Conflicted - want to save aggressively but rare travel opportunity

[UnnecessarilyCheesedOff]

As title says really. I'm getting myself sorted after an expensive house move (a downshift and loads nearer to work) but got into debt (car loan when the knackered old one frantically died and £3k on a credit card) just before when the original sale fell through and my savings had already been depleted over the years by staying in the original family home post divorce.

I've recently been promoted and my first big girl salary will come in this month.

My depressed anxious teens who live with me are on a rare night away in a few weeks and so I'd love to go away solo for a night with my dog for a change of scene and a proper break from the endless task of unpacking moving boxes and decluttering I've been doing each weekend.

I could do with someone telling me to behave and save or (having just read Dame Deborah James 'seize the day' epitaph) go somewhere for the night....

I did think of going to see a girlfriend but will have just spent time with two, another is busy, yet more are too far to travel to with the dog for one night.

The halfway house is to go somewhere new by car, train or bus and spend a day exploring then return home to the empty messy house.

Another factor is I had some shitty shocking news this week which made me feel dull and old so had the idea of a little mini-break as a well earned treat after a really hard year.

WWYD? Stay or go? (and sorry I have no one in my life to give a balanced view)

I'd do it. Unless you're aiming at a suite in the Ritz, a single night away won't make a real difference to your budget, but it could make a real difference to your happiness.

Can you not book a cheap overnight? Give us some ideas where, maybe we can help? Is it you + dog?

Go
Always do the trip

Oh definitely the night away. It’s all good to save money but if you’re frazzled you deserve a little treat.

It also sounds very rare so please don’t beat yourself up about doing something nice for yourself.

Go!

Go!!!!
You sound like you need the break more than the cash, and you’ll have another big girl wage next month

Oh thanks so much. I appreciate it.

I'm quietly frazzled by all that's happened recently. My 50th turned out to be moving day with fraught exchange of contracts just the day before, two teen overdoses, the big girl promotion is a crazy load of chaos and responsibility in government... yada yada yada. I just found out the XH has announced his engagement to the OW and their child-free life is one long festival/party and outdoor pursuit excursion (hence me feeling hum drum, unloved and crap).

I do think a sneaky night away being me not looking after anyone will really maximise the teen-free time.

There's a new local big market town we haven't been to yet after being near to another lovely big beautiful town for over a decade.

The bus stops just outside my house and a night in a sweet looking, well decorated dog friendly hotel serving breakfast is within budget.

It feels a bit odd to go somewhere so near but the dog isn't great in the car without my DD to tend to him and it would be a worthy adventure as I'd get to know my way round the new big town a bit more than zero without two grumpy unwilling teens in tow.

Alternatively there's a room available at a more stately home style hotel further away with magnificent rolling gardens but if I'm honest with myself unlike my XH and his betrothed I'm more of an urban creature and dig on architecture, cafés, bookshops, people watching from a park bench than wide open spaces.

Or I could get myself by train to a slightly down at heel seaside town with zero changes on the train. But last was there with angry XH and small kids and don't remember liking it. But good sunsets!

Could explore a new seaside town.... slightly more train changes but doable.

Where would you go?

Have a mini break.

it will do your health a world of good

and it is not going to derail your finances

also taking a holiday with your dog is just lovely!

and yes we are a long time dead

Go to the market town. Sounds like that’s what you want to do, and you don’t have to waste time travelling. Can the dog stay in the hotel between walks if you can’t friend dog friendly cafes etc

Go

Go!

always pick the trip if you can afford it I say

Seaside always for me - the sea is v healing

All booked up and excited to see there is a big car boot sale on Sunday. Haven't been to one of those in years.

Can't wait! Thanks for helping me do this. Feel a tad guilty but will enjoy it tremendously.

Yay! So glad you did it! Sounds like you totally deserve it.

Update. I've actually cancelled the hotel. But still very much looking forward to a solo day trip

Here's why - we took an excursion to a much further afield place yesterday got home at midnight but still had a great time. I realised I didn't need to stay to have a good time and could save the money.

Some other unexpected expenditures have come up so I'm back to feeling the saving of money has to be the top priority but recognised the importance of being in new places away from the domestic drudge.

I will get best of both world this way and not have buyers regret over the £100 which could have been spent on a hotel spend.