To feel guilty that I'm not taking kids on holiday this year

[Peachsnowpop]

We had a huge over the top holiday last year and we're still paying for that (£15k ish holiday). We go away every year abroad but this year we need to knuckle down and clear debt. We'll still have great days out but there's no 2 weeks away in an AI

I'd never get into debt for a holiday, it's a total luxury to have one and not in the slightest bit essential.

I can understand not wanting a camping / caravan / cheap holiday park but I still wouldn't get into debt for it, I'd just not go and save longer.

theSnuffster
I can't understand why people get into debt to buy cars or carry out home improvements. We're all different and value different things.

I do think people tend to underestimate the cost of holidays once your kids are school aged. A week in a caravan in Devon/Cornwall (most likely to get decent weather) will set you back at least £1000 during the school holidays.

Add a few meals out, a few activity’s and you can easily spend 100 quid per day (for example an ice cream )(x4 =£10), so even if you are trying to stick to a budget it is easy gone.

Obviously with younger kids it’s much easier to entertain them for less but most 12 year olds are not happy sitting on a cold beach building sandcastles.

still not sure how OP got to Florida and Hawaii on 15k for 5 all inclusive??

still not sure how OP got to Florida and Hawaii on 15k for 5 all inclusive??

Maybe only the Hawaii part was AI?

Disney with dining plan, tickets and flights for 5 is about £8-10k depending on time of year and child ages.

OP your kids can have great fun on a UK holiday or even staying at home and doing fun stuff together. Nice walks and picnics , outings, playing sports by day. Board games, making homemade pizzas or treating them to a takeaway in the evenings etc.
Enough folk have laid into you but I would advise taking the holidays you fancy, but do it the other way around: Save up for them first. What position would you be in if you (or whoever earns in your household) had lost there job since the 15k holiday? I would be happier living within my means.

I think there's reverse snobbery about holidays now. We're lucky and have travelled the world before having kids. Our friends are the same. Tried one luxury expensive holiday with babies and was a nightmare. Now it's a rush to book something wholesome in Cornwall (ideally NT) along with the rest of middle England. Week in a cottage at the beach and Glamping travelling down there.

Also shudder at AI. Not my bag. Tried it once and never again.

Ultimately it makes no difference if someone wants to spend £££ going to Necker Island or doing a £100 deal weekend at Butlins, but it's whether you can afford it or not that is the issue. And 'afford' will include a conscious decision to take on some debt and budget for repayments - fine if you have planned for this.

What I found - and continue to find - baffling, is the fact that OP spent all this money on a holiday last year and doesn't seem to have joined the dots until now about the impact that spending would have on her plans for this year. Basic maths, no?

I can't understand why people get into debt to buy cars or carry out home improvements. We're all different and value different things.

Well it's all relative isn't it, if they need a car for work - their livelihood - or need to fix their leaking roof it's a bit different...

Sorry for being dim but whats Al? We have also not been on a holiday abroad with the kids, couldn't afford it. We have been to a caravan park, cottage and hotel in the UK and had fun . I do feel guilty sometimes as they haven't been on a plane but we hope to do that some day. It's more important I think to get them to enjoy the small stuff and be happy doing activities at home and locally.

Ignore the flamers. I bet your holiday was amazing.

Of course it's fine not to go away every year. Your DC will be fine. It's all good.