'Should you go on holiday while in debt?' poll discussion

jackieblack

southernscouser wrote: »

But mortgages aren't debt remember. You're paying £500k to invest in a £200k home. Bargain.

Maybe so, if you buy a house whose value is obviously over-inflated due to market conditions at the time - but buying the right house, at the right time, in the right market conditions can be a good financial decision.

jackieblack

southernscouser wrote: »

To be frank, you're blinded opinion is exactly what I'm talking about.

I don't say there is a stigma attached, there is a stigma attached. You are proof of this.

I started to type a long reply to this but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit that you're fighting a losing a battle.

Remember this is a fictional scenario - I'm not sure why you feel the need to be so hostile - everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I was merely giving mine, based on experience.

I lived through the recession and house price crash of the early 1990's and learnt my financial/life lessons the hard way. My husband was out of work when I met him and made redundant twice in the early years of our marriage - including when I was expecting our DD and about to go on maternity leave (:eek:). We had massive negative equity in the first property I bought and it took us years of hard work, scrimping and scraping to get where we are now. I learnt the lessons.

And what I said was that stigma is attached to a poor attitude towards financial responsibilty, not to debt/being in debt

I sympathise with anyone & everyone who is struggling financially, however I sympathise slightly less with those who wilfully make their own situation worse unnecessarily, and more with those doing all they can to help themselves.

Quote

Anyone can die tomorrow.

There's only one thing you can do with money.

You want a holiday? Have one.

D every time.

slig

Life is short, and if it's a family with children, five years is an awfully long time to wait.

It doesn't need to be an expensive holiday for it to be an enjoyable break. Camping in the UK doesn't do it for me personally, but I am a big fan of travel on a shoestring. Budget airlines, youth hostels, online bargains, cheap ferry deals, low cost Eastern European countries... There are plenty of ways to have a fantastic memorable trip without it having much impact on the debt free date.

I would rather cut back on something else than not have a holiday.

Jaffa.

I would go with B

Lotus-eater

I voted B, then sat back and watched the debate

SS's point was interesting, he is right, there is a stigma to being in debt......... back in 1980, I don't think that still counts today much.

The fact that this question has even been asked, shows how attitudes have changed, years ago would families have gone on holiday while in debt, no. Now would they? Well they are doing so. This is how we have changed.

Do I really care, no. Do what you want, I'll do I what I want thanks. I honestly couldn't care less how much debt you are in. How can we judge peoples debt when the government are borrowing like there is no tomorrow. Not a very good example. It can't continue IMHO

N1AK

I find it interesting that one in four people who answered the poll think that a family should not take a holiday of any form for at least 7 years due to debt I found the poster who said it was irresponsible and then without pausing for breathe explained that they did it especially amusing.

A holiday doesn't have to cost the world, paying off debt does not mean that a family cannot afford anything other than basic luxuries. Going for 7 years without a holiday isn't going to do anyone in the family any good, and a few hundreds pounds every 2-3 years isn't going to have a massive effect on a £15,000 debt.

Gigervamp

N1AK wrote: »

Going for 7 years without a holiday isn't going to do anyone in the family any good, and a few hundreds pounds every 2-3 years isn't going to have a massive effect on a £15,000 debt.

Rubbish! There are millions of people who don't have holidays and aren't suffering because of it.

Also, a few hundred pounds is a lot of money and would make a nice little dent in a £15,000 debt.

I despair at the way todays society has a misplaced sense of entitlement.

ceridwen

...and I guess I should have made the point that I draw a VERY sharp distinction between one debt specifically incurred as a loan to a business organisation (ie bank) that makes their money specifically from this and at a time when one hasnt had a holiday of any description for years and years (and there has been a LOT of stress in the interval) on the one hand (for your information - I nearly died - does that sound stressful enough to you?)
- which is what I did

and - ON THE OTHER HAND - people going on holiday just because they want to and regard it as a regular thing and insisting on their "right" to have a holiday - when they already have debt and its been incurred as a result of buying "consumer goodies" and/or they are making some poor person and/or firm wait for their money after the date it was due and payable.

World of difference between debt that hurts no-one and one is in a secure enough financial position that it won't matter v. making some person/firm wait for money that is overdue for repayment to them and/or ones financial position isnt secure enough to be able to guarantee that the debt will be repaid timeously okay.

The first option is a responsible one - the second is just determination to have ones way no matter what the cost to someone else and/or the risk to ones own financial security.

TheRehn

The family could save up tesco clubcard points and then times them by 4 into YHA vouchers, they can't be used on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the summer, but a sunday to friday holiday might be good and if they are staying by the beach and self-cater in the kitchen they will most likely spend less than if they "holidayed at home" where they would have to pay for attractions and transport everyday. To reduce transport costs look into liftsharing or look at youth hostels which are cheap to get to. Depending on the age of the children they could try a cycling holiday along a cycle path, either cycling between a few different hostels or maybe one day cycling there, one or 2 days there and one day cycling back. The cycling itself is the entertainment, so lots of money doesn't need to be spent.

If the parents would do better not taking holiday from work (e.g. work allows you not to take holiday) then they could send the kids to a yha doit4real camp, again paying with Tesco vouchers. It would give the kids a holiday (they need one - it isn't their fault their parents are in debt!) and would probably cost less then paying for childcare while the parents are at work. Couch transport to the camp can be paid for extra or the parents can take a day off and have like a day of holiday taking them. The parents should make sure to do some fun things in the evening whilst their children are away so they feel like they had a bit of a holiday too! evening walk by the harbour/whatever is in their city, eat dinner together in the garden, have a picnic in the park, go to a free talk or performance etc.

The other option the family could consider is hospitality/house exchange, where you can find people people to stay with/swap houses with for free (some require a small registration fee), which is a great way to experience another place (in the UK or Abroad) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/family/article2975510.ece

So no I don't see anything wrong with going on holiday, especially if they can keep the costs pretty similar to if they stayed at home and are due holiday from work. If they are trying to pay off their debt as best they can, they should not let it 'enslave' them!