I just don't know where to begin with this

clairebeth

Great to hear that you are progressing so well!

That is a wonderful offer from your parents! But understandably it's causing you stress tti think about where to find the spending money from.

How about you and hubby sit down and work out how much spending money you would need first. I'm not sure how long you're going for, but if it was, say, 2 weeks, perhaps a generous amount for a family of 3 would be £1500 for the trip? (I've never been to Disneyland, but I imagine it can be pricey for food etc.!)

So, could you find an additional £200 a month to put aside into a separate account until the holiday? For instance, our summer holiday never year is been funded only by additional earnings, such as extra bank shifts, hubby football earnings and bonus things like bank switch incentives (just made £600 doing this)! In other words, erratic income that I don't rely on in our monthly budget.

Is there a way you could ringfence some money to put towards the holiday, such as selling stuff on Ebay or a secondary income?

Otherwise, talk to your sister, perhaps she is in a similar position to you and it would be better to postpone for a year? It could be a real reward for all your hard work paying off your debt!

clairebeth

*'next year', not 'never year'!

salXYZ

fatbelly wrote: »

Your parents clearly think it is the right time because of those anniversaries. How old are your kids? Would they get more from the trip if they were a year older?

Son is 9 years old, would be 10 if we were to go. It's a really tricky one. On the one hand I would love to give the experience, however with my new attitude to money it just seems so inappropriate to be going next year.

salXYZ

clairebeth wrote: »

Great to hear that you are progressing so well!

That is a wonderful offer from your parents! But understandably it's causing you stress tti think about where to find the spending money from.

How about you and hubby sit down and work out how much spending money you would need first. I'm not sure how long you're going for, but if it was, say, 2 weeks, perhaps a generous amount for a family of 3 would be £1500 for the trip? (I've never been to Disneyland, but I imagine it can be pricey for food etc.!)

So, could you find an additional £200 a month to put aside into a separate account until the holiday? For instance, our summer holiday never year is been funded only by additional earnings, such as extra bank shifts, hubby football earnings and bonus things like bank switch incentives (just made £600 doing this)! In other words, erratic income that I don't rely on in our monthly budget.

Is there a way you could ringfence some money to put towards the holiday, such as selling stuff on Ebay or a secondary income?

Otherwise, talk to your sister, perhaps she is in a similar position to you and it would be better to postpone for a year? It could be a real reward for all your hard work paying off your debt!

Having spoke to a couple of friends who are Disney fanatics. they reckon that it would be more like 2K spending money for two weeks

We could definitely raise the money. We are fortunate that despite our debt, we do have a decent 'surplus' however this is meant to be going on reducing the debt as opposed to holiday spending money.

My dh is becoming more and more admant that we should go as the opportunity may not arise again. I can see his point but it just wasn't part of the plan!!! Feeling like the bad guy right now.

NeverendingDMP

Slightly different perspective from me as we are about to go away as a family to something we cant afford and have borrowed to do so causing me untold panic. Some things crop up that are avoidable by saying no outright but they are actually something so special you cant alwayds and it may be something that you may need to suck up and save/ prolong the debt free date for. I would say speak to your sister about it. If you can afford then okay. If you can almost afford maybe suggest oct half term to give you more time to save. The question is are you in crisis debt or manageable debt as general life and food costs can not be stopped. Can you do this and still eat get clothes, live okay, pay minimums yet save up.
Ive never been but gather its not the cheapest of places to go.... Sorry

salXYZ

We have agreed to sit down tonight and discuss it properly, reach a decision and move on!

salXYZ

NeverendingDMP wrote: »

Slightly different perspective from me as we are about to go away as a family to something we cant afford and have borrowed to do so causing me untold panic. Some things crop up that are avoidable by saying no outright but they are actually something so special you cant alwayds and it may be something that you may need to suck up and save/ prolong the debt free date for. I would say speak to your sister about it. If you can afford then okay. If you can almost afford maybe suggest oct half term to give you more time to save. The question is are you in crisis debt or manageable debt as general life and food costs can not be stopped. Can you do this and still eat get clothes, live okay, pay minimums yet save up.
Ive never been but gather its not the cheapest of places to go.... Sorry

Thanks for posting

I suppose we aren't in crisis debt as we can afford the payments whilst still being able to afford living costs etc. We do also have a 'surplus' however this is supposed to be going towards the debt or emergency savings.

You're right that things do crop up. My attitude to money has changed so much over the last month though and it worries me that we are being frivolous and falling back into old habits.

klew356

I think that you will pull this around you just need a plan, and discipline, you and your husband can more than afford a 4k holiday if you cut the unnecessary spending,
Get rid of the very stuff

salXYZ

So we discussed it and we’re going. Still not 100% happy but we’ve decided to go for it. There are going to have to be some cutbacks in other areas though.

I’m actually really cross with dh’s attitude. He thinks it would be a shame if our son ‘missed out’. Going to Disneyland is great but I hate this mentality that kids who can’t go have somehow missed out. I grew up in a family where money was not in abundance. We couldn’t afford luxuries or holidays abroad and yet it hasn’t coloured my life in any way whatsoever.

maggiesmummy

salXYZ wrote: »

So we discussed it and we’re going. Still not 100% happy but we’ve decided to go for it. There are going to have to be some cutbacks in other areas though.

I’m actually really cross with dh’s attitude. He thinks it would be a shame if our son ‘missed out’. Going to Disneyland is great but I hate this mentality that kids who can’t go have somehow missed out. I grew up in a family where money was not in abundance. We couldn’t afford luxuries or holidays abroad and yet it hasn’t coloured my life in any way whatsoever.

I can see both of your perspectives on this one - but I think I would go with your husband on this one purely because this is an opportunity to celebrate as an extended family and you don't always get those. The debt will continue to go down - just keep plugging away but it is a marathon not a sprint. Good luck!