Be responsible or have fun before kids?

What would you do if you were going to TTC within the next year, have considerable debt (but have a budget and plan for paying it off responsibly although it will take a while), and want to take one last vacation this year before TTC/kids (nevermind that you don't know how LONG it could take to actually conceive etc).

Do you take the vacation anyway? (Note: not crazy expensive to begin with, but flights/hotel nonetheless).

Or do you take the $ you would have spent on that vacation and further pay down debt?

Curious to see how everyone would approach this.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

VACATION!!! ABSOLUTELY!!!! If it's not going to bankrupt you or seriously hurt you...def take the vaca!!! you'll be glad you did!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Honestly?

I'd do the vacation - but I might be the minority!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

DH and I went on an expensive HM to Greece and June and proceeded to plan a trip to the Dominican this past January...mainly I knew we'd be TTC soon and it could be my last chance for a carefree all inclusive. We could've put the money to our debt but I think we made the right decision!

I'm a huge fan of ING...DH and i put in like $20/week ( a piece) and in no time we had enough to pay for our trip! and $20 could be like 2 lunches!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

VACATION!!!!!!!!!

DH and i went last year to DR as our "last hoorah" before TTC because we figured, when are we gonna be able to enjoy ourselves like this after a baby? it was so great! Bills are always gonna be there, and as long as you have a plan, there's nothing wrong with splurging on yourself and DH.

This year we are going on another vacation---since we have to put off TTC for awhile anyway per my doc's instructions, so in a way it worked out nicely. But I definitely think couples should go ahead and have a nice vacay just the two of you before starting the baby making.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

I am very conservative when it comes to money. I did not even take my honeymoon because we have some debt that I feel is more important to pay down before we take vacations.

For me, i can't truly enjoy myself knowing that I have a looming debt over my head. I rather pay it off, then take a nice vacation.

But it seems I am in the minority.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by katiebug

I am very conservative when it comes to money. I did not even take my honeymoon because we have some debt that I feel is more important to pay down before we take vacations.

For me, i can't truly enjoy myself knowing that I have a looming debt over my head. I rather pay it off, then take a nice vacation.

But it seems I am in the minority.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by katiebug

I am very conservative when it comes to money. I did not even take my honeymoon because we have some debt that I feel is more important to pay down before we take vacations.

For me, i can't truly enjoy myself knowing that I have a looming debt over my head. I rather pay it off, then take a nice vacation.

But it seems I am in the minority.

I totally get that... I just know for us, we'll never be "debt-free" - we have student loans that will take us nearly an eternity to pay off... so if we went by that, we'd never do anything - KWIM?

Message edited 2/23/2009 3:49:35 PM.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by katiebug

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by katiebug

I am very conservative when it comes to money. I did not even take my honeymoon because we have some debt that I feel is more important to pay down before we take vacations.

For me, i can't truly enjoy myself knowing that I have a looming debt over my head. I rather pay it off, then take a nice vacation.

But it seems I am in the minority.

I totally get that... I just know for us, we'll never be "debt-free" - we have student loans that will take us nearly an eternity to pay off... so if we went by that, we'd never do anything - KWIM?

Oh i am not counting student loans. Between me and my husband we are about $250K in the hole on student loans, so if I count that, then I may never go on a vacation again . My monthly payments are out of control.

But we had to pay for our own wedding, and we also had two moves in one year, so we aquired a little bit of credit card debt, and we have a two cars to pay off. For me, I can't in good conscience spend money of luxuries if I can't afford them. And as I see it, for MYSELF, if I have debt, then i can't afford a vacation. I mean I don't even have T.V. because I hate carrying debt, so i know that I can be a bit extreme.

Also, my husband is in Grad school, and I would like to start out with a fresh start once we are blessed with a baby and he gets out of school.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jealous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

edited for sp

Message edited 2/23/2009 3:57:24 PM.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by Linda1003

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jelous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

I

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by Linda1003

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jelous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

Bow chicka wow wow!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by katiebug

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by katiebug

I am very conservative when it comes to money. I did not even take my honeymoon because we have some debt that I feel is more important to pay down before we take vacations.

