Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

if it was me, i would put the money towards debt and maybe take an affordable babymoon once pregnant.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

take the vacation. you only live once.

Im so glad we were married a few years and travelled to europe, hawaii, and other places. we have debt too..it will always be there..LOL

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

I would take a vaca, but a small one. however, i would not be comfortable having a baby with considerable cc debt (home and student loans are different). I would just be so worried about affording the cost of daycare that I wouldn't be able to spend it. In fact, our tax refund and my bonus are mostly all going to savings this year because I want to have an emergency fund in case something happens.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

We're in the same boat - working hard to pay off debt and gearing up to TTC this summer. We're also looking for a bigger apartment. The way I see it is there has to be a balance in life. We're planning a vacation in September for our anniversary. We plan to take one every year, and it's probably the only thing we do for ourselves. We don't go on crazy expensive trips - just a nice getaway. We don't go out and spend money in bars or at the movies or what not, so I think it's okay to take that vacation and spend money on us. I wouldn't do it if putting it on a credit card were the only way to pay for it. It's either coming out of our bank account or we're not going.

So I say take the vacation and enjoy yourselves! In 5 years you'll be glad you did!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Posted by PennyCat

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?

vacation 100%!!!
I am in a similar situation like you and we are trying to figure out summer vacation as we speak... go for it!!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Go. On. Vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

all the way!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Sorry to crash, but from a new mommy POV, take your vacation and enjoy!!!! You will not get many more opportunities

Message edited 2/24/2009 12:48:35 AM.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

vacation

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Get in one more vacation of lying on the beach, drinking margaritas and doing whatever you want.

It may be the last vacation that is all about you

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

For me, it would completely depend on what you mean by "considerable debt"

We absolutely take a vacation every year to enjoy being together - just the two of us. But we pay our credit cards every month. We certainly have debt, - 1 car payment, a mortgage, student loan, but these are all "manageable debt" If I had considerable debt over that - I would find it pretty irresponsible to take an expensive vacation - I just couldn't do it. We'd probably just take a week off in the summer and enjoy living on long island - a beach day, the hamptons or montauk, etc.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

I vote for vacation!!!

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

Thanks everyone!!! I got super busy at work yesterday so I didn't get a chance to check back.

We're not quite sure what we'll do just yet. For us, we have student loans and cc debt and even though it's not a tiny amount, we are responsible in paying on time and pay much more than the minimums due etc. I feel like we'll always have debt, but hopefully just VERY little debt eventually. I am also trying to think about what the responsible thing to do would be, etc.

The balance is important for me I think - and for DH too - and honestly, it could take a few months to get PG once we start or MUCH longer.

Re: Be responsible or have fun before kids?

We were in your position about 6 months ago. We decided to wing it and book a cruise for May '09. I just made my final payment to the travel agency in cash! And I am so PROUD of us for doing that. We have debt: CC, student loan and 1 car but we paid the cruise over time and paid in cash each time.

If we had decided to hold off on
booking the cruise, I would still not be PG and still stressing out like crazy at work. So for me, I am glad we booked it. If I am preggo when we go on the cruise that would be great. But if I'm not, at least I get to relax for a week, drink up and get away from my insane job!