To want/expect a holiday, even though we have been a bit skint?

[carmenelectra]

Basically I am really, really pissed off a DP today.

I discussed booking this years family holiday with him yesterday and completely put me off.

We go abroad every year and it is the one thing i really, really enjoy. I very rarely go out or have weekends away anymore, so its the big thing I look forward to. I am willing to sacrifice everything for a wk in the sun.

Now the last couple of years we(I) have overcommitted ourselves finacially and last year things were at times very tough. My Dp put off all of my holidays plans and asked me to wait 'to see how it goes'.

Well, it went nowhere. I usually book up quite early and take advanatge of cheaper flights and longer to pay the holiday off, get spending money clothes etc. As I waited to see how money panned out, we didn't get a holiday at all. I was furious at first, but as I understood most of our outgoings were due to my overspending I accepted it.

Roll on to this year. DP is basically saying he doesnt think we have the spare cash upfront which is true. However, I suggested booking the holiday giving ourselves the incentive and then wotking at paying it of. I have a well paid job and gets lots of regular overtime with very good pay. Dp is the same.

Now he is saying that to go away in the summer we would have to put 'X' away each month and he doesnt think it's feasible.

I thought it was all quite 'doable', but now he has put a huge spanner in the works and put a real dampener on the whole thing.

I think deep down he isnt that bothered about a holiday, he can take it or leave it, hence the lack of enthusiasum.

Now I know some people are going to say that we shouldnt be having luxuries like hols if we have been short of cash, but I disagree. I am talking about a hol in Europe, no biggy.

So am i being unreasonable when I work all hours god sends, to expect a bloody weeks holiday?

Likely more then...

Plus - extra votage for MM here.

Actually, Marianne, Majorca is beautiful. If it's good enough for the king of Spain and Michael Douglas then it's good enough for the likes of you . Sod the recession, we're off on our hols in August!

I agree with Nancy (i'm table 6, thanks ).

I don't get the idea of going into debts/doing overtime/eating baked beans for 50 weeks in order to have 2 weeks 'abroad'. At least in the old days there was an attraction, you could eat, drink, shop there for next to nothing. Now you can hardly afford an ice-cream in euros.

I would prefer to have small pleasures during the year i.e. family days out, experiences, childfree night, something to look forward for each month. Or a good holiday faraway every 5 years.

Fannily my family is in Spain and Dh's family in Cyprus so we have to spend summers there. But i wouldn't go if it wasn't to see the family.

I agree with MarianneM

Bugger - just read that the Spanish airport workers are planning a series of strikes as they think their jobs are at risk

OP - you used your 'get out of gaol free' card with your consolidation loan. What will happen if the overtime dries up or one of you loses your job? IVA? Personal bankruptcy?

You will have no one to blame but yourself.

Who will your children have to blame?

MarianneM, FYI Menorca is beautiful, very unspoilt and is a UNESCO nature reserve. We have been in peak season and had beaches to ourselves. It is cultured, has wonderful fiestas in June, excellent food and people and stunning scenery. You sound very ignorant.

Agree about Benidorm though

Ok ok - I have never been to Majorca or Menorca. Perhaps I was wrong there :)

HOWEVER - the bulk of these Spanish/Turkish/Greek holiday resorts ARE awful.

Majorca...if it was good enough for George Sand and Chopin ;)

Stay away from mainland Spain is my advice. The Balearics are mostly lovely (even a lot of Ibiza). Same with Greece: avoid the Falirakis/Malias and head for Skiathos, the quieter parts of Crete and Cefalonia.

ok, well if the average UK person has £2000 in savings then I'm betting most people don't pay for their entire holiday upfront....

I think the key is living within your means. If you are sure that you'll have the money then their is nothing wrong with paying for things in installments. The problem is if you over stretch yourself and can't finish paying for things.

Most people pay in installments. All travel agents allow you to pay over twelve months, interest free. It's a decent option if you can afford the £100 or so per month.

OMG I just saw I put 'their' not 'there'.... ok I blame the baby bfing on my lap

I thought that's what breasts were for? Not laps?

Thats nothing. I've typed 'fannily' and i don't even have a baby on my lap.

That's fanny

manicbmc

She hasn't got the means she owes £1000s,whatever money she earns isn't hers until she's paid off her debt.

If you have no debt fine pay off your holiday in installments,if you have debt you're in no position to book a holiday,the money isn't yours.

Ummm manicbmc after 2 children the old boobies are practically down to my lap! Put a baby in the middle and believe me I don't need to hold her up

BUT if it is a fixed rate loan with a fixed repayment period you can't just overpay here and there.
And if it is manageable debt ie. you can pay that and the mortgage/bills etc easily then surely a holiday isn't out of the question. Especially when a holiday in the UK will cost more (and it almost always will, unless you have relatives with a holiday home). I completely understand the need for sun, we live in grey rainy skies for almost 6mths of the year (my own fault for falling for a Northern man), I now need the sun.

And yes, there are chavvy/Blackpool places in the med, but there are lots of hidden gems as well!

Point taken

If I could afford a holiday, no doubt I'd get stuck next to one of you squealing giggle I DESERVE it, because I'm a lickle Princess* types.

I think I'd hitch-hike home early tbh.

It is actually possible to have no holiday at all. Just because the UK is just as pricey is no excuse to book a holiday when you're in debt. The op is in debt.

None of us know what lies ahead in the next year or so,odds are it aint going to be pretty on the monthly outgoings front. Anybody with half a brain cell will be getting rid of any debt they have-fast!

I dont think not booking a holiday will make any difference to the OPs financial situation anyway, she already admitted that unless she is paying for a holiday she either blows her extra cash or she will give up the overtime.

She is a stupid spoilt brat who clearly has no more money sense than your average 2 year old.

Bogeyface I think you are being too harsh on OP. I do.

I have foregone a new car, an i-phone, i-pad etc so we can have 2 holidays this year. Sometimes it is a question of priorities. Yes we are debt free and have savings, but a break in the sun (especially when we have bext to no summer here) is needed. If the OP's debt is manageable and they can afford it, why not?