How not to feel bad when other families go on a trip every break

[Anonymous]

We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher at a lower-income school high school. NOT ONE of my students goes on a trip on breaks -- it's an opportunity for them to work more hours to help their family or save for college.

The staff? Some of us travel --including me, because that is my main interest in life -- but we are too busy to chat about it at work, so no one really knows or asks, or cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tiniest violin etc I know but lots of other families travel to amazing places every break. Europe for skiing over winter and February break, then Caribbean for spring break and summers in Martha’s vineyard. How not to feel bad about your own family when you haven’t taken a real vacation in years besides to visit grandparents?

What you are feeling is jealousy and envy, two emotions that will eat your soul. Start by being happy for the good fortune of others. There are many free things to do in this area. Another good trip is to Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece in Pennsylvania. Be happy in your life.

[Anonymous]

Know that some of us who travel to random places would give ANYTHING to have living grandparents to visit. Or other relatives . Most of my childhood vacations were to visit grandparents or cousins, and I hate that my kids don’t get to have that. I am completely aware that I’m trying to compensate for this absence with trips to places I hope will be fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

[Anonymous]

[url]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

Please step out of your bubble. As someone who also prioritizes travel l, I can tell you that a lot of these families do not have the latest iPhone, drive new cars, etc. and they can still not afford to travel. So please don’t think that the secret to travel is to prioritize it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[url]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

Please step out of your bubble. As someone who also prioritizes travel l, I can tell you that a lot of these families do not have the latest iPhone, drive new cars, etc. and they can still not afford to travel. So please don’t think that the secret to travel is to prioritize it.

This is PP. I know I am privileged. I grew up poor (which is why I still live frugally). I am not living in a bubble. I work hard for my money and I will spend it as I please.

[Anonymous]

I’m in FCPS and people I know who have posted on social media in the past week have traveled to Hawaii, Bahamas, Italy, Big Sky, Whistler, Aspen, Park City, Tremblant and Lake Tahoe this week.

I can’t lie, I’m a tad jealous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[url]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

Please step out of your bubble. As someone who also prioritizes travel l, I can tell you that a lot of these families do not have the latest iPhone, drive new cars, etc. and they can still not afford to travel. So please don’t think that the secret to travel is to prioritize it.

It is, though, for many in this area.

My daughter has known from three that I won’t spend money on little things so I can take her on great trips. So our water bottles come with us and we don’t get drinks and snacks when we’re out, we don’t buy much new clothes (shoes, underwear, bathing suits, everything else is hand me downs, second hand, or shopped deals in advance) my car is ten years old and runs great so I’m not trading up just to have a new one. We have an iPad mini from 2016 and it’s my kids only movie-watching device.

There are plenty of people at the same level of income (I’m a fed we know everyone’s salary…) who have to have a new car every five years and dress their kids in Boden, and then are sad when they “can’t afford” to travel. I’m not saying that’s OP, just that it’s a not-uncommon phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[url]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

Please step out of your bubble. As someone who also prioritizes travel l, I can tell you that a lot of these families do not have the latest iPhone, drive new cars, etc. and they can still not afford to travel. So please don’t think that the secret to travel is to prioritize it.

It is, though, for many in this area.

My daughter has known from three that I won’t spend money on little things so I can take her on great trips. So our water bottles come with us and we don’t get drinks and snacks when we’re out, we don’t buy much new clothes (shoes, underwear, bathing suits, everything else is hand me downs, second hand, or shopped deals in advance) my car is ten years old and runs great so I’m not trading up just to have a new one. We have an iPad mini from 2016 and it’s my kids only movie-watching device.

There are plenty of people at the same level of income (I’m a fed we know everyone’s salary…) who have to have a new car every five years and dress their kids in Boden, and then are sad when they “can’t afford” to travel. I’m not saying that’s OP, just that it’s a not-uncommon phenomenon.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know that some of us who travel to random places would give ANYTHING to have living grandparents to visit. Or other relatives . Most of my childhood vacations were to visit grandparents or cousins, and I hate that my kids don’t get to have that. I am completely aware that I’m trying to compensate for this absence with trips to places I hope will be fun.

I really feel this post. My childhood was full of simple trips to flyover country to visit relatives who have all passed on. Think visits to the state fair, their neighbors, midwestern chain restaurants, etc. I really wish my children had the extended family that I had. To me, those were the good old days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[url]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

Please step out of your bubble. As someone who also prioritizes travel l, I can tell you that a lot of these families do not have the latest iPhone, drive new cars, etc. and they can still not afford to travel. So please don’t think that the secret to travel is to prioritize it.

