to book this holiday and be damned?

[ThatVikRinA22]

we havent had a holiday for 2 years.
i have had a shitty shitty shitty year.
i have cut my hours at work (the source of some of the shite) which is making life slightly more bearable.
ive just priced up a week in a villa for next year.
i have debt. (credit cards)
but from Aug this year i will have about £250 a month that i could save if i dont buy a new car (current car is 12 years old and over 100.000 miles)

ive booked a spa break for myself and dd on credit card (% interest be damned!) but its only a one night break....

my job is mentally and physically draining. im also booked in for some surgery this year. im down. flat. done in.

would it be really really stupid to just book this holiday on the already creaking credit card and say sod it? just pay it off at £250 a month and hope it goes eventually....?

is this totally reckless?
or is the recklnessness worth it to save my sanity? my job is safe.....but ive had it. really had it. ended up off sick for 5 months type of had it....but im back now and need something to look forward to....i dont think i can bear the thought of wading through more human misery for yet another year with no respite....

[SuperiorCat]

Vicar knowing the job you do and some of the shit life has thrown at you in recent years, you, of all people, need a break.

Sod it and have a wee blow out with your DD

[MorrisZapp]

Hmmm. Well, you definitely deserve a break, in fact it sounds like you absolutely need one. But you can't afford it without debt.

You'd need the time off work to go, so why not take that time to rest closer to home? Would that be possible? And then go on a foreign trip when you can afford it.

Sorry to be boring and sensible.

[TwinkleSparkleBling]

Do it. Without doubt but then DH is always telling me I am shite with money

[BadgersRetreat]

as long as the addtitional debt won't stress you out even more, i say do it.

[ThatVikRinA22]

i am shite with money - but dh is too and is very forgiving - his response is usually "ah well...its only money"
which is why i love him.....

i dont think i will manage another year without a break. i know it sounds spoilt - but ive not had a holiday for 2 years, not had a break abroad for 6 years, and i just need to look forward to something, something special.

a break abroad feels different - decadent even - but truly relaxing.
i need to relax before i spontaneously combust....

[jollyjester]

If you pay the 250 a month towards it then go for it! If we were to wait to do anything before we could afford it in our house we'd never do anything

We just make sure we pay it off, use interest free credit cards etc.

Life's short!

[LadyBeagleEyes]

You've worked out that you can manage the debt, just.
Go for it, have a glorious week in the sun, relax and come back refreshed, it'll do you the world of good.

[Dilidali]

I'm one of those people who can't sleep at night merely thinking of owing a penny. I obviously don't know your circumstances, but if the car is used daily for communting to work, it is quite important.
I recently experimented by having a holiday in my head, for a week. I planned every day. I cleaned my bedroom of any clutter, got new sheets, used only fresh towels after shower as opposed to grabbing a damp one just used by my DD, stopped for a coffee after work, made myself a continental breakfast with a bunch of flowers plopped on the table, saw an exhibition after work etc. i felt strangely detached. Bit like holiday.
It mifht work for you too?

[Dilidali]

*might, sorry

[CloudsAndTrees]

If you book it, set up a standing order payment to your credit card of the amount you think you can save each month.

Life is for living, and if you can afford the debt and manage it well, then just this once, go for it.

BUT, if you dread the thought of that money definitely leaving your account each month, then you probably can't afford it and it will end up undoing it's own good.

[ThatVikRinA22]

its the car vs holiday conundrum....

but ive had my little car from new, its serviced yearly, its properly looked after....it may well last a bit longer.....

i cant do both....

im sort of doing that this year dil - we are holidaying at home...we are having days out, DH has done a holiday schedule including galleries and museums!

but
its just not the same.....

im wondering if i could get a mortgage holiday for a month....that'd pay for a third of it!

i know holiday are simply not an essential - but ive been married for 22 years and been a mother first and foremost for 21 years of that....i forgo such a lot.
and now im working a job that i find incredibly stressful physically and mentally....with no respite. i realise that loads of folk are in the same boat....but i dont think i can just carry on without some proper away time.

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

Our car is ten years old and "venerable" to say the least...
We have booked three nights in a glamping tipi in Northumberland, with money we technically haven't got itswim for DH and I and our three youngest DCs, and, well, there comes a point where a holiday is essential - we need something to look forward to, and making plans and menus (for the "wild" campfire cooking) and everything makes our currently shitty lives that bit more bearable.
I guess what I'm actually saying through all my waffling is Go For It! and have fun

[formicadinosaur]

I would probably find the debt more stressful. I'd end up with a cheaper hol. But we are all different.

The uk is due to be sunny all July, is it possible to book somewhere here?

Sorry to be so boring!

[formicadinosaur]

Sea side?

[ThatVikRinA22]

im so used to having debt i hardly notice.....would be worth it for the absolute luxury of relaxing in warmer climbs.....

i know. i know!!

its just having done abroad twice (in 41 years!) and home a lot more i can detect the difference....but beggars cant be choosers.....

best have a think

just showed DD the villa....her first words were " dont you think you'd best talk to dad first!".....
she is the sensible one.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I'm pretty sure I once read a research report that said looking forward to a holiday is as beneficial to your health as actually going on one (maybe more so) so if you booked it now you would actually be doing yourself a huge favour

[ThatVikRinA22]

oh i knew there was a reason i was on here! i love you all....

id better talk to DH though.....

im tempted. so so so so tempted.....

[mumofweeboys]

Save up your cash (direct debit into an isa ect) then if car is still going next year use the money for last minute holiday. We did this and got all inclusive for 2 adults and children for a wk for 1k.

[LayMeDown]

I firmly believe holidays are an essential. Even if its a few days in a caravan in Wales or wherever. My DH works long hours, stressful jobs, travelling for work, school, activities, parties, extended family commitments. Between them we only have one weekend out of eight together, so a family holiday to get away and spend time together without all the normal life shit going on is so important.
I have a pot I put into every month. It covers car costs, house insurance and annual holiday. That's how essential I regard it. I'd give up the car before the holiday.
Go. It's important. You'll pay it off. But start factoring in the cost of time out because that's what keeps you going.

[TimeofChange]

I'm with Mumofweeboys.
Save the money and then book the holiday last minute if you can afford it.

Our holiday this year was a £240 caravan 100 yards from the beach on The Gower.

We didn't eat out, no arcades (there aren't any there).
Campfires on the beach.
We paid to get in a castle and that was it really - no money spent.

It was brilliant and cheap and best of all, no debt worries.

Can you change your job?
I think it is your job that is the problem not the lack of holidays.

Presuming you have two days off per week, can you spend one of the days not racing round cleaning, shopping, washing etc, but have a lazy day relaxing?

I think that helps a lot if the rest of week is manically busy and stressful.

[Lavenderloves]

Save the money and book last min iswhat i would do sensible

After reading the above the benfits of looking forward to a hol. I say book it!

I booked a few things earlier this year and have loved having something to look forward to.

Woukd you not rarther book a bunch of long weekends to spread the joy. You can get very cheap flights around europe or even cheaper breaks in the uk, when you can watch the weather.

[TimeofChange]

There is probably also research that shows the stress of debt outweighs the benefit of looking forward to the holiday that resulted in the debt.

Save up, then book.

You can still look forward to the holiday without it being booked.