Friend's hen do dilema

Miffi_2

I'm in a bit of a quandry about the hen do of one of my best friends. She is getting married mid November and her hen do is a month before...I've only known about it for a week or so as I've been abroad (and she was keeping her engagement under wraps for a while..long story..)

Anyway, I live in Southampton and her hen do is in London - I've worked out that so far it is adding up to £87, but that is not including train fare or lunch. I've looked into just going up for the evening thing and staying over (hotel is £50) - but thought if I'm going up I might as well go for the whole thing.

I'd feel crap about going all the way there for just the lunch and then going back before they go out in the evening (which will save me the hotel, but is it worth me going all that way and will have to travel home alone in the evening which I hate.

She is a lovely girl and came to my hen do, but if I'm trying to be good and pay off debt, get ready for Christmas and no doubt buy her a nice wedding present, well I don't know what do to.

I'm not sure what the train fare will be, but I'm sure quite a bit...

moxie_2

Can you travel by coach? Some cheap deals around, I used to go and see my daughter in Norwich (from London) for £1 each way!

southernscouser

Go!

Yeah you have to pay your debts off but don't stop living your life while you do it!

If you have a brilliant time then it's money well spent. :j

I spent about £700 on my mates stag weekend and I'd do it again tomorrow. It was one of the best weekends of my life and I wouldn't swap it for the world!

Miffi_2

moxie wrote:

Can you travel by coach? Some cheap deals around, I used to go and see my daughter in Norwich (from London) for £1 each way!

Sounds stupid, but not thought of that, I'll look into it tomorrow...

lilac_lady

Tell your friend the truth - that you'd love to go but you can't afford the trip. Tell her that you don't feel safe travelling alone at night. If she's a true friend she'll understand.

Miffi_2

southernscouser wrote:

Go!

Yeah you have to pay your debts off but don't stop living your life while you do it!

If you have a brilliant time then it's money well spent. :j

I spent about £700 on my mates stag weekend and I'd do it again tomorrow. It was one of the best weekends of my life and I wouldn't swap it for the world!

I know, but enjoying myself and living my life is what got me in debt and is holding me back from saving and feeling like I can live my life...I'm sure I'll have a great time, but I'm just worried and so desperately trying to get back on track.

moxie_2

And the coaches are quite nice these days, tea and coffee available, on board toilets etc. All mod cons!

mountainofdebt

see if you can book a hotel using Tesco vouchers.

Alternatively suggest staying in a travel inn or something similar - after my lightbulb moment I can never see the point in staying in a hotel that costs more than a travel inn !

southernscouser

Miffi wrote:

I know, but enjoying myself and living my life is what got me in debt and is holding me back from saving and feeling like I can live my life...I'm sure I'll have a great time, but I'm just worried and so desperately trying to get back on track.

OK but how did you do it before? Just on a whim (sp) I bet with no thought or planning, stick it on the plastic, worry about it later.

This time you look at your budget. Work out if you cut back on X it gives you an extra £X to put towards it. You don't use the plastic and you look at the best possible MSE way of doing it!

If you must work out how much longer it will take you to pay your debts off by going using the snowballing calculator. Or work out how many extra Quidco clickthru thingys you would have to do or mystery shopping assignments!

Miffi_2

mountainofdebt wrote:

see if you can book a hotel using Tesco vouchers.

Alternatively suggest staying in a travel inn or something similar - after my lightbulb moment I can never see the point in staying in a hotel that costs more than a travel inn !

Is a good suggestion...the hotel is one my friend booked where the rest of the 'hens' will be staying - could look into seeing if there is one nearby.

MrsTinks

you can get 1000 piggy points for booking a holiday inn through Pigs back