AIBU in regards to holiday?

[QuoththeRaven]

DH and I were planning on taking the DC (3 and 6 months when the holiday happens) away for a week, nowhere exotic, same country but just for a break. Ive calculated that all in all this will cost us about £850.

Now if we save we'll be able to afford this, but aibu in thinking the money would be better used for other things. My living room needs a repaint, we're changing rooms with ds in august so that he and my daughter can have the bigger room so thats decorating two other rooms, as well as buying furniture for our room and we need a new laptop...

I do want a holiday, feel like i need a holiday. We've never had a family holiday, just the 4 of us (actually never the 3 of us before dd arrived) and i can afford everything else we needed. I just don't like the idea of spending all that money to stay somewhere different for a week .. DH says its up to me, i just don't know... i hate spending money.

[belgo]

Totally your decision. I value a holiday over decorating. Maybe stay at home, decorate and have a couple of special days out?

[belgo]

or buy a tent and have a couple of cheap weekends away?

[TrillianAstra]

My priority order would be:
laptop (if you need need a new one)
holiday
furniture
decorating

[brass]

it's difficult isn't it?

From your list I'd say your day to day life will be much more enhanced by getting the decorating done than if you spend a week elsewhere. You still have to come back to the same house.

Having said that will it stretch to a new laptop as well as the diy?

You can do local (as in not abroad) holidays for much less if research it thoroughly.

Haven't really helped much have I?

[BsshBossh]

Well, as much as I love holidays I'm a real homebody and would focus on getting my house sorted first and then enjoying it as a family and recharging ("staycation"). Holidays can then wait for next year (and all the years after that!). Just my preference.

[Hassled]

I'd have the holiday. The decoration can be done bit by bit - holidays obviously aren't essential, but in terms of a change of scene, some quality time together and some fun they're invaluable.

[ChaoticAngelbitchfromhell]

I'd have the holiday too.

[NHScutback]

Holiday, most definitely. Most of my most fond memories from childhood are holidays, but couldn't even tell you what colour our walls were and how often they were decorated.

[cantspel]

You are not going to get much of a holiday for £850 probably self catering in a chalet somewhere.
So you will still be cooking, making beds and washing up so not much of a break for you but just a change of scenary.

I would use the money on the home and maybe keep £100 back for a day pass at butlins or something similar.

[QuoththeRaven]

i live in scotland so this is where i was planning on going here it is actually self catering in a chalet. we'll be there for my ds's 3rd birthday too. The main decorating would be done for when my dd is ready to be moved in with ds (shes 4 months atm, so we're looking at august/september for all that)

We dont -need- a laptop, but we have 1 laptop/1 desktop and the desktop takes up a massive amount of room on my dining table, we dont actually eat there as theres no room ( i live in a small flat) so technically getting a new laptop would be part of the redecorating really.

[herewegoloopyloo]

Another vote for holiday. For the reasons NHS state. Just because it doesn't have a tangible, physical outcome (unlike new furniture, paint etc) doesn't mean the money is wasted. At 3 yrs and 4 mths your children will be happy spending time with you both (remember, it won't always be that way!) and it will always mean far more to them than the colour of the walls. Plus, even with the best intentions, general household 'stuff' creeps in with 'holidays at home'. Could you make the holiday one day shorter and use the time and money for a lick of paint?

I do think holiday time is important - especially with children. As are not going abroad (assume you are driving) you can take as much as you like with you - all those home comforts (DVD's, music, toys, picnic planket, decent coffee, calpol -whatever matters to you) as well as casseroles/meals etc made in advance to cut down on cooking/shopping that you need to do there.

The place looks lovely, btw, loads of stuff for you to do and a heated pool is always a winner for holidays. Go and have a fab time.

[ooohyouareawfulbutilikeyou]

ive been lucky to have two fabulous holidays in the last year or so, now its time to do the decorating

cries

[cinnamonswirls]

Oh god I had precisely this crisis but went for the holiday three weeks in central america - no joke - am absolutely over the moon to be going but what else I could have done with the money...... (like er saved it)

but memories last more than new stuff..... is what am telling myself

What you can't do is do what I'm doing - have the slightest regret. Have the holiday have a marvellous time and everything around will look brighter!

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Holiday! Plus your kids will be at school before you know it so go now in term time whilst you can ..... before some MNer gets hysterical at you for taking them out during term time!

[grottielottie]

I remember my mum telling me a story about how every year year my nan would have this same discussion with my granddad, asking if perhaps they should spend the money on a new sofa or bathroom. My granddads response was always we will never look back and say remember that lovely sofa we had, while the holiday memories (weather disney land or a week camping in the uk) would last forever.

His adage was true as mum still talks about her summer holidays as a child, as do I.

[Pelagia]

Holiday. Totally agree with NHS.

[QuoththeRaven]

had a look at the site again, i can get 4 nights (mon to friday) for about £200 cheaper than 7 nights. that sounds a bit more reasonable to me. Think i shall speak to the DH tonight and just book it. thats £200 to go into decorating/furniture/laptop fund and we still get a holiday. Plus 4 nights should be plenty for us, we can do something fun on the drive up to the place (3pm booking in) then something fun on the way home (10am checking out) and thats 5 days of family fun.. then the dreaded decorating starts.

[redexpat]

Another vote for the holiday. When I was a kid we moved when I was 2, and the house wasn't decorated for at least 10 years. Laptops last for 3 years, memories for life.

[switchtvoffdosomelessboring]

Holiday!

You could always buy a huge tin of white paint for not many £££ and paint the whole place white.

[QuoththeRaven]

booked :o

[belgo]

Good decision!

[QuoththeRaven]

thankyou all for talking some sense into me. memories are more important, and my DS is already running around singing "holiday, holiday"

[TeenieLeek]

There is a book called 59 Seconds which has all sorts of tips based on actual psychological experiments about things like how to make yourself happier and it says emphatically "spend money on experiences not possessions" , the rationale being that an experience is not only fun it gives you something lovely to talk about with others and that type of human interaction boosts happiness. Though you might want to steer clear of inviting your friends round for an hour's slideshow of the snaps!

[vmcd28]

raven, glad you booked the holiday :) I'd have done that too. It looks lovely, and there's loads to do there.

A week at home doing activities doesnt compare with a week away as a family - you spend proper, happy time together. Not falling out over DIY!

We went to Rothesay for a week last year. It was the best money we've spent in a long time.

[create]

I agree, great decsion. When I was younger I would have been "sensible" and spent the money where there was something to show for it. Now I'm older and wiser I'd always take the doing something option above having "stuff"

It's what memories are made of and gives that living life to the full feeling. We were away (cheap UK holiday) last week. DC wanted to go canoeing and the cost for the four of us was £64 for an hour. Years ago I'd have said what a waste of money, but honestly, I've told everyone I know about how much fun we had and those memories will stay with all of us for ever. And I got to swim in a lake and laugh at middleaged and podgy DH in a wet suit