Would you sacrifice liquid savings to take memorable vacations with teens?

[Anonymous]

They will continue to travel with you beyond the next 3-4 years if you’re paying lol.

[Anonymous]

I never really went on vacations again with my parents after going to college so my vote is for the vacations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get a terminal illness, will you think I wish I have 2k more in savings or I wish I have traveled more with my kids?

Depends. I probably would wish I had spent time with my kids, while spending less money so they would NOT be in financial straights because of my early death

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP we are going on vacation later this year with our 21 and 23 yos.

I don't know if you should spend the money, but you shouldn't believe that the opportunities for vacation are coming to an end.

+1

If you still offer to pay for the vacation (or majority of it), most 20 somethings will happily join for a family vacay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. Take it from someone whose kids are 24 and 26 and don't vacation with us any more. Make those memories.

Why not? My kids are 27 and 23. Spent 2 weeks in Europe in Dec and have another trip for summer (2 weeks again) with them. They still love to vacation with us, and we will happily welcome them and their SO (and eventually any grandkids) and help pay for it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Memories don't come from more expensive trips. Some of our most memorable trips have been National Parks and amazing hikes.

But didn’t it cost you money to get there?

DP: you find National Parks that are nearby and camp/stay at reasonable places. You can do a 7 day driving vacation that is very affordable. You don't have to spend a fortune

OP is talking about 2K you numbskull. That’s not exactly a fortune.

Depends....do they have 6-9Months in EF and have college and retirement well funded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Memories don't come from more expensive trips. Some of our most memorable trips have been National Parks and amazing hikes.

But didn’t it cost you money to get there?

DP: you find National Parks that are nearby and camp/stay at reasonable places. You can do a 7 day driving vacation that is very affordable. You don't have to spend a fortune

OP is talking about 2K you numbskull. That’s not exactly a fortune.

Depends what percentage that is of her savings. If she has at least 100k in emergency fund this is nothing but if it's 10k, she should take a cheaper vacation.

+100

It's all relative.
And yes, you can still build memories and vacation for a lot less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not too long ago, we were sitting around the table with our kids and their SOs. My kids could not stop talking about how great their life was growing up. Trips were a huge part of it. (so were birthday cakes - who knew?). We did big trips and tons of overnight beach and camping trips locally. I'm really cheap so we never did fancy hotels and we drove to a lot of places. We just did a lot on a little money.

Anyway, based on listening to our kids and the occasional walk down memory lane, I don't regret a single cent I spent on our trips and I don't regret a single minute I spent on planning them. I will say that my kids are all very close and love to be together so we never had any conflict or difficulty traveling together.

But you just proved you don't have to spend much. It's more about the memories of doing stuff together and just "being a family and having fun". It's not about where you go or spending more than you can afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not too long ago, we were sitting around the table with our kids and their SOs. My kids could not stop talking about how great their life was growing up. Trips were a huge part of it. (so were birthday cakes - who knew?). We did big trips and tons of overnight beach and camping trips locally. I'm really cheap so we never did fancy hotels and we drove to a lot of places. We just did a lot on a little money.

Anyway, based on listening to our kids and the occasional walk down memory lane, I don't regret a single cent I spent on our trips and I don't regret a single minute I spent on planning them. I will say that my kids are all very close and love to be together so we never had any conflict or difficulty traveling together.

But you just proved you don't have to spend much. It's more about the memories of doing stuff together and just "being a family and having fun". It's not about where you go or spending more than you can afford.

You are right that you can do a lot on a little money. And it's so important to have fun together as a family. But I do think there is something to be said about going places together. After dinner Uno games, showing up for everyone's sports followed by pizza and having backyard bonfires are great and we have always done a lot of that. But, it's not the same as experiencing new places and having adventures together - which you can do on a shoestring. It's important to save and important to enjoy life and finding the balance is hard.

[Anonymous]

A large chunk of our extended family go on national or international vacation every year during Christmas holidays for the past 15 years. We have done Iceland, Peru, Costa Rica, Canada, Portugal till now. Also - shorter trips to Florida, New Orleans, San Francisco. Trips to national parks also.

[Anonymous]

I’m 46 and if my parents paid now for me and my family I’d vacation with them. Especially if they took me to Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Memories don't come from more expensive trips. Some of our most memorable trips have been National Parks and amazing hikes.

+1000. Act like one of you could lose your job.

[Anonymous]

I’ve come around to this mindset. Have been spending a lot on travel with a 16yo and 14yo. They will be out of the house before we know it. Even if they want to vacation with us later, our schedules may not align.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Memories don't come from more expensive trips. Some of our most memorable trips have been National Parks and amazing hikes.

But didn’t it cost you money to get there?

DP: you find National Parks that are nearby and camp/stay at reasonable places. You can do a 7 day driving vacation that is very affordable. You don't have to spend a fortune

OP is talking about 2K you numbskull. That’s not exactly a fortune.

Depends what percentage that is of her savings. If she has at least 100k in emergency fund this is nothing but if it's 10k, she should take a cheaper vacation.

Anyone who keeps 100K in an emergency fund is already living beyond their means. Think about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP we are going on vacation later this year with our 21 and 23 yos.

I don't know if you should spend the money, but you shouldn't believe that the opportunities for vacation are coming to an end.

+1

If you still offer to pay for the vacation (or majority of it), most 20 somethings will happily join for a family vacay

It’s not the same when they’re adults in their 20s, though. I am shocked how many people ITT refuse to acknowledge that obvious reality.