To believe that going on holiday is a privilege and not a right?

[speedymama]

Visited family in the Midlands last weekend and one of my cousins is looking for a job after being made redundant. He is married with 4 children and they have a mortgage. The youngest child is 3yo and his wife does not work.

She complained to us that she needed a break and wanted to go on holiday but they could not afford it. I expressed my sympathies and said that you cannot always have what you cannot afford and that she should consider taking them for days out to parks which are free. This was greeted with a frosty silence and she then said that everyone deserves to go on holiday and one way or other, they will be going.

My cousin confided to me a few weeks ago that they were having money problems and were avoiding bank etc. Knowing this, I just feel it would be irresponsible of them to even consider wasting money that they do not have on a week away in a caravan (she is considering a Haven holiday).

Am I being anachronistic and old fashion or is she reflecting modern attitude of buy now, worry about it later? I also think that if she wants the holiday, she should get a job to pay for it. That way, he could afford to take a lower paying job which he cannot afford to do at the moment.

haven't been to Alnwick Castle but it is on our list for this year.

I've only read the OP but I'm with you, it's a privilege, not a right.

We went to Alnick casle last year, great place but expensive to get into so be prepared.We looked for all the bits filmed and did the Harry Potter tour.

Everyone needs some time out, However I do think that when there is no money for the basic needs in life then a holiday is a long way down the list of things to have.

Do you think she may just be looking for an escape from the reality of her life at the moment?

Do you think they could do one of the token things £9.50 in some of the "newspapers"

Also I am a semi stay at home mum, but when we wanted to go on a family ski holiday to Lapland, I got a job and paid the £2,500 for it.

A caravan with 4 children..... it's my idea of hell. I'd rather stay at home.
When DS1 was born we couldn't afford a holiday, and he didn't see a beach untill he was 21/2. I accepted that as I had chosen to have a child an give up work that we cluoldn't afford luxuries.A beach holiday can be brilliant for the children though, and if she's doing it for them, then good for her.

We are very very lucky as DPs family live by the sea and have their own sailing boat

I still think holidays are imtportant alhhough of course basci bills need to be paid. We are going to Florida this year with money that was put aside for jobs on the house. But i think thata holiday with the extended family is more important than having the perfect house. We will not look back at pride at our new bathroom but we can look back fondly at memories of our holiday. We have friends that have not been on holiday in years as they have sunk all their money in the house and their family seems so fragmented as a result.

I've never been on a package holiday yet.

I've been to Alnwick Castle - ages ago. Remember it being good though.

I do like visiting Wales - lucky enough to have family there so have plenty of excuses to go plus live in an area where loads of people go on holiday so get that for free all year round (well on top of normal living expenses) & it's quite central for a lot of places so day trips are good.

I want to go to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand.... lots and lots of places. My friend has just done a 6 month world tour & the places he went too looked fantastic.

speedymama you are an angel that is a huge amount of money!!!!!!

Please don't give them any more your dh is right....as another poster said there is no lesson if others are bailing them out.

Even if they lose their home a family of four children will not end up on the streets. Take a big step back and let them sort themselves out hun.