Many people prioritise/ live for holidays above all else

I prioritise a holiday every 2 years over everything- however it's slightly different because it's to go back to the UK with my daughter, as we live in Australia, and family is everything to me. It means we have pretty much nothing for 2 years- no real treats, etc but it matters to me and I accept that we sacrifice other luxuries to be able to facilitate it

Ive NC for this as outing but its definitely a you do you topic. No right or wrong answers just choices. Some will prefer and value financial security some live for the moment, some have both.
We were fortunate enough to have 2 incomes and disposable cash but spent a lot on some trips that I was desperate to do. Think luxury cruise, meeting father Christmas in lapland and other trips/Disney. My DH was happy with whatever choice I made and happy to enjoy the holidays.
He died unexpectedly of a heart attack 18 months ago when our DC was 6. I can not tell you how thankful I am that we have these memories and spent that money. It is very very true that you only live once and tomorrowis not a given... find a balance your happy with.

I did an AI fly and flop trip exactly once and was bored rigid. I like city breaks and self-catering trips to interesting or beautiful places. I have covered a huge amount of Europe but still have gaps - mainly Scandinavia - where I am slightly put off by the price of wine :) I really am not bothered by the thought of doing long-haul flights anymore. Eurocamp, or gites/apartments worked really well when dd was small. Now she's grown up we do the odd fancy hotel, or stick to apartments. My DH retired this year and as pp above said, not waiting til we are too decrepit to do everything,

People have different priorities, I can’t spend ££££ on holidays because that would mean less dc activities, less theatre/days out, less socialising & I don’t want to work full time.

Easy I book a holiday and get on a plane. My flight is not going to make an ounce of difference until major polluters countries get in line. Sorry to derail OP but I hate that holier than thou attitude

We are very fortunate in that we spend every day of our annual leave allowance abroad and are able to allocate every penny of my salary to holidays (mortgage is paid off).

We love exploring new countries (no lying on a sunbed for 2 weeks here) and would much rather travel now while we have the health to do so as you just don't know what may be round the corner.

However, we would never get into any kind of debt to fund our travels.

Same.
Love holidays. Had 4 so far this year (1 ski, 1 Europe sun, 2 in UK).

But they are paid for from income, not debt.

No way I’d drop money on a holiday. But then again I’m all travelled out, no real passion for it after years of it.

I’m looking at what I’d spend on holiday/ travel, say 2-3K a year, and spend that on living a very good lifestyle in my home area, eg regular spa days, memberships, meals in excellent restaurants, hikes, having a better wardrobe etc. I have several days a week that feel better and more relaxing than being on holiday.

I've always prioritised having an enjoyable day to day life and a secure and lovely home for my children above all things.
There is no scrimping and saving and going without just to pay for a week away happening on my watch and I can't imagine what sort of mental/ emotional apocalypse would possess me to mess around with my mortgage to go in holiday 😱
People are different though, and different things bring them the most fulfillment and enjoyment. Such is life.

I have always been a traveller, not a stay at home person

I've travelled all over UK, England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales & widely abroad

We have an old car & other classic modes of transport

We have worked & pay our taxes

We are not lay on a beach kind of people, we enjoy learning about the local history, culture, food, religion, art, music, traditions, sports etc

Why should we not travel & spend our money how we wish ?

Some other countries do not have benefits, the people rely on tourists to provide them with a living. We tip well.

Example

I went to Iceland after a volcano had stopped sending ash clouds into the sky. The locals were pleased to have the tourists return. This was before covid.

That’s us. Few nights out and very little eating out, and we don’t t have expensive hobbies or activities - but we love our holidays.

I love a holiday, but it blows my mind how people spend so much on them. I don’t do resorts, don’t do package holidays. I book everything individually myself and it’s much cheaper.

Dc and I went to Spain last month and it cost maybe £700 total including flights, meals, all transport, huge flat right by the beach for 4 days.

I went to Spain on my own last year. It was maybe £500 for a week, including flights.

We used to travel more and further afield pre-dc and we definitely were never spending thousands even being away 3,4, 6 weeks.

We have a beautiful house though and a lovely lifestyle, lots of hobbies, so that’s definitely where the money goes.

Because one individual not going on a flight is going to make exactly zero difference to anything while China has over a 1000 coal powered plants and are approving another two every week. No point martyring yourself for a cause that is unfortunately already lost.

Unlike ppl, I don't think there's anything wrong with flying in moderation. But:

1. Millions of individuals deluding themselves that their choice has no impact - and subsequently flying several times a year - does indeed add up

1. China produces crap to feed our overconsumption in the west.

I sort of agree. We drive one very old car (cheap to run and no monthly payments) we could afford 2 nice cars but then we'd have to sacrifice our 2 holidays a year. For us, family holidays are way more important than nice cars. A lot of friends don't agree and that's fine.

@Beezknees can't delete on phone web ignore

Holidays are our main indulgence, we will cut most other spending to go away as often as possible. It's usually 4 or 5 times a year but only 1 or 2 if those will be abroad. Family holidays are likely to be over soon and we are cramming as much in as we can while they still want to spend time with us. I'll paint my house another time, the bathroom could do with updating, my car is old and I don't care but the time we've spent together as a family is irreplaceable.

🥱 Steady on Greta.

You extended your mortgage to go on holiday??!! Madness.

I live for my holidays and am going on my second one this year in a couple of weeks. However, I’d never extend my mortgage to do it.

Not being on holiday doesn't mean sitting at home. Plenty of local activities to do (and if not ... why do you choose to live there since you find home so boring) 🤣

We do spend a good chunk of our disposable income on holidays and are happy to drive old cars and be fairly frugal in everyday life to allow this but there is no way I would take on debt to go on a holiday

Our holidays aren't massively extravagant affairs and I prefer to go on multiple holidays each year rather than blow the lot on a single £££ holiday

We save up and have 2/3 trips a year. We love to travel and it helps to have something to look forward to, we do it on a reasonably small budget with air BnB and cheap flights booked in advance, although we have booked a winter trip away with BA and that was very reasonable as a package...

I love a holiday

I work so have a yearly holiday abroad so in guaranteed sunshine , as well as obv pay bills etx

But I save for a holiday or put flights on credit card and pay off over 3mths with a tiny bit of interest

Would never put on mortgage though

Do people understand that global warming is a thing? How in good conscience can people be jetting off?

Yes indeed that's a consideration, but it is quite challenging to live entirely carbon neutrally. Aviation accounts for around 2% of global emissions, while fashion is 10 and animal agriculture close to 20 - so as I don't eat meat, and I don't spend my travel budget shopping at Shein, I can live with myself.

We prioritise day to day living and interests over holidays. The kids do musical instruments, canoeing, horseriding, sports and a couple of other things. Husband is a keen photographer. I do a craft as a hobby. We spend a lot of money on food, cook fairly elaborate meals from scratch most days but eat out at least once a week. We try and get out with the kids to do something at the weekend that usually involves expense - local railway, rent a boat, theme park, theatre, etc.

We used to do weekends away to do something a bit further off (e.g. a show in another city) quite a bit but all the hobbies got in the way! We do go on holiday most years (though not this) but it is generally pretty chill and not normally abroad.

Quite easily. My couple of flights a year are nothing compared to the rich and famous. I'm not going to waste my time feeling guilty.