Are holidays a flex now ?

[iloveshetlandponies]

I've noticed among most people I know both irl and on Facebook and work clients etc, it's now the normal to have like 3 holidays a year . And I always goes on fb / insta Some people I know have already been away both feb half term and Easter. It's abroad as well, not just UK. And when it is the UK it's always the more brag worthy locations like posh parts of Cornwall, and north Devon etc and in swanky accommodation

And I think it is more since covid - unless it was just my social circle it seemed that most people went once a year if that

I think social media plays a part as well , then others can see how well they're doing when they're tagging themselves at their 3rd fancy exotic location this year

I dunno maybe holiday bragging has always been a thing and I've not noticed. I'm guilty of it too tbh, I'm lucky enough to have been to some cool places in the last year or two and I've posted online not Gona lie 🫣

It's always been a flex. I noticed it on holiday in Mexico, the Americans boasted about how many people they managed/their position in work. The Brits boasted about how many places they been to on holiday.

So you're questioning why people do what you do? Don't you know why you do it?

I have about 4 holidays a year but I don't post any of them on social media as that's not my real life.

So you do it, but you're questioning why others do it?
Just ask yourself - much easier.

I go away on holiday more than 4 times a year but I'm pretty sure people are not jealous of my trips in the tent🤣.

Isn't the point of SM to let people know what you doing that's different? It's very British to go away a lot I think.
We are lucky that we get lots of holiday entitlement, live close to Europe and are surrounded by sea ( getting in and out has always been a thing).. It's pretty easy to go to lots of different kinds of places I guess.. It's much trickier logistically for Americans to leave North America or Australians to leave Oz.

Growing up we were very lucky & had 3 holidays a year. All UK based but we always went away a week at Easter, 2 weeks in the summer & a week in October

Its not a new thing but instead of it just being a thing it's now another thing to post about on SM.

I talk about holidays because I’m a parent and have no real life of my own to talk about. Before I had my son we’d try and go away 2/3 times a year though. Even if one was just a weekend in London etc.

This year I didn’t go anywhere posh so far- just a caravan in Clacton-on-sea. Going to Majorca but it’s on my credit card as a last term time holiday before we’re priced out entirely.

I am wondering how people can afford it! My husband and I earn a decent amount and we have a cheap mortgage but still find that we are careful how we spend money now because of the cost of living. We don’t have any car loans either. People with jobs not earning much over 40k a year, (80k in the household with 2 -3 kids ) are going away more often than us and have fancy cars etc. How?! Credit cards?! Loans?! Are we just awful at budgeting?! We have 2 kids, a baby and a toddler but I’m now starting to realise we can’t go away 3 times a year and we are trying to reduce our food bill.

I think a lot of people are just making the most of being able to go on holiday tbh!

Two years of cancelled and delayed plans - they’re desperate to get away.

What does 'a flex' mean?

I haven’t been on holiday for ten years. You lot are having my share! 😂

I used to get really envious of people who had alot of holidays and posted all about it on facebook. Mainly because we never seemed to have the spare cash.

So I started a separate holiday account and made sure we DID have the spare cash.

Then I started doing the same posting for a bit in a kind of 'see, we are on holiday too!'.

Then i realised I was 50 and needed to get a fucking grip.

So I don't post now... but I really like seeing other peoples photos. I'm not envious anymore I think because we have started prioritising holidays as well which have always been important to me.

It is to do with the age of the kids. Once they get bigger you'll either spend less on childcare or be able to work more hours.

A flex "now"??

They always have been!

I've sat through my fair share of neighbours in the 1980s showing us slides from their holidays with a little projector. All sitting in front of the wall in their darkened living room.

I still remember in the same period when a colleague announced they were going to Disneyworld. In AMERICA. We all thought she was ever so posh.

Apparently to brag or show off I had to Google.

They just prioritize it, aka budget for it no matter what. So they make sure they put away xyz amount for holidays every month, if that means cutting out other treats/unnecessary expenses than they do that.

Booking a holiday that they have to pay off in installments helps because you know you have to pay whatever amount that month so you will simply budget it in that month's expenses.

yes that's what I do. If I can pay in installments I do it that way, but i have a set amount that leaves my current account on payday into a holiday account so I don't even 'see it' so to speak.

It's been amazing. Since I started doing that we have been to;

-Lapland
-Germany
-France
-Centerparcs Longleat
-Isle of Wight
-Cyprus

I'm deffo flexing now on MN . I love holidays more than anything.

We went away three times last year, one was long haul, the other two were in Europe. This year we’re going away three times. Twice within Europe and one trip to Cornwall. I’d rather go on holiday than spend money on ‘things’.

I go away alot But i dont post about it i have no SM only mumsnet.
I go for me because i can and i will.
I dont go to brag about it.
So far this year ive been away 4 times and im planning my next trip.
Im an exstream minimalist i spend money on adventures not stuff thats going to collect dust.

Benefits have a lot
to answer for

I live very simply all the rest of the time to save money for travel.no new clothes ( unless from bootsale( ) reduce sticker food, not go out much. And best of all no longer have to pay for kids

I guess it depends who you know. It's not common for me or my friends to have a holiday at all, never mind 3 a year. Or to fancy places.

I've not been away for at least ten years. We can't afford it. And there is genuinely nothing to cut back on to do so. We're struggling every month with the basics.

We don’t live close to Europe. We are in Europe

I'm having 4 holidays this year , life's too short not too travel .

We go away a few times a year, but honestly a long weekend in an Airbnb in Europe is not so expensive that I can’t do it a couple of times a year. Anyone doing a two week AI holiday in a resort is almost certainly spending more than I am on long weekends in Berlin, Barcelona and a week walking Hadrian’s Wall.