Many people prioritise/ live for holidays above all else

[Elizo]

Recently went on a wonderful/ expensive group holiday with DC having saved up/ extended mortgage. We aren’t wealthy/ don’t go abroad often but from the chat with others think holidays are huge priority and what they really look forward to all year above all else. Saving/ working hard all year for ski-ing/ trips to US etc - clearly that sort of travel out of reach for most of us. Loved our holiday and wondering if we are odd ones out in this!

I have always been a traveller, not a stay at home person

I've travelled all over UK, England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales & widely abroad

We have an old car & other classic modes of transport

We have worked & pay our taxes

We are not lay on a beach kind of people, we enjoy learning about the local history, culture, food, religion, art, music, traditions, sports etc

Why should we not travel & spend our money how we wish ?

Some other countries do not have benefits, the people rely on tourists to provide them with a living. We tip well.

Example

I went to Iceland after a volcano had stopped sending ash clouds into the sky. The locals were pleased to have the tourists return. This was before covid.

I've always prioritised having an enjoyable day to day life and a secure and lovely home for my children above all things.
There is no scrimping and saving and going without just to pay for a week away happening on my watch and I can't imagine what sort of mental/ emotional apocalypse would possess me to mess around with my mortgage to go in holiday 😱
People are different though, and different things bring them the most fulfillment and enjoyment. Such is life.

No way I’d drop money on a holiday. But then again I’m all travelled out, no real passion for it after years of it.

I’m looking at what I’d spend on holiday/ travel, say 2-3K a year, and spend that on living a very good lifestyle in my home area, eg regular spa days, memberships, meals in excellent restaurants, hikes, having a better wardrobe etc. I have several days a week that feel better and more relaxing than being on holiday.

Same.
Love holidays. Had 4 so far this year (1 ski, 1 Europe sun, 2 in UK).

But they are paid for from income, not debt.

We are very fortunate in that we spend every day of our annual leave allowance abroad and are able to allocate every penny of my salary to holidays (mortgage is paid off).

We love exploring new countries (no lying on a sunbed for 2 weeks here) and would much rather travel now while we have the health to do so as you just don't know what may be round the corner.

However, we would never get into any kind of debt to fund our travels.

Easy I book a holiday and get on a plane. My flight is not going to make an ounce of difference until major polluters countries get in line. Sorry to derail OP but I hate that holier than thou attitude

People have different priorities, I can’t spend ££££ on holidays because that would mean less dc activities, less theatre/days out, less socialising & I don’t want to work full time.

I did an AI fly and flop trip exactly once and was bored rigid. I like city breaks and self-catering trips to interesting or beautiful places. I have covered a huge amount of Europe but still have gaps - mainly Scandinavia - where I am slightly put off by the price of wine :) I really am not bothered by the thought of doing long-haul flights anymore. Eurocamp, or gites/apartments worked really well when dd was small. Now she's grown up we do the odd fancy hotel, or stick to apartments. My DH retired this year and as pp above said, not waiting til we are too decrepit to do everything,

Ive NC for this as outing but its definitely a you do you topic. No right or wrong answers just choices. Some will prefer and value financial security some live for the moment, some have both.
We were fortunate enough to have 2 incomes and disposable cash but spent a lot on some trips that I was desperate to do. Think luxury cruise, meeting father Christmas in lapland and other trips/Disney. My DH was happy with whatever choice I made and happy to enjoy the holidays.
He died unexpectedly of a heart attack 18 months ago when our DC was 6. I can not tell you how thankful I am that we have these memories and spent that money. It is very very true that you only live once and tomorrowis not a given... find a balance your happy with.

I prioritise a holiday every 2 years over everything- however it's slightly different because it's to go back to the UK with my daughter, as we live in Australia, and family is everything to me. It means we have pretty much nothing for 2 years- no real treats, etc but it matters to me and I accept that we sacrifice other luxuries to be able to facilitate it

I’m so sorry for your loss 💐

DH is a bit older than me - I’m early 60s, he is early 70s. We are both fit and well at the moment touch wood but as you say you never know what’s around the corner,at our age our health could give way at any time, and we just want to do as much as we can while we still can.

We don’t have the funds to go on expensive holidays and haven’t been abroad for many years. We do have a UK break once a year, but honestly, I don’t like paying to stay somewhere that’s less comfortable than my home.

We’ve had expensive holidays in the past and there are places I’d like to revisit and places I’d like to see, but the money’s not there, so there’s no point fretting over it.

