Holiday dilemma

pukkamum

DH really wants a holiday abroad this year, we have three kids (youngest being just 5 mths) and we haven't been abroad since our honeymoon 6 yrs ago.

A couple of years ago we took out a loan to pay for a holiday touring england and wales in our campervan, it was the best holiday ever really worth the money.

Since then we have been camping in our van. However we have had to sell the van deue to having the third child and used the money to pay a couple of debts and buy another car.
Therefore if we go camping away this year it will mean buying a new tent.

The loan we took out two years ago finishes this month it is £50 per month and we haven't missed it at all.
DH wants us to take another loan out at the same amount per month to go away this year, if not abroad but in a holiday let in this country.

We have had a really tough couple of years emotionally and physically and DH is desperate for a good break (he works very hard very long shifts).

However i hate the idea of getting in debt again so i am really railing against it but am i being too cautious?
Does DH 'deserve' a good holiday?

What would you do???

balletshoes

If your jobs etc are as stable as they can be in this economy, and you can afford to keep paying the £50 per month, personally I don't see a problem with taking the loan and paying it back to go on a family holiday. The APR on a loan is less than it would be paying by credit card, yes?

nuttybabe

we are the same. we havent been abroad since before ds1 was born (he is nearly 7) and we have just been caravaning.

anyway, personally i would save the money and go next year. i would not want to take out a loan for a holiday - been there, done that and i wont do it again. if we want a holiday we will save for it.

we are going to centre parcs in a few weeks. we have been paying £100 a month to my sister since last year (going with her and her family) and when that stopped we saved 100 a month for spending money.

we are going to do the cheap sun holidays next time they do it. why dont you do that instead?

pukkamum

nuttybabe wrote: »

we are the same. we havent been abroad since before ds1 was born (he is nearly 7) and we have just been caravaning.

anyway, personally i would save the money and go next year. i would not want to take out a loan for a holiday - been there, done that and i wont do it again. if we want a holiday we will save for it.

we are going to centre parcs in a few weeks. we have been paying £100 a month to my sister since last year (going with her and her family) and when that stopped we saved 100 a month for spending money.

we are going to do the cheap sun holidays next time they do it. why dont you do that instead?

We would do the Sun hols but am i right in thinking they aren't on term time holidays?
DH's holidays are set in the summer holidays (most expensive time of year).
The trouble with us saving is that there will always be something we need to dip into it for.
But we wil always pay a loan.
I have our 'nest egg' but i'm not touching that!!;)

Pee

Think you can get Sun holidays dates in the school holidays.

I think I'd go with the holiday a) because it's important to your DH and as you say he works hard and b) because memories of that holiday are something you and the older children will have forever.

Foggster

pukkamum wrote: »

We would do the Sun hols but am i right in thinking they aren't on term time holidays?
DH's holidays are set in the summer holidays (most expensive time of year).
The trouble with us saving is that there will always be something we need to dip into it for.
But we wil always pay a loan.
I have our 'nest egg' but i'm not touching that!!;)

Oh pukkamum and pukkadad I can see both sides of discussion. I love the sun and love the pool and so do the daughters. We have had some truely wonderful and relaxing holidays in the sun and it recharges the batteries. We both work hard and long hours and somehow makes it all worth while when we are lounging by the pool with the kids being entertained and spending hours in the pool etc etc.

But it is soooo blooming expensive nowadays. We have to take our holidays in school holidays and last year, the holiday alone cost £2500 for 2 weeks and then we realised both daughter's passports had expired. Then there is the cost of clothes, lotions, potions and all the other expenses of going abroad.

I cant see us getting to go abroad for at least another 3-4 years in the current climate. Too darn expensive.

Not much help am I!!!

nuttybabe

pukkamum wrote: »

We would do the Sun hols but am i right in thinking they aren't on term time holidays?
DH's holidays are set in the summer holidays (most expensive time of year).
The trouble with us saving is that there will always be something we need to dip into it for.
But we wil always pay a loan.
I have our 'nest egg' but i'm not touching that!!;)

i know someone going away next week (our schools off) so must be some in holidays. worth looking into to.

you could have a standing order for a high interest savings account that you have to give 30 days notice so you cant just dip into it, may help.

although i do agree that if your hubby works hard then it does make it hard saying no. i feel bad as my hubby works hard in a job he hates so i can stay at home with kids (and i miss working). maybe agree a little holiday this year and save to a better one next year.

or do the holiday as long as he knows that the next one wont be until its paid off (and saved for....)

when_will_it_end

why not book a holiday and pay it off at 50 pounds per month that way when its paid for thats it, no future loan

dmg24

when_will_it_end wrote: »

why not book a holiday and pay it off at 50 pounds per month that way when its paid for thats it, no future loan

The OP wants to go away this summer - they ain't going to get far with £150!

Counting_Pennies_2

Have you thought about going away in the May half term instead of the Summer hols? It might be a little bit cheaper but still good weather at that time of year. In fact nicer for the younger ones not too hot!

pinkshoes

I wouldn't enjoy a holiday if it was paid for with borrowed money.

Why not save the £50 a month and then you'll have £700 for a holiday next summer, and you can enjoy it even more knowing it's paid for with hard earned cash!?