Where do lower to middle class families go on vacation for the summer?

[Anonymous]

OC.

[Anonymous]

My last response to the Single mom who shot down the suggestions.

- You make 35K per year more than I, which probably means you’re an employee, possibly with benefits. Do you leverage these benefits in ways to improve your work/life balance?

- In order to make that extra 35K you seem spend a lot more in time and daycare to do it. Consider finding ways to adjust the work schedule if possible.

- Relationships. It may be difficult to develop these with neighbors or other parents in your school, but I found that it’s been extremely enriching for our family’s life. One year I did pickups while another parent did drop offs a few days per week. Neither one of us needed to pay daycare those days and our kids are pretty close to this day.

Everything isn’t for everyone. However consider being a little flexible with your mindset; you may find that at 75K you can do a lot more than you think. And we live in DC.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Sorry if original post was snarky. I was just truly curious how average MC families take vacations. I guess DCUM is not a reflection of most MC families. I read these posts and I’m like geez am I failing my kids by not giving them these awesome vacations? People write here like going to the Caribbean and/or Europe is the norm for most families. I know I should be grateful. I’m going to read all this again and read suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially in this area. And I mean middle class not UMC. Not “I make 200k plus but I feel middle class.” Even some of the beaches DCUM sneers at can be pricey. Are people going into debt to afford it?

Is $200K considered UMC in the DC area if it's the sum total income of BOTH partners?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially in this area. And I mean middle class not UMC. Not “I make 200k plus but I feel middle class.” Even some of the beaches DCUM sneers at can be pricey. Are people going into debt to afford it?

Is $200K considered UMC in the DC area if it's the sum total income of BOTH partners?

Yes it’s UMC not MC

[Anonymous]

Single parent of two with no child support making less than 80k. We vacation every year and here is how-we visit friends who love to see us and who also come visit us at other times. It is a vacation for them and one for us. They live close to the beach in South Carolina and we live in dc. Win win.

We also drive to Maine and camp.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the income and budget situation.

The reality is that most people can afford to travel as long as they prioritize and save.

Our HHI for our big family is currently $240. But last year it was $150ish. We have always traveled. We have passports. Caribbean, Canada, nice domestic trips, too. Saving up for Europe.

But we drive older cars, our furniture is very basic, no fancy landscaping, no cleaning service, no organic food, no fancy clothes, we pack lunches, etc. Public schools.

Tell me your budget, and I'll tell you where to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CAMPING IS NOT CHEAP

Yes, I am yelling it because I am sick and tired of people saying this.

Renting a cabin in any campground area - yes, even state parks - in driving distance from the DMV area - think under 4.5 hrs - costs the same as staying in a lower end hotel. It is by no means a cheap vacation. So stop that nonsense please! Almost all campgrounds impose minimums on cabins. A weekend needs to be at least 2 or 3 nights and during the summer it's usually 5-7 day rental. Even the most bare bones cabins start at $50 a night. And that's just lodging and doesn't cover the cost of everything else.

Camping in a tent is somewhat cheaper but that assumes you can borrow a tent and all supplies such as outdoor sleeping bags and sleeping pads. If not, there will be some cost out of pocket to purchase. One cost that I know people will not think of is the additional laundry cost after returning home from camping. Running several extra loads can up bills for some people and when you are a tight budget, yes, even that $5-$10 will matter.

And while it's nice to say that one can borrow, or buy used equipment, another issue that us lower middle class families deal with is less time and flexibility to do those things. After working 40-50 hours a week, often commuting 45 -1.5 hrs bc many of us live farther out, taking care of the kids, and doing housework and then running around for errands, there is much less time. Believe it or not, sometimes the delivery fee for grocery delivery is even out of my budget. Yes, that's right even $10 might be too much. So looking for equipment or buying used requires a few emails, coordination to drive over and pick up the items, and so on. Yes, again, this is really taxing when you are already have no breathing room. In addition, to all the above activities, you are constantly stressed and worried about finances and you labor over spending that $10 for a used sleeping bag you might only possibly get to use once.

After years and years, the lowest cost vacation we have ever been able to swing for 3 people - 2 adults, one kid - was $700 for a 2 nights/3 days in OC at the very end of the season in the lowest budget motel. This included everything from gas, to grocery store food, to eating out once a day (bc it's vacation and believe it or not I wanted a break from cooking!), and a trip to the boardwalk.

We camp all the time. All the camping on the C&O trail is FREE. There isn't a shower though... it's primitive.

We camp for $25 a night usually and never spend more than that. We cook on the campfire. Usually a 2 day camping trip is $100 for the 4 of us including firewood.

We did a 2 week backpacking camping trip through Yellowstone with just DH and I. Our plane tickets were free (miles from work travel). Including the $300 rental car we spent $850 on that trip. I know that plane tickets would be pricey, but I'm just showing that there are trips out there if you get creative. We drove to Acadia last summer too and did something similar.

[Anonymous]

200k on is Mc for a family of 6... JS.

