Have you ever taken a trip you can't afford?

frau · 05-22-2012, 10:47 AM

i'm considering taking a trip to a friend's wedding. it's going to be fabulous! i just can't miss it! i haven't seen her in years and i just think i'll die if i can't go BUT i can't afford it. i can charge it! there's room on my charge card BUT i'm trying to stop charging things...BUT if i live within my means i won't ever go anywhere or do anything! you only live once, right?? i'll just penny pinch later...

have you ever taken a trip you couldn't afford?
was it worth it?

Nej · 05-22-2012, 10:49 AM

Yes. A lot actually. It was worth it at the time.

It wasn't worth it when I realized what I could have done with that money later.

Anything I spent under 800 for a trip IMO was worth it.

spiderlashes5000 · 05-22-2012, 10:50 AM

I took a fabulous two week long trip to the Bahamas in 1998, right after I became unemployed.

IDK if I could "afford" it or not. But it was def ill-advised.

AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

frau · 05-22-2012, 10:54 AM

yay!!! so, you guys are saying, go, right? that's what you're telling me? right, that i should go?

...oh, my mom wants to come too, but i'd have to pay for her...sigh. it would only be a plane ticket more since the hotel would be paid for by me whether she came or not.
you think i should take her?

Like.Australia · 05-22-2012, 10:56 AM

No. I'm definitely a saver, not a spender. And personally, I wouldn't, but I don't like weddings anyway. It's up to you if you think it will be worth it.

Nej · 05-22-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau

yay!!! so, you guys are saying, go, right? that's what you're telling me? right, that i should go?

...oh, my mom wants to come too, but i'd have to pay for her...sigh. it would only be a plane ticket more since the hotel would be paid for by me whether she came or not.
you think i should take her?

I say don't risk regretting not going. It's not a vacation for vacation's sake.

And don't take your mom.

frau · 05-22-2012, 11:03 AM

lol!! yay!!! i can go by myself!!

rouquinne · 05-22-2012, 11:06 AM

i've never done that...

and i NEED a vacation SO badly...

and DO NOT take your mom!!! that's no vacation!

Saria · 05-22-2012, 11:06 AM

I don't do things I can't afford. And by afford, that means I need to be left with a certain amount of breathing room as well.
I have enough debt already. Don't want more.
I don't have credit cards, so that also keeps me from doing that sort of thing.

LadyV69 · 05-22-2012, 11:08 AM

I've taken trips in the past that I couldn't afford, but I've never regretted them. I'm not the kind of person who'll spend a lot on material things, but I will spend for experiences (concerts, vacations, etc.)The prudent thing is to not go, but if it's for a friend's wedding and you haven't seen her in a long time, I'd do it. It's the kind of experience you can never get back.

(I wouldn't take your mom, though)

damsel_fly · 05-22-2012, 11:08 AM

If you have room on your charge card, you might want to save that room for an emergency.

Credit card debt is the pits. The interest rates are usually ridiculous.

In about 8 years, I hope to go on my retirement trip. I will probably be flying first class. But, I plan to have at least 1/2 the cost of the trip saved up.

spiderlashes5000 · 05-22-2012, 11:42 AM

Not to pry but how much are we talking here? How much will this cost you?

If it's $500, go.

If it's more than $1000, maybe not.

Can you commit to doing things immediately to cut back, like taking the bus to work, not getting coffee out, doing your nails at home, returning something you just bought?

xcptnl · 05-22-2012, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyV69

I've taken trips in the past that I couldn't afford, but I've never regretted them. I'm not the kind of person who'll spend a lot on material things, but I will spend for experiences (concerts, vacations, etc.)The prudent thing is to not go, but if it's for a friend's wedding and you haven't seen her in a long time, I'd do it. It's the kind of experience you can never get back.

(I wouldn't take your mom, though)

This is me as well.

Sent from my iPhone using CurlTalk. Siri may be typing for me.

frau · 05-22-2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderlashes5000

Not to pry but how much are we talking here? How much will this cost you?

If it's $500, go.

If it's more than $1000, maybe not.

Can you commit to doing things immediately to cut back, like taking the bus to work, not getting coffee out, doing your nails at home, returning something you just bought?

here is the thing, i just received the invitation YESTERDAY and the wedding in june 15. i assume, i was on the D-list. i don't care.

so, it's 228 for the flight from georgia to chicago and it's 159/night for the hotel.
the wedding is on a friday afternoon, so if i fly in thursday night and leave...i don't know, saturday? then i'll be spending...i don't know, like $600?

thelio · 05-22-2012, 12:14 PM

Have you considered cheaper accomendations? Or taking a nice long trip via bus. This is how i afford vacations. buses when I can and staying with friends. I am also a couchsurfer so I rarely ever have to pay for a hotel.

spiderlashes5000 · 05-22-2012, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderlashes5000

Not to pry but how much are we talking here? How much will this cost you?

If it's $500, go.

If it's more than $1000, maybe not.

Can you commit to doing things immediately to cut back, like taking the bus to work, not getting coffee out, doing your nails at home, returning something you just bought?

here is the thing, i just received the invitation YESTERDAY and the wedding in june 15. i assume, i was on the D-list. i don't care.

so, it's 228 for the flight from georgia to chicago and it's 159/night for the hotel.
the wedding is on a friday afternoon, so if i fly in thursday night and leave...i don't know, saturday? then i'll be spending...i don't know, like $600?

Can you find a better price on groupon? Share a room w/ someone? Arrive Friday morning?

$600 isn't bad but you will also have to buy the gift and something to wear if you don't already have it.

LadyV69 · 05-22-2012, 12:16 PM

You'd have to get the friend a gift too, even if it's something small. The trip could end up being around $1000. Would you be able to save at least a couple of hundred before you go, to lessen the debt load? It'll mean no eating out, no movies, no entertainment whatsoever, but whatever you can do to decrease the debt may be beneficial. You can focus on saving enough to afford just the plane ticket or the room since it's not enough time to you to save for everything.

LadyV69 · 05-22-2012, 12:19 PM

I see Thelio had a good suggestion. I think Atlanta has what's called Chinatown buses where the fares are dirt cheap. I went from New York to Charlotte last winter on those buses and the round trip fare was only $80. And they were clean and always on time too.

SilverCurls · 05-22-2012, 12:39 PM

Do you plan on eating during your trip? Anything at all?

$600 sounds unrealistic, imo. You need to also figure in meals, transportation in and around Chicago, tips, gifts, and other incidentals. The train or bus may be cheaper than flying.

To answer the original question, no, I have never taken a trip I can't afford.

Saria · 05-22-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverCurls

Do you plan on eating during your trip? Anything at all?

$600 sounds unrealistic, imo. You need to also figure in meals, transportation in and around Chicago, tips, gifts, and other incidentals. The train or bus may be cheaper than flying.

To answer the original question, no, I have never taken a trip I can't afford.

This. People often forget to factor in other costs that come up.