It is, though, for many in this area.

My daughter has known from three that I won’t spend money on little things so I can take her on great trips. So our water bottles come with us and we don’t get drinks and snacks when we’re out, we don’t buy much new clothes (shoes, underwear, bathing suits, everything else is hand me downs, second hand, or shopped deals in advance) my car is ten years old and runs great so I’m not trading up just to have a new one. We have an iPad mini from 2016 and it’s my kids only movie-watching device.

There are plenty of people at the same level of income (I’m a fed we know everyone’s salary…) who have to have a new car every five years and dress their kids in Boden, and then are sad when they “can’t afford” to travel. I’m not saying that’s OP, just that it’s a not-uncommon phenomenon.

Oh come on. You can buy AirPods and Stanley cups for everyone in your family and get a new 65” TV for $1,000 total.
You cannot say that this is the reason you can afford a $5,000 trip to the Galápagos Islands for spring break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tiniest violin etc I know but lots of other families travel to amazing places every break. Europe for skiing over winter and February break, then Caribbean for spring break and summers in Martha’s vineyard. How not to feel bad about your own family when you haven’t taken a real vacation in years besides to visit grandparents?

Comparison is the thief of joy. It's true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[url]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel quite a bit, I wouldn’t say a lot, because we have one easy tween and we all enjoy it.
What we don’t have is Stanley Cups and apple AirPods. Most of her peers at her Christian private do. I don’t feel bad. I choose not to spend my money on stuff like that.
Spending is about making choices. Don’t feel bad for the ones you make for you family.

Agree. We go on amazing trips (think: safaris, Galapagos, French Polynesia, those kinds of places). But we choose to drive cars that are more than ten years old, we shop (rarely) for clothes at Marshall’s, etc. We live very frugally. Some of these PPs are using latest model iPhones, driving new cars, and shopping at Nordstrom but then they get all mad when you tell them about your amazing trips. Life is about priorities and my family prioritizes expensive travel.

Please step out of your bubble. As someone who also prioritizes travel l, I can tell you that a lot of these families do not have the latest iPhone, drive new cars, etc. and they can still not afford to travel. So please don’t think that the secret to travel is to prioritize it.

It is, though, for many in this area.

My daughter has known from three that I won’t spend money on little things so I can take her on great trips. So our water bottles come with us and we don’t get drinks and snacks when we’re out, we don’t buy much new clothes (shoes, underwear, bathing suits, everything else is hand me downs, second hand, or shopped deals in advance) my car is ten years old and runs great so I’m not trading up just to have a new one. We have an iPad mini from 2016 and it’s my kids only movie-watching device.

There are plenty of people at the same level of income (I’m a fed we know everyone’s salary…) who have to have a new car every five years and dress their kids in Boden, and then are sad when they “can’t afford” to travel. I’m not saying that’s OP, just that it’s a not-uncommon phenomenon.

Oh come on. You can buy AirPods and Stanley cups for everyone in your family and get a new 65” TV for $1,000 total.
You cannot say that this is the reason you can afford a $5,000 trip to the Galápagos Islands for spring break.

+1. I was reading these posts and thinking these posters are so dumb! A Stanley cup is under $50. AirPods are under $200. These do not make or break travel. Things like private school (not Christian, but independent, $$$ school) and high mortgage payments can make or break travel. A nice trip to the Galapagos is easily going to be $20-25k or more for a family of four. So again, doing your back-to-school shopping at Boden vs. Walmart is not going to be the deciding factor in whether you can afford that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Know that some of us who travel to random places would give ANYTHING to have living grandparents to visit. Or other relatives . Most of my childhood vacations were to visit grandparents or cousins, and I hate that my kids don’t get to have that. I am completely aware that I’m trying to compensate for this absence with trips to places I hope will be fun.

I really feel this post. My childhood was full of simple trips to flyover country to visit relatives who have all passed on. Think visits to the state fair, their neighbors, midwestern chain restaurants, etc. I really wish my children had the extended family that I had. To me, those were the good old days.

I agree. Unstructured time with family especially cousins (not in front of handheld devices) is the best. Anything else is second best. I would exchange my past week at Turks & Caicos for a week of cousin fun.