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Original poster

Why is the answer always 'a holiday'?

37 replies

MorganMankini · 27/02/2025 09:49

Not really a TAAT, but slightly prompted by one.

Why is a fantasy spend, from a windfall or prize or inheritance, always a holiday? It's usually the answer on here, and on quiz shows etc. Why not a car, or a garden makeover, or jewellery, classes in learning the trombone - even 'I've always wanted to scuba dive in Bali'. But it never is: just the generic Holiday.

As you can see, I can think of loads. I struggle to believe I'm the only one with imagination for something more specific. Or - maybe, as I suspect with quiz shows, code for 'bugger off, it's nobody else's business' so that the winner can just pretend to family and friends that the money has all gone on a holiday?

Light-hearted. But curious.

OP posts:

Original poster

MorganMankini · 27/02/2025 13:39

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 27/02/2025 13:13

lol at you thinking your answers are imaginative in comparison to a holiday 😂

I was one of the people on the thread you’re talking about who said that they’d spend the money on a holiday and I absolutely would. For the whole of my adult life, holidays have been carefully costed, go where I can afford, package deals. Of course I’m going to spend my imaginary windfall on a holiday where I don’t have to count the pennies, I can upgrade to the bigger room, I can spend an evening drinking cocktails even though they cost £12 each! How is that less imaginative than a pair of earrings?

See, that detail is imaginative. That's what I'm missing! I want to know about the bigger room and the cocktails.

Unimaginative is saying holiday under 30 other posts saying the same, without any more detail at all. Where's the fantasy in that?

OP posts:

BarnacleBeasley · 27/02/2025 13:43

Unimaginative is saying holiday under 30 other posts saying the same, without any more detail at all. Where's the fantasy in that?

Actually, this makes me think the fantasy part is the thought of just blowing all the money on a non-essential. It doesn't matter what the holiday is, just the fact that it's something intangible that you don't get to keep, and (arguably) don't need. The pleasure and fun from the fantasy comes from the fact that you're not being sensible with it and using it for your mortgage or pension or whatever. So all the posts saying 'holiday' are actually saying 'I would not be sensible and put it in the family pot, I would spend it on One Big Thing.'

RetroTotty · 27/02/2025 14:23

Fairyliz · 27/02/2025 12:47

Because that would be my truthful answer.
Im old I don’t want any more ‘stuff’, rarely drive nowadays, can’t be bothered with the house, it’s okay and that’s good enough for me.
However I do love a holiday and spend any spare money on them.

Another oldie here, not bothered about stuff, definitely a windfall holiday for me, a leisurely travel around the UK via trains and boats and chauffeured cars. Lovely!

roselilylavender · 27/02/2025 14:39

Generally holidays give you more time to yourself so you would have more time to process what has happened, what you are going to do and how to deal with it.
Also, whilst some people go on several holidays a year, most people don't and many won't have been on holiday for years and would like to have a chance to step away from the day to day grind. They may not particularly care where, they just want to get away. I have a pretty nice life and already have a holiday to look forward to at Easter. If someone - anyone! - knocked on the front door now and asked if I wanted to go on holiday with them, I'd ask them to give me a few minutes to scribble a note for DH & the kids before yelling "what's the weather like" and running upstairs to pack. I get claustrophobic so would hate it if it turned out it was a caving holiday or something but the chances of that are low and I enjoy most other things!

roselilylavender · 27/02/2025 14:42

I also think the non-specificity of "holiday" makes it such a good answer. You could win £500 and have a weekend away. You could win £10,000 and spend it all paying down debt and sorting things out but keep £500 aside for a weekend away or you could spend all £10k going to an AI for a week or two and both are holidays. Or you could spend tens of thousands on a bespoke safari but no one would know the exact amount because, hey, it's a holiday. It's not like a car or a house where you can look up the price.

BuildbyNumbere · 28/02/2025 13:08

Maybe because a lot of people would like to go on holiday? Does it really matter??
And scuba diving in Bali … is a holiday!!

SophieFichini · 28/02/2025 13:13

MorganMankini · 27/02/2025 13:39

See, that detail is imaginative. That's what I'm missing! I want to know about the bigger room and the cocktails.

Unimaginative is saying holiday under 30 other posts saying the same, without any more detail at all. Where's the fantasy in that?

Show quote history

You are missing a lot more than an 'imaginative detail' OP

ohtowinthelottery · 28/02/2025 13:13

It would depend on the amount that I'd won. £100k I'd probably say buy a campervan. I've been considering it for a while anyway, but am struggling to justify the outlay versus likely usage. But if I landed that amount then I'd probably just go for it.
A holiday will mean different things to different people. For some it'll be the chance to have one when it's not been an option before due to finances. For others it will mean a holiday of a lifetime ie a cut above the annual family holiday.

Suns1nE · 28/02/2025 13:17

It depends how much you win.

There are lots of different options depending on whether is £500, £5k or £5m

wherearemypastnames · 28/02/2025 13:28

Because I have a car
I like my garden as it is
I don't wear jewellery
And in general I don't like or what stuff

And the quiz shows I watch it isn't always a holiday - it is sometime towards the wedding or a kitchen makeover. Yesterday was see a show in London

thewashingneverends · 28/02/2025 13:34

Maybe some folk do genuinely mean a holiday and don't get specific because it's none of folks business.
Personally, I'd go an expedition cruise to Antarctica with one of the ultra-luxury cruise lines. (If you've seen Susan Calman in Antarctica you'll get the idea!)

NewMrsF · 28/02/2025 14:15

how much money are we talking? Because my answer would change depending on the amount.

not interested in a new car, an unless it’s enough to buy a new house outright I’m happy where I am. If it was like £60k+ id pay for all the work that needs doing (damp coursing, new lintels, window converted to French doors) to be done all at once and go on holiday for the month it takes.

otherwise I would just spend it on holidays, but maybe pay for a holiday a year for x amount of years , so it’s paid off without us having to plan finances for it.

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