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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

blowing my savings on a trip around the world

77 replies

Winteriscominginnit · 14/12/2016 23:22

I'm in my mid thirties and I've spent most of my adult life studying as well as holding down a full-time job. In about a year I will finally finish and my DH and I have been thinking about going away for a few (4-5) months before I look for a new job. I am almost convinced I won't have too many problems finding a job whilst back and my DH will be able to take a career break. It would blow our savings (total 20k). Part of me is thinking that I would never regret going around the world but another part is slightly nervous about having to start saving all over again. No DC, no credit card debts and we would rent our house out for the time we are away. I know that we could compromise and do a shorter/cheaper trip but all I've ever wanted is just to forget about everything and go traveling for a bit. It has kept me going all those years of studying. Is it just cold feet..?

OP posts:

Atenco · 15/12/2016 02:09

Where are you planning to go?

BradleyPooper · 15/12/2016 02:19

Why are you posting? Don't you have a plane to catch?!

I have traveled hugely and lived abroad for 22 years. No-one ever regrets traveling but plenty regret not traveling.

Tezza1 · 15/12/2016 05:33

The old cliche about what are you going to regret on your deathbed: the great trip or watching interest accrue on your savings?

One of the things I've learnt in life is to do things when the time feels right. I spent a lot of my 20s&30s travelling, and don't regret a minute of it. Many people I know put off travelling until they could retire, which in my case was 55. However, in my mid 40s, I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis which not only reduced my ability to travel, but may actual desire go do so.

Another old, but true, cliche: seize the day.

daisymoon77 · 15/12/2016 06:38

Definitely do it. DH and I were in exactly the same position a couple of years ago and spent all of our savings, probably about 15k, on it. That was three years ago and I'm so glad we did it. I just thought that on my death bed I was much more likely to regret not having gone travelling than to think 'I wish I'd had more money saved up'.

IndieBamBindi · 15/12/2016 06:39

Believe me your gonna regret NOT doing it a whole lot more than doing it.
Your in.a good position to start saving again as soon as you are back on your feet.

Fadingmemory · 15/12/2016 06:42

When you are 90 you can sit and look at your naice house or you can think of all the wonderful memories from your trip. Which would you prefer?

FourToTheFloor · 15/12/2016 06:55

Do it definitely!

80sWaistcoat · 15/12/2016 06:57

Do it! Our plans are to do it when 55. Wish we' had the chance to do it earlier. All money taken up with dh's kids up to know....

But do hold a bit back at home for emergency and to cover first month or do when back. A few grand. You can travel well and cheaply many places if you do it slowly and you'll probably find you'll want less stuff when you get back!

Original poster

Winteriscominginnit · 15/12/2016 08:29

Thank you all so much for making me see sense You're so right, life is too short and we would regret not doing it!
We'll keep a little bit back for the first month and will make sure we, and the house, are insured.
Not sure we would be able to do it for a lot less as the places we'd like to go are far from cheap. We certainly won't be staying in luxury hotels but I don't fancy bunk beds anymore either. We'll find a compromise.
We've got the following rough itinerary in mind:
Start in France or Italy, cross over to New York, do a road trip encompassing one or two national parks, spend some time in Hawaii, then fly to Bora Bora via Tahiti, over to New Zealand, on to Australia and New Guinea, then China (Hong Kong) via Japan, after that fly to Vietnam, spend some time there and in Cambodia, and over to some of the Thai islands.
We're quite into our activities/extreme sports (bungee jumping etc) and we'd be looking into doing quite a bit of diving so that would eat most of our budget I think!
To those who asked what the money was initially for: rainy day, emergencies, house renovations, holidays etc. But we'll just have to start from scratch again when we're back I won't be falling into a 100k job no but hopefully a third of that.

OP posts:

NapQueen · 15/12/2016 08:31

If you had a budget of 1k pp per month you'd get it done for 10k.

EBearhug · 15/12/2016 09:43

When I had a round the world air ticket, I could only go one direction, so that could affect the order you do things in.

SausageD0g · 15/12/2016 09:48

I am envious! As you have a house do it! (can you rent a house out just for a few months)

I love the idea of taking my girls foretelling instead of year 6... But can't afford to. Do it while you can!

YelloDraw · 15/12/2016 09:52

I actually do not think that £10k per person for 5 months is a huge budget as others have been suggesting.

Maybe £2k on flights depending where you go. Another £500-800 or so on visas. If you do anything like go to Japan then you wax £250 instantly on a JR Rail Pass.

YelloDraw · 15/12/2016 09:53

Winteriscominginnit sounds fantastic. Enjoy!!!

EverythingEverywhere1234 · 15/12/2016 09:57

That sounds amazing, truly the experience of a lifetime!! You'd be utterly mad not to go!

Missingthesea · 15/12/2016 10:03

Do it but make sure your house insurance is sorted before you go - many policies don't cover a house left empty for more than 31 days.
Have a wonderful time! Bon voyage

nelipotter · 15/12/2016 10:04

My ex and I did 4 months in Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Cambodia, Phillipines) for $4k each - that's Australian. You can have a rad holiday with loads of adventure sports for way less than 20k in British pounds! Even with your exchange rate how it is. If you are a bit clever, you could take a whole year off for that kind of money....

PeppaIsMyHero · 15/12/2016 10:08

I did something similar this year and don't begrudge a penny of it. Life when I returned didn't pan out quite as I expected, but - because I'd had a break after 20 years of very hard graft - I had the reserves and perspective to deal with it all and am unexpectedly happier now than before I went away.

You are unlikely to ever regret having this experience. Enjoy! x

LittleBooInABox · 15/12/2016 10:14

You only live once! Go for it!

ivykaty44 · 15/12/2016 13:17

Put your furniture in storage and rent the house out.

Leaving your furniture in an empty house is an expensive way of storing the furniture as you need to pay all the utilities and mortgage.

Putting the furniture into storage, even at £150 per month and £300 for removal Then renting the house out at £500 is going to be cheapee than pay bills on empty house just to store your stuff

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 15/12/2016 13:29

Sounds amazing!

Meemolly · 15/12/2016 13:49

Ooh I love a thread like this!! Do it! It sounds amazing! You sound very very sensible and rational about it as well so even more reason to just go for it!

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 15/12/2016 13:53

We did it for 6 months

Would evho other posters though, make sure you have a good management company for the house and awesome insurance

NavyandWhite · 15/12/2016 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 15/12/2016 13:54

Evho???

Echo

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