We do Dewey, Myrtle, OC, VA Beach, OBX with another family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially in this area. And I mean middle class not UMC. Not “I make 200k plus but I feel middle class.” Even some of the beaches DCUM sneers at can be pricey. Are people going into debt to afford it?

Is $200K considered UMC in the DC area if it's the sum total income of BOTH partners?

Yes it’s UMC not MC

NP here. This is interesting because I was told on the money and finances forum that our $225k with a single earner/SAHM definitely did NOT qualify us as UMC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially in this area. And I mean middle class not UMC. Not “I make 200k plus but I feel middle class.” Even some of the beaches DCUM sneers at can be pricey. Are people going into debt to afford it?

Is $200K considered UMC in the DC area if it's the sum total income of BOTH partners?

Yes it’s UMC not MC

According to the Pew calculator, up to $225 for a family of 6 in the DC metro area including MD and VA is middle class. $230 for 6 pushes you into upper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP LMC 40K here. Im up and have insomnia so i figured I'd overshare


A few years back, we did a 2.5 week long trip down the California coast that did not break the budget.

Took some flexibility and A LOT of planning but it was one of the most amazing trips we've ever done as a family, and well worth the investment and sacrifice.

That year our family had experienced a lot of hardship and death, so I wanted to take the kids minds off it all and remind them that there is a big world out there.

Here it goes :

Details Family of 3. One Adult Two kids 8 and 10. Trip was two years ago. Spent about $3K.

Looked like this:

Prepping: No souvenirs that couldn't fit in a backpack rule. I let their journals/digital photos be their souvenirs. I also involved them with sourcing activities on the internet.

Packed - Every person had one backpack with essentials only. No toys. Four changes of clothing ( two jeans - two pair shoes rule) only. No formal wear. Wont list the whole packing plan here, but looked online for great packing tips. Packed dry food for snacking on airplane and ease of security clearance.

Total Cost for a non outdoor camping two week trip to California for a family of 3: About $3000

Here's how I did it (Best that I can remember)

Total Planning time: 6 months
Financial Savings time: 1 Year

Travel - (Total $1300)
Activities Budget ($400)
Food Budget ($400)
Lodging (Total $840)



LODGING BREAKDOWN

4 Nights - HI hostel in downtown San Fran, @ 60 per night, private room

2 Nights - Residence Inn style Hotel in San Fran (Expedia) @ 70 per night, liv room and bedroom and cooking space

3 nights - HI Hostel in Monterrey CA @ 90 per night private room

2 nights - Residence Inn style Hotel in Los Angeles @ 70 per night (Expedia)

3 nights HI Hostel in San Pedro (BEAUTIFUL) by Korean Bell

3 nights - A surprisingly nice AirBnB private apartment @ 90 per night



TRAVEL BREAKDOWN - ( Total $1300 )

Flights - 3 Multicity fares DCA to San Fran, LA to BWI (Total $750) (Booked to travel on Tue-Thur)

Amtrak California Coastal Line From San Fran - Monterrey - Los Angeles. Total ($150)

Uber/Lyft/Local Trolley/Local Bus/Ferry budget for two weeks ($250)
Zipcar budget for two weeks ($150)


Food Budget ($400)

- Free breakfast at every hotel and some hostels. We also had groceries locally delivered/sourced several nights and prepared meals. We ate at local budget friendly restaurants a few times, but less than five times that I can remember, we drank lots of water and packed our lunches

Activities Budget ($400) (Eventbrite was AWESOME for sourcing unique local free to low cost activities, most things we did were free)

- Beach days, Street Festivals, Car Shows, Cultural Events, Film Screenings, Monterrey Aquarium (Got Discounted Tickets from Craigslist), Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay Ferry to Oakland, Museums, Local Parks, Historical Sites, College Campus Tour, Book readings, Church visits, Free concerts, ran a 5K, too many to list!

I know this was long, (maybe better for a thread on the travel forum) but if OP wanted a little inspiration I hope this helps.

Planning, creativity, and priorities are key. We have a very low expense to income ratio in my home so I stretch my 40K per year a little farther than most people could.

This was fantastic, thank you! This is something we would think of doing a few states away, not on an opposite coast, so I appreciate all of the details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CAMPING IS NOT CHEAP

Yes, I am yelling it because I am sick and tired of people saying this.

Renting a cabin in any campground area - yes, even state parks - in driving distance from the DMV area - think under 4.5 hrs - costs the same as staying in a lower end hotel. It is by no means a cheap vacation. So stop that nonsense please! Almost all campgrounds impose minimums on cabins. A weekend needs to be at least 2 or 3 nights and during the summer it's usually 5-7 day rental. Even the most bare bones cabins start at $50 a night. And that's just lodging and doesn't cover the cost of everything else.

Camping in a tent is somewhat cheaper but that assumes you can borrow a tent and all supplies such as outdoor sleeping bags and sleeping pads. If not, there will be some cost out of pocket to purchase. One cost that I know people will not think of is the additional laundry cost after returning home from camping. Running several extra loads can up bills for some people and when you are a tight budget, yes, even that $5-$10 will matter.

