Nicer outside area or mini break?

[Heyhotherewegohey]

I’ve been working a fair bit of overtime in order to afford my Dds 5th birthday party. We have some left over, not a great deal, but some.
We desperately need the outside area doing, it needs painting, we’ve just thrown the old bbq and table away. I’d love to paint it, new bbq, outside sofa and small table, fairy lights and some lanterns and plants. We can just about afford it.
Alternative is going away for a short break-2/3 nights in another country in a 4 star hotel, pool, kids club etc.
In the past I’ve always gone for a holiday, lots of bits in the house need doing up because of this, well, they don’t *Need it, but could look a lot better.
If we choose the outside area, won’t be able to afford anywhere else, perhaps camping for a night or two later in the year.
What would you go with?

A nice place to sit or a short, lovely break away?

Make memories. Go away.

Too much hassle to travel for 2-3 nights. I’d rather enjoy my garden for the rest of the summer

@Nevermind31 Its around a 1 hr 30
mins drive, so not too bad at all 🤔

Do the stuff at home and enjoy it all summer. Making memories isn’t exclusive to being away from home.

I'd make my home nicer, you spend every day there.

But I know what you mean, it’s that versus a summer of sitting out in the morning having breakfast or in the evening with fairy lights on
i just love and need to get away 😩

I'd do the garden, you'll get longer enjoyment from it! It's lovely to come home knowing you've got a lovely space to relax in

I love holidays, but even I would do the garden in your position.

I am no help because I see the benefit of both options. When I was younger I would have gone away, now I am a bit older, I like having a nice outside space, so even if we can't go away, we have somewhere nice to sit.

I’d do your garden and go camping later in the summer, for sure.

I’d do the garden. Having a nice place to sit/eat etc over the summer will give you a lot of pleasure. Memories aren’t only made on holidays, they’re also made at home.

Garden every time
You'll get far more enjoyment in the long run

Do up the outside and enjoy it to the full all summer. Maybe a night camping in the garden, BBQs with friends etc.

Do the outside area. Put a plan together to work more overtime even if just enough to have a break yourself.

I’d do garden and enjoy all summer.

Go away

Normally I’d say go on the holiday but because of the time of the year I’d say do up your garden as you’ll have all summer to enjoy it.

Nice place to sit as you'll have that for years to come.

It's going to be a cracking summer. Think of the memories you can make in the outside space!

I’d do the garden. You’ll get waaaaay more use out of it and if you’re careful it’ll be good for the next few summers too.

I'd do the garden and then book a few days off to enjoy it, plan a nice break for next year

The garden for sure. You will have all summer to enjoy it and next year too but short trip away will just be a memory by the end of the summer and you'll still be looking at your garden wishing it was nicer so you could sit out and enjoy it.

I’d do the garden this time, you’ll enjoy it for years but try and get away for that couple of nights camping too

Two nights away isn’t usually fun with a small child, they get overtired and there’s no time to get into a routine before your packing up again.

Garden every time, if it were me.

There's your answer then, go for your weekend away, and have a fabulous time.
Either is a good option, but why don't you look to do your garden up slowly over time? Keep an eye on free cycle or similar for bits and pieces for the garden. I got a lovely Jasmin in a huge terracotta pot off free cycle, it's done really well this year.