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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you get a loan for an amazing holiday?

116 replies

Florally · 09/06/2025 22:28

Just that really.

A friend of mine is getting a loan to do her ‘bucket list trip’ and go on safari and to South Africa and it sounds incredible.

My DH would never let us do that, save instead of borrow as a mantra.

But, I think if it were just my decision, I would. If you can afford the repayments without impacting anything instead of saving for years… I don’t see the harm.

Would you? (And as a bonus, where would it be? 🤩)

OP posts:
irregularegular · 10/06/2025 11:40

Only in very specific circumstances. Maybe if I was having a break from work, so it was a good opportunity to travel, but had a guaranteed job lined up from afterwards that would comfortably pay for it. Under normal circumstances, no.

irregularegular · 10/06/2025 11:42

How long is the loan for? Presumably not that long, it's not a mortgage. If you think that it would be affordable to take a loan, then it's affordable to save up, and you'd only be delaying the trip by a couple of years. And you earn interest rather than paying it.

Guinessandafire · 10/06/2025 11:44

This is probably the wrong forum to ask, OP, as Mumsnet is full of people who believe you should save 90% of your earnings ' just in case' , and put the other 10% in your ' pension pot'.

Quite frankly I would do it (general abroad holiday, nothing hugely outrageous) , and we have done with a credit card and paid it back over the following year.

Life is too short to miss out on deserved holidays, you never know what is round the corner, and kids get older and become surly and disinterested in being on holiday with you.

Annascaul · 10/06/2025 11:50

Guinessandafire · 10/06/2025 11:44

This is probably the wrong forum to ask, OP, as Mumsnet is full of people who believe you should save 90% of your earnings ' just in case' , and put the other 10% in your ' pension pot'.

Quite frankly I would do it (general abroad holiday, nothing hugely outrageous) , and we have done with a credit card and paid it back over the following year.

Life is too short to miss out on deserved holidays, you never know what is round the corner, and kids get older and become surly and disinterested in being on holiday with you.

believe you should save 90% of your earnings ' just in case' , and put the other 10% in your ' pension pot'.
Op is not just not saving for a rainy day, she’s contemplating buying a holiday she can’t afford on credit.
Slightly different scenario?

ConflictofInterest · 10/06/2025 11:54

Yes definitely, life is too short, kids grow up while you're trying to save up if you're on a low income. I did this last year so we could go on our first family holiday abroad which coincided with a big anniversary for us. It was definitely worth it. I try saving for holidays but always end up finding something else more deserving of the money and there's never any in the pot. I realised when my eldest DS hit his teens and complained he'd never been abroad. I'd been hopelessly trying to save for a 'one day' holiday that never came. So I paid for the holiday with a loan of several thousand and paid it off in monthly installments for a year in advance of going. It worked out completely fine. I'd definitely do it again.

Lidlisthebusiness · 10/06/2025 11:56

Yes, I would probably consider this. Maybe a loan, or holiday repayment scheme. I'd love to take our children to Disney, I went a lot as a child as have such wonderful memories but there are 8 of us and our eldest is coming up to 16 so I don't think I could save enough to go before she's too old to enjoy it. Having said that, if you're a big Disney fan, I don't think there is a 'too old'!

EggnogNoggin · 10/06/2025 11:58

Never.

If it takes 2 years to pay it back, why not save for 2 years. Interest saved can be put towards spends or next holiday.

It also gives flexibility to plan and take advantage of any deals that might drop in during that period.

Ihad2Strokes · 10/06/2025 12:00

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 09/06/2025 22:31

I did and have no regrets.

But for medical reasons it was better for me to go sooner rather than later. I’m not sure I would have made the decision otherwise.

Bluey 🌹

@Florally only in this sort of situation, otherwise no. You just don't know what's around the corner.

