Another no holiday year

FBaby

It wasn't a need when I was younger because I had enough to explore in my more secluded world, but it certainly has become so once I became well settled.

It's twofold, firstly a need for a short change to life, a bit like when I suddenly feel like eating something I only have once in a while. It's nice sometimes to break habits and do something different that will stimulate your senses.

It is also about culture and learning. OH like to go to new places, anywhere, it doesn't matter as long as we get to meet local customs and traditions.

I would say that both of these are a sort of need. Not an essential one, but one that makes me think of the Self-actualisation need in Marlow's Hierarchy.

svain

Im fortunate enough to have also travelled in my life and understand the benefits (whether partying, culture or relaxing). I however could afford it without it having major impact on my financial life. My point is really for the people who cant or struggle to afford it, and that the sacrifices are not worth it. Holidays are a nice whilst there, but are generally a short term "high" in my experience and are not the answer for many people's issues.

GazzaHT

Totally agree with this. We are mid/early 40's and have two young girls. We went to Florida 6 years ago when the girls were young and not been abroad since due to money. What we did do is buy an (old) caravan.

The caravan looks old compared to others on campsites but its ours and we have really had some fantastic weeks away with the girls. The UK has many beautiful places and the girls love us all getting out on our bikes and they easily make new friends.

I would go as far to say that most of our time away has compared or rivalled to our Florida trip and once the initial purchase is covered it is relatively cheap if you search around.

Yes I would love to be able to afford foreign holidays every year but we can't and we try our hardest to make the girls happy and they seem to love the caravan/camping.

GazzaHT

Sorry, meant to quote this post.......

3rd Feb 17, 10:42 PM
Buy a tent.That's what we did when money was tight.

Actually it was a trailer tent and we still use it.


Edit: BTW I'm in my mid fifties with a mortgage and still working.
Last edited by Gloomendoom; 03-02-2017 at 10:46 PM.

seven-day-weekend

We went tent camping for at least twenty years. It's still a holiday. Holidays don't have to mean Mexico, or China. We now have a static caravan in Snowdonia and use that a lot; other than that we stay with friends or occasionally a city break. 'Long haul' to us is France, or Ireland, despite having lived in Spain for eight years. We have the money, just don't want to spend £1000s on holidays.

But I think the OP's main problem isn't the lack of what they see as holidays, it's envy of their friends.

Pollycat

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

But I think the OP's main problem isn't the lack of what they see as holidays, it's envy of their friends.

I agree - this ^^^ is the crux of the matter.

leespot

The OP seems resentful that other people managed their finances better in preparation for retiring / later life. To be mid 50's and feeling like that isn't great - harboring that resentment will only make you feel even worse than you already do.

Obviously everyone's financial situation is different, but if money is so tight then the OP really needs to be re-thinking their situation. A total mental and practical overhaul in regards to the OP's approach to money seems to be needed. We're only in our 30's and tick along quite nicely - by mid 50's the mortgage will be paid but we still (hopefully!) won't be wanting to retire by then anyway.

Whatever your friends are able to do now is because they decided to plan ahead, whereas you seem to have not done so - which might be for reasons completely beyond your control, or equally because you chose to live from payday to payday. That still doesn't mean you need to be resentful of their lives, though. Channel your energy into making positive changes for yourselves - you'd be amazed how life changes when you do.

Gloomendoom

GazzaHT wrote: »

The caravan looks old compared to others on campsites but its ours and we have really had some fantastic weeks away with the girls.

Our trailer tent is so old that it now regarded as a classic. Its 1970's bright orange colour gives the game away. Not bad for £300 though.

TBagpuss

maman wrote: »

Seems OP has a massive bee in his bonnet and huge envy of friends who've been able to retire before him. Most of his ire is directed at public sector workers, especially those of an age to have a final salary pension.


What he conveniently forgets is that many public service jobs are poorly paid compared with private sector so the pension is deferred salary. Although many can retire mid fifties, it doesn't mean that they have a decent pension just that they've had enough. It will depend how many years of service they've put in. And unlike the private sector, the government decides on pay rises (through 'independent' pay bodies:D) and they've been very few and far between in recent years. I know there will be examples of poorly paid private sector workers too but just wanted to try to explain a bit from the other side.


What OP needs to do is take as many tips from the site as he can and save for a holiday although I doubt he'd be very happy.

Re:the bolded. I think this is far less true than it used to be. These days, it's really only true for a minority of private sector workers, mostly in the upper echelons. It might be true for some people currently in their 50s or 60s but even in that age group I think it's no longer the case for most people, and certainly for anyone under about 45 it isn't the case, and never has been. I think a lot od public sector jobs and pensions are less good than they once were, but still generally significantly better than the equivalent job / level of job in the private sector. Public sector workers often have far better benefits in terms of things such as paid sick leave, too.

I appreciate that this is tangenital to the OPs original issue!

leespot

I'm public sector and can confirm that the pension situation for me (mid 30's) is definitely not the same as some of my longer service colleagues. The pension forecast for the newer staff is far less favourable than the people currently retiring into the older pension plan. All swings and roundabouts I suppose ��