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Son spends all his holidays abroad?

18 replies

worklifebalans · 26/03/2019 12:42

Hi I know it's not my business, but it sort of is, as we are funding his university halls. The money for his university halls is paid for by his grandparents who currently have all of the 'family wealth'.

Every uni holidays, my son jets off somewhere abroad on holidays. He usually goes to somewhere off the beaten track in Eastern Europe and says it's very cheap. He LOVES travelling, and so doesn't really buy new clothes as he says he is skint because he likes spending his money seeing new places.

This summer I suggested that he get a job and he's said no thanks, he's going to get flights for somewhere far away and go back packing. In his opinion he needs to make the most of having all this time off before he starts his long long hours graduate career. I think it's wasteful to spend all this money travelling when he could be using it to save for a flat.

Am I being an old grump and he should spend time travelling, or should he come back down to earth

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 26/03/2019 12:43

Lucky guy. I wish I had travelled when I had the chance.

Bookworm4 · 26/03/2019 12:44

Does he work during term time? How is he funding his trips? Every student I know works all year round.

postiepostie · 26/03/2019 12:45

How is he paying for it?

BlackCatSleeping · 26/03/2019 12:47

Meh, let him travel. I travelled a lot when I was younger and never regretted it. In fact it's some of my happiest memories. There's plenty of time to settle down when he's older.

nutellalove · 26/03/2019 12:47

I think if he's paying for it leave him to it. Sounds like a great life and he is right, it will be difficult to travel once working with 20 days annual leave.

adulthumanwolf · 26/03/2019 12:48

I wish i'd done that when I was his age!

ShanghaiDiva · 26/03/2019 12:50

He's an adult and it's up to him.
If you want to stop the travelling, make him get a job and save for a flat then stop paying for the halls of residence, but it seems rather petty to do that imo.
I think it's probably sensible to have some work experience on his cv prior to applying for graduate jobs, but, again, it's his choice.

Stayawayfromitsmouth · 26/03/2019 12:51

The money for his university halls is paid for by his grandparents who currently have all of the 'family wealth'

What does this mean? ^^

Unless he's asking you for money all the time I don't really think it's any of your business.

TillyTheTiger · 26/03/2019 12:51

I think he's doing exactly the right thing. He has his whole life ahead of him to be a slave to the 9-5 and house deposits etc. Let him enjoy his travels while he has no responsibilities.

ladybee28 · 26/03/2019 12:52

You say you're funding his halls, but then you say it's his grandparents. Who is it?

"make the most of having all this time off before he starts his long long hours graduate career"

How exactly do you suggest he 'makes the most of it'? Sitting at home not spending money rather than experiencing the world, building confidence and open-mindedness and spending very little money?

And does he WANT a flat?

This is so self-contradictory and odd I'm tempted to call reverse...

IncrediblySadToo · 26/03/2019 12:52

Should newspapers be forced to get actual
Journalists?

Prequelle · 26/03/2019 12:53

He has another 40 years+ 'to get back down to earth'

Life's shit and then we are dead. I'm with your son on this one.

PhilODox · 26/03/2019 12:53

You say you're funding his halls, then you say his GPs are... :-/

SpoonBlender · 26/03/2019 12:53

Leave the lad to enjoy the last vestiges of childhood, it's the final long holidays of his life and there may never be such cheap travel again.

DisastrousBee · 26/03/2019 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RosaWaiting · 26/03/2019 12:56

as long as he doesn't ask you or anyone else for extra cash, I think it's fine.

RaininSummer · 26/03/2019 12:56

Your son has the right idea. I doubt his travel even costs that much anyway but once he graduates and starts work he will be reduced to the rubbish annual leave we all get.

AllTheFours44 · 26/03/2019 12:58

I assume the OP considers the money given by GPs her own money as they hold the ‘family wealth’.

YABU for saying ‘family wealth’ by the way! Sounds like the kid can afford it. He obviously chooses to spend his money on experience over things. Good for him.

I would worry about his lack of work ethic however as he has never had to work by the sounds of things. Real life will come knocking soon. How will he fare?

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