We have 3 children and travel 4 times per year. Our vacations are paid from our savings account, which we both invest in. We try to use cash or an ATM as much as possible, and rarely use our credit card. We work hard and play hard.

I moved to europe with a great job and love it!! I can't imagine moving back any time soon. As many of the destinations that are posted are day trips for me. Paris 450 Km from my front door, a 3 hours drive. Amsterdam is a 4 hour drive. Northern Italy about 6. So instead of saving and scrimping to travel...I just relocated where I still scrimp and save but it just doesn't feel the same:) Have a great weekend everybody!! I am off to Maastricht, Holland to see some flowers and enjoy the dutch lifestyle!!! at least for a day.

Chris, interesting point about travel in the US being cheaper than Europe! I've also found this to be true. Except for airfare of course. I've been tempted to take advantage of those last minute weekend fares to cities such as Boston, Philly, DC. But for a three night trip, once you factor in hotels (not cheap in those towns), dining, transport, admissions, entertainment, etc, you are looking at way more than it would cost for the same three nights travelling on a reasonable budget in Europe. <BR>MY main dilemma, in addition to the $, is how to afford European trips in terms of vacation days from work. Vacation days are a precious commodity, and we just don't get enough! I've even offered to take days without pay, but instead they chain me to my desk!

drag my tired ass to work everday!!!and live within my means. It is an easy formula. Life is about choices, if you choose to live large without the big income,then being broke is part of the deal. I choose not to so, there fore I can not really relate to people who whine about being broke whilst buying more consumer shit and putting it on there visa!!!

I should wait till I have my first cup of coffee before I post. What I meant to say was:<BR>Chris, interesting point about travel in EUROPE being cheaper than in the US...

And I quote Kyle, "Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy many expensive vacations."<BR><BR>Actually Kyle you are quite wrong, money can buy happiness. I much prefer the life I lead now, with money, than the one I lead before I had money. I came from nothing, and I am where I am now because of me and because my wife believed in me and supported me in my efforts. I worked and attended college and finally after many years of picking away at it obtained my education, ending up with my Master's Degree. I recall times when we were first married that we literally had a thin dime left to our name before payday rolled around. Now, we are quite comfortable, have raised two wonderful children, own a very nice home, drive nice cars, and yes we travel to Europe often, as well as Canada, the Carribean, Mexico, and all over the USA. To put it bluntly, I am happy now that I can afford to do these things, and I intend to stay happy. Having money is one of a hell lot better than not having any. <BR>

Between my wife and I we make 125,000.00,kids are married, live in a medium range home, travel 3 times a year and find Europe rather cheap.

Three trusts give us enough income to travel 4-5 a year abroad

No husband, no children, college loan paid off, airmiles through the wazoo, car paid off, no green fees or mortgage, and sheer determination to equate most everything I 'could' buy toa plane ticket...($200 for SHOES? That's half a ticket to Paris!......)

No credit card debt. No kids. No car. Not interested in clothes shopping, only when I have to. Low mortgage. Yes the condo need repairs but they can wait. I don't make high wages but traveling abroad once or twice a year is my passion and what I save my money for. Also, hardly ever eating out. Very few movies out, no cell phone. The list could go on and on. I never started traveling until my forties but want to do it now while I still can. <BR><BR>

BINGO! I have a friend who was just bragging that he, his wife, and another couple went to an upscale restaurant and spent $250 for DINNER! I kept thinking, wow, about ½ the price of a round trip coach ticket to just about anywhere in Europe. Not two lines later he expressed wonderment that I’m going to France in a few days, “Jeez, man, how can you afford it?”

Darla, you must associate with the same people I do! I get the same reaction when I talk about going to Europe. Everybody assumes they can't afford it, yet they all have new cars whereas I am still driving my 1993 Saturn with 108,000 miles! My husband and I are at the point in our careers where we make decent money but we aren't frivolous spenders (at least not too often anyway!) so we allow ourselves one nice vacation a year. There is so much I want to do and I know I only have a limited amount of time to do it. One never knows when you could be hit with a debilitating illness or injury that would prevent travel. As long as my legs will carry me, I will find a way to visit Europe!

I'm baffled - why is everyone defending how they spend their money, why they've chosen a certain profession, or their lifestyles? Most of the responders appear to be Americans - why do we feel the need to defend ourselves? What ever happened to "none of your damn business"? curious didn't want budget advice; s/he wanted to watch all of us jump through guilt-hoops. And everyone obliged.<BR><BR>Then you've got filly who defends her not traveling because she doesn't have enough money - why defend yourself? If that isn't sad enough, she then attacks everyone who DOES travel with words like "snobs" "d.i.n.k.s.". There will always be people who have more money than you, less money than you - some people have more with less money, and some people have less with more money. If a discussion about what people do or have makes you feel defensive, maybe a reality check is in order...you don't owe anyone any explanation.

Some rules to live buy:<BR><BR>Always pay off your credit card every month. (maybe I'll give you two months at x-mas if you ask nicely)<BR><BR>Never lease a car. Keep the car for double the number of years you made car pymts. Put the "car pymt" in the bank during the years after it is paid for. Eventually you will save enough to start paying cash for cars.<BR><BR>"Pay yourself first" Out of every paycheck, put money in savings immediately, wheather it's $20 or $2000...what's left over at the end of the month is disposable, not the other way around. <BR><BR>Never finance anything other than house, car, and income producing property. (that means no furniture, TV's, computers, etc.) If you can't afford something, you sure can't afford it + interest.<BR><BR>Be cheap. This applies to all income levels. IF you make $75k, it means don't buy those Cole Haans 'til they go on sale. If you make $20k, it means brown-bag your lunch.<BR><BR>Always take advangage of the max employer 401k match. Always roll over the 401k when you change jobs.<BR><BR>Keep a detailed budget so you know what you spend, you may be surprised. That cappucino habit may be costing $1000/yr.<BR><BR>Read The Millionaire Next Door.<BR><BR>And be patient...I was 29 before I went to New York, 30 before I went to Europe. Good Luck

As usual, right on the mark, Elvira!

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Why bother reading this forum and upsetting yourself if you can't afford to travel to Europe? I agree with Elvira. Also you people haven't seen my Visa bill....

My friend whined to me for the past 5 years about not being able to afford to go to europe--she has never been out of the country. Made me feel guilty as I pranced from Austria to France, Italy and Spain. Then she had a baby, bought a new car, and upgraded her engagement ring. She still whines about not being able to go to Europe. I just don't listen anymore. It's all about choices. There are people who think 'why spend it on a vacation that only lasts a week and then is gone? Buy a couch or whatever, you will have something to show for it'. Well, she has the couch, and I have the pictures from my travels on the wall over my old couch. Who do you think smiles more when they enter their living room? Ciao!

Sheesh, finally some people at the end of this thread who make sense - wendy, darla, betty. Thanks for your comments. <BR><BR>And thanks to whoever early in this thread said that "curious" should probably be reading the budget travelers thread rather than the Europe thread. I will go there, as I am finding a lot of the threads on this forum unhelpful. I have to say I find it, not sure of the proper word, but let me say dismaying to see the number of flaming posts on a board as seemingly wholesome and innocuous as Fodors.<BR><BR>To the sincere and helpful people, please hang in there and keep plugging away. There are probably more of us than there are of them.

Welcome back, Elvira, I have missed your right-on comments and wry humor. You have been too laid back the last few months. I've missed you.