Honest opinion? Need a Vacation!
 

Okay, I'm going to plan honest. We don't have the money saved right now for a vacation, but I'm in desperate need of one.<BR>I know you all will think I'm crazy, but I have been working so hard this year and a vacation has always been a treat for me!! I don't spend money on myself except for basic necessaties- food, car note, etc... I'm so tempted to just book that vacation and put it on the charge...Any advice. I love to travel!!! This is the only thing I look forward to each year.

S.C. using credit cards is risky. It all depends on your ability to pay it back. I would look for something economical if I had to charge the entire trip. Come up with a plan or a committment as to when you will pay it back. Remember you will be paying interest on it over the long haul. If you can easily pay it back in a timely fashion then do it. Keep in mind also that the holidays are sneaking up on us as well which generally means additional credit card use.

I am very anti charging anything BUT sometimes you have to do things to stay sane. I think it would be crazy to take a 5-7 day vacation somewhere exotic when you can't afford it but there are other options. Look closer to home and go for just a few days. Three days in a beautiful setting could be great. Often I think people overlook things nearby because they don't really seem like a vacation. Check out what your area, or state, has to offer that you might not have ever considered before. Go, have fun and try to get overtime to pay off the debt FAST :)

Where do you live? If you tell us maybe someone can suggest something close to home that doesn't have to be expensive.

Just do it! You will feel worse if you don't. If you think you can pay off the cards, do it and have fun!

I live in Michigan. I've been spoiled over the past 5 years being able to vacation a couple of times a year. So far we have not been anywhere this year due to not having the finances saved. We are not broke by any means. Just don't have that extra cushion to grab from the savings and go on vacation. It can be very hard and frustrating not being able to book that dream vacation. We usually take a nice vacation in the fall October or November. I know the holidays are sneaking upon us. I don't know what to do. I thought about those payment plans, where you have scheduled payments each month. I know charging a $1,000 dollars for 5-7 days is a lot of money, but so tempting.....

Just try t<BR><BR><BR>

If you are in Michigan - come across into Ontario. You'll save 50% just on your exchange of money. Just drive over & book a couple days at a resort or cabin in the Muskokas (lake / cottage country - not the name of the town just the "area") 1 - 2 hours north of Toronto. Beautiful fall colours.

Suck it up, keep working, do something nice for yourself at home and vacation when you can afford it.

Kyle your so rude... Suck it up. Easy for you to say.<BR>S.C. I would review your finances and see what you can afford. It may not be the most extravagant vacation, but sometimes those weekend getaways can be just as nice..

Hard to guess how old you are, S.C. but I remember vacations we took when we were trying to live on $10/wk. for food. The trick is ALWAYS getting a change of scene and a change of pace, and you don't need Sandals or Carnival Cruises to do that. It's amazing what a mere 3 days going someplace you've never been can do for you, and that's essentially what people here are suggesting.<BR><BR>Hard also to know which part of Michigan you're in, but most parts aren't all that far from Canada, so I think that's a great idea. You don't have to go to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island to get a taste of the Upper Peninsula; you don't have to stay at the King George (if that's even the name) to get a taste of Toronto. Or head the other direction to Chicago? There are actually interesting things to see in Cleveland (R&R museum, e.g.), Dayton, etc. Give yourself a budget of $400 for 3 days and don't be snooty about staying in Motel 6s or Ma'n'Pa motels. Take canned tuna and fruit and picnic for all but one or two restaurant meals. Call it "urban camping," maybe.<BR><BR>Think like a foreigner trying to learn something about "average" America away from the big cities. Some of the best vacation memories have been when we tripped over some out-of-the-way place during a car trip trying to get somewhere else.

Have to agree with the last post. It is the sense of adventure and seeing a part of the world that is new to you. We just spent a modest night in Gloucester, MA with a pool and met some of the most wonderful people, who were doing the same......just getting away......no big vacation, save that investment to get the bang for the buck.....we were simply escaping and enjoyed so many people doing the same.

