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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:
augustagain · 22/08/2019 13:51

I'd have to pick the holiday!

We haven't had a holiday in years. My DH doesn't care about them, although when we did get away he was a great holiday companion and said he enjoyed them. It's just that it's not on his list of priorities. We can't afford holidays at the moment and I would never leave my doggie now.

Were I in your position, I'd take the holiday. I tend to go what my heart tells me, not my head though!

I love travelling so much and even now daydream and have lovely memories of things I've seen and how well we got along as a couple travelling.

Reconnecting with your DH and having a fantastic time together is a great investment in your marriage. Then, when you next have a little nest-egg, you can have final vote on how to spend it Wink

kateandme · 22/08/2019 13:54

our kitcehn was more than that.and its not anything fancy at all.sorry.
but i dont know much i just know from ours.
could you find out where he wants to go an try and get it in cheaper.do you need to go in holiday as you could third it by going when they kids go back.
i would find out what the kitcehn might cost.
then a holiday
you might then change your thinking.

ElleDubloo · 22/08/2019 13:55

Kitchen, hands down.

Maybe I’m a bit tight, but I can’t bring myself to spend £3K on a single week, especially when there are other things I want/need.

kateandme · 22/08/2019 13:55

you can get some beautiful holidays for less than thatthough. so i would be a bit annoyed if you have 3k and then go out to spend it all on holiday just becasue thats what you have to spend if you see what i mean

HopeIsNotAStrategy · 22/08/2019 13:57

Buy yourself a nearly new kitchen on eBay and go on holiday with the rest.

Toneitdown · 22/08/2019 13:58

Ugh, don't split it in half, that's the worst of both worlds - compromising with a mediocre holiday when you were imagining 5* red carpet treatment, and not enough money for the new kitchen. Don't do it.

Personally I'd go for the kitchen, hands down, but I'm a miserable sod and can delay gratification for a long time if it means investing in something with long-term benefit. If your DH is truly desperate for that holiday then maybe you should go for it...

Embracelife · 22/08/2019 14:00

Holiday
Recharge
Reconnect
Your kitchen works
Your wellbeing will benefit from a break away?

puttingitalloutandabout · 22/08/2019 14:04

I would put in the new kitchen as it's something you look at/ use everyday.
A holiday would be fabulous but all you have after is memories.

Is painting the kitchen and replacing the worktop and knobs an option? That way maybe you could do both?!

allteanoshade · 22/08/2019 14:04

A lot of people in this thread need to re-read the original post. It doesn't say 3k will buy a new kitchen, it says 3k could be put towards a new kitchen and it will take another three to four years to save enough money to buy a new one.

Embracelife · 22/08/2019 14:08

Holiday and travel memories are priceless
But depends what you want from life
Work hard all year for a super kitchen
Work hard have a nice time away

rosinavera · 22/08/2019 14:09

I'd say kitchen but only because I'M desperate for a new one! Would you husband be happy with a weekend away and then put the rest towards the new kitchen?

GoodbyeRosie · 22/08/2019 14:09

Holiday!

Kitchens just need to be functional in my opinion, but it depends how much time you spend you in there. I know people who use them more than a living room for sitting and reading, watching telly etc.

BunchMunch · 22/08/2019 14:09

Holiday!

As my DDad used to say "the house is there when you're dead and gone." Life is short - have a fabulous holiday instead.

MrsApplepants · 22/08/2019 14:11

Holiday every time. Kitchens are a bunch of cupboards and a worktop at the end of the day. Dull.

Fifteenthnamechange · 22/08/2019 14:12

Holiday

yikesanddang · 22/08/2019 14:22

Won't you be in exactly the same position next year though?

Original poster
Buttery81 · 22/08/2019 14:23

Lots of really helpful food for thought here - thanks everyone!

Having read all the replies I think I'm leaning towards the holiday and putting the kitchen on hold for another year. YOLO as the kids these days say!

OP posts:
gilliansgardenbench · 22/08/2019 14:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tweetingmagpie · 22/08/2019 14:26

I don’t think 3k would get you an amazing holiday or kitchen would it? If it would then I would choose the holiday and start saving for the kitchen when you get back.

gingersausage · 22/08/2019 14:29

A weekend away is not a bloody holiday. Neither is sodding inter-railing. Why would anyone waste their hard earned savings on pretending to be gap-year students?

OP, I saved for years for my kitchen, mainly because I saved for holidays at the same time. It’s not an either/or in my book. In your shoes I would take £1000-£1500 for the holiday and put the rest back in the kitchen savings. Do the same for the next few years and you’re both happy. If it’s just the two of you and you aren’t tied to school terms, you can have a perfectly good holiday for that money. There’s lots of late deals around at the moment for considerably less - just check reviews carefully.

My kitchen is tiny but I wanted lots of units, and all told it was about £6.5k including appliances. It was hand built and installed by a local two-man business not a national company, and it’s much better than anything I could’ve got from Wren or B&Q.

NoSquirrels · 22/08/2019 14:31

Is it just the two of you, and can you go at any time?

If so, I'd spend less on the holiday and still go somewhere amazing, and save some towards the kitchen/rainy day.

And I'd start to save separately for holidays and separately for the kitchen from now on.

And look into interest free credit etc.

GatoFofo · 22/08/2019 14:33

Holiday and £350 on a new kitchen tap, light fitting & paint

Bbang · 22/08/2019 14:38

I would go on holiday for £1000ish which will get you an amazing holiday! And put the rest towards a kitchen. The kitchen in our old house cost £6k all in so it’s doable for you to have in the near future x

Bunnybigears · 22/08/2019 14:42

Holiday, I always go for experiences over stuff. Especially as you already have a functional kitchen.

JamdaniSari · 22/08/2019 14:56

Half and half.

Although I'm sure you will enjoy your luxury holiday as soon as you return and are back to normality you would have wished you had spent it on your kitchen/invested it elsewhere.

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