Taking a holiday when in debt?

lynzpower

Why is this different ?Surely loads of us are "tied in" to a job, what ties us in? DEBT!!!!

Murtle

lynzpower wrote:

Experiences are for life?! Course they are if you are paying them off for years to come!

Crikey, I cant believe you lot today!

If this trip was being put on a CC would we have different responses? I think everyone would be going Nooo dont do it. Personally, I dont see the difference

I'm afraid, I'd still encourage it, on the basis that Sparkle_Monkey is aware of their debt and the need to pay it off. they don't have the head in sand attitute to things but realise that sometimes you need to do things when the timing isn't perfect. This is one of those times. I think if you do it and then knuckle down you won't have regrets, if you don't do and plan for it in 3 years, you may feel that those 3 years are a drag and won't get as much out of the training as you would otherwise.

(hugs) tough decision.

x x

ms_london

You could use that £3,000 to clear your debt. Wouldnt you rather do that? I agree with you lynzpower.....

xx

Murtle

lynzpower wrote:

Why is this different ?Surely loads of us are "tied in" to a job, what ties us in? DEBT!!!!

The only debt I have is my mortgage, I am tied into work by the thoughts and worries of my parents and having a responsible job and a good income. It's not the be all and end all, and sometime people need to live a little (responsibly) and then knuckle down and work hard.


Thriftylady : Iwouldn't advocate taking a holiday for 2 weeks and getting into debt as you can take 2 weeks in the sun anytime. However, to be able to go for longer requires time, somthing often not given to permanent employees of many companies in the UK!!!

Because I will be tied to London training, studying and working from Feb 2007 for min of 2 1/2 years I’ve convinced myself I should take a trip whilst I don't have the commitments.

This is the comment that I feel is not being read. If the OP pays back their debt and then saves for x months, they will not be able to go travelling if they are not able to take the time off. In this case, I personally feel it's more about the time and the ability to go then the cost and debt. The OP is not in any doubt about the need to pay off their debt, but also doesn't have 19,000 worth of debt, which if they did have I wouldn't suggest it was a good idea to do anything but pay it off.

One other way to look at it, if you want to carry out some volunteer work is to look in the UK at what you can do here. This way you will be settling yourself back into the area you need to be in, meeting likeminded people, the possibility of some time to do some paid work and the opportunity to help people. There is as much conservation and young children help and support required in this country as elsewhere, it's just better hidden. However, the sun may not shine, and it's not always looked at in the same manner as going abroad is. Is I don't know why.....

dinkylou

Exactly Murtle.

You put it better than me.

ms_london

Murtle wrote:

The only debt I have is my mortgage, I am tied into work by the thoughts and worries of my parents and having a responsible job and a good income. It's not the be all and end all, and sometime people need to live a little (responsibly) and then knuckle down and work hard..

Why should your parents have an influence & worry whether you have a sensible job or not? I suppose in that respect my parents are quite easy going & accept its my life. I would not live a life for someone else. I suppose with my line of work its easy enough for me to find a job anywhere, and its not the be all and end all if I take a "career break", but I appreciate for a lot of people it is. Life is about living, not about what job you do or how much you earn - I pity these people that work 70 hours a week & have no time to spend or enjoy their money, or enjoy their life.

OT - sorry!! :rotfl:

bigmuffins

I am not in debt apart from mortgage and never have owed more than 1 month's credit card payment. I save and spend when I have otherwise I don't.
I am afraid that I cannot understand why anyone who owes money feels that they 'deserve' anything like a holiday! And lets be honest - that is what this 'travelling' is!

As for 'getting a lot out of it' well I think you would get more out of paying back your debts - including the one that you owe your father!

How will you pay off debts while studying? Won't it be more pressure?
How will you feel when you are a debt laden student about 'deserving' a holiday then? Will you add to your debt again by taking another 'deserved' holiday?

Sorry but I don't thing anyone 'deserves' anything that they cannot pay for!
And while I think travellling can be great fun for those doing it- that is all it is. If you want to do it - pay off your debts and then plan and save for it - you will feel much better about yourself. I know I would.

ms_london

I agree with everything you have just said, although I dont think that travelling is just a "holiday".

But top marks on your other comments :0)

I dont know about deserving a holiday, but sometimes I feel as though I NEED one!!

xx

bigmuffins

Thanks!

Was expecting to get some flak but nice to see that I am not the only one with this viewpoint.

Travelling when you are in debt already seems to me to be 'escapist' ie running away from your responsibilities. Which is what this sort of travelling seems to me.

Travelling (and working your way round the world) when you have planned and budgeted is responsible and I think is great idea - I would love to do it one day not yet as DDs are too young.

I often feel in need of a holiday too - but my finances don't permit me to take one!:rolleyes:

Anyway good luck to OP, I hope you get your lightbulb moment soon.
:beer:

sparkle_monkey

I know I shouldn't go, I just needed to hear it from some other people.
I can't change my ticket home, my company pay for it, but has to be direct to London.
Yes I should count my blessings and I know I don't deserve a holiday, but we all know that the transformation from spendaholic to MSEr does not happen overnight so it seems natural that the old habits might make a reappearance (as some previous threads have illustrated).
Thanks for all the advice!