After waiting it out, I finally booked my flight to Vancouver. In about 10 days I’ll be flying off for a week-long vacation. It’ll be the first vacation I’ve had in two years and the first since I returned from Hong Kong. Because of this, I’ve convinced myself that I deserve it. But after reading Gail’s blog entry, “How Did We Get Into Such A Mess,” I feel a little guilty. She writes:
There are also a fair number of people who feel entitled. “I work hard, I deserve a vacation.” If I had a dollar for every time someone has said this to me, I could cruise around the world…twice. People believe that just because they want something they have a right to it, regardless of whether they can afford it. That’s how Buy Now Pay Later became such a hit. “I want it. I have to have it. If I can’t pay for it, I’ll just find a way to get it without paying for it.” Then when the bill comes due at a whopping thirty-something percent, people whine about how rapacious the rates are.
Of course, we all know that Gail is right. But it’s not that I deserve a vacation less than someone who is debt-free, I just can’t afford it as much as someone else. To answer my own question, I feel like yes, I do deserve a vacation, but at what cost?
There’s a part of me that feels immensely guilty for taking a week-long vacation. Instead of spending $1,500 on a trip, I could be contributing that to my debt. But the sad fact is I won’t be out of debt for a few years still. Am I not supposed to go on vacation until I’m completely in the black?
This is when I think the “everything in moderation” belief comes to play. I’m not going to another continent and staying in expensive hotels. I’m going to British Columbia on a seat sale, staying at friends’ places/hostels and have a planned budget. If I pay everything off without paying interest, should I still feel guilty?
What would you do? Would you still go on vacation despite being in debt? Would you put your vacation money towards your debt?
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August 21, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Sarah F.
This is a tough one. I personally would feel too guilty to go on a vacation like that because of the debt that we have right now (about $6,000). My husband and I are chomping at the bit to be able to go visit my friend in California. But, I know if we were to go right now, it would not be as much fun than if we were to be consumer debt free and could fully enjoy spending money on the vacation.
There is something to be said for moderation and quality of life. We all need breaks from the norm to unwind and recharge, and it’s your call as to the length and expense of your getaway. Maybe just a weekend away would be more appropriate versus a week long vacation at this point. As the saying goes, personal finance is just that- personal. You have to weigh it out, maybe crunch the numbers, and do what feels right for you.
August 21, 2008 at 7:12 pm
sf
If you have low interest rates on your loans and have NO credit card debt, by all means! We all need some time away. Just make sure you’re being frugal about it and your daily expenses. Pay for everything with a cash back rewards credit card. That way, you’re always getting at least a 1% discount. Don’t forget to pay it all off. Credit debt is the worst kind. And happy travels – Vancouver is beautiful!
August 21, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Kathleen
Your blog could not have been more timely. I’ve been in a state of despair over the fact that I’ve once again dug myself into credit card debt. I mean sometimes life just gets in the way of the best laid plans but it’s depressing when you realize that it’s going to take you years to get back to a stable financial space.
I’m torn between enjoying my day-to-day life and saving for the life I want. I can take a trip now or I can buy a house sooner. The thing is you never know what the next month, year, decade will bring. You could save every penny toward your dream home and some other part of the puzzle might fall our along the way. I think there has to be happy medium. A $1500 trip doesn’t seem outrageous to me, as long as you’ll be able to enjoy it guilt-free. Guilt is the really burden.
August 21, 2008 at 11:32 pm
DAvid
It may be many years before you get out of debt. If you buy a home, and take a mortgage, you will have debt for quite a number of years. So, if you have your debt under control, then taking a vacation is no problem. If on the other hand, you’re going to lose sleep over the vacation then make another choice.
Of course, if you are self-employed, you might use your trip to the Wet Coast to check out a few business opportunities, meet potential clients, and convert your vacation expense to a business travel expense.
DAvid
August 22, 2008 at 7:14 am
Lily
Maybe it´s because I´m young and crazy, but I don´t think there´s any question here.
