Do you blow all of your money when on a vaction?

What is this ‘vacation’ you speak of? :p

Since we ‘blow’ more than all of our money on just paying the damn bills, I wouldn’t know!

~ @augustlan it a mystery thing that children and politicians get 2 months of the year off.

We always budget our vacations and generally stay within the budget. We save up the money in advance so it is not a surprise after the fact.

We are going to Disneyland spring break 2014. Because of some extensive out of town work by Hubby, we already have saved up enough points for free rooms plus free breakfast for the week. We will be getting deeply discounted tickets from his employee discount program. We eat grocery prepared food instead of eating at restaurants on travel days, but we splurge on food while at the park. We expect gas + food + tickets will run about $3,000 for six people for seven days.

We still have about ½ of last year’s year end bonus, and if we save up $100 a month for 8 months, that will cover it. Of course, the bonus at the end of this year would probably cover it with some left over, but it’s best not to count on a bonus.

I never “blow” all my money just because it is in my pocket. When I lived check to check, I did my best to only spend money on necessities. I hate debt, so I try to avoid it at all costs. I hated living check to check, financial stress is horrible. I have sacrificed so that I built up savings. Now, we make a good household income, and I don’t know if I can call it a sacrifice now, but we definitely did when we were first married. About 7 years in we were able to be check to check on my husband’s salary, and that’s what we did, saving my salary for savings and things like travel. We could have bought a bigger house or more expensive cars, or even taken more extravagant vacations, but we didn’t. We really focused on saving, we still do.

When I have discretionary income, and can easily meet my necessary expenses, I do spend a little more freely, but I still save a lot. You will never have money if you spend it all.

As far as vacation, are you asking if I set aside a certain amount for the vacation do I blow it all? I never really do that. I save where I can on vacation and spend where I need to. If I am under or over what I kind of planned it doesn’t matter, because I have savings from never blowing money in general, and if I come in below what I estimated it just stays in the kitty for when I need it for something else. I do estimate how much a vacation will be while planning, and make sure I am ok with the total, also assuming there will be some expenses I don’t expect. I often eat breakfast in my hotel, like cereal or a muffin rather than $20 at some restaurant. I like some local restaurants that are less expensive, even stopping in a supermarket sometimes for a simple lunch depending on where I am.

During the year, we have to scrape just to have enough to pay the bills. Vacations are rare, but when we do go on vacation, we don’t scrimp. That is the time to enjoy yourself.

No. I set a budget for the vacation. I know how much things will cost: hotels, meals, entertainment, and we stick to that.

No. I hate the term ” blow money.” It is so negative. I don’t “blow” money, I SPEND my money on the things that I enjoy and are important to me as I am able.

I like the good things in life. Some of them are expensive.

My neighbor allotted all her money to pay her bills BEFORE she had left for her ten day holiday to visit her son in another part of the country.
When she came back home, she discovered that despite her carefullness, she had over spent and now had to depend on her credit card to assist her until the end of the month.
It happens.

My rule is to buy the best or have nothing at all. I absolutely can’t stand having something in the middle. It eats at me to the core. Luckily for me, I don’t have a shortage of money, so I am able to satisfy my desires. When I do set out on buying something, like going on vacation, I make sure to buy the best that money can buy (first class, luxury hotel, etc.) No expense spared.

If I was in a situation where I could only afford something in the middle, I just wouldn’t travel. I would rather have nothing.

@Inspired_2write I kind of don’t understand that behavior. Your friend was able to set aside money for a vacation. She takes the vacation with no cushion, no kitty, for estimating badly or something coming up. She is actually left in a spot where she has zero money to float through until pay day. Why didn’t she save another few weeks before taking the vacation? In this particular situation maybe it was important she take the vacation during that week for some reason, I am sure I don’t have all the details, but so ok, seems like she could have maybe been saving more all along.

@JLeslie
In this case she had not seen her son for over a couple of years and lent/gave him money.
(money that she needed).
As a mother I know why she put herself in this position.
What mother would not want to help her son?
She was not thinking rationally but emotionally.
She is a very emotional giving person, so it is hard for her to say no.

@Inspired_2write I see, well that is something altogether different.