I know when it comes to this subject that I’m pretty different from a lot of other people. I’m not sure why but it’s just the way I am. I would have so much more rathered fix my house or “have” something other than a weeks worth of memories and come back to a house that needs work.
When Paul and I got married a million years ago, he wanted to take a trip to Hawaii. We lived in an old house which I really loved but it needed a lot of work. So, we go to Hawaii and relax and have I guess a pretty fun time OR, we put in new windows that we would have forever and would be kept warm all winter. Just so you know, we did put in the new windows.
I guess to me, I like my home. I love my home actually and I’d so much rather work on it than spend all those thousands of dollars taking a trip that’s over in such a short period of time only to come back to the same problems that you left to take your vacation? It just doesn’t make any sense to me and I know, I’m very alone in this because I know a lot of people who love to travel and love to spend money on vacations. I’m just not sure why I’m like this.
We did take trips but we just didn’t do the really elaborate “Hawaii” or the great big ones. We also had a cabin that we spent every weekend in the summer at so I guess, for me, I didn’t really feel I needed a “get away from it all kind of thing.”
What kind of person are you? Do you like to blow it all in one shot and then not have the things you both need and want or would you rather play it safe and put your money into your home or something you really need more than a memory?
Us Girls..Our Views 
I am like you Joy. I would much rather take small family trips that don’t break the bank. Honestly if the house needed to be painted or something like that I would rather just stay home and fix it.
While we still have kids at home we love to take family vacations. The memories we are building with our family are priceless. The kids love to look at the pictures of past trips and remember the fun times we’ve had. We can’t afford to do a big vacation every year, so we do small trips every other year so that we can save for the next “big” one. It’s worked for us.
I think I like to travel so much because I didn’t get to do it when I was growing up, so now I just want to see EVERYWHERE. My parents are like you, Joy, they are happy going to their cabin every weekend. They don’t care if they ever see an ocean or an amusement park. They are happy with their quiet life.
Except for last winter when we went to the NC mountains and enjoyed a “freebie” from my friend at his (on the lake) vacation place we haven’t really been on a big money spending vacation in quite a while.
If I had my druthers I’d druther fix up the place and make memories here. After all, I’m still going to have to fix things around here anyway so why go into debt to do either?
Well I’d love to get to a point in or lives where we could spend or money on a vacation. When it comes to our savings…I swear the second we get any built up something happens and we have to spend it on that. Really for ME though…I spend a lot of time in my home. It’s where I work and live so I do want things taken care of. I personally would rather spend a big junk of money on updates or items for the house rather than take a vacation. I do however want to get to the point where we are able to do both. That would be idealistic!!
We take small in state vacations and Bailey and I go to California as often as possible to see my family. We recently bought a camper and hope to take it out next summer. Jason wants to go somewhere soon..the cold and snow is what has me thinking twice though…even though there is heat…what do ya do when yo get there???
Next August we are driving to MT for a family and class reunion . Those are the kind of vacations we take. Maybe someday we’ll make it to somewhere exotic…Jason isn’t a flyer however so I’m not holding my breath!! LOL It’s ok…he makes up for it!
For me a home I am truly happy in is so important to me…much more than a vacation that will only last in pictures and in memories…..but like I said…I’ d love to have the best of both worlds!
We never took expensive trips when we were married. We did take the kids camping a lot. WE also put extra money into the house. Now if someone wanted to give me a trip I wouldn’t even bother packing.
I’m like you Joy. I would rather invest our money in our home or something that we need instead of taking that big vacation. Sure, I like to travel but I like to be wise with money as well.
Maybe someday I will have the perfect house and rich enough to take a vacation anytime I want and go wherever I want. Ahhhhhh, now that would be nice! 😀
It’s nice to have dreams.
We’ve taken 2 “big” trips since we got married and actually there the only trips we’ve taken like that. One to Jamaica and one to Hawaii. They were years apart and we saved. We’ve always been wise spenders and I can’t help but think this was a jab at us somehow. I like going on vacation as much as I like fixing things up at home. I like that the kids say “remember when we did xyz in Wisconsin Dells” and they’re so excited about those memories. I like seeing new places and doing different things and even if I’m there for only a week it’s better than never trying anything new.
A jab at you?? Why? This is the last post that’s in the can and it’s been in there a long time. It was this one or nothing. There are none in there now so I don’t know what the post will be tomorrow.
Also, what made me think of this was because Paul recently asked me if I’d looked anywhere up on the North Shore to go for a week and I’d rather spend the money on new carpet, furniture and a fireplace and I wondered how many other people were like me and would rather put the money into something that they would have for a long time.
I love to travel and have been fortunate to experience a few different places/cultures.. I wouldnt change those experiences for anything. Its nice to get away sometimes.
so when do you wanna go to Hawaii? =) lol
I would never fly to Hawaii Vicki. I’m not sure I’d fly to Mpls!!! I hate it.
Thus the Master travels all day
without leaving home.
However splendid the views,
she stays serenely in herself.
Home is where the heart is, is it not?
I’m kind of in-between. I am generally cheap and always cringe at spending money that isn’t a clear investment. Plus, our house really needs a lot of work right now. There are some things that really have me worried if we wait much longer. And over the past year, our savings and interest earnings have taken such a hit, I no longer feel like I have a slush fund (other than my kids’ education fund, and who knows how long that will hold its value).
On the other hand, once I’m talked into a trip, I thoroughly enjoy traveling. The farther away and more exotic, the better. Nice thing about exotic places is that most of them are not very expensive, if you know how to plan. Of course, in recent years, our trips have been planned at the last minute, which is the most expensive way. But I was always really glad I went.
I went most of my life being unable to afford a real vacation. Then for about 5 years, I was able to do so. Now I have two tots, who don’t have US passports yet, so I have an excuse not to travel around much. So maybe if I could stop working 7-day weeks for months at a time, I could take the time to hire some folks to fix my house, before it falls down on our heads.
Im like you Joy.Id much rather spend money on our house and especially right now it needs alot of things done.Maybe once we have it where we want we will take trips but thats really my hubbys dream more than mine..to travel.I love being at home.Now a trip to AZ inwinter for a bit is nice though just to get out of the cold for a while and of course to see family there.