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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To spend the last of my money on another holiday?

52 replies

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 09:37

I got 2k last year from the tax man that wasnt expected.
I spent half of it on a romangtic holiday for me and dh and we had an amazing time.

DH thinksn ive spent it all but i still have 1k left.

AIBU to spend it on another holiday for me, dh and the dcs for 4 nights overb may bank holiday (all inclusive). Is 1k ridiculously expensive for 4 of us for 4 nights?

Should I keep it in my ISA, which is where its been for the last 8 months untouched.
We are having a full 2 week summer holiday for all of us in august, but i just love holidays and love the family time we spend together when we go away.

OP posts:

FabbyChic · 11/02/2011 09:45

If you want to spend it on going away why not? What a lovely idea it was after all unexpected.

whatsbutter · 11/02/2011 09:46

if you have managed this long without having to spend it, i say go for it

the holiday will give you & your family (a rest) and wonderful memories, more so than an ISA ever will

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 09:48

ooh i thought everyone would say 'nooooo save it for a rainy day'

OP posts:

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 09:48

you dont think 3 holidays (2 of them family) is a bit greedy?

OP posts:

onimolap · 11/02/2011 09:49

Your money, your choice!

But on a practical note, do you have an "oh F*ck fund": there's various rules of thumb for how much instant access rainy day money it's prudent to have (some count in terms of months of salary: I think in terms of cost of replacing ageing boiler).

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 09:56

no we dont have an 'oh fuck' fund. But we have made a few needed purchases (sofa and washing machine) since i had this money and we didnt use it, we just paid for stuff out of our salary.
I think dh has a bitn tucked away if the worst happened, but both our jobs are as secure as they can be, i really never see the point in keeping thousands tucked away 'just in case' because life is to short, and i see people every day who fall over and end up with a sub-arach injury and dont survive, or similar and it makes me feel like I just want to live my life and not watch it pass me by.

OP posts:

KnittedBreast · 11/02/2011 09:57

if i were you i wouldnt spend it on another holiday but my sitiuation is different to yours.

Rycie · 11/02/2011 10:05

I'm not saying you shouldn't spend it on the holiday, but I really want to encourage you to start a "oh fuck" fund, my dh and I both had good jobs, and then last year he was very unexpectadly made redudant, which was an absolute nightmare, and put us under huge financial stress. We rented out our house and lived in a tiny one-bed with our dd to keep income coming in. An "oh fuck" fund would have been very handy. Fortunately things are better, and we're back home.

Sometimes things happen that you just didn't expect, and I don't think its an either/or choice - either you enjoy your life to the fullest and spend every penny, or work yourself to the bone and drop dead from stress. There is something inbetween, and if you have a savings fund, then when you do get a windfall you can spend it on a holiday without a second thought.

Disclaimer: I live in a country where there are no social benefits, so that does colour my view.

Rycie · 11/02/2011 10:06

what I meant to say in my disclaimer above, is that because there are no social benefits I know that there are no safety nets if we get into trouble.

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 10:14

It just feels so indulgent, but what else am i gonna do with this money?

OP posts:

Chil1234 · 11/02/2011 10:18

I agree with Rycie. If you have a safety-net savings account or ISA to cover you in case of emergencies (and 3 months' outgoings isn't a bad benchmark) then how you spend the spare cash is entirely up to you. But if you spent your last £1000 on a holiday and next week someone's made redundant, your central heating conks out or something else expensive happens... you might feel a bit sick.

Shodan · 11/02/2011 10:20

Why would it be greedy? Greedy is taking more than your fair share, leaving others with less or none, surely? Not the case here. And as for indulgent- why not? Besides, holidays are Good for you.

Go for it. There is lot to be said for a rainy day fund (or an Oh fuck fund), but if you're confident you can cover emergencies (within reason, obv), then why not? I would, in a heartbeat.

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 10:20

i dont worry about heating because fil and bil are corgi blokes so they do all our plumbing/heating stuff.

I gtake your point about redundancy but we have a very small mortgage and we could survive if one of us lost our job (just), obviously it would be a struggle but not impossible

OP posts:

CointreauVersial · 11/02/2011 10:22

Your money, your choice.

If someone gave me £1,000 right now I'd get the fence fixed and buy a new wardrobe for my bedroom. That would actually make me happier than a holiday, believe it or not, but that's just me, I find holidays a waste of money (well, not a waste, I mean not a good use of money).

But some of you are probably going "a new fence instead of a holiday?!"

onimolap · 11/02/2011 10:25

I'd be tempted to spend at least some of it on a "nice to have" thing (not the "got to replace at some point" like the fence!)

curlymama · 11/02/2011 10:25

YANBU, all our spare cash goes on holidays, if I had a spare £1000, we would go away and enjoy it.

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 10:25

plus its not like im spending hard earned savings, it was unexpected money which i feel like i should just enjoy how often does that happen, never to me!

OP posts:

onimolap · 11/02/2011 10:26

The only drawback is if the holiday turned out to be a disaster.......

twinterror · 11/02/2011 10:26

Go for it, holidays make happy memories that you will culture be talking about for years to come and its great to have family time together. The cost is not excessive. I love holidays its the 5 weeks a year when we are all together ar a family so why not make the most of it. Have a great time.

Chil1234 · 11/02/2011 10:27

A lot of people find unexpected cash burns a hole in their pocket. It won't come to any harm in your ISA but if you've made your mind up to go on a holiday it's entirely your call.

MyMamaToldMe · 11/02/2011 10:28

I think you want the holiday and no amount of trying to convince you otherwise will sway you! So I say - book the holiday already! :)

twinterror · 11/02/2011 10:30

But I would add that we do have a rainy day fund, so wouldsuggest have the holiday then put a bit by each month. I have several funds inc holiday fund and "emergency" fund for broken boiler type emergency.

Hassled · 11/02/2011 10:32

Could you compromise - find a short break that costs £500 and stash £500?

SexyDomesticatedDab · 11/02/2011 10:33

Personally I'd pay it off the mortgage....but it's your money. Ask your DH what he'd prefer to do with it.

Original poster

mosschops30 · 11/02/2011 10:37

lol of course i want the holiday, i just needed some varied opinions as my mum and my friend have completely oposing views.

Holiday wont be a disaster as we're going to the same place we've just come back from.

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