How does anyone afford to travel now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s definitely points. My husband travels for work and it really adds up. Our flights are free for the 4 us to travel to Europe and Iceland this summer round trip. I booked a couple of cheap air bnbs as well. It’s definitely doable.

Many, many people do not travel extensively for work to get these kinds of benefits. Consider yourself very lucky, moreso than it being "doable." It's only doable if you have a job where you travel a great deal AND are able to keep the points for personal use.

Exactly. Most companies these days are cutting business travel as a whole

I hate when DH travels for work and I’m so glad it isn’t that often. I would not consider that lucky at all. We travel for pleasure but we either use CC points or just pay cash.

[Anonymous]

I travel business class. Not because I can afford to; rather because I can’t afford not to.

[Anonymous]

I travel for work and the the family on 1-2 vacations a year using points/miles

[Anonymous]

Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

NP- Concerts, musicals and ballet are not affordable anymore or justifiable for most people unless you get discounted tickets through work or similar. Just one outing can cost 1k for a family. That's several plane tickets to another location, where this poster is likely going to museums and not concerts either.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I don't see the value in most travel. With 3 teens, the cost is prohibitive and the ratio of cost:value just isn't there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

NP- Concerts, musicals and ballet are not affordable anymore or justifiable for most people unless you get discounted tickets through work or similar. Just one outing can cost 1k for a family. That's several plane tickets to another location, where this poster is likely going to museums and not concerts either.

This. It’s so expensive!

We buy maybe one set of “commercial” tickets (4 of us) a year and I watch prices closely. It can be a Broadway type show or a concert. But we do go to community theater and even the high school shows on occasion. High school theater/choir is unbelievable these days. We also do lawn seats at amphitheater concerts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

Because our money isn't endless and I have to prioritize- I value travel over these other things. It adds up. There are free museums, etc. here for culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

NP- Concerts, musicals and ballet are not affordable anymore or justifiable for most people unless you get discounted tickets through work or similar. Just one outing can cost 1k for a family. That's several plane tickets to another location, where this poster is likely going to museums and not concerts either.

This. I wanted to take my kids to Les Mis and it was going to be close to 600 dollars (minus dinner out, since we live up in Baltimore) for the 3 of us. That’s insane. I’m not saying the actors don’t deserve it but just that for us, a middleclsss family , it’s not an affordable activity for a weekend, which makes me sad.

[Anonymous]

^^ oh and this was for the worst seats in the house. For good seats for 3 of us it was even more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

NP- Concerts, musicals and ballet are not affordable anymore or justifiable for most people unless you get discounted tickets through work or similar. Just one outing can cost 1k for a family. That's several plane tickets to another location, where this poster is likely going to museums and not concerts either.

This. I wanted to take my kids to Les Mis and it was going to be close to 600 dollars (minus dinner out, since we live up in Baltimore) for the 3 of us. That’s insane. I’m not saying the actors don’t deserve it but just that for us, a middleclsss family , it’s not an affordable activity for a weekend, which makes me sad.

Honestly my solution to this has been to do it with one kid at a time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like others said, we prioritize travel over other things, but we don't deprive ourself of everything.

- small house
- one car (a Subaru, we bought new because it was a better deal than a recent-year used but again it's our only car)
- eat out 1-2 times per month, otherwise cook at home
- rarely go to movies, concerts, sports games, etc., they're so expensive
- no travel sports or other expensive activities
- we save, but don't max out IRA/401k most years. ILs worked and worked and never spent money and now that they are retired they are too feeble/tired to travel. I'd rather travel now while we can.

That’s great that you travel, but why do you skip culture at home to go do it somewhere else?

I’m not the person who posted the above list, but why do you think going to movies, concerts and sports games are the only way to get culture? We live in the DC area which has tons of free museums and historical sites (and often has free concerts).

I do mostly agree with the above list. People will occasionally express jealousy that my family travels so much and wish they could do the same and I think that they could if they didn’t decide they needed to live in a 4500 square foot new house and have 2 SUVs. We have a smaller older house, 1 car and take public a lot. We do eat out and get takeout at least once a week though cause food makes us happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't see the value in most travel. With 3 teens, the cost is prohibitive and the ratio of cost:value just isn't there.

Then you my friend, are not traveling right esp having 3 teens!!

With all due respect, if you dint see value in experiencing any other culture, not one different than American, it's your loss.

There's a zillion places you could pick and none of them are "wrong" but to not see value in any country in the world to see just once in your life is kinda... actually - stupid. It's missing out on even knowing what is happening in the world. Beyond that, you could choose fun, beauty, history, the most superficial or deep experience and it would be value added to yours and your kids" lives. What a lonely existence to not be able to explore the world and see value beyond your little microcosm.

[Anonymous]

How is there 8 pages of discussion on this question?

People make a lot of money in this area and use it to travel.