I agree that charging a vacation is somewhat risky. I'd probably charge a plane ticket and car rental, head for a beautiful national park, then camp and cook for myself, with maybe one or two dinners out. Better yet, take your own car and drive somewhere close. Hanging out with no set schedule is what makes it a vacation.

I think it is very poor judgement to rack up any kind of debt in this economy. People always loose this battle with themselves by saying to themselves "I deserve this". Well ask yourself if you deserve the debt and the lack of financial freedom that creates.<BR><BR>I also have the same feelings of travel but different ideas of debt. I would either choose a cheap cheap trip that won't incur debt for me in the past that has meant 3rd world country or don't go. Save for something big in the future, use the planning as a way of escape until you can go.

"thems that understands interest earns it, them that don't pays it".<BR><BR>Don't go into debt for a vacation. Do something less expensive and try to get ahead financially. Trying to pay off credit card debt is exhausting and you'll always need a vacation if you put yourself into that situation.<BR>

I would take the time off. Sounds like you are a hard worker. But it doesn't always mean having to travel in a distant land. Even a long weekend close by would be refresing, or having something done to your abode you have been wanting to have or purchase. Better to be sensible than in debt.

Oh you people put a sock into it. I bet the majority of fodorites on this board CHARGE there vacations. This economy is not in credit card debt for no reason. I'm always seeing people pull out the charge everywhere... I bet if we took a poll on this board the majority would admit they have charged an entire vacation once in there lives....

I never charge my vacations. When I do not have money saved in my vacation account, I drive somewhere and go camping. It is a nice change of pace and you can equip yourself with basic camping gear. Latern, Tent, Sleeping Bag, Ice Chest, camp stove for about $200 if you know how to shop right. Staying at a campground usually only runs $10-$30 a night.

No Billy, not true. We never charge vacations. We were brought up to only pay cash. If you don't have the money for something, you don't buy it. You have heard of interest, haven't you?<BR><BR>Too many people spend too much money that they don't have, nor will they ever have if they keep charging.

Hey Billy,<BR><BR>I use my credit card on vacation, but as a convenience only and not without the cash to back it up. I pay the balance due in full each month because interest charges will eat you alive. Just because somebody is paying with a credit card doesn't mean they are going into debt to enjoy a vacation.

My advice is to wait. Coming home from vacation is a bit of a drag as it is. How much worse is it to come home to a bunch of bills that you admit that you don't have the money for right now. Sure you'll pay it off but don't you HATE paying interest. Personally, paying interest on anything but our mortgage or car payment rankles me and I refuse to do it except for genuine emergencies. It seems like such a waste of your HARD-EARNED money. Trust me, I'm a total believer in getting away for your own sanity but I don't think taking on unnecessary debt is good for anyone's mental health.<BR>I agree with the folks who suggested taking an inexpensive long weekend instead. Just recharge for a couple of days and come back feeling good that you haven't sacrificed your financial well-being.

When I got my grad degree and was looking for a job we needed a new roof on our house. We borrowed the money for the roof then went to Disneyworld with the money instead (I can't wait to be attacked by the Disney haters for this LOL). It was a super vacation. Got a job a couple of weeks after we came back and moved half way across the country. Sold the house as is with the old roof. It was a very memorable vacation and we still laugh about it 13 years later. Our families thought we were insane. Of course we knew that eventually I would get a good paying job and hubby had one already.

I think that taking a camping-type vacation would be ideal - actual camping or staying in a cabin. It would be relatively inexpensive and give you the break that you need so badly. You don't have to spend a lot to get away. I'm not familiar with Michigan, but I imagine there are some nice wilderness areas within a few hours drive or short plane flight. Charge some of your vacation if you need to, just make sure you don't go overboard.

