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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pay for holiday on a credit card if I can’t afford it ?

144 replies

Pinkpantslady · 20/02/2022 09:15

Husband and I have not been on holiday since we we met four years ago .

We saved to get married , buy a house . We now have a little baby and my maternity leave finishes In June . I am a teacher . As a teacher I am only able to go on holiday during school holidays which costs a fortune.

If we go on holiday before I return to work ( In term time ) - I can’t belive that we can go on - a decent , all inclusive for about 650pp .

The issue is that we only have £500 in our holiday fund . But £650 x2 = 1,300 to go on a holiday. So do I pay the rest (£800) on the credit card ?

I don’t ever use my credit card and have always believed - if you can’t pay cash you can’t afford it .

But there is a part of me that feels life is too short . Life has been hard for all lately . We haven’t been away In 4 years - no honey moon . This is our chance to get away whilst prices are lower .
If we don’t go away before I return to work , the same holiday would cost us about £2,500 and we could never afford that.

We would pay off the £800 as £100 a month for 8 months .

What do you think?

AIBU to pay for the £800 on a cc?

Side note - I have looked into butlins , centreParks , Hoseasons and I can’t belive how expensive staycations are . Even a little break or a few days trips are so expensive. I’d
Rather just use that towards one amazing holiday!

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 20/02/2022 09:17

I would.

Have a nice holiday.

monkeysox · 20/02/2022 09:18

Do it. Your pay will go back up once you're back at work. Take a 0% card for a year

Northernsoullover · 20/02/2022 09:20

I would. I'm really debt averse too (because I was in terrible debt) . It's not like you are putting a 5k trip on it.

SNUG2022 · 20/02/2022 09:20

Definitely put it on the card and go. You will be in employment and can pay it back. Its not that much in the scheme of things and life has been completely shit. Have fun!

Stillfunny · 20/02/2022 09:21

That is what credit is for . But with interest, what will be the total cost.? It will be more than €100 per month ? If you can afford the monthly payments, then go.

Sherrystrull · 20/02/2022 09:23

Do it. I'm a teacher too and taking a holiday in maternity leave was the only cheap holiday we have had. Enjoy!

OfstedOffred · 20/02/2022 09:24

If you have budgeted for the repayments and can comfortably afford them it's not a big deal.

Wigeon · 20/02/2022 09:25

I definitely wouldn’t. When we had less money than we do now, we just did a week in a self catering for £500 a week in the UK (for a family of 4).

You can still have a lovely holiday, which is one you can afford.

Now we have more money, but less than some of our friends, we still don’t do a fortnight in the Caribbean, because we can’t afford it.

DH is a teacher and has been since before we had school aged DC, so we’ve also had to pay school holiday prices even when we didn’t have school aged children…

spudjulia · 20/02/2022 09:25

Definitely book the holiday!

There's an economic principle called diminishing marginal returns, which is sometimes a helpful way of looking at debt. I know it's often instilled in us to be debt averse, but due to diminishing marginal returns, it's sometimes the most logical and best economic decision to borrow some money at tight times (like during maternity leave) and pay it back during more flush times. The £800 now will be worth more to you now than it will in a years time.

So trust the economics Grin

AllOfUsAreDead · 20/02/2022 09:26

Go for it. I'd recommend you use a credit card for holidays anyway as then you can get your money back easier if the company goes bust.

You've got a good job that unless you're a complete moron you'd struggle to lose. You can afford to pay it back, just do it.

ninnynonny · 20/02/2022 09:26

Absolutely do it! Is it an interest free one? If not swap about and get one. We always put holidays on credit cards anyway due to the financial safety. I may be reckless but holidays in our house are really important.

FirstTimeSecondTime · 20/02/2022 09:27

I definitely would.

Have a great holiday!!

FizzyBizz · 20/02/2022 09:28

I would. It’s £800, not £8k. If you’re going back to work soon and you’ve got a sensible plan for how to pay it back, I don’t see the issue.

Spreading the cost of a holiday is different to splashing out on things you can’t afford, in my opinion.

minniep · 20/02/2022 09:28

Absolutely book the holiday

BarbaraofSeville · 20/02/2022 09:30

Sounds like a sensible plan if you don't make a habit of it, that's when credit gets you into trouble.

Look for a 0% purchase card so you can spread the cost without paying interest.

TheGriffle · 20/02/2022 09:30

If you get an interest free card it’s no difference to saving up £100 a month but it means you can go away now.

I booked out uk holiday for this august last year, I’ve been paying it off £100 a month because that’s the only way we could afford it, we can’t afford a lump sum all in one go, your way is no different to the way I’m doing it if there’s no interest charges.

MacaroniBaloney · 20/02/2022 09:30

I'm normally against loaning money for a hoiliday, but yiur circumstances and the small amount required, I'd say go for it!

Disneygirl37 · 20/02/2022 09:33

I would, if you plan the repayments and can afford them and try and get a zero percent card.

Dammitthisisshit · 20/02/2022 09:33

Came to say never borrow on a credit card but in your situation do it.

Tothemoonandbackx · 20/02/2022 09:34

Normally I'd think the same, but as you're in a position to be able to pay it back in a reasonable time frame, I don't see why not. Go and enjoy yourself, especially since you'll be back at work soon and away from your little one. This is why I'm dreading my DD going to full time school, the cost of everything goes way up, I'm going to have to start saving now Sad xx

RoyKent · 20/02/2022 09:35

Holidays should always be booked in credit. Like others said its not big big bucks. Go for it and enjoy it.

CareBear50 · 20/02/2022 09:36

With things like this I always say....don't go unless you have money upfront.

However under the circumstances outlined I'd say DEFINITELY GO FOR IT! Bon Voyage x

LakieLady · 20/02/2022 09:36

I would, and I'm normally very anti-credit and don't believe in having holidays you can't afford!

It's not a huge amount for a couple on reasonable salaries to spend on credit and if you get it on a 0% card, you'll soon clear it.

userxx · 20/02/2022 09:36

@MacaroniBaloney

I'm normally against loaning money for a hoiliday, but yiur circumstances and the small amount required, I'd say go for it!

I agree. I'd absolutely book the holiday.

ClareBlue · 20/02/2022 09:37

It's going to make going back to work easier in that you will have had a break and a change, it's half the price of if you did it in the school holidays, it's a first experience with husband and child, it's once in 4 years so hardly impulsive of reckless, it's going to be good for wellbeing of all of you. You can afford to repay and have a plan to do it.
If there ever was a proper use for credit, this has to be it.
Enjoy your holiday. Time zooms past when you have children, so enyoy it.