to ask wwyd? Go on trip?

[Changingagain20394]

I'm currently doing a distance learning masters. There's an opportunity to visit and attend lectures at the UN Headquarters and Capitol Hill in April. I'm absolutely torn about whether to go, but if I'm going I need to decide by Friday.

It's a great opportunity, or at least has the potential to be. However, it's £2000, which includes the hotel and most evening meals, but not flights and obviously spending money. I have about £2500 in my savings so I could pay for it, but I had vaguely intended to save that towards a house deposit (currently rent privately). If I lived frugally for a few months I could replace the £2000 in about four months, but if I don't go on the trip I could continue to live with more luxuries and have more in my savings.

I'm single and don't have any children so there would be no adverse affect upon anyone else either way.

WWYD?

Do it. You can replace / save the money again and this sounds like a great opportunity.

Do you feel incredibly excited at the prospect of this trip? If so do it.

If its just that uts a good opportunity then dont bother

I don't think you'd ever regret spending money on a trip like this - if you aren't going to get yourself into debt definitely do it

That is a lot of money , ds did similar for about 2/3 the cost last year. However it seems worthwhile and you can afford it.

Go

munkeynutts I feel nervous more than anything about going, but I don't want that to be what stops me. Argh, I'm so torn.

Go. Take every opportunity like that while you can.

I'm surprised to see the majority saying to go - most of my real life friends have said they think it's too much money to throw away for what it is. Thanks for the responses!

Go. No brainer

Travelling and learning is never "throwing away" money. Ever

Absolutely go

Go - it sounds fantastic.

If you think it would benefit your course and be a great learning experience go . I assume you may meet other like minded people so could be a good networking experience. I would go

Travelling and learning is never "throwing away" money. Ever

This.

I relatively recently spent all my savings on a combination of travelling and house deposit. While I love my little house (mostly), I loved the travelling more. Maybe see if you can spend some extra time to see more of the US if possible - it could be amazing and you could meet some fantastic people. I doubt you'll regret it.

I'd normally advise not going, but if you can replace the savings in 4 months, I suppose I'd go.

That trip sounds amazing. Would it be with a group of like minded people? Because I think you'll get so much more out of it, if it is.
I say, do it!

Tweennightmare it's the networking experience I'm most keen on, but then I wonder if nothing comes of it I'll regret the expenditure.

BadLad I can be back to having £2500 in 4 months, so I suppose it is replacing the loss but if I didn't go I could have £5000. The deposit's due by Friday so I'm going to have to make up my mind very soon.

Thanks again for the responses, looks like go for it is the consensus.

Alpaca I'm not sure. The course I'm on is distance learning through the University of London and it seems that the other people on it are scattered around the world. I'm not sure if it's just people on my course who are invited, or a wider trip for other courses.

Some of your real life friends might just be happy with their life as is and can't fathom why you're putting in so much time and effort to move on from a situation which THEY are happy with.

I lost a few friends from work when I did my degree part time. Their insecurities came out - they felt as though I considered myself better than them, because I wanted to do more than just stay in the job that they were perfectly happy in.

Go for it!

I had about £13,000 when I was 28 with no ties (house, partner, kids, animals).
I could have gone anywhere, but chose to buy a house. I was then tied to a job I didn't enjoy.

I don't regret many things but I do regret putting that money into a house rather than travelling/expanding my life a tad!

I wish you luck x

Can you speak to anyone who went on the trip last year? If so, did they get much out of it?
Will it add much weight (any?) to your eventual qualification?
What are the benefits of the trip according to the university?
And you've still got to find the money for flights and spending on top of the £2000.

On the face of it, how much value can attending a few lectures abroad give you?
On the other hand, it's an opportunity to travel and take a small break from normal life as well as whatever you get from the lectures etc, so the whole experience might well be worth it, before getting stuck in to buying a house.

Go for it OP. (and bear in mind most of us here are probably with children and family, and have done those trips/regret not having done them - we know what we're talking about )

BadLad I can be back to having £2500 in 4 months, so I suppose it is replacing the loss but if I didn't go I could have £5000. The deposit's due by Friday so I'm going to have to make up my mind very soon.

Being in a position to save is better than many people have it. I suppose my answer to whether I'd go or not depends on your age. Having just £500 to your name if you're, say, 25 is fine, especially if you can build it up and then continue to add to it, and you have good job prospects. If you're 38, then maybe less so.

Badlad I'm 29 so somewhere in the middle.

tea it won't affect the qualification either way, it's totally voluntary. My masters is in Global Diplomacy so I suppose the benefit is just to see the institutes at work. I did really want to work for the UN, but now my career where I am based now is going well and I'm reluctant to move away now. That's obviously on the off chance the UN would want me!

Guardsman I envy you your saving willpower!

Flip a coin. Heads you go, tails you don't. See how you feel once a decision has been made - you'll know if it's right.