18 Apr
I Know! We’re in Debt Up to Our Eyeballs so Let’s Go to Hawaii
You are going to think I’m crazy, but the four of us are going to Maui for a week.
I know, I know, we’re more than $40k in-the-hole, but before you write us off as total idiots who aren’t really committed to climbing out of debt let me explain.
The Dad’s grandmother has soared with Spartan pride and a distain for travel into her nineties. About a year ago the Dad’s parents called to suggest we plan a trip asap as this might be grandma’s last lap around the track.
Mind you, we are talking ten months before we started this blog (i.e.: still deep-in-the-stupid). We purchased four tickets — non-refundable — on a credit card and here we are. What now?
The Wife and I talked for quite a while about what to do. Cut our losses and not go? We would lose the tickets, but that money is gone anyway. We would save all the incidentals… but what about grandma?
The folks on the TMMO forum pointed out that our budget doesn’t have to change at all. We just spend there what we would have spent at home and no more.
In fact, with the kids out of pre-school for the week, that’s $140 we can spend on them guilt-free.
Another poster encouraged us to turn off everything at home while we’re gone, saving on the utility bill for the month. Makes sense to me.
We have decided to go. The Dad’s parents, saints that they are, have our lodging and transportation covered. In fact, being avid readers of Climbing Out, they have offered to take care of most meals too. The Wife pointed out that most of the things we would be doing are free anyway: the beach, the pool and of course seeing grandma.
I am struggling to feel good about going even after all the input and generosity from all sides. It seems totally nuts to be going to Hawaii right now. I know me. I am going to want to buy the kids things at every turn as I show them where I grew up.
The wife reminds me there will be plenty of time for that later and that this trip is about grandma.
So perhaps this is the last of the tangible Stupid Tax. Four non-refundable tickets that, if taken in the right light, will offer joy and fond memories and not looming shadows of credit card debt. It may actually end up being easier with limited options and simpler priorities.
Aloha,
the Dad
Posted by Gramps on 04/18/09 at 2:50 pm
A WARM MAUI ALOHA….from Tutu and Gramps…..we are so excited to see you, and yes, we are doing all the cooking and the sun, sand and fun is FREE. Great Grandma is thrilled to be able to meet the girls!
Posted by Tam on 04/21/09 at 4:14 pm
Dad,
Please turn on the lights and banish the looming shadows. Be with your Grandmother. You will never get this time back. There will always be setbacks and surprises in the cash flow plan….
Your girls getting to meet their great-grandmother…priceless.
Much aloha.
Posted by Julia on 04/29/09 at 1:53 pm
I was afraid to say anything on the forums, but our family has chosen to do the same thing. My husband is from eastern europe, and I still have some distant relatives out that way, and we promised that we would take the new baby home to introduce to the still-living great-grandparents. Well, since then, one of them has died and the other 2 are moaning and groaning about us hurrying home. We could have cut our losses, but we’ve decided that we’d have to play the “we came all the way to your country, now you take the bus and come visit us where we are” card with mobile family members. Plus, instead of staying in hotels and eating out, we would stay with family, take public transportation, and buy groceries to make meals at “home”. Anyway, I support your choice to put family above your debt. Now, we just have to agree to never go anywhere again until we’re DEBT-FREE!!!