Frugal, except for vacations

[Anonymous]

I felt guilty for how much we were spending on vacations so we started doing house-swaps with people during them and it saves us SO MUCH MONEY that I no longer feel guilty.

[Anonymous]

How luxurious are your vacations OP?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think your way sounds great! Tell us where you have been! I need inspiration!

[Anonymous]

How much do you spend OP?

[Anonymous]

We do the same thing!!! And it is such a wonderful motivator. It gives us something to strive for and look forward to. It brings us closer together as a couple and we find ourselves talking about our trips for years and years afterward. A MUCH better investment than any kitchen reno or new car, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but I consider a luxury vacation to be (1) international, (2) have 5-star accommodations, and (3) excellent food and drinks. I love Relais and Chateaux properties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember - it's experiences like vacations - not stuff -- that contribute to a sense of happiness. Plus planning for the vacation also boosts your level of contentment because you are thinking about the vacation. I think you are doing just fine, OP. Plan those vacations!

I will take stuff over vacations all day long, personally. I get to have the stuff 365 days a year.

But studies show that experiences contribute meaningfully to longterm happiness, while tangible possesions do not.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a fine way to live but the sense of self-congratulation that goes with it is off-putting. There's no moral high ground in living in a shack and spending your money on a custom-designed safari. If it works for you that's great, but posts like the OP's are a bit smug for my liking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a fine way to live but the sense of self-congratulation that goes with it is off-putting. There's no moral high ground in living in a shack and spending your money on a custom-designed safari. If it works for you that's great, but posts like the OP's are a bit smug for my liking.

...are you my coworker? The one who drives a new Mercedes SUV and carries a LV bag but spends every weekend and holiday at home watching tv because she's broke? I think it's the well-adjusted happy people who spend money on experiences... and the insecure depressed ones who spend on stuff to try and appear successful to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a fine way to live but the sense of self-congratulation that goes with it is off-putting. There's no moral high ground in living in a shack and spending your money on a custom-designed safari. If it works for you that's great, but posts like the OP's are a bit smug for my liking.

...are you my coworker? The one who drives a new Mercedes SUV and carries a LV bag but spends every weekend and holiday at home watching tv because she's broke? I think it's the well-adjusted happy people who spend money on experiences... and the insecure depressed ones who spend on stuff to try and appear successful to others.

PP here. I knew that was coming. I literally had written another paragraph saying no I don't live in a McMansion and drive a Lexus and never leave the state of Virginia, but I deleted it. You guys are too predictable. If it matters, I actually live abroad right now, so my trips sounds exotic but aren't really that expensive. I don't own a car and my small Capitol Hill rowhouse is occupied by renters. I do have a silly expensive bike but I rely on it to get almost everywhere these days.

The truth I really do relate to the OP's lifestyle, personally. But I don't pat myself on the back about it the way so many DCUMers seem to. The prevailing attitude on here is that anyone who lives in a big house outside the beltway is stupid/uncool/doesn't "get it." Funny enough, those people don't feel the need to post constantly on here to find out what people think of their choices. They're just living their lives. Even worse, some people can easily and responsibly afford a huge house AND extravagant travel, AND save plenty for college, retirement, etc. Just bc someone values trendy logos or granite countertops or whatever doesn't mean they aren't living below their means. That seems to be a bitter pill for lots of DCUMers to swallow.

[Anonymous]

Can you recommend some vacation ideas? Somewhere relaxing for the parents, somewhere fun for kids?? Thanks

[Anonymous]

There's nothing worse, too, than going on vacation and having to totally count every penny, or feel you have to do all the "research" to get the best deal for everything, how to avoid toll roads, etc. Seems if you're willing to let yourself enjoy a vacation, that is a very good sign, and balances out the frugality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a fine way to live but the sense of self-congratulation that goes with it is off-putting. There's no moral high ground in living in a shack and spending your money on a custom-designed safari. If it works for you that's great, but posts like the OP's are a bit smug for my liking.

...are you my coworker? The one who drives a new Mercedes SUV and carries a LV bag but spends every weekend and holiday at home watching tv because she's broke? I think it's the well-adjusted happy people who spend money on experiences... and the insecure depressed ones who spend on stuff to try and appear successful to others.

PP here. I knew that was coming. I literally had written another paragraph saying no I don't live in a McMansion and drive a Lexus and never leave the state of Virginia, but I deleted it. You guys are too predictable. If it matters, I actually live abroad right now, so my trips sounds exotic but aren't really that expensive. I don't own a car and my small Capitol Hill rowhouse is occupied by renters. I do have a silly expensive bike but I rely on it to get almost everywhere these days.

The truth I really do relate to the OP's lifestyle, personally. But I don't pat myself on the back about it the way so many DCUMers seem to. The prevailing attitude on here is that anyone who lives in a big house outside the beltway is stupid/uncool/doesn't "get it." Funny enough, those people don't feel the need to post constantly on here to find out what people think of their choices. They're just living their lives. Even worse, some people can easily and responsibly afford a huge house AND extravagant travel, AND save plenty for college, retirement, etc. Just bc someone values trendy logos or granite countertops or whatever doesn't mean they aren't living below their means. That seems to be a bitter pill for lots of DCUMers to swallow.

Amen. If you want to vacation, vacation. If you want stuff, buy stuff. If you're posting on dcum to get validation of either you may not be as comfortable with your approach as you think.

[Anonymous]

How much do you spend OP? Why not answer?

[Anonymous]

Where is OP?
Post and hide?