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

[Pinkpantslady]

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!

It's also wise to put holidays on a credit card from the point of view that if anything goes wrong you can get a refund. I found this the hard way as I'm still waiting for a refund of cancelled Ryanair flights from April 2020 that I paid on a debit card

@MacaroniBaloney

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

This exactly!! Definitely go for it OP and have a great time 😀

I would opt for a cheaper option, I paid £499 recently for 4 star ai canaries, can be done. Book a month out

@liveforsummer

It's also wise to put holidays on a credit card from the point of view that if anything goes wrong you can get a refund. I found this the hard way as I'm still waiting for a refund of cancelled Ryanair flights from April 2020 that I paid on a debit card

We got our first ever credit card a couple of years ago for just this reason. We are very lucky to not need it for credit purposes, but now buy all our substantial purchases on it (and pay it off immediately) so that we have that protection.

@Pinkpantslady I would, but before booking it I'd ask on the holidays topic to see if you can find a better deal. Make the most of your money!

I'm so anti buy things on credit but in your position I would. I'm married to a teacher so have had to fork out £££ on holidays even before we had children. Take advantage of the cheap deal and pay it off over a few months.

I came on to say no, but in your situation go for it

Yes do it and enjoy!

I would do it, you can afford it once you return to work, just make sure you pay it off as quickly as possible. X

I wouldn’t but mainly because you are on holiday with a baby….always felt like hard work to me!

You’ll already have paid some of the debt off by June anyway so I say go for it. Plus if some is on a credit card then you’re covered by section 75 if something goes wrong and you need to claim your money back.

I wouldn’t put that much on a credit card personally (unless it was an emergency such as a car or building repair) and would look for something cheaper.

We’re having a staycation this year in North Wales in the peak summer months and have paid £250 for 4 nights at Haven. Deals can be found.

I would go for it if I were you.
The only reason your income is lower now is cos maternity leave is coming to an end.
Your income will rise and as long as you concentrate on getting the credit card paid in the first 6 -12 months of your return to work you’ll get it paid off before next years summer holidays. A holiday debt shouldn’t take more than a year to pay because it’s considered an annual occurrence and I think you will achieve it ok.

Life is too short and you’ll never again be able to avail of lower prices

Bloody hell, just go for it. Get a 0% credit card.

Absolutely do it! You wouldn’t be spending on the CC thoughtlessly. You have a plan to pay it off and holidays are so good for us. If you haven’t already, I’d get a card that has a decent interest free period for purchases though. Then you’ll pay no interest. Enjoy!

@ChocolateCakeYum

I wouldn’t put that much on a credit card personally (unless it was an emergency such as a car or building repair) and would look for something cheaper.

We’re having a staycation this year in North Wales in the peak summer months and have paid £250 for 4 nights at Haven. Deals can be found.

You’d hate to see my 0% credit card balance then! Why spend my money when I can use theirs for nothing for 18 months?

Rain washed Wales versus a week in guaranteed sunshine? It’s not a tough decision.

@Blossomtoes it's all well and good when you have a job. But if something happens it's harder to manage when you have a credit card bill to pay... 0% or not

[quote ddshocker]@Blossomtoes it's all well and good when you have a job. But if something happens it's harder to manage when you have a credit card bill to pay... 0% or not[/quote]
OP’s a teacher. She’s very unlikely to lose her job in the next eight months.