Are we the only couple who can't afford a holiday?

Deep_In_Debt

PinkTwirl wrote: »

Yeah exactly, I can't afford it this year plus I'm single. I had someone quizzing me this week as to why I'm not going on holiday. Some people are really thick/nosey aren't they? The cost of living is very high when single, even on a good salary. All it takes is a £500 car service or new washing machine and it's a skint month on top of the mortgage, bills, petrol, food and trying to have a life!

Same for me! I have mortgage, bills and debts to pay on my own. I'm not on a bad salary either but I'd rather pay what I have to pay and put food on my table before thinking about a holiday.

I have friends and family who live all over the UK - but getting there is going to cost. My brother lives in Africa and keeps hassling to go there - believe me, I'd love to and I know it's free when I get there, but getting there is the problem - £900 for a flight. I'd rather put that money towards my debts but probably couldn't afford it anyway as have house and car to run!

bathgatebuyer

v8monkeyboy wrote: »

Having said that, I spend most of my time reading OS on this board, and it would break my heart to spend so much money on a holiday with nothing to show for it at the end!

That's been my feeling for years. The thought of chucking away a few hundred quid for the sake of being able to say, "I've been on holiday" really wasn't tempting to me at all. My trip later this year is to see family for 15 years at a third of the price we paid in 1994 to see them. If it wasn't to see family, I would be staying home this year again and really not being bothered at not going abroad.

MrsE_2

v8monkeyboy wrote: »

We haven't had a holiday for years due to lack of money and concentrating on the OH's career. Now I'm halfway through a three year nursing degree and we never have the same time off.

Having said that, I spend most of my time reading OS on this board, and it would break my heart to spend so much money on a holiday with nothing to show for it at the end!

It would break my heart to work all year & not have a holiday to show for it.

Its all about priorities, isn't it.

We haven't booked one yet this year & DH said we couldn't have one as he wanted to finish his knowledge (London black cabbing), what with working full time he never has enough time to devote to it & it gets side lined for work when times are tight & work is slow.

Today is fathers day, but he's working as he got offered one good job he couldn't refuse & then two smaller ones he may as well do while doing the big one.

BUT I said I felt so bad thinking I would go two years between a holiday I found it depressing, he said he agrees, so we will see what we can do. I have two weeks booked off in August & a week in October, I might change that for one week in August & two in October & look for somewhere hot & cheap that time of year

Poppy9

MrsE wrote: »

It would break my heart to work all year & not have a holiday to show for it.

Its all about priorities, isn't it.

Absolutely it is about priorities but sometimes the money just isn't there to fund a holiday.

We are fortunate that we are almost mortgage free, never got into debt, both working, no flashy cars etc. and we don't smoke or drink excessively.

We are not the sort of people who go OTT on Christmas either. We live within our means and fund our holidays within our means.

We only have only been blessed with one child and at 14 we only have a few more years where she will want to holiday with us so next year we are hoping to go to New York.

I was a bit gutted that a report in the newspapers say there are thousands of unsold summer holidays and that prices are set to plummit as we booked a while ago and I hate paying more than necessary. Saying that I checked our holiday price today and it's £250 more than what we have paid.

JES_F1

Holidays and weekend breaks are something I really do miss since having my lightbulb moment at the beginning of 2008 and starting my DMP with the CCCS. I used to just go away for the weekend pretty much as I fancied it (four or five times a year), and gave little thought to doing so ... which is probably how I got in this mess!

Someone I work with is constantly going away - and has done so many times over the last year. Admittedly he has few financial responsibilities, earns a reasonable salary, and does tend to find good deals, but I do find it grates on me a little, particularly when he sighs and says something like, "I need a holiday" a few days after returning from one. I can't help wondering if any of my colleagues used to think the same about me ... even though mine were all paid for on credit cards.

