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AIBU?

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AIBU to spend £15k-£20k yearly on holidays with £150k income?

146 replies

hangak · 12/08/2026 09:49

If your combined take home is around £150k a year, is it unreasonable to spend around £15k-£20k on holidays for a year.

This would be a few UK and EU city breaks, plus 2-3 long haul trips.

OP posts:
Jiski · 12/08/2026 17:32

Not unreasonable if that’s what you want but would you consider a couple of holiday homes instead. They may be better - an investment

Sarah2891 · 12/08/2026 17:33

100% brag post.

Any1ForTennis · 12/08/2026 17:35

I have an apple tree in my garden, is it unreasonable for me to spend money buying apples a few times per year?

FrauPaige · 12/08/2026 17:41

Totally fine. Once mortgage is paid, club activities/tutors/school fees paid, university fees and living cost fund for each child is on track for that magic £60k per child in cash, £50k house deposit per child is ring fenced, pension pots topped up, cars paid off outright, rainy day fund sitting at at least 6 months of living costs, and liquid savings of £50k ring fenced, then do whatever you like with your surplus.

Cara707 · 12/08/2026 17:41

Only if you want to live on baked beans with the heating off all Winter... or yes, of course it's fine, you lucky, lucky person (*not jealous!).

Doteycat · 12/08/2026 17:44

FrauPaige · 12/08/2026 17:41

Totally fine. Once mortgage is paid, club activities/tutors/school fees paid, university fees and living cost fund for each child is on track for that magic £60k per child in cash, £50k house deposit per child is ring fenced, pension pots topped up, cars paid off outright, rainy day fund sitting at at least 6 months of living costs, and liquid savings of £50k ring fenced, then do whatever you like with your surplus.

Well ive all this sorted and more thankfully.
Id not sleep well with only 50k in savings though and a bit more for their house deposits too. So i guess im good spend the 20k on hols that i do..

TiredMummma · 12/08/2026 17:47

I am more confused how you can spend so little on this number of holidays (6-10?) - is it just the two of you? Plane tickets alone for 5 a long haul economy would £1200. So if you are doing that number of holidays covering everything for £15k you are doing well.

.

tooloololoo · 12/08/2026 17:48

Yes I earn similar to you and spend about £5k per holiday 3x per year

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 12/08/2026 17:53

We earn a similar amount, maybe slightly more and probably spent similar before we signed up to private schooling. I think holidays are really valuable, I have lovely memories as a child of them and I honestly think they make the strongest core memories (for me anyway). If that's how you want to prioritise your money then go for it! We always tried to show them something different, I personally think the holiday is more worthwhile if they're trying new food, seeing a different way of life, learning about animals and environments or history, I feel like 20k on 3 or 4 all inclusives a year isn't as valuable.
I also think saving for a rainy day is massively important, I wouldn't put holidays above that.

FrauPaige · 12/08/2026 17:55

Doteycat · 12/08/2026 17:44

Well ive all this sorted and more thankfully.
Id not sleep well with only 50k in savings though and a bit more for their house deposits too. So i guess im good spend the 20k on hols that i do..

Great. We oft overestimate the importance of illiquid assets and understate the importance of liquid cash. Keep doing what you are doing and holidaying as you see fit. Approved.

MyDarlingRose · 12/08/2026 17:56

Do what you want. So long as you’re funding it yourself it’s your business what you spend your money on.

Leapfrog84 · 12/08/2026 18:12

If you can afford it then why not?
As long as you’re not getting into debt then I would prioritise holidays over everything (after bills/essentials).
I keep a little aside in case of emergencies but I don’t save a huge amount.
I know three people who poured huge amounts of money into savings and pensions. They always said they did without so they could enjoy retirement.
None of them made it to retirement.
If holidays make you happy and you’re not getting into debt then go and enjoy every second of them.

CesarSoubreyon · 12/08/2026 18:58

DH and I have a combined income of 60k and we manage a 10k holiday a year which goes to show it really depends on how high your outgoings are and how well you manage your money.

Ordonot · 12/08/2026 19:27

I get this - we are planning on travelling business for long haul this year - not for the luxury but because economy has become very uncomfortable. We can afford it but it feels too much of a splurge. Sometimes it feels wrong to spend so much but if you’ve got it why not?

Tssco · 12/08/2026 19:28

YANBU. Enjoy.

Tssco · 12/08/2026 19:30

Combined. £150k? My DH makes £150k alone

Ordonot · 12/08/2026 19:42

Tssco · 12/08/2026 19:30

Combined. £150k? My DH makes £150k alone

And?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 12/08/2026 19:51

Tssco · 12/08/2026 19:30

Combined. £150k? My DH makes £150k alone

It would be more impressive if you made it.

(and yes I do make that and then some.)

It’s more inspiring for women to realise that they have every right to the high paying jobs and should encourage others.

OceanAvenue · 12/08/2026 20:15

SpottyAlpaca · 12/08/2026 11:34

If you can comfortably afford that budget for holidays, crack on. Good for you.

I would want to be completely debt-free, including having paid off my mortgage & accumulated a substantial quantity of ‘rainy day’ savings before spending anything like that amount on holidays though.

Why though? You can never get your time back....

Tintinuviel · 12/08/2026 20:17

hangak · 12/08/2026 09:49

If your combined take home is around £150k a year, is it unreasonable to spend around £15k-£20k on holidays for a year.

This would be a few UK and EU city breaks, plus 2-3 long haul trips.

Tissues is between you, your partner if you have one, and your accountant.

As long as bills are paid and you arent in debt? It's your choice. I'd make sure you have some savings also.

JHound · 12/08/2026 20:25

Depends. Can you afford your essentials plus savings / investments?

If so I don't see the issue,

DoggerelBank · 12/08/2026 21:21

Spend what you want if you can afford it, but I'd be trying to splash the cash on trips that have less of a carbon footprint. Some luxury trips by train, and a bit of short haul flying, and one long haul trip every 2-3 years seems a more reasonable balance to me. I don't personally think being rich should entitle you to trash the planet massively more than everyone else, esp as it's easier for you to afford greener forms of transport than the rest of us.

SoInLuv · 12/08/2026 21:34

WineCharm · 12/08/2026 09:51

Absolutely not. I'd up it to £100k. Why take budget holidays at that income level? Treat yourself, OP!

This nails it 😍 😆 🤣 😂
Some poeole and their problems...lol

CJP45 · 12/08/2026 22:27

Everyone's circumstances vary so opinions may differ based on our own lived experiences. My personal view is irrespective of earnings or what amount is to be spent. What I mean by that is I would tell anyone that if they are lucky enough to have daily life costs covered and be left with "play money" then to do with it whatever makes your family happy. Of course an element of future planning for retirement is essential but keeping focus on living in the moment is also important. My parents provided well for us, we enjoyed amazing holidays that are now memories me and my siblings cherish. My mum never reached retirement and my dad passed 2 years later - only 1 month after claiming his pension so the money spent on all those holidays was without doubt worth even more in reality because us kids got to spend that time with them. Life is short, enjoy it whilst you can x

Brokentoes85 · 12/08/2026 22:30

How can anyone answer that without knowing your overheads and commitments

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