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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:
Marble10 · 10/06/2025 19:25

No. Although it’s a nice thought for now once it’s been and gone and all a distant memory, you’ll still be left paying it off 😞

3678194b · 10/06/2025 19:27

Personally, no I wouldn't. I don't see holidays as a waste of money but they can cost a lot for just a few days, rather than taking a loan out for something that will probably last years.

Saying that if I hadn't had a holiday for years and couldn't afford to, I might feel differently about borrowing to go on holiday.

Ilovegoldies · 10/06/2025 19:27

25 year old me would have. I am much more sensible now. That said I've just paid for flights with PayPal credit, the difference is I have the money ready to pay it. I used to say fuck it, life's too short, then ended up in debt I couldn't pay.
So no, I won't get a loan for anything holiday or home improvements.

ObliviousCoalmine · 10/06/2025 19:30

No, unless me/partner/child was on the cusp of death.

Figgygal · 10/06/2025 19:33

A loan probably not but I am going Australia next year to visit a friend have saved probably half the flight cost and rest will go on credit card.

Heronwatcher · 10/06/2025 19:35

No because if you work out the cost of the holiday once you’ve paid the interest it’s horrific!

Praying4Peace · 10/06/2025 19:40

I've had to get a loan out previously for essential home items but I would never get a loan for a holiday which is a luxury as opposed to a necessity

Heritagehog · 10/06/2025 19:45

Well, probably not a loan, but I’ve put one on a 0% credit card and paid it off before it accrued interest. Seemed sensible. I was in huge need of a holiday and I couldn’t wait 18 months to save it up! I knew I could cough up the money though if I really really needed to.

Tessiebear2023 · 10/06/2025 19:46

I know someone who did this, got a loan to book the holiday of a lifetime. She had an amazing time, went to all the places she'd always wanted to go (and with a hunky younger man!)

Anyway, the repayments started off ok, then the rent went up and her car blew up.. she ended up having to borrow from her brother to make the payments, then she had to get a second job to pay back her brother who suddenly needed the money back to get some dentistry work done. It was all a bit of a mess, but luckily worked out in the end. If some third thing had gone wrong, or she didn't have a brother to rely on, or a second job hadn't turned up, she'd have been stuffed.

If you can pay off a loan, then you can put money in savings, so why not do that?

Radusiq · 10/06/2025 19:46

Picklechicken · 09/06/2025 23:23

We use a credit card to pay for our holiday every year. 0% interest. We aim to pay it off by the time the holiday actually comes around. I think a lot of people do this, don’t they?

I've done this a few times. Very disciplined in paying off in full before travel and at no risk of the sum becoming unaffordable/long term debt - mainly for convenience and booking in sale. I would not take out a loan though nor borrow too much for too long.

PinkyFlamingo · 10/06/2025 19:49

Absolutely yes! And dif 3 weeks from Grand Canyon, Vegas and California road trip.
But I did it through borrowing from a Credit Union so have savings to.

heidyho · 10/06/2025 19:50

If it was a once off I absolutely would (and have done for a trip to Australia) YOLO especially when young without commitments etc.
I would be worried it may become an addiction though & the debt could spiral.

JaninaDuszejko · 10/06/2025 20:06

Not since I was a student. When DH and I graduated from our PhDs we had lots of debt. DH and I still lived like students until we paid off the debt then started saving the same amount every month. The only thing I've borrowed money for since is my mortgage; all cars, home improvements, holidays etc are paid for from savings. In my 50s now so have large savings so the situation doesn't arise any more. But we had years of not having holidays abroad when we were younger.

TaraRhu · 10/06/2025 21:00

Yep

Bubblesgun · 11/06/2025 07:11

IberianBird · 10/06/2025 19:01

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.

Show quote history

So if you can afford the repayments, you can afford to save and go.
do you realise it is more expensive to pay interests on debts? And cheaper to warn interests on savings?

IberianBird · 11/06/2025 14:13

Bubblesgun · 11/06/2025 07:11

So if you can afford the repayments, you can afford to save and go.
do you realise it is more expensive to pay interests on debts? And cheaper to warn interests on savings?

Show quote history

Really, no way. I had NO idea that it's more expensive to pay interest on debts. 🙄 thanks for patronising comment.
I'm out.

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