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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a holiday even though we're in debt?

305 replies

HalalPork · 23/08/2016 12:28

We haven't been away at all this year or last year. The year before our lovely ILs took us away for the week (not abroad).

We've had a really tough time over the past couple of years, illness, job loss, general stresses. We've never done a foreign beach type holiday.

From a quick browse it looks as though we could book a villa with a pool for next year for a couple of grand. This amounts to four months roughly of credit card repayments at the current rate we're clearing it (all 0%).

Would this be mental? I'd like to give the kids the experience before they're too old to want to come with us (teenagers already).

We're not on the bones of our arse, Dh earns good money and all the bills etc are paid before we look at repayments, and we do still have some fun money, we're not sacrificing ourselves at the altar of debt.

Would it be madness at this point to stick another £2k or so on the credit card?

OP posts:
itsmine · 23/08/2016 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HornyTortoise · 23/08/2016 13:53

Honestly, I would book the holiday. But I don't pay as much attention to debts as I probably should...

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 13:54

no! go camping as cheaply as possible!
We have no kids, and struggle, both work full time right now (more than full time a lot of time) Other half claims working tax credits because can have v quiet periods without much work . We go without things like meals out, we never go abroad, etc, social life is pub quiz and that's it.
We feel guilty to be going to Polperro for £45 a night in October. But I saved for it and paid the lot off, I don't own a credit card (as I know what will happen). I've also put aside £200 for our petrol (which is what will cost us , minimum, to drive there and back) I feel extravagant re this but DP's had three big bereavements this year and we need a break. It's not putting us into debt to go and I went without things to pay for this.
You have to cut your cloth accordingly. Not saying don't have a break..just do it cheap!
When I've been more skint than this it's been literally go and stay with a friend or camp somewhere (wild if possible) - as long as I had petrol money and brought some food with me. It can be done

mummymeister · 23/08/2016 13:54

Champagne lifestyle on Lemonade income??

what you should be doing is working out how this debt came about and how you can sort it out in 2017 so in 2018 you are debt free and can book a holiday.

some workplaces offer free debt advice sessions paid for by them but with an independent person. I would seriously look at doing this if I were you. credit cards are 0% now and mortgage rates are low but what will you do if they go up?

you need to get your day to day expenses under control. look at the simple things like phone contract costs, sky tv, swapping to basic food items but really you need someone to go through with you what you spend month on month line by line.

ProseccoBitch · 23/08/2016 13:54

I can't afford to go on holidays so I don't go. Simples!

PersianCatLady · 23/08/2016 13:54

Changing the subject slightly but why do people post on AIBU, get almost unanimous answers from posters and then say "oh but"?

Original poster
HalalPork · 23/08/2016 13:54

Itsmine, high street bank. Went from 3.9% to 1.9%.

OP posts:
Original poster
HalalPork · 23/08/2016 13:55

MissClark, there's five of us.

OP posts:
AyeAmarok · 23/08/2016 13:56

Why don't you get a job and use that to fund the holiday? Rather than adding to the debt you've already built up spending on yourself that your husband is having to work to pay off for you?

This is bonkers.

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 13:56

You do sound like you want luxury rather than just a cheap break. DP's just lost his sister and two of his best friends (I've had a big bereavement too) but we are not going to say bugger it and sod the money because we think we are entitled to/ deserve a break. Cornwall it is.. we won't be eating out, will self cater and all our money will go on petrol /sightseeing.
If we had a 'posh' holiday abroad we'd be suffering for it probably for years financially

Original poster
HalalPork · 23/08/2016 13:58

I can't work. Or at least not for a while yet. I'm too unstable (more depression than mania). I've been hospitalised six times this year. Getting a job would be pointless, I'd lose it.

OP posts:
SpaceUnicorn · 23/08/2016 13:58

The ones I looked at for that price included flights etc.

Do they include food, drink, and spending money too?

christmaswreaths · 23/08/2016 13:58

I would find a cheaper holiday, personally.

Even if you go to a cheaper hotel, or 3 star resort, or self catering apartment, you can still just use it to sleep and go to fantastic free beaches.

One of my best friends got married in the Algarve and we all stayed in swanky hotel in Faro as that's where all the guests were staying, but as soon as the wedding was over, we ventured to cheap little hotels on the Algarve coast and the beaches were spectacular. No crowds, amazing vast beaches, it was one of the best holidays I've ever had.

Also, although we go abroad a lot, my kids say that the best holiday they've ever had is a week in the Highlands. We rented a cheap cottage for the 6 of us (£450), but it was in a gorgeous setting and we did stacks of walking, kayaking, beaches, etc....the weather was mixed but the kids didn't care.

So my vote would be to find a holiday cheaper, as you can do it with less than 2k and still have a fantastic time.

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 13:58

Yep get a full time job and pay for it.. I did despite being unwell… I 've paid for every penny of this to cheer up DP. And that gives me satisfaction..not in a smug way..just that I did it myself without using overdraft or credit card. .on minimum wage. That's not a martyr thing.. but a self respect.. I didn't put myself into debt to buy our holiday and worked my butt off often at two jobs

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 13:59

and I chose a cheaper hol but not like breadline cheap

purplevase4 · 23/08/2016 13:59

Rather than having two weeks in a villa, why not just go on a city break if you want your ds to have the chance to go abroad with you? A weekend in Paris or Berlin would cost a lot less. Berlin is particularly affordable and there is plenty to do.

MapleandPear · 23/08/2016 14:00

I would plan a holiday to have something to look forward to, but not book anything, and something more modest.

Original poster
HalalPork · 23/08/2016 14:00

Just to be clear, I'm looking at a week in a cheaper end villa. Not two weeks in five star luxury.

OP posts:
alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 14:01

If you want something, you work for it.. borrowing is only for emergencies.. that's how I was brought up. And I've been homeless/ literally at rock bottom before anyone hauls me up on that. I'm still not back on my feet after a few years of chaos inc being homeless (left DV) but if I want something I work for it. If I can't afford it.. to the bottom of the list it goes.. until I can do something about it

Original poster
HalalPork · 23/08/2016 14:02

Technically we can afford it. Carry on paying the same amount off the debt and use the extra mortgage money to pay the holiday.

OP posts:
alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 14:03

2k is just too much when in debt.
I'm not saying don' t have a hol. OP I hope you do get your break. But you could do it for maybe £500 to £700 if careful and in this country.
My best family holidays were camping and catering for ourselves.. Scotland, Wales, around England.. we spent v v little

elderberryflower · 23/08/2016 14:03

I'd be depressed if I had £15k of debt! This has got to be a wind up surely?!

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 23/08/2016 14:03

Piling on more debt might make you feel worse in the long term. You do sound like you need something good to look forward to but this 'not a grotty hotel' attitude is probably why people are being a bit harsh. I think you need to see what your dh thinks, I hope you do get a holiday somewhere and enjoy it Flowers

alltoomuchrightnow · 23/08/2016 14:04

the thing is, could you really enjoy holiday and relax, knowing the debt was bigger? Could you really just switch off?

middlings · 23/08/2016 14:05

HalalPork you can come up with all the reasons that you want but the fact is the majority of people on this thread, and I think probably the majority of people in the world, would be of the view that adding 13% to an already significant amount of debt is madness. I cannot imagine why you would do it. And your children won't thank you for it.