I was perfectly fine one day, stroke overnight, now cannot work.... imagine if I had a huge debt for a holiday to worry about as well. 😩

Comefromaway · 10/06/2025 12:01

No, never.

purplecorkheart · 10/06/2025 12:16

Nope never. I have friends who did this. Both were in very good jobs and they decided to take some bucket list trips before having kids. They were both lost their jobs in the space of a few months. I know how stressed they were about the loans and the toil it has taken on their marriage.

Lighteye · 10/06/2025 12:28

Yes

lunaswand · 10/06/2025 12:36

no, if you could afford the repayments then why not save that amount a month & pay for it instead?

Bjorkdidit · 10/06/2025 12:37

Annascaul · 10/06/2025 11:50

believe you should save 90% of your earnings ' just in case' , and put the other 10% in your ' pension pot'.
Op is not just not saving for a rainy day, she’s contemplating buying a holiday she can’t afford on credit.
Slightly different scenario?

Show quote history

The OP has not actually given any details of their finances.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was one of those common situations where the DH claims they 'can't afford' things the OP wants to do but he's not interested in but they mysteriously have plenty of money available for his cars, hobbies, pension or personal savings.

Yorkshiremum80 · 10/06/2025 12:38

No if rather save than borrow and end up paying more in interest. We are going to Australia in 5 years and are already saving for it. I'd rather do that than get in debt.

minnienono · 10/06/2025 12:49

Never, holidays are something you save for not borrow for. If you wonder how people on good incomes get into debt, this is how. What happens the following year when you have no money because you are still paying for last year’s

mumto2teenagers · 10/06/2025 12:49

I do prioritise holidays over material things but wouldn't get a loan to go on one.

When our children were younger we went on 2 really expensive holidays, one to Florida which was paid for from my redundancy money, and one on safari in Kenya paid for from some money I was left when my Nan passed away. We didn't borrow money to go, but could have used the money to clear some debts we had at the time. I don't regret it because I wanted to have the experience as a family and debt we did have was managable.

I often book holidays before having the money to pay for them, but book them well in advance so I know I can save the money before the final payment is due.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/06/2025 13:04

Not unless there was a reason I had to go now eg: degenerative/terminal illness, older person's last wish.

FluffykinsTheFerociousFeralFelineFury · 10/06/2025 13:18

I wouldn't get a loan for anything that wasn't going to outlast the repayment period.

Bowling4soup · 10/06/2025 13:19

I would!

CoastalCalm · 10/06/2025 13:54

No I wouldn’t even take a loan for a week in the U.K. - hate the idea of paying for something you no longer have

noctilucentcloud · 10/06/2025 14:08

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 09/06/2025 22:31

I did and have no regrets.

But for medical reasons it was better for me to go sooner rather than later. I’m not sure I would have made the decision otherwise.

I'd do it in that situation too. Otherwise I'd save and go once I had enough.

IberianBird · 10/06/2025 19:01

Bubblesgun · 10/06/2025 08:22

Whilst I absolutely agree that life is for living (and trust me we do. I soend all my money on experiences for us as a family and for the teens), i fundamentally believe that getting into debts for a holiday is veeeeery bad planning and quite stupid actually.
if you do, please let us know when you can retire and live financially secure however tgat means for you.

Show quote history

I wouldn't need to do it now, I'm very financially comfortable thank you, but I did it in my 20s. Didn't regret it for a second. I could afford the repayments.
I do agree that overall it's not ideal but it's up to the individual to decide if it's financial viable for them.

crazycatladie · 10/06/2025 19:23

To take my children to Disney, yes I would.

SkylarkKitten · 10/06/2025 19:23

Growing up, I was taught holidays are a luxury, not a necessity. Nowadays the opposite seems to be true

However, I'll stick with what I was taught. If I have the money saved up especially for a holiday, then I'll go. Not a chance I'd get into debt for one though.

Didimum · 10/06/2025 19:25

I always book holidays on a credit card and pay them off across a year. That’s interest free though. Not sure I’d get a loan. Maybe!