WIBU to book the holiday

[HettySunshine]

I'm genuinely not sure if I would be doing something nice for our family or going behind my husband's back;

The last few years have been really hard for us financially. We had twins a few years ago which was totally unexpected and we already had a dd. Nursery fees have been crippling us but the twins get their free hours in September and this will make an enormous difference.

I also finish paying a small loan off in January and my husband finishes paying a larger loan off in April. (We share our money but he earns more than me so this made sense).

I have been looking into UK based holidays for next summer (at a Haven holiday park). It will be totally affordable for me to pay a small deposit at the end of this month and then pay monthly up until a couple of months before we go and I think I would also be able to save a bit of spending money.

I mentioned that it would be nice to take the dc on holiday next year to my dh and he said it's too expensive and we should be reducing our other debts (credit card each and joint overdraft) before we do anything nice.

The thing is, I think we can do both - make a substantial reduction in our debts every month and still pay for the holiday (we haven't been away anywhere since our honeymoon 4 years ago).

Wibu to book the week away, pay for it myself and surprise him with it once it is paid for? Happy to be told I would be and I'm interested to hear other people's opinions.

It’s a nice idea and your intentions sound good. However, I think it’s quite sneaky and you shouldn’t do it.

No, you shouldn't- you have explicitly raised the question of a holiday and he is not on board. You need to respect this.

Don't do it. Pay off your debts first.

If you think you can afford the holiday, put that money towards the debts too and pay them off quicker.

Could you save the money for the holiday, continue to pay off the debts and when it gets closer to this time next year have the conversation with the money ready to book if he agrees? You can often get some good last minute deals if you aren't to restricted on where and when?

I agree you shouldn’t. Having already spoken about it and knowing your husband doesn’t agree it isn’t a ‘nice surprise’, it’s ignoring his views and wishes and doing what you want anyway. Even if you use money that’s yours, you’re a family and that’s still money that could pay off joint debts. I sympathise with you wanting a holiday but your husband sounds responsible wanting to pay off debt first. You have three children-it’s the time to be responsible, clear debts and get some emergency savings in place.

Do not do it. Pay your debts off first! you never know what can happen (maybe your car breaks down or you loose money if you are ill and have to go off sick from work etc etc). Talk to you hubby and decide together what you want to do! Holidays are expensive and ita not something you want to do behind hubbys back - its not like ordering a surprise takeaway lol

Thank you.

I'm glad I asked, I think because I really want a holiday I was trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole so I could get my own way. I will plough on with getting rid of the debt and do something brilliant the following year.

As nice an idea as it is, I really wouldn't. You say you can do both but if you have an unexpected change in circumstances and then you can't do both then you'll be in a pickle.

Keep doing what youre doing by saving and paying off your debt. The sooner it is done then you can keep saving (like you planned) and maybe have a bigger holiday fund than you would have if you booked one for next year. Good luck!

Cross posted! ( I never refreshed the page, d'oh)
Good Idea OP

Going against the grain here; do it. Your kids are only little once...I have amazing memories of family holidays with my little ones. A few days in haven is hardly a huge extravagance. Book it and enjoy

I would give it an extra year. Start overpaying on your debt and saving for Christmas, as soon as Christmas is over look at your outgoings together and see if you can plan for a holiday. You will enjoy it more if you can all enjoy the planning.

Where abouts were you thinking of going?

We've just done a week at Camber Sands (static home), for £195. Jsut needed a little money for car parking and food/entertainment. We booked via AirBnB.

Perhaps look into that with him and go through the options. But agree with PP, don't just book behind his back

If you are looking at Haven then I would suggest doing the Sun holidays next year. Hopefully you can revisit the discussion and see what your husband thinks then.

Don’t do it, it won’t end well.

Another one suggesting Sun holiday vouchers, see if he’ll be happy with that?

If doing Haven why not look at Sun newspaper promotion for say a mon to fri, then upgrade for longer if you want a full week, £38 + tokens from paper (you only need a word each day can book on line. Think they are doing them atm

Clear the debts first.

It makes more sense to do that as you don't know what's around the corner.

Plan how much it would cost, then have a think.

YABU

clear the debt first

If you have managed to save as much as you think you will and clear all you debts then, go for a last minute deal somewhere. Otherwise it's just like booking a holiday on credit, worst thing you can do.

No, pay off your debts, don't take on any more, then you can have a holiday.
It's a luxury when everything is paid for, and doing it behind his back would be for the wrong reasons.
discuss it with him, see if he agrees with the ability to pay the debt off.

Did you tell him how much it would cost and the location? He might have been imagining a £5k holiday in Barbados.