Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Is this spending too much on holidays?

92 replies

Sicladik · 03/07/2023 00:38

Do you think my daughter spends too much on holidays a year?

Before taxes etc, her and her partner make around 110k per year. They’re mid 20s just post uni, they rent, and one day will want to buy.

Currently she has told me that her total holiday spend is probably about £7k.

OP posts:
Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 03/07/2023 08:30

Posted to soon. Still scope to save for a deposit. We did the same in our 20s and early 30s, earned less than then and probably spent more on holiday. As long as they aren't getting in to debt or asking you to fund it I think it's their own business x

Sakura7 · 03/07/2023 08:31

I do sometimes wonder if people who "need" a lot of holidays have something else missing from their lives, I've always been poretty happy at home but we're all different.

This is one of the strangest things I've read on here.

Selfesteem23 · 03/07/2023 08:36

Sakura7 · 03/07/2023 08:31

I do sometimes wonder if people who "need" a lot of holidays have something else missing from their lives, I've always been poretty happy at home but we're all different.

This is one of the strangest things I've read on here.

Glad it wasn’t just me. I have a lovely life. I don’t travel because I’m empty 🙈Travel and exploring the world and our own country actually just enriches and educates me. It’s something to plan, research to organise and look forward to.

I can like both being at home and going on holiday!

Tombero · 03/07/2023 08:42

I wish I’d had more holidays before mortgages and children. Good for them.

Rightnowstraightaway · 03/07/2023 08:42

Assuming they are living within their means, definitely not. I spent about 15% of my salary on holidays at that age because I like travelling.

Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 09:04

It sounds fine to me. But surely on that kind of income they could buy a 1 bed flat at least?

Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 09:07

Immediately post university I was earning about £17,500 in London in 1999. I went to Milan and Bellagio for a week with (future) DH and put most of it on my credit card, probably cost a month's salary or even slightly more.

judpan · 03/07/2023 09:09

@Catspyjamas17 when I was at uni I put a trip to Italy on my overdraft as an end of term treat after enjoying an Italian class that semester Grin absolutely no regrets.

Harebrain · 03/07/2023 09:10

After everything that happened with Covid, I think you should be pleased that she’s catching up on travel if she can afford it.

ChocChipHandbag · 03/07/2023 09:12

You do understand that if they are in 55k each at this stage their salaries are very likely to go up considerably over the next 10 years? They will have no problem buying a home and hopefully they ‘ll fill it with lovely mementoes of their travels.

OMGitsnotgood · 03/07/2023 09:13

I'm happy without a lot of travel, but I have a very busy life and active social life close to home, that makes me happy. Maybe you need more experience....

The two aren't mutually exclusive! I have a very happy; busy home life, very active socially, love family time etc. I also enjoy exploring different places locally, further afield in the UK, and abroad. If you're happy without travel, that is one thing. Suggesting that people with a different view of travel to you must have sad little lives is another.

CornishGem1975 · 03/07/2023 09:27

£7k doesn't actually go as far as you think on holidays these days. Good luck to them!

Sugargliderwombat · 03/07/2023 09:34

None of your business but no I don't. That's one big holiday a year or skiing and a European summer holiday.

Please butt out of their finances I have no idea why you even know their salary.

clpsmum · 03/07/2023 09:38

minipie · 03/07/2023 01:08

I think it’s none of my, or your, business. They sounds like they are doing just fine.

This

ThursdayFreedom · 03/07/2023 09:40

What a bloody strange question.

she's a grown adult on a good salary, mind your own business. As you haven't mentioned her owing you or wanting to borrow money, I'll assume that's not the case.

take your super sticky beak out of her finances.

MidnightMeltdown · 03/07/2023 09:42

I'll go against the grain here and say that I think it's fairly excessive. 55k is a decent salary for her age, but not that high to be spending 7k on holidays every year. Particularly when you are paying rent and trying to save for a house.

It depends on how much they are saving and spending on other things. If they aren't spending much on anything else, and she's saving at least the same amount towards her house Deposit, then I'd say fair enough.

astarsheis · 03/07/2023 09:52

DH and I are spending around £15000 on holidays this year. Our combined salary is over £100K. If they can afford it why not. There will probably come a time soon when they can't...mortgage kids etc. Have to make the most of it.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 03/07/2023 09:53

When are they going to travel the world if not in their 20s. I still have fond memories of my child free travels.

Movinghouseatlast · 03/07/2023 09:57

We earn half that and spend about the same on holidays.

ChocChipHandbag · 03/07/2023 09:59

Laughing at the person who said there must be something missing from home for people who want to go away all the time- well, yes, obviously- the point of going away is to see, eat and experience things you don’t get at home! I’m always a bit suspicious of people who don’t want to eat foreign food or experience other cultures.

I’d be really concerned if I had a DC in his twenties who didn’t want to see the world.

RiseYpres · 03/07/2023 09:59

DirectionToPerfection · 03/07/2023 08:11

I do sometimes wonder if people who "need" a lot of holidays have something else missing from their lives, I've always been poretty happy at home but we're all different.

Other people like different things to me, so there must be something wrong with them.🙄

There's a big world out there, staying at home all the time and never seeing any of it (finances and time allowing) seems pretty sad to me. Travel broadens the mind, and it's a lot of fun.

OP stop being silly. If those salaries are real, they are well above average for people in their mid 20s and the amount they're spending on holidays is absolutely reasonable. Also, it's their business.

Agree. I love travelling and am now at the stage where my DCs are really getting alot out of travel. My older one is 13 and he has autism and learning issues but the travels we have done has made him obsessed with learning languages and trying different foods. He is learning french and mandarin at school and is learning Greek and Japanese off his own bat via Duolingo. That would not have happened at all considering he is a bit of a homebody and if I had not pushed all of us out of our comfort zone to do ciuty breaks and all incluisves etc. So, nothing 'missing' from our lives- just our lives have been greatly enriched.

Peony654 · 03/07/2023 09:59

It's none of your business. Assuming they're not getting into debt for the holidays, why not spend money on that.

TiaraBoo · 03/07/2023 10:26

Sounds fine to me!
An alternative could’ve been she travelled after university and then didn’t find a job.
Let her enjoy her 20’s!

User13630934 · 03/07/2023 10:31

No, it's no different to spending money on hobbies, people spend money on different things, some may buy things for the house they don't really need.

Hbh17 · 03/07/2023 10:32

Well, firstly, it's none of the OP's business. For the salary quoted, the amount spent actually sounds very low. But, more importantly, people can spend whatever they like.... it's their money!