For me, i can't truly enjoy myself knowing that I have a looming debt over my head. I rather pay it off, then take a nice vacation.

But it seems I am in the minority.

I totally get that... I just know for us, we'll never be "debt-free" - we have student loans that will take us nearly an eternity to pay off... so if we went by that, we'd never do anything - KWIM?

Oh i am not counting student loans. Between me and my husband we are about $250K in the hole on student loans, so if I count that, then I may never go on a vacation again . My monthly payments are out of control.

But we had to pay for our own wedding, and we also had two moves in one year, so we aquired a little bit of credit card debt, and we have a two cars to pay off. For me, I can't in good conscience spend money of luxuries if I can't afford them. And as I see it, for MYSELF, if I have debt, then i can't afford a vacation. I mean I don't even have T.V. because I hate carrying debt, so i know that I can be a bit extreme.

Also, my husband is in Grad school, and I would like to start out with a fresh start once we are blessed with a baby and he gets out of school.

OOH okay, gotcha!

Yeah I was thinking you meant student loans and was saying to myself that in that case, we'd never do anything!

I know what you mean about CC debt though... that is luckily not a problem for us and DH's car is paid off. We also hate having any debt like that... we didn't even want to do a payment plan for our IVF/FET because it's just too much to have all those monthly payments hanging over our heads.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by katiebug

I am very conservative when it comes to money. I did not even take my honeymoon because we have some debt that I feel is more important to pay down before we take vacations.

For me, i can't truly enjoy myself knowing that I have a looming debt over my head. I rather pay it off, then take a nice vacation.

But it seems I am in the minority.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by Linda1003

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jealous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

edited for sp

Message edited 2/23/2009 4:16:02 PM.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by Linda1003

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jelous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

Bow chicka wow wow!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by katiebug

Posted by Linda1003

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jealous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

edited for sp

I read a ton of books, we play cards and listen to music, spend too much time on LIF ;) and other discussion boards ( I have one that I run) , watch movies, also, most of my shows are on line, so I may watch them a day later but I still get to watch them. I also rent stuff from the Library since it is "free".

People think i am crazy that i don't have a tv. When I tell people that they are shocked.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by Linda1003

Posted by katiebug

Posted by Linda1003

Katie...you don't have a tv!!!Im soooo impressed and jealous.. DH and I watch way too much tv!!!
But what do you do every night??? Im intrigued!!!

edited for sp

I read a ton of books, we play cards and listen to music, spend too much time on LIF ;) and other discussion boards ( I have one that I run) , watch movies, also, most of my shows are on line, so I may watch them a day later but I still get to watch them. I also rent stuff from the Library since it is "free".

People think i am crazy that i don't have a tv. When I tell people that they are shocked.

Wow I think that's amazing..last night around 7:00 we had nothing to watch and really nothing to do.. I was sooo lost!!! Im a loser!!!!!!!!!!!

Message edited 2/23/2009 4:20:48 PM.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

I know.. I was def pacing!!! It's terrible how dependent we are on the stupid tv!!! Im going to make some changes...you've Inspired me Katie!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Why not compromise? The save half, spend half approach!

Go on a less expensive vacation and use the other half to pay off some debt

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by Linda1003

I know.. I was def pacing!!! It's terrible how dependent we are on the stupid tv!!! Im going to make some changes...you've Inspired me Katie!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Vacation!!!! I think it is a must. I have a vacation account that I have money put into each paycheck. I use this for vacations and not for bills. I think it is great to get away from reality for a little bit.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

def vacation! as long as it wont make u got further into debt

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Vacation!

DH & I went to Europe in October/November knowing when we got back that we had a plan to pay off the trip in a timely, responsible manner. I think if you go in with a game plan, it's worth every penny. (I mean don't go spending 10 grand on a trip lol)

Also , I naively thought we would get pg. right away which clearly as it's almost March and we still are not, so we banked on paying it off within "9 months" clearly that's out the window.....so you just never know...so I wouldn't want you to miss out on an opportunity to have that last Hoorah, KWIM?

So I say GO...enjoy yourselves...you only get these days to cherish together now.