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Original poster

£3k - new kitchen or holiday?

163 replies

Buttery81 · 22/08/2019 12:01

DH and I have squirrelled away about £3k over the course of the last 12 months and were discussing last night how we want to spend it.

DH is really keen to book a fabulous holiday - we haven't been on a "proper" trip away for about four years (bar the odd weekend here and there in the UK).

However, I'd really like to put it towards a new kitchen. Our current kitchen is perfectly functional, but rather dated and tired-looking and hence a bit scruffy in places. I anticipate it will take us another three or four years to save enough money to buy a brand new one.

DH says it's been a long hard year - which is true - and we deserve a "proper" break. But I would honestly prefer to stay home and save for my dream kitchen.

We did get the bathroom done last year, which we both agreed needed replacing as it was in a worse state than the kitchen.

WWYD?

OP posts:
TheOrigRightsofwomen · 22/08/2019 12:58

If it were me (also with a perfectly functional, but dated and a bit tatty kitchen), I would use 1/2 on a wonderful holiday and the other 1/2 on doing some of the 'cheat' improvements to the kitchen, like new cupboard doors, lighting, a lick of paint, fancy splash back. That'll keep you going for a few years.
The memories of the holiday will last forever.

MagsAndMaeve · 22/08/2019 12:59

Wow. I've done up a number of properties and sold them for profit, and I've never paid much more than £1000 on a kitchen. Current project has second hand Howdens units bought for £20 each (complete with handles), worktops bought from FB marketplace and second hand but new looking appliances. Flooring will be B&Q's finest. Expensive kitchen sink and tap to upgrade the whole.

I never spend much on holidays either, as I book my own and self cater (just my preference), but I'd go for the holiday over spending that much on a kitchen.

Its amazing how people tire of their kitchens and sell them off cheaply when still in good condition!

nononever · 22/08/2019 13:01

Holiday! We dithered over that very choice but not for long as we both love travelling. We're going away for three weeks right after new year and cannot wait.

pigsDOfly · 22/08/2019 13:01

Kitchen. You'll be enjoying it long after the holiday is forgotten.

Although, my opinion is probably not that helpful as I've always felt money on expensive holidays is wasted.

You've got a good deposit to start and then what about interest free credit. Well worth looking into.

If you spend some of the money on a holiday and then start saving again your lovely new kitchen will be even further away in the future.

nononever · 22/08/2019 13:04

I'd go for the holiday over spending that much on a kitchen.

3K is not much on a kitchen. All very well if you are into renovating and DIY or know plenty of tradesmen that can give you a good price for installation but the majority of people pay to have a new one fitted.

PleaseGoogleIt · 22/08/2019 13:04

Definitely a holiday.. 3k isn't going to get you a kitchen.

amusedbush · 22/08/2019 13:05

We've just paid £3900 for our new kitchen cabinets and worktops - we still need to buy appliances and flooring. Your money won't go far in a kitchen renovation.

I say get a decent kitchen using interest free repayments and go on holiday.

paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 22/08/2019 13:06

Kitchen. Holidays are great but go very quickly and then you're home and the money is gone.

Wonkybanana · 22/08/2019 13:06

Holiday. If the kitchen could be done for £3,000 then maybe that, but as you're going to have to save up for more years for that (which presumably would mean no holiday during that time) I'd go for that. It only adds another year on to saving for the kitchen.

And as a PP has said - if the layout and storage in your current kitchen is fine for what you want, then do look into just new doors and worktops. Makes it look like new for a lot less than it all actually being new.

Mary1935 · 22/08/2019 13:06

Have you looked at inter railing - cheap travel - book air b and bs.
Replace kitchen cupboards - however stuff that - your kitchen doesn’t sound dire - have fun and splash out. We only live once.
You need a holiday.

OneThreadOnly0101 · 22/08/2019 13:07

I need to know more about the holiday before I can decide. What is he proposing? I would struggle on that budget.

Butchyrestingface · 22/08/2019 13:07

If it were the case that the £3k would mean you could fit the new kitchen right now, I’d say go for that. But the kitchen sounds years away yet.

I say holliday. Although not necessarily an expensive one.

Jellybeansincognito · 22/08/2019 13:08

Holiday, then start kitchen saving

JinglingHellsBells · 22/08/2019 13:09

Well I don't think holidays are all they are cracked up to be often.
And it depends wha kind of holiday you want.

£3K to me would be a week, with flights and meals out, in a lovely villa somewhere. It wouldn't be a high end holiday.

And £3K won't get you much of a kitchen.

What do you want from a holiday?
Do you want UK or overseas? Sun or not?

SleepIsForTheWeeak · 22/08/2019 13:10

Could you not go on the holiday and look at getting the kitchen on an interest free deal if you aren't moving for a few years? Rele of mine has just done this, had a great kitchen put in, pretty sure it was interest free with a small deposit.

If you can't do that just holiday! You won't take the kitchen with you if you sell your house anyway.

StCharlotte · 22/08/2019 13:13

HOLIDAY!

ChipsAreLife · 22/08/2019 13:14

Holiday!

thecatsthecats · 22/08/2019 13:20

I don't really care what the two options are. It's also irrelevant what MNers would prefer.

Both of you are digging in on spending all of the money on the thing YOU want, when the bleeding obvious option is to compromise.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 22/08/2019 13:22

I was going to say have the kitchen as 3k wouldn't be enough for two people to have a proper luxury holiday. Me going away by myself costs 3k

Is that a lot of single person supplements? Where do you go?

LillithsFamiliar · 22/08/2019 13:22

Holiday. You did home improvements last year so I'd alternate and have a holiday this year.
You've said the kitchen is functional, just a bit tired. I'm sure there most be some cosmetic changes you can make cheaply to freshen it up for the next year.

SugarToothbrush · 22/08/2019 13:23

However, I'd really like to put it towards a new kitchen. Our current kitchen is perfectly functional, but rather dated and tired-looking and hence a bit scruffy in places. I anticipate it will take us another three or four years to save enough money to buy a brand new one.

So no holiday for at least 4 years, then a new kitchen, then a year of saving to afford a holiday? If I was faced with that prospect as your husband I would hate the new kitchen with every fibre of my being when it arrived. Arrive at a point in the middle and take a holiday that doesn't eat all your savings

NoSauce · 22/08/2019 13:25

Kitchen.

Holiday will be over in two weeks and you’ll still have your dated kitchen.

Ablemaybel · 22/08/2019 13:25

Definitely holiday!
I've had some great holidays in amazing places, and the happy memories they've brought are worth a fortune.
Also needed a new kitchen, waited a little longer for it but got there in the end.
Have the holiday and make some happy memories of your own!

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 22/08/2019 13:26

Holiday :)

WinterHare · 22/08/2019 13:26

Kitchen. No brainer.