And while it's nice to say that one can borrow, or buy used equipment, another issue that us lower middle class families deal with is less time and flexibility to do those things. After working 40-50 hours a week, often commuting 45 -1.5 hrs bc many of us live farther out, taking care of the kids, and doing housework and then running around for errands, there is much less time. Believe it or not, sometimes the delivery fee for grocery delivery is even out of my budget. Yes, that's right even $10 might be too much. So looking for equipment or buying used requires a few emails, coordination to drive over and pick up the items, and so on. Yes, again, this is really taxing when you are already have no breathing room. In addition, to all the above activities, you are constantly stressed and worried about finances and you labor over spending that $10 for a used sleeping bag you might only possibly get to use once.

After years and years, the lowest cost vacation we have ever been able to swing for 3 people - 2 adults, one kid - was $700 for a 2 nights/3 days in OC at the very end of the season in the lowest budget motel. This included everything from gas, to grocery store food, to eating out once a day (bc it's vacation and believe it or not I wanted a break from cooking!), and a trip to the boardwalk.

If you commit to camping as vacation it is cheap. You buy a cheap tent $100 or less and waterproof it often. Air mattress $30 and not necessary. Campstove is also a nice luxury. Sleeping bags are also not a necessity. The rest of it (cooking gear, etc) you build up over time from your own house or yard sales. While its true some campsites are expensive theres are also free and low cost state run campgrounds. You use the same grocery budget as you would at home. You go on your regular days off from work. You drink the same cheap beer or whatever. And then you spend literally every moment of vacation at the campground or some free attraction nearby if it exists. The quality of family time is exceptional. I will give you the laundry expense, but that alone probably wont break the bank. However, you do have to be the sort to enjoy the great outdoors. Some people really cannot.

Yes, I agree that there are real start up costs to camping (and access to a car) and it requires time off. But it's still probably the cheapest kind of vacation a person can do, aside from a local day trip or staying with family. When we started camping, we bought our tent and other gear from Costco (which, yes, did cost money to join). We bought kitchen items (e.g., a cast iron pan, spatula, random coffee mugs, camp coffee pot) from thrift stores and yard sales. We went away for a weekend -- so, one or two nights. We went often enough to justify the cost of the gear. Groceries where we camped we cheaper than where we live. Now, with kids, we've only been camping once but I can see us doing it now once a summer for a weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sorry if original post was snarky. I was just truly curious how average MC families take vacations. I guess DCUM is not a reflection of most MC families. I read these posts and I’m like geez am I failing my kids by not giving them these awesome vacations? People write here like going to the Caribbean and/or Europe is the norm for most families. I know I should be grateful. I’m going to read all this again and read suggestions.

I didn't take it as snarky at all! Just thought you were curious.

We're "DCUM middle class" (i.e., we make $200k) but we've done a lot of vacations similar to what's been posted -- drive vacations to a VRBO in rural areas or beachy areas along the East Coast, sharing a house rental with family, flying to ILs in Florida (esp. during the summer when flights are cheaper). Buying groceries and cooking where we're staying for most meals or staying at family hotels where breakfast is included (e.g., Holiday Inn Express). We do a lot of staycations during the school breaks (day trips to local areas and amusement parks).

My one observation: My kids love water -- hotel pools, beaches, water parks. I always ask my kids what their favorite part was of any trip and number one or two on the list is always the pool or the beach or the water park. I've heard this is true for most kids. So, if you can't afford to go away on a big trip, how about a day trip to the local beach? One a one-night stay at a hotel with a pool? Or a visit to a water park? If you can go away for a stretch fo time, say a week, can you visit family where it's warm and there's the possibility for some pool- or beach-time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the single mom who can’t save and saw our trip as a “waste”. You’re right.

A person with a closed mindset probably would never be able to do this.

I really didn’t talk about my savings plan and how I made it happen, so that plays a lot into it. Also there are many sacrifices that some people would never be able to make that enabled me to save.

Here are a few (but not all):

1. Cut the cable cord. Annual savings = $1,200
2. Reduced afterschool time to 3 days per week . Annual savings = $900
3. Use money that would have been spent on camps = 200x2 kids x3 weeks = $1,200
4. WiFi share with a neighbor (PayPal a neighbor $25 a month)
5. Worked very little part time (less than 10 hours a week) making $50-$100 per week driving Uber = $2500
6. Drove a used hybrid (so no car payment )

There are many more suggestions but just those four is 3100 bucks.

Most times in life it’s not a matter of can’t do; it’s a matter of wont do.

As a middle class single parent who doesn't have cable, and knows very few other people in the same boat who have cable, if I read another post telling me how I can solve all my financial problems by not having cable, I'll scream.

Next, you'll tell me that I just need to cut my daily Starbucks habit. Because cutting out the one peppermint hot chocolate I get every year, is going to save a ton of money!