Holidays

cottonhead

Just wondered how far down the list do holidays come as a priority to you? I know most of us on here dont have much spare money but I read somewhere recently that many people see holidays as an essential and make a point to have one even if they are in debt.

Last holiday for me was summer 2010 ( paid by parents) and before that in 2007. Thinking we must make a point of visiting our family who live abroad as havent seen them for 5 years now - will get budget flights and do as cheap as we can but still feel a bit guilty!

What is everyone else planning to do re holidays for 2012?

scottish_stresshead

Last holiday abroad i went on was 2006 ! thats before me and hubby had our son and when I wasn't so crap with money!!

tbh i have £1600 worth of debt and id rather pay that off first before even think about going on holiday!!! although we're off further south of scotland for a week with the in laws in june thats about it...want to head to disneyland paris in a couple of years (before ds turns 7 so can still get him for free lol) so thats my motivation for paying my thigns off!

FireWyrm

What is this thing...holidays?

Seriously, the last time I went on holiday was a week camping by the sea in offpeak about 2 years ago. Holidays are not essential for life and so they come at the very bottom of my priority list. However, I have been putting £30 a month aside into an ING savings account, so by the middle of next year, I might be able to contemplate another week camping by the sea. As for abroad...never - too expensive and too much hassle with two small children.

camuk81

We are very lucky a friend is taking a group away for a weekend at the end of January, then in the summer maybe a week away in the Uk with the dogs.

Hiddenidenity

They are way down my priority list, I did use to go with my mum and dad but he died 2 years ago and I havent had one since x

seriousDFW

To be honest, we probably do view holidays as essential. No they aren't essential for survival, but I do feel it's important to escape the stresses of everyday life once in a while.

Our holidays aren't extravagant, and we're hoping to be debt-free within a year and so we have always accepted that a yearly holiday, while putting us back a little bit from becoming debt free sooner, are worth it for the memories/experiences rather than just staying at home paying debts off a few months quicker.

This issue I am sure will divide people - some see them as complete luxuries whereas others see them as 'essential' for a happy and fulfilling life.

The type of holiday is also relevant I think - for me, sitting around a pool in the sun would be a waste of money completely, whereas going to exciting/interesting/historic/cultural places adds to life's experience and so should be done if at all possible.

janey183

I had a weird kinda year.
Dad died in Feb went on a downer, didnt go to work, didnt go out = didnt spend money!:o
Had Easter camping with bezzie in the New Forest (remember easter? HOT HOT HOT!!) which was wonderful, then with the rest of the money I had saved went to Lanzarote for 5 days (alone)...
Feel bad about spending all that money, but hadnt had a holiday for over 5 years and I thought I deserved it.
Next year will be camping in UK.....:j

DorsetGirl_2

We have a holiday every year. They are important to me and it gives me and the children something to look forward to.

However I dont spend a lot on food or clothes. I dont drink or smoke, so our holiday is my treat.

pelirocco

We do like our holidays , but Im not sure i would miss not having one

I have a friend who sees her holidays as an escape from the job she hates , she can not grasp the logic that is she didnt have ( expensive ) holidays she wouldnt have to be miserable for the other 40 odd weeks she works to pay for them

Standingtall

Well I have had a holiday every year for as long as I can remember. To be honest, in the past, I could afford them. In the future, well we shall have to see. If I can take my daughter out of school and fill a case with cheap essentials then probably I should be able to scrape enough together for a week in the sun. It does not need to cost a lot. I work very long hours and travel with my job so as a single parent it enforces some quality time with my child.

I doubt I could justify this expendenditure to my creditors but then they will be my creditors for the next (potentially) 12 - 20 years so is a holiday to be outlawed for that amount of time?

I am sure there are plenty of readers who will say that I am wrong, it was me who ran up the debts and me who shoudl therefore do without every single luxury to pay them back. Well this is true, but I did not expect to lose the second job i used to have and neither did I expect to lose the maintenance I used to receive from my ex (he lost his job).

So in the meantime i shall hope that maybe I will be able to afford another holiday and this shall remain important to me.

Swans1912

Holidays have been very high on our list and sadly they haven't been cheap either. We usually go away twice a year to Florida for 2 weeks a time in September and then again in December.

Not going away this December.

In fact we had three two week trips 'queued' up at one point which was madness. We do find it is the only place we can truly relax and escape reality.

We don't have anything booked now for next year or even plans... it is killing my wife and i'm finding it hard. I know it is crazy given we have been so lucky and we appreciate that.

(To be fair we work hard, don't have kids, don't drink at all, don't smoke at all and don't really have any other treats apart from maybe a car) But i know this applies to many of the people on here also!

We have a very small task of getting our money in order. We are lucky... and we know this and the hard working people on this forum put my wife and I to shame!! And I honestly mean this!!

I've pushed my wife and I to prioritising our money first so Holidays are now low down on the list.