Go For it - My Husband & I have been in the same boat before. You can charge the large items (Hotel, transportation,..)& get by with cash for small things. Even 2 - 3 days away from the "daily grind" helps. We plan on short day trips or long weekends when the $$ are slim or lack of vacation time.

go to your local hollidome for the evening. swim, have dinner, hot tub.... it may go a long way w/o cramping your wallet

Hey S.C <BR>Party!! Party!! Party!!! Have a blast. I'm 27 yrs old and would just say Let's go head for those hilly valleys!!! <BR>Go for it and Have a blast!!

Billy,<BR>A lot of those people you see pulling out their charge cards have the cash to pay for their purchases. I use my Amex card constantly for everything - gas, groceries, etc. because it's convenient and earns FF miles, then I pay it off each month and essentially had a 25 day interest free 'loan'.<BR><BR>S.C.,<BR>I'm very spoiled too and it would kill me to not go anywhere all year. My suggestion would be to look at some inexpensive options. Camping is a great idea if it's feasible where you are that time of year. Some of our most memorable vacations have been ones where we've spent very little money. Don't go into debt for a vacation. Once you start charging things that you don't have the cash to pay for, it's very easy to just keep doing it.

Yes S.C., by all means charge, charge, charge away! Hey, why not take Collette with you? Her husband may not even have a job but what the hell, live it up, dig yourselves deeper into debt. That $2000 you spend on vacation may only end up costing you $10,000 with interest by the time you pay it all off. I'm sure it will be worth it though. <BR><BR>Of course you do realize your golden <BR>years may be spent bagging groceries and eating cat food, but at least you enjoyed yourself now.<BR><BR>Morons.

Sometimes when I feel like you're describing, I go for an hour massage and it feels like a vacation! That's one option I haven't seen anyone mention.<BR><BR>Also, I find that if I go for a day trip someplace I haven't been before in my area, that too can "feel like a vacation." Especially a long hike in the woods with my dog.<BR><BR>Good luck!

I really, really understand your situation. I'm feeling the same way myself. Only you know your financial situation. If you charge a short, inexpensive vacation and know that you can pay off the credit card in a short period of time, then do it! (On the down side, if you're credit card already carries a balance or if you don't have a cushion of any kind, then maybe wait a while). <BR><BR>I bet that most of the people who say "don't do it" have car loans (or a lease) on vehicles that are brand new large SUV's or vans that they pay around $400-$500 a month for when they could save some money by buying less expensive, used vehicles. Some people pay interest on cars, some on vacations. Go for it (sparingly) if you know you can handle it afterwards.

I guess I should've been more specific. I'm fortunate enough not to have a house payment, but I do have a car note and I'm not in credit card debt (yipee). Just wondering if it's worth risking my good standing for a vacation. So tempting. DH is more realistic... I'm ready to plan and pack!! Decisions, Decisions!!!

What the heck, Go for it!! After seeing all this 9/11 stuff lately, I come to realize Life is too short.

I know a couple on my street that are in their forties. They wanted to retire debt free before fifty and have 1 million dollars in stocks. They never did anything. Ever! Guess what? They lost $900,000 in the stock market last year and they were in very good stocks. NOw they have a new attitude. Live the best you can today. If you keep putting things off until everything is just right it may never be. My gondola ride in Venice this June is worth the six months it is taking me to pay it off!!

Guess what Karen, that couple still has a good chance of recovering their investment if their stocks are indeed "good" (I assume you mean blue chip). You on the other hand, will be working long past fifty.

Oh go on a vacation. Take a trip around the world. See America the Beautiful. Proud and Wonderful.. I'm sure glad to be an AMERICAN!!

I am in the mortgage business and see people's finances all day long. The last thing I would do is charge a vacation, it is WAY too hard to pay it off. Save what you can, and book a last minute super saver fare, usually a cruise is super cheap this time of year. As for the above comments, I have actually done a loan for a retiree that was bagging groceries because of decisions like charging a vacation! (not kidding!) Don't do it!

I agree with the above poster. It is tooo easy and risky to charge a vacation. Imagine the timeframe paying it off. Besides, you'll want to go on another vacation and 2 wrongs don't always make it right. That could add up on the charge especially with the holidays around the corner. Think long and hard about it before you do it!!