I'm paying off debts over two years, and have to budget very carefully. I'm feeling some guilt because my teenage son cannot go on his school trip which is a week to Spain (we live in France). He has assured me it is fine. In my current budget, I don't have anything put aside for my family (am a single parent) for next year's summer holiday (even to take the time off to spend with my two children, as I'm self-employed, so a week not worked is a week not paid if you know what I mean). But any money I manage to earn on top of the debt repayments and monthly outgoings I would prefer to put to a family holiday which would be much needed (I only take 3 days off in winter). And then there are the other things ("something else") that might crop up, for which I haven't even been able to budget - likely technology items that break, white goods. Now I've said "no" I wondered if I made the right decision, I guess it was the only decision really, but I do feel a bit sad. I won't get into the politics of the school trips here, though personally I'd prefer they had something more affordable for all like a day trip than a full week away or even spent the school budget for these big trips which parents subsidise on something like computer loans for all kids. But I can see how attractive a big week trip is at that age, and that's why I feel sad about this. I moved to France expecting to find reasonable work but that was not the case, making ends meet has been the priority, and having incurred debts I now must pay them off.