do you go on holiday when on DMP ?

Koicarp

We have 2 1/2 payments left on our DMP which has been on the go for over 8 years. We've been able to increase the payments slightly every year as we both had wage rises. For the first three years we didn't go on holiday, but came to the decision that we would tweak the figurse slightly to give ourselves a few quid a month to put away to take the kids on holiday. I felt a bit guilty at times as effectively I was telling CCCS porkies, but I was willing to do so for a cheap break.
My wife and I have always worked full time shifts, and while some will want to maximise income to pay off the DMP quicker, I wanted to have some relaxation time with my wife, so we also decided NOT to do overtime even though it was available.
Originally our DMP was scheduled to take 14+ years to pay off, but I think it'll be 8 years and and 3 months when it is finished due to those annual payment increases. Whilst some are quick to judge, I have only one regret and that is that I ran up the debt in the first place.

theoretica

There is also the useful bribery scheme, if you think it will work. We will go camping in France next summer if you learn enough French to do the talking...

Deep_In_Debt

I'm on a dmp and have had a cheap holiday = camping in Cornwall for a week which was lovely and not too expensive either.

I try and save money when I can for things like that or for emergencies...it does mean going without things sometimes but worth it in the end.

smartiedriver_2

I have two comments here;

1) earlier this year we went on a £15 each holiday via Daily Mail to Haven in Cornwall. We cooked our own food rather than eating out so main cost was only fuel. It was brilliant, we spent time walking, on the beach and visited tourist attractions that were primarily free or had a very small entrance fee (£5 max). We have no children but there was plenty of (inclusive) things to do for kids at the Haven park.
2) If it's going to take you upwards of 15 years, possibly even 20 (and I'm assuming you're not including a mortgage here, as that is obviously going to be long term) then why not consider an IVA? You would be debt-free in 5 years and your credit file would be clear in 6.

You only get one go at life!

smartiedriver_2

PS - the Daily Mail offer started yesterday, for holidays this year in Sept/Oct and next year in Mar/Apr/May.

BigCraigJohn

Seen this question before and there really was a split opinion. I'd say go on holiday just be sensible about it.

money_honey

What about the Sun newspaper holidays? As well as the UK ones they do Eurocamps in France, Italy etc and they usually have an offer on the ferry crossing too. Could be worth thinking about, as it would probably work out fairly cheap? We've done the Sun UK holidays quite a few times and they always seem good value for money.

lindsayr2403

I'm on a DMP and I will have 2 holidays this year - I have 4 kids and we went to a park resort (Haven) paid for on Clubcard points - and next week going to France- on Euro tunnel - paid for with clubcard points too. We are camping in France - only 40km in from Calais and we have been selling lots of car boot items on our local swap and sell group on Facebook. It's really possible to do - and as you can see - lots of people still manage it. there are bargains to be had everywhere - I'll happily help you look for something which is as cheap as possilbe.... we've not used any money for the holidays and are taking food with us. I've been buying a couple of extra bits every week in the weekly shop so not really noticed it and have a nice supply now to take.
Happy holidaying... enjoy the time with your kids - they grow up fast!

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry, but I'd pay the debt.

A holiday is not an essential when you're paying off debts or struggling to make ends meet (and, yes, I do know what I'm talking about, I'm currently on holiday and at home as I know I cannot afford to go away).

As others have said, you can have fantastic holidays "on the cheap" with newspaper offers, clubcard points etc and if this is what you're planning and you're willing to sacrifice for the rest of the year, then I guess that's your choice.

However, surely this means you'll be living an even more "boring" life for the rest of the year - is that really worth it for a couple of weeks holiday?

When we were young we had one holiday abroad with our parents and it was great but I can't really remember much about it.

Every other summer we were packed off to our grandparents and had a fantastic time, at their house, a week's camping here & there - those are the holidays that I remember!

martinjohn

have you at least considered bankrupty or an IVA?