Anonymous wrote:This happened to me once. I had a once in a lifetime trip to japan scheduled. I went anyway. Of course got the boot three weeks later and really needed the money. It sucked being so broke. But i eventually survived and made it to my next job, and i have memories to last a lifetime. I don't think I'll ever have the chance to go to Asia again, so I don't regret it at all. This was before I had kids however.

And it was not a local trip either.

Anonymous wrote:Long story short: The company I work for started making some changes, I have not been happy and have already started looking for another job but obviously would not have left before finding something. I got word this week that there will be layoffs and I got an unofficial warning this week.

I had planned a trip and the kids have been looking forward to it. Knowing that I will be out of work (I'm furiously searching but very unsure I will find sonething in time) I can still cancel with a full refund for another few days and save the money. The amount of money the trip will have cost would cover 3/4 of 1 mortgage payment.

What do you think I should do?

Do you seriously have to ask this question. Who would take vacay during lay offs? Who would even take a staycation? Yes, especially someplace as unexotic as va beach? Explain what's going on to your family. Suit up, show up and bust your butt at work n whileseeking employment. You want references, right? You don't much time unemployed if you do get laid-off right?

Cancel. The same thing happened to me right before spring break last year and it took me a year to find another job and we needed every last dime, so I'm glad we didn't spend the money. I planned a great staycation instead, and we ended up really enjoying that and seeing things in the DC area that we probably otherwise would not have.

We took the big trip the following year on spring break and it was a joyful celebration because I had found a new job and we had a a great time with no stress.

I have to also say it was a great life lesson for my kids. I was very honest about the fact that we were all going to have to sacrifice for a while and canceling the vacation was huge reality check for my kids. I think my year of unemployment really made my kids appreciate things they had previously taken for granted. I was so proud of them for not complaining once, but instead for their great attitude. They really got into trying to find free things to do and ways to save money!

I think you made the right decision. Go on day trips with them. Hugs and good luck.

Cancel. VA Beach is boring anyway.

Cancel and do extended weekend trip(s) to the beach nearby so it doesn't cost you that much. Try Cape Henolopen State park camping at the beach or Assateague.
At least they won't be entirely dissapointed.
You won't know how long you will be out of work, that's the problem.

Sucks. Good Luck!

Cancel, but go to a Delaware or Maryland beach for the day or one night. We did just a one-night trip, and if you start out at 8 a.m. and leave the beach at 5 p.m. the next day you get a lot of beach time in. Felt like we'd been gone longer than just one night.

Good luck in your job search!

If it gives you some comfort, we have had to cancel a vacation before (due to a sick grandparent), and the kids were OK with it. They were 5years old and 7 years old, and they managed OK. We nearly had to cancel another one last year due to a big new project at my husband's job. As much fun as it is to have the kids excited for a vacation, we now have a new policy that we don't tell them about any upcoming vacation until a few days before. That way, if anything goes wrong, we limit the disappointment.

I have to say that the best trip I ever took was when we went to Disney, a trip booked 18 months in advance, but when we finally got around to going I was facing a layoff when we returned.

However, we were already out the airline tickets & accommodation, so it was just the food & tickets that would have been the "costs."

We sat through the timeshare pitch and took our goodies- it was real easy to say no. I also enjoyed it thinking it was the last vacation we'd be taking in a long time.

Maybe you can take a day trip to a closer beach or just go for the weekend if you were planning on going for a week.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how many months of expenses you have in savings. If you have 6 months or less, then you need to cancel. If you have over 12 months, you take the kids on vacation. In between, you have to use your best judgment of your prospects and safety factors (as in safely pay the monthly expenses without a job).

+1

Anonymous wrote:go, you may be more motivated to get a job if you have less money in the bank

I disagree. It's doubtful that someone with kids (who is already thinking of cancelling in this situation) is unmotivated to find a job. Having less money will just be more stressful.

Plus, you forget about all the ADDITIONAL money you end up spending while you're on vacation: food, drinks, beach crap, etc... You'll just be adding up the dollars and cents instead of enjoying the time.

Anonymous wrote:cancel. Virginia Beach is not once in a lifetime.

For my six year old, our week in Ocean City this summer *was* once in a lifetime.

You can still do a day trip or maybe an overnight in a hotel at Rehoboth or one of the DE beaches that is a shorter drive. If you stay at a hotel that is a bit further from the beach I bet you can get a good rate and try to pack lunches etc.

go, you may be more motivated to get a job if you have less money in the bank