I'm intending to use some of the money I've made from selling stuff online for a weekend break somewhere in this country later in the year, probably September/October time. And I'm really looking forward to it and will probably enjoy it even more!

meerkat2007

I last went abroad for a real holiday sometime in the 90s - I can't remember exactly when it was, to be honest. In 1997, I went to the US to meet someone who turned out to be a two-timing swine, so I don't class that as a holiday, and in 1999 I returned to the US to meet and stay with an online female friend, but she lost her job while I was there, so that wasn't much of a holiday either.

I do actually have a holiday planned - for shortly after I retire in 2028!

By the way, I'm single, and I don't see that changing!

[Deleted User]

When I was young (50 or so years ago, it was very common for mine and neighbours holidays to be `down to the garden gate`. Holidays were not an expectation like today and a day out on a charra (coach) or a school trip was a very real treat

Later when we had 3 children and money was oh so tight, we went camping, year after year, rain or not. Eventually we bought a bigger tent and a trailer and a groundsheet and a camp kitchen and what luxury was that. We stayed out of debt by being frugal like this and it was oh so worth it

Some years we couldn`t even afford to go camping but then we would pretend that we were on holiday for the week. Most times, camping included, our daily treat was a cake from a shop.

Don`t give up or rather I want to say `stay strong`. It is worth it

Woodyrocks

molerat wrote: »

Look at it this way, many of the people who do go away on exotic holidays cannot afford a holiday either :eek:

I think it is irresponsible to max out your CC on luxuries and exotic holidays are most definitely that. Note this is not the same as maxing it out if you can afford to clear it in full come statement time!

Even when I couldn't afford to take DD out of the country we were able to have breaks in the UK thanks to the YHA. Music festivals also provide a camping + activity centred 'holiday'. For example, WOMAD's free child ticket makes it cheaper on the pocket. Lots other festivals have heavily discounted under 18's tickets.

I also used to look out for subsidised courses (yoga, parenting focused, art, writing etc) that provided accomodation (& free creche if applicable) plus evening & w/e free time. I also wasn't afraid to do things without my child & vice-versa so if I saw something cheap I could sign her up for that would allow her a change of scene for a few days, I would such as summer camp.

Now that we are able to travel, I still try and do things in a MSE way and believe I can get value for money in Thailand as I can in Wales - all without leaning on a CC!

A holiday is a change of scene & pace, not an excuse to get into debt.

mandragora_2

SueP19 wrote: »

Up until about 5 years ago my OH and me had never had a holiday..... 15 years, then we found the Sun newspaper hols and started on them for a few years. Last year we bought a caravan due to the dog and went but this year is a no no. The car is of the road and every time I see the caravan sat there I want to cry

I am not sure if it was a good idea to go on holiday, you don't miss what you haven't had

Is there someone (a friend or relative) who would tow it to somewhere nice for you? Locally there are often lovely places, if you look - for me, it's the being away from home that makes it a 'holiday' - no telly, time to walk; talk; lie-in; spend time together. It shouldn't cost much that way, and you sound as if you'd benefit from it. My dad used to go and sit in the caravan on the drive quite often on a Saturday night - have a glass of wine and ruminate - he felt he'd been 'on holiday' just for thise few hours!!

I'd also support the idea of scrounging a tent, for the OP - we were skint when the kids were little; my parents gave us a Lichfield 'V' tent, and we just put whatever we thought we'd need into the car and went. The coast is 40 miles away from where we live, and we had many, many happy years in the tents before 'upgrading' to a ssecond-hand caravan. If you bear in mind that you'll need to eat anyway, it's only the cost of the pitch fees you need to find - often cheaper than a meal out, or even a couple of rounds at the pub!

Mozette

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've not had a holiday since 1995, never been abroad ... and even though this year I can afford it, I wouldn't enjoy it alone. So be grateful you're a couple.

I don't have debts, it's just that when you're single the cost of living is so high there's nothing left over to waste on luxuries ... when you might need the money a month later to fix a boiler or something.

It's not so bad holidaying on your own (well, if you can afford it - started my debt off with a holiday on my own that I couldn't afford); I always think, would I rather do ...whatever... on my own or not at all? You never know until you try!