Should I book a holiday even though I have loads of debt?

MUM40

hi guys,
thanks for the advice, the 3K has been put in our saving a/c to avoid us spending this, as we have to go to the building society to get at this cash, which is a separate BS to our normal bank a/c,
were going to debate over the coming months and see what we can do, if we can get a cheap deal for around 1.5K then we may have a holiday, if not, we will probably just do the normal day trips out, providing that we get some nice weather in the UK

pixiechick_2

Mum40 - I notice that you put (17/10) next to the bit about you having a holiday - is this the date you want to go? Is it school half term?

It's too early for you to get a last minute deal so the prices you find won't be attractive. It's also not a good time to get last minute deals. My daughter got married in October and they decided they would book a last minute holiday as a honeymoon. There were no cheap deals available so no honeymoon.:(

Would you be able to go last minute during the summer holidays as there will be a lot more holidays around then and more chance of a last minute deal?

Pollycat

Sounds like a plan.

Do make sure you're getting the best rate of interest you can on the £3K whilst it's sitting there.

MUM40

I have 3 DD's 18,17,10,. We are planning to go away if we can around 20th July and after 8th August, but must be back for 1st September as youngest starts final year of junior school.
were not sure on going were the euro due to the exchange rate unless we can get an AI deal,and then I would be paying for 4 Adults & 1 child.

pixiechick_2

Oh, so the 17 and 10 are your daughter's ages. Why didn't I think of something so obvious?

pixiechick_2

Keep checking the travel companies websites for prices as there is an optimum time for getting the best last minute deals. I think it's around 2 weeks before you travel. After that the prices start rising again.

Also, if you see a holiday you like and can afford, take the bull by the horns and book it because, if you hesitate, it will probably have gone when you go back to it.

lolly1981

i think everyone needs a holiday..especially if you and OH work fulltime..time out is always good.
That said there are great hlidays in the uk you dont need to go abroad..i was lucky enough to be given 1500 for the purpose of a holiday from an aunt..we couldnt decide where to go etc so we actually just booked a week in haven in scotland for 300 pounds...we go on saturday and we are so excited probably me and OH more than kids lol just becuase we appreciate the need to get away.
if we didnt have that holiday we would probably take a long weekend camping trip in the summer or something

determined_new_ms

I'm in exactly the same position, although my DFD is going to be the end of this year. I made a committment this year I would not have a holiday abroad and would have a cheaper holiday. We saved the sun vouchers and are going on a caravan holiday in Cornwall for 5 nights in June. This is a real struggle for my oh becuase he has always travelled and has the bug more than I do. We also got an all inclussive deal last year in Eygpt for £500 each for flights, accom, and spending money - can you put a little aside for 18mnths or so and find a really cheap deal?

Its hard without a decent holiday but the way we see it is after the debts are paid off we could afford to go on holiday several times a year.

Good luck!

natlie

We really wanted to go away at Easter - my partner is unemployed now and I am paying for everything including trying to clear my debt - we have in the past always stayed in the same hotel in Newquay but its £140 a night for the 4 of us so I risked it - waited until the day we were going to leave and called them got the room for £96 B&B 2 days away was lovely.

The other option is to use the deals that are about - £5 rooms in Deverre hotels, £10 rooms in Travel lodge and the mystery hotel on lastminute.com

Sign up for the Travel Zoo email too

Make sure you budget the holiday well - In the past coming back from holiday I have felt guilty becasue of the money I have spent - thats worse than not going on holiday
Nat
xxx

Billy-no-Money

I'm in the middle of a very long haul, seven years in total, and not having any luxuries in that time would make it much harder - though it depends what's meant by luxury.

My suggestion would be to go for a couple of years spending as little as possible - that way you break the back of the debt, and get the hang of budgeting. Worked for me!