Go on vacation for goodnesssakes and stop worrying about it!
What´s important in life? Like, really? Paying off debt? Is that what you were born to do? I know this is morbid, but if you were to pass away in five years, what would you prefer: leaving debt-free, or having a bit more debt and a few more great memories?
C´mon… I know I´m the type of person that Gail is talking about. Except, I´m not really going to complain about having to pay for my vacation. Are you going to? If not, then I don´t think you have to worry about it. Maybe Gail is just saying ´Take responsibility for you spending, dammit´ rather than ´Don´t go on vacation.´
August 22, 2008 at 4:43 pm
andreachiu
Thanks for all your comments!
Sarah: You’re right about moderation. Sometimes it’s difficult to define moderation in these terms, like how sometimes it’s easy to blur the lines between a want and a need.
sf: I’m absolutely going to pay for things with cash. It’s not that I have a problem with impulse buys, I just like knowing how much I’ve spent. Thanks for the reminder!
Kathleen: Yes, guilt is a price I will pay but I will do my best to enjoy it. I’m not the type to continue complaining about something while trying to enjoy it.
DAvid: I’m definitely trying to make this a bit of a working vacation. As an occasional freelance writer, I’ve been brainstorming story ideas for the past few weeks. It would be nice to make a few hundred for a story or two. That would eliminate some guilt.
Lily: I have to say I agree to a certain point, but it goes back to moderation. Neither excessive spending nor than excessive cheapness is good. Everything in moderation.
August 24, 2008 at 1:26 pm
A Financial Flogging
Make sure to visit Stanley Park while you’re there if you’ve never been, though it’s a pale shadow of it’s former glory before a severe windstorm.
The Naam serves delicious vegetarian fare and is located at 2724 West 4th Avenue. And if you happen to wonder onto UBC’s campus in the Astronomy department, tell the folks there I said hi!
August 24, 2008 at 11:53 pm
nancy (aka money coach)
I was once $30 k in debt – student loan and consumer. I would do “binge and purge” — every.last.dime went to the debt then after all the deprivation I’d bust loose, and dive back into debt again to do something (like, mexico!) nice for myself, since I didn’t have any savings.
What worked for me in the long term – and this goes against almost all financial planners – was to pay just a bit more than my minimum debt payments, and just resign myself to that as part of my life for the next several years, and at the same time, start saving up for things and start investing.
That accomplished a couple really, really important things for me:
1. My money started being FUN and INTERESTING and ENCOURAGING instead of always only about the black hole of debt
2. I discovered what it felt like to save up for something, and go on a trip, and come back without having increased my debt.
Long term, the debt went away, and I still had the savings habit plus a portfolio.
Lots of people will say: don’t do anything but pay off your debt (often said with a judgmental tone!). That makes cold financial sense, true. But even more effective: doing.what.works. for you!
Enjoy Vancouver!
September 1, 2008 at 9:50 am
Melissa
I hope you chose to go! I am located in the Vancouver area! Such a beautiful place
Stanley park, downtown (be careful though, tons of shopping), Capliano Suspension Bridge and tons more!! Have a great time 
September 1, 2008 at 6:42 pm
pete
I hope you chose to go!
Why do you think she hasn’t posted in more than a week?
September 1, 2008 at 7:10 pm
deepali
Chiming in late here –
but let’s say you were trying to lose 40 pounds and you had a set amount of calories you were eating per day. Is this vacation –
1) an extra slice of pizza, which means you can’t have ice cream for dessert
2) an extra slice of pizza that will put you 100-200 calories over your limit
3) an entire large pizza. after the buffet lunch.
i don’t think it’s about what you deserve – it’s about how well you sleep at night.
hope you enjoyed your vacation!
September 14, 2008 at 6:07 pm
munchkin
If you havent had a vacation in 2 years then you deserve it!
I am also going through something like this, but with thoughts of getting a car. Of course it is important to get debt under control but living your life is just as important. As long as you have a budget I think its ok!