I know. I thought I was alone in that opinion.

People prioritise what it is important to them. For some, it is holidays.
Nothing wrong with that at all.

No we don’t, I am known for ensuing my child goes go lots of term time enrichment clubs (she has issues at school so there’s method in this madness). This is where a big chunk of money goes.
We all find really busy places quite stressful so 4 years ago I bought quite a basic caravan on a basic site and we do this nearly every holiday instead. I have one year left on my lease and after that we will aim to have some adventures.
It’s worked well for all of us, I have somewhere to escape to with friends, it’s like a home from home, very little stress involved. Some great beach days if the weather allows. Also don’t have to worry about dog care which has always been problematic for us.
It costs significantly less than a week away abroad for the whole year to run.

I go away 3-4 times a year however I don't spend a fortune. My youngsters are all grown, good jobs and families of their own.

Fortunately one of mine is still in this country living 20 mins away so I do get nana time every weekend and more in school hols.

I am now widowed. I am happy to solo travel. My late husband wanted me to carry on traveling. It was where we put our money. I save for my holidays just as I did when my husband was here.

That doesn't mean I spend a fortune. Holidays consist of as follows

1/ Canada in March. Flight only as my daughter, DsoniL and 2 grandchild live there.

2/ Kefalonia (Greek islands) in June - flight only and independent accommodation. We been going for 18 years so know everyone.

3/ Thailand in September - flight only as my 3rd adult youngster lives there with his partner.

4/ Tgen there is my annual Retreat away in North Yorkshire dales for a long weekend, in October with my spiritual fellowship.

Regarding flight only if you shop around, know where and when to look I never pay more than £300 return for flights to Kefalonia.

No more than £600 return flights for Canada and Thailand each. I don't book with British companies.

My daughter worked for the airlines before she had her children so knows all the trick's etc.

I don't smoke, drink and lead a simple life at home so that's where I put my money

I’m meh on holidays tbh, but I moved abroad and I guess I just feel a bit “same shit different place”. I am planning on taking DD to do some interesting things at some point, just for the experience but it’ll be for her not me. A book and a cup of tea is good for me tbh. We build holidays into the budget so it’s accounted for anyway. I wouldn’t get into debt for one.

We are fine for money so have gone overseas most years over last 30 years. Had a month in USA doing a road trip once and have done a couple of cruises and a safari which were quite expensive. Now close to retirement we are buying a motorhome and will travelling round the UK and Europe.

Unless people are properly rolling in it I think it’s a mad thing to do. Mortgage costs for many of us are now huge, many want to help DC get on the housing ladder and most of us will not enjoy generous pensions or have big savings set aside for old age. If I’d sorted out big funds for the above, then I’d splurge more on holidays, but u refuse to do more than modest family holidays in the West Country with the odd trip abroad while we’ve still got huge amounts to pay off our mortgage and stick in our pensions!

Currently cuddling my 4 year old in bed in Thailand in our pjs from matalan. We very much prioritise holidays and experiences rather than stuff. Wouldn’t get into debt got a holiday though.

I would never extend our mortgage or go into other debt for a holiday. We spend what we can afford on holidays, which means what we can afford after we have put money in our savings and DCs savings.

This is an area that can be a clash for many couples. I enjoy spending money on experiences rather than stuff too. However DH is obsessed with holidays and lives from one to the next and wants to use all disposable income on them. If I wanted to buy a piece of furniture for example we'd be on a tight budget looking in sales etc or buying cheap, going out for a meal requires a lot of thought while a few months later we are living like kings somewhere else, eating out every night. We have argued about addressing the balance a bit. Also he says its not a holiday unless it's abroad, something I feel is very narrow minded.

We just came back from an amazing holiday so I can really see why people do prioritise them. For me though I am a really homebody and spend far too much on renovations and making my home beautiful, I would always choose to spend more here and get a cheaper/more frugal holiday.

I don't need to help DS get on the housing ladder, that's his responsibility!

You can get a a 2 bed house for under £200k in my area so it's perfectly manageable for young people, he's welcome to live at home as long as he wants while he saves up but I won't be helping financially.

It is a you do you situation, but that's all very well when one can afford an annual holiday and a decent standard of life throughout the year.

I have known people on a low income who work in a job they hate , and deprive themselves just to have a week or two in the sun with other working class Brits ( think Benidorm and such)