends didn't.

When I took a career break following the birth of my DD I did so knowing I would be sacraficing holidays, new furniture, deco etc. Time spent with DD was more important. However once she started school the pressure starts. Some kids in her class have 4 or 5 holidays a year. Now I'm working PT we have 1 and plenty of day trips. She is happy with that as she knows some of her classmates don't even have 1 holiday a year. It is hard when the teachers ask them to talk/write about where they have been over the school holidays and they haven't been anywhere.

I don't think lack of holidays is a measure of poverty though. To me poverty is being unable to put decent food on the table and have a decent roof over your head.

Realist

Married 22 years, had no honey moon, 1st holiday we had was 3 days last year in Blackpool.

Why...........

Never had the money or time.

Poverty yes, everyone needs a holiday at some point but in my case, 22 years to late.

Laters

Ganyam

Christ never had a holiday in 6 yrs.......... would love one, im i in poverty?

larmy16

Ganyam wrote:

Christ never had a holiday in 6 yrs.......... would love one, im i in poverty?

One would imagine being in Nazareth would be quite pleasant at many times during the year! I hear the lake of Galilee is a beautiful sight. Still carpenters are often self employed are they not? Oh sorry I realise now....you were blaspheming.

Smiley_Mum

I don't drink, don't smoke, rarely go out on an evening due to no childcare etc not that I'm too bothered. I think if I can manage to set some money aside to treat myself and my kids to a trip somewhere then it's something to look forward to for Summer. When I was a kid we had holidays but never actually went abroad anywhere. Always to places in the UK and maybe my wanting to go abroad is to do with that in a way. It's nice to experience different cultures etc and I like the fact that my kids are seeing a little bit of the world. First time I went abroad on holiday I was 24 years old. I have had some great holidays in the UK too, was in Lake District in 96 and the weather was absolutely fabulous, came back brown as a berry and it was really lovely place, would love to go back, it's really scenic and pretty. We are going away this year and am saving hard to do so. Our treat for the year for being canny throughout the rest of it.

freebie_junkie

ive been on IB for two years now and in that time ive not been able to afford a holiday (obviously) and ive not cried over it or owt! (plus i used to be so poorly i couldnt use any public loos or couldnt consider using hotel bedding or food prepared by a stanger etc. so it was well outta teh question!) plus my bloke onlt just recently got a proper career so hes finally earning semi-decent cash, so thsi year for our 4th anniversaery we're having 1 week in dublin, cheap as poss! and were so looking forward to it and will really value it! its a reward for all of teh hard work ive put in getting myself better (ive done it without doctors etc.) so i reckon we deserve it! and youre right, its not a right to have a hol, its a privelidge, a luxury and in my case a big fat reward!!!