Planning trip vs saving money

[daisyduckie]

I'm really struggling with this one, and hope you all can help me out. My dad, who is in his mid 70s, wants to go to Disney World for the 4th of July. My mom has no interest at all in going, so he would like me to go. And I'm tempted.

My problem is, I do have credit card debt that I am trying to pay down. I could do the trip without having to charge anything, but that money could be going towards what I already owe. However, I have a co-worker who suddenly lost her mom, and she found out too late that for Christmas her husband was going to tell her to quit her job so her and her mom could go traveling. So she has been telling us all to not put off what we want to do, as you never know what could happen to your loved ones.

So I'm torn. Do I embrace the day and go make some more Disney memories with my dad? Do I tell him maybe next year? What do you think?

 

[Horizons '83]

You only get one life... Everyone has some debt.. go for it!

 

[Kate Alan]

Ooh, that hits close to home. I understand what your co-worker means all too well. Speaking as someone who has lost a parent (my father passed away suddenly three years ago) - if you can do the trip without falling deeper in debt, or without screwing over your current debt repayment plan entirely - go. You'll still have the ability/opportunity to pay back your remaining debt upon your return, but you can't roll back the clock. I'm grateful that I have so many good vacation moments (both Disney and non) with my father to look back on, and my only regret is that there won't be more of them.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

It's a personal decision, and one that's hard to answer without knowing specifics such as the size of your debt, monthly interest, income, etc.

It sounds like an opportunity that won't wait for a year or two, so if it's important to you, go for it.

Personally I would evaluate the benefit against the impact it would have on my finances. If I owed $2000 and could defer paying my bills for a year or so, I wouldn't hesitate. If I had significant debt and this was going to put me into too deep a hold, I'd reconsider. Gotta find the balance.

 

[allgiggles]

I'm really struggling with this one, and hope you all can help me out. My dad, who is in his mid 70s, wants to go to Disney World for the 4th of July. My mom has no interest at all in going, so he would like me to go. And I'm tempted.

My problem is, I do have credit card debt that I am trying to pay down. I could do the trip without having to charge anything, but that money could be going towards what I already owe. However, I have a co-worker who suddenly lost her mom, and she found out too late that for Christmas her husband was going to tell her to quit her job so her and her mom could go traveling. So she has been telling us all to not put off what we want to do, as you never know what could happen to your loved ones.

So I'm torn. Do I embrace the day and go make some more Disney memories with my dad? Do I tell him maybe next year? What do you think?

Coming from someone whose father never saw his 52nd birthday (he passed away more than 25 years ago), I say go on the trip. I would give almost anything to have that opportunity with my dad. My husband nearly lost his father this past summer. It really hit home with him that life is short and tomorrow is not a guarantee. Even though we had only been home from Disney World about 6 weeks when his father got sick, he called me (his father lives in a different state) and told me to book another trip for this coming summer (prior to this, it was a challenge to get my husband to go to Disney every 2-3 years) because you don't know what tomorrow will bring and he knows how much it means to me to spend time with our kids at Disney (it's the only place we seem to be able to go where all 5 of them are happy).

I understand your concern about your debt (and kudos to you for working on getting it paid off!) but since you said you could take this trip without accruing additional debt, I would take the trip. You can let your dad know that you have a budget that you need to stick to, but that you very much want to go with him. You won't regret spending the time with him.

 

[YozhikRoth]

Any vacation can be had with proper planning. On my upcoming trip next month, I was able to knock $600 off by using new credit card rewards and promotions, then paying the cards off promptly. The Disney rewards card netted me $200 instantly, plus another $70 is Disney rewards after paying the balance off. Southwest gave me a $200 credit for getting their card. All the cashback earned on my everyday card was subsequently banked for the trip.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Go on the trip. You said yourself you can go on this trip without adding more debt. If it's important for your dad...then there's no question about it.

 

[Horizons '83]

Any vacation can be had with proper planning. On my upcoming trip next month, I was able to knock $600 off by using new credit card rewards and promotions, then paying the cards off promptly. The Disney rewards card netted me $200 instantly, plus another $70 is Disney rewards after paying the balance off. Southwest gave me a $200 credit for getting their card. All the cashback earned on my everyday card was subsequently banked for the trip.

While those benefits are nice, opening up a bunch of new credit cards isn't such a good idea especially if you are looking to buy a car or house within the year you open them.

The best way (mind you every situation is different) for us was through our American Express Blue card. We put everything on this card and that typically yields several hundred dollars to use as a statement credit towards out trip.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I would say, "Carpe Diem!" - but I'd add,..."with reason."

By this, I mean, talk with your Dad about what he can/will afford with regard to this trip, look at your own finances, figure out what your "assets" are (Does either of you have any travel rewards points? AAA? Discounts through an employer?) and budget accordingly. There's no reason you can't drive down (assuming that a road trip will save you money), stay offsite or in a value hotel, bring most of your own food, and have a ball on standard MYW tickets, and by doing so, you could potentially cut your expenditures in half.

Regardless, if I were you I wouldn't put it off. I lost my mother three years ago. She was 68, and had suffered for decades with degenerative, irreversible diagnoses that we knew were going to shorten her life significantly. In 2005, it occurred to her that she wouldn't be very mobile for much longer, and at her urging, our whole family -- Dad and Mom, my sister and BIL, DH and I -- took "one last family trip to Disney World." My husband and I were newlyweds with a lot of educational loans and a brand new mortgage, so the trip was a bit of a financial hardship for us, but the memories we made with my mother were beyond priceless. I re-visit the happy memories of that trip with my mother every time my husband and I (now with our children) return to Disney World, and I thank God that we did it while we could, because if we'd waited even one year, it wouldn't have been possible for Mom to go.

 

[Courtney6682]

If you can swing it, GO!!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Definitely go. Is your Dad putting in for the trip or is it all you? Maybe he will surprise you and pay for the room or something.

Just don't go overboard. Compromise on certain things - meals, rooms, number of days, possibly staying off property for some of the days - and splurge where it counts occasionally - one "nice" dinner per trip is usually enough. Bring some snacks. Drink free cups of water most of the time.

People are more important than money. You have to balance that with being responsible.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

If you have a Target Red Card or Target Debit Card, you can purchase Disney Gift Cards and get 5% off the cards. Every little bit helps.

 

[mishel635]

As a Hospice nurse, I say, if you can do it without adding to your debt much, then 100% make it happen! Those bills aren't going anywhere and life is short. Do what you love with the people you love while you can!

Also, one way we save a little money is we always pay off our vacation with Disney gift cards that we buy online from Sam's Club (I think Costco has something similar) with our Disney Visa. You can get $150 for $143 and then earn the rewards for your spending money. Not sure if you have a Disney Visa but as long as you have the money to pay it off right after you buy them, it can save you hundreds of dollars. Good luck!