To ask how you actually afford to go abroad

[lavenderpekins]

Aibu to feel fed up? Not going away again.. nearly everyone I know is going on a family holiday to the med this summer holiday.

Sort of lighthearted I know we're very lucky to live in this country, able to buy good/nhs/school.. I'll get over it too..

We also book in advance and so one month book ferry for £130, another month book overnight cheap hotel accom at £45 for a room on way down, campsite is £400 for 2 weeks, petrol there and back is about £200. We take pasta, rice, beans, teabags etc with us and but fresh out there. We cook all our meals! Holiday for a family of 4 for 2 weeks is about £1500 I think. France is beautiful and there are some lovely campsites but we do need to spread cost over the year. Depends if you like camping too- I love it!

And I'd much rather spend a week camping than a week in Disneyland to be honest

I don't. Nor do I have a social life of any kind. Or kids. Or new clothes. Or house repairs. Or anything really. Life's a bit crapper than I expected it to be. Thought I'd be rolling in it earning 25k but nope.

I honestly don't know how others do it.

I feel sorry for tourist areas when people take everything with them. It seems to be all take and no give.

We got a chalet in the Isle of Wight in August last year for £400. It wasn't the Ritz but the view was first class and it was right by the beach. Is that sort of thing do-able, bogofeternalstench?

@ladyincement what utter nonsense! We take basic food with us but we visit tourist attractions and buy fresh food in local shops using bakeries and grocers.

Cheapest deals I have seen involve Brittany ferries + 1 week gite in Normandy or Brittany; if I've read it right you can get travel + accommodation for 4 people + car for £4-500. If you settle for somewhere near the coast petrol won't cost much. If you cook your own dinner and buy a picnic from supermarket for lunch, food shouldn't cost more than eating at home. We've had some brilliant holidays like this.

Just got back from a flybe three night holiday abroad from local airport. We have less money this year so could not go for longer, but cost about the same as holidaying at home.

Simple answer OP - either people have more income than you or they have different priorities or they are prepared to incur debt to have a holiday.

I like these threads. Particularly the posts along the lines of:
If you book early / late you can find bargains. This year it's only cost us 2.5k.
It's cheaper to go all inclusive in Costa Rica than have a week in a caravan in Cleethorpes.
We don't have children yet but manage a long haul 3 week holiday every year (try costing that for 2 adults and 3 kids in August love, it's eye watering).
People choose to spend their money on the wrong things. If they gave up booze, fags, gambling and big tellies they could afford a holiday!
You can go camping in France very cheaply. (Really? I'd rather chew my own arm off than spend two weeks under canvas, preparing three meals a day while scraping mud off everything, trying to dry clothes, sh*itting and showering in communal hell and wanting to do serious harm to three children.).

God, I love mumsnet!

seasonschooner Wed 12-Jul-17 21:59:22
"Nobody worried about their carbon footprint then."

Ferry or train to Calais no more environmentally unfriendly than driving to Cornwall, probably less so.

Hats off to those that find camping fun. And more fun than Disney. Have you been to Disney?! I have done both and can assure you Disney is more fun and I say that as someone who was not particularly a Disney fan - we house swapped near it and went for the day.

I try to live by the motto don't knock it if you haven't tried it, but camping in France stretches my resolve. The thought of kids running around everywhere makes my hair stand on end, and someone I know from the dcs' school went to a particular campsite in the South of France and found three other families from the school there. Quelle horreur !!

I have been to Disney in Florida and found it expensive, plastic and overrated to be honest. Horses for courses though!

I've friends who spend over £10k on their summer holiday and think that's perfectly reasonable

It is perfectly reasonable if they can afford it and want to pay it.

A gite otoh can be very comfortable, Lady. Last one we stayed at was a 16th century town house with a large and functioning fireplace. We never told ds that there was also a television stacked away behind those cupboard doors...

We have booked in advance for next year and pay it off monthly via interest free direct with the holiday company.

We run only one car and it really helps.

Shopping in Aldi and no treats. No cinema, bowling, trampolines, beauty treatments, I need braces, but no braces, no new clothes or shoes from shops in town, comics, climbing, days out at theme parks, swimming lessons, one to one music lessons...

Our all inclusive in Majorca for a week in August is about £3000. It's been tough saving for it, but I need something to look forward to.

Erm yes Cory I was talking about frequent flights!

Ladyincement I wonder if you and I are the same person you type things I am thinking on every thread you are on

I camped alot as a kid but DH would not set foot on a campsite he has an aversion to other people on holiday so being on a campsite surrounded by other peoples kids his idea of utter hell. We camped once with friends and it confirmed all his fears. Horses for course indeed!

Went to Florida pre kids and out of season (1990) it was a real cheapy, awful accommodation, miles from the parks etc etc..i have no desire to go back at all. People pay 7 to 10 k for big family holidays there and it seems a waste to me, but people love it and the ones around here with children seem to love it too. I find it odd, but maybe its different with kids and might even be better now?

bogofeternalstench

You are on £25k with no children.

You don't have house repairs, you don't holiday, you don't buy new clothes, you have no social life.
what on earth do you spend your month on?!

We buy big holidays on 0% interest credit cards and just pay them off as and when. It's quite addictive seeing how much you can get out of a card and how much you can pay off it each month - almost like a race against yourself 😁 But then I am weirdly fascinated by money and finances.

I'm lucky that I earn enough to go on numerous holidays each year but i'm not sure that I would scrimp and save all year, denying myself any luxuries just to afford a week in the sun.

You have to live your life for the remaining 51 weeks. I have friends and family who don't really holiday because for them it''s too much of a sacrifice to put your life on hold by never going to the pub, having a take-away or enjoying occasional concerts and days out throughout the year just to get abroad for a week

My father in law takes pity on us and gives us some money to get away.

Thought I'd be rolling in it earning 25k but nope.

I'm on 23k and go on at least two holidays a year, including long haul travel. How can you have no disposable income if you really live as frugally as you say??