don't do it. can you find a cheap flight now fora flight that leaves later in the year or early next year? Then next month or the month after book your accommodations, then within a couple of months your two biggest expenses are paid for and you don't have debt. A month or two after your accommodations are booked, book your entertainment (city pass, museum tickets, whatever.) Then that's paid for. Then the next couple of months set aside money for food, bus/train tickets and incidentals. By the time you leave your trip will be paid for and no debt. I live on a small income and this is how I travel. I don't travel fancy but I always have a great time and I don't have debt. I also generally travel with a carry on rather than checked bag which makes it really easy not to shop since there's not enough room for random souvenirs. Sometimes I send myself post cards which is fun to come home to.

Delta is rocking some excellent flight prices to Spain right now. Check out who has cheap flights.

OMG, no. Of course not. I wouldn't enjoy it a bit if I were getting into debt by going on the vacation. You will enjoy it more if you save for it FIRST, and then spend the money. If you would be able to pay it off in a year, you can also save that much in a year. Take your vacation once you've done that. Meanwhile, take a cheap or free vacation.

No, I live/travel within my means.

The credit card debt is not worth it.

Why do you pay your credit card off every week? The only reason I can think someone would do this is if she doesn't have a high enough credit limit to support her monthly spending.

Otherwise, just put it on autopay, and pay it off at the end of the month.

Anonymous wrote:No, I would not charge 3k on my credit if I could not afford to pay it off for a year. If you need a break, take time off from work and rest.

Do you have any wealthy friends/relatives with vacation homes?

I am not necessarily wealthy but I am going away with my friend who is always broke. I am just treating her. If I had to wait for her to save enough, we would never go anywhere. 10 years ago, she missed my bachelorette party in Vegas. In hindsight, I wish I had just paid for her. A few years before that, we went on a big trip that her parents paid for her flight/hotel. I lent her around 500 for misc expenses on the trip. It has been 15 years and she has not been able to pay me back.

You are a good friend PP

Post this in the financial/ money forum.

Use savings or find something cheape. Don't put it on a credit card, it's a slippery slope and such an easy trap to fall into. It's happened to me, despite all the best intentions. Lived and learned. Don't repeat the mistake. In the overall picture, it isn't worth it.

No, I would not charge 3k on my credit if I could not afford to pay it off for a year. If you need a break, take time off from work and rest.

Do you have any wealthy friends/relatives with vacation homes?

I am not necessarily wealthy but I am going away with my friend who is always broke. I am just treating her. If I had to wait for her to save enough, we would never go anywhere. 10 years ago, she missed my bachelorette party in Vegas. In hindsight, I wish I had just paid for her. A few years before that, we went on a big trip that her parents paid for her flight/hotel. I lent her around 500 for misc expenses on the trip. It has been 15 years and she has not been able to pay me back.

OP, you made a choice to spend money on buying into a "better" school district. Now, you want the better schools (with a more expensive house, presumably) AND you want the vacations too. That's the thing... you made a trade off (i.e. school + house in exchange for not having as much disposable income).... and now you want the disposable income too. That's not how trade-offs work.

You get to pick: either spending more on housing (with good schools and less money for vacations) OR saving money on housing (with less great schools and more money for vacations). You knew you couldn't have both sides of the coin.

Take some day trips (i.e. Sandy Point St. Park, a spa day for $200 or less, a nice dinner), and enjoy what you have. Take time off work if you need to. But, it is unwise to put $3000 on credit for a vacation that you won't be able to pay off in 2 mos. After you take that vacation... 6 mos. will go by and you'll want to take another vacation... it'll just pile up.

OP, You sound a little like my cousin J..., My dad always said that J could afford the luxuries--he just couldn't afford the necessities.

No. You are taking a high interest loan doing that. If you really *need* it, figure out what you can do without on your earmarked list and pare back your vacation expenses as much as possible.

Anonymous wrote:There have been several studies that suggest having experiences make you happier than buying things. Travel is an experience. Do it while you are physically able. You have the money to pay cash now, and then rebuild your reserves for things like summer camp. Put the expenses on a rewards card and make it work for you. In the grand picture, $3k is not that much. I bet you can identify Things you can cut back on throughout the year (new clothes that look raggedy after a few washes, shoes you'll wear a couple of times and then forget about because they're not that comfortable, convenience foods with too much sodium, etc.) that actually don't bring happiness to your life. You'll get those savings back in no time.

Go on vacation, make those memories, and really ENJOY it. THAT is why you work. To enjoy life.

That happiness can disappear quite quickly if you have trouble paying your rent/mortgage when you return. Not worth the grief. You don't need to travel far to create experiences. That's a myth. Save it for when you have the cash to afford it.

Anonymous wrote:No, I would never charge that. I'd love to sit by a pool for a week and relax, but we can't this year due to house repairs and childcare costs. So, we are driving to Philadelphia and exploring that city for 4 days. I booked a hotel with my rewards points and made sure it had a pool and hot tub. I'm hoping the whole vacation costs about $600 total.

Don't be foolish, op.

Great way to do it. Lots to see and do just a few hours' drive away.

You may want to consider a day trip to Lancaster if you're in Philly. There are some country drives on their tourism website so you can see plenty of farmhouse and Amish by the side of the road, then stop by the fudge place in Strasburg for ice cream. Cheap outing and scenic too.

No, I would never charge that. I'd love to sit by a pool for a week and relax, but we can't this year due to house repairs and childcare costs. So, we are driving to Philadelphia and exploring that city for 4 days. I booked a hotel with my rewards points and made sure it had a pool and hot tub. I'm hoping the whole vacation costs about $600 total.

Don't be foolish, op.

Can you get 12 or 18 months interest free? Then yes, I'd do it. And my credit is 823, I have no consumer debt.

Alternatively start a special savings account for your next vacation!

Anonymous wrote:This post is a perfect example of the sense of American entitlement. "I want what I want! I want to see far away places! I need it! I deserve it! I WANT it! Me, me, me!"

I disagree. My American friends usually rent a beach house every year for a week and that's it. The foreigners are the ones who really travel abroad.