How do people afford the countless vacations?

[Anonymous]

I look at my friends on Facebook and some of them seem to be constantly on vacation. Every year they might take three trips away. My cousin sends pictures of her family in California, the Caribbean, Florida, always with a beautiful scene in the background.
We might do that every other year or so.
Our HHI is over 400k, but between saving for college and paying the mortgage of about 4k a month, we feel that we just aren't secure enough to take fancy trips. Sadly, the last trip, the most expensive we've done, was a weather flop! Also, I have flight anxiety, so there is some reluctance on my part. But logistically and financially, we don't feel set enough to do that.
We out earn these people that I am comparing myself to, maybe they are good at getting deals?

[Anonymous]

Your mortgage is high

[Anonymous]

If one of the parents travels for work, they could have miles they can use for trips.

[Anonymous]

They are living in debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If one of the parents travels for work, they could have miles they can use for trips.

+1
This. Most of the families I know who take multiple vacations a year are using miles and points from their extensive work travel.

[Anonymous]

we are similar to you OP and we spend about 25K per year on vacation which means about 3 per year.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that your mortgage is that high, but I don't really know why you can't find room in your budget for travel. Maybe you don't want to? Maybe car payments?

[Anonymous]

I have to travel for work. Sometimes DH flies out and we take a day or two for a long weekend. Or we're "working remotely" from a cafe in Paris after I worked for four days in Germany or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I look at my friends on Facebook and some of them seem to be constantly on vacation. Every year they might take three trips away. My cousin sends pictures of her family in California, the Caribbean, Florida, always with a beautiful scene in the background.
We might do that every other year or so.
Our HHI is over 400k, but between saving for college and paying the mortgage of about 4k a month, we feel that we just aren't secure enough to take fancy trips. Sadly, the last trip, the most expensive we've done, was a weather flop! Also, I have flight anxiety, so there is some reluctance on my part. But logistically and financially, we don't feel set enough to do that.
We out earn these people that I am comparing myself to, maybe they are good at getting deals?

You have the money. You just don't want to spend it on vacations. Which is fine!

(At >$400,000 a year, you are rich -- you realize this, right?)

[Anonymous]

If it was a priority for you, you'd make it work. You definitely have the money for it on that income.

We make $150k, have a kid and a $2500 mortgage, and still take 1 nice vacation (~$6-8k) and a couple small ones (usually to California to see family) each year. We are not in debt and save for retirement/college. We aren't rolling in money, so vacations are definitely a trade off. I have a 1970's vacation because I wanted to go to Europe instead of get granite countertops. We mow our own lawn because I wanted to go to my cousin's wedding last year. Just a matter of priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it was a priority for you, you'd make it work. You definitely have the money for it on that income.

We make $150k, have a kid and a $2500 mortgage, and still take 1 nice vacation (~$6-8k) and a couple small ones (usually to California to see family) each year. We are not in debt and save for retirement/college. We aren't rolling in money, so vacations are definitely a trade off. I have a 1970's vacation because I wanted to go to Europe instead of get granite countertops. We mow our own lawn because I wanted to go to my cousin's wedding last year. Just a matter of priorities.

Erg, 1970's KITCHEN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If one of the parents travels for work, they could have miles they can use for trips.

I know a family where the dad is a road warrior. The entire family goes for vacations several times a year with almost zero cost.

[Anonymous]

seems like you make plenty and your mortgage isn't that bad. visiting family is not usually that expensive since you don't have to pay for a hotel. and credit card miles really do add up. i think about 98% of my spending is done on my credit card - i charge even very small dollar items - and the miles really add up btw/ me and my DH.

i think it's just priorities. i'd much rather go on vacation then spend it on stuff.

[Anonymous]

Your mortgage is twice mine. We also get free plane trips from miles.

[Anonymous]

I sometimes wonder the same thing as you. I think it's a combination of taking advantage of work trips (if one parent is traveling to a conference in an interesting location, the whole family goes) and paying less for housing. All our friends who travel a lot live in small apartments. Also, looking at Facebook it may seem like everyone is on vacation all the time because it allows you to keep up with a lot of people. So at any given time several of your friends are probably on vacation, but each individual family may only be taking 1-2 trips a year.