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#204662 - 06/25/04 05:40 PM
Thoughts on want vs need...
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 660
KY
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Okay so I want your all's thoughts on something.
I love London England, I was there about 6 years ago in college and have loved it and wanted to go back ever since. (tried to find a way to live there but that didn't pan out.) I am also wanting to start a family in the near future (next year or two). So I started thinking that wouldn't it be great to go to London with my husband before we have kids as it's not likely we'll get to go after . so I started doing some looking around (not on travelocity! ) and I figure it'll cost about $5,000.00 for the both of us for two weeks. so here's my question: while this is not chump change to us and also not something would sink us (we spent more than that for our wedding and honeymoon last year, which we've paid off), it is still a lot of money... is it worth it? Am I being silly (I haven't been this excited about the prospect of doing something in a long while)? Or should I sod off and just put the lot on a low, fixed rate CC and get on with it? for
my husband, it will take some work to get him convinced... but I want to go sooo bad. I feel like a little kid again and my Dad telling me there is a big difference between needs and wants. Thoughts?
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Practice, practice makes perfect, Perfect is a fault, and in fault lines change
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#204663 - 06/25/04 05:51 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,577
Chicago, IL
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Yes, $5,000 is a good sum of money, but honestly, does not sound like an excessive amount to spend to go to London for two weeks. Geez, I hate to tell you what we spent for 10 days at Disney in Florida 10 years ago.....!!!! So, from that perspective, I think it's fair. On the other hand, only you would know the ramifications..good and bad....on your household budget to do this. Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on your situation and if you do this, what you are taking on. Good luck with your decision...i'm sure it will be good no matter what you decide!
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#204665 - 06/25/04 05:54 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 770
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As someone who started a family right out of the blocks (okay before marriage--but its all good) I suggest you go for it. It is a wonderful opportunity. I do not regret my kiddos or starting my family at the age of 18, but this year is the first time I get to go on a real vacation (i.e. not visiting his relatives in Ft. Worth for a weekend, going to the zoo, and that's it)-- 10 years later. If you can afford it, why not? It's something you both will enjoy together, just the two of you (okay now I'm day dreaming of how wonderful that would be ) So my two itty bitty cents worth- GO for it! You are not being selfish, I'm in your corner girl!
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#204666 - 06/25/04 06:12 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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10K Club
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,766
Turnpike Exit 10
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Oh, I think you should go, as long as it won't strap you financially. Have a great time!
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Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain
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#204669 - 06/25/04 06:44 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Gold Star
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 419
Kansas City, Mo
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Pleeeeease don't put it on your credit card. Low rates won't last forever. You will pay for the trip for the rest of your life.
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It takes a big dog to weigh a ton
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#204670 - 06/25/04 06:52 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,162
New England
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If you are planning on using a credit card to finance this trip, remember $5,000.00 today can end up costing you 10 times that much! I also love London, it is really a great place!! If you don't have the cash money, maybe you should think about a shorter trip, maybe 4 or 5 days. I know that British Air is always advertising packages for a 3 or 4 nights, including airfare, hotel, for a couple of hundred bucks!! That way, you would still get to go, but not "break the bank".
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#204672 - 06/25/04 06:59 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 660
KY
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my thought on the cc is to allow us to go ahead and purchase tickets/ reserve room while saving/ paying off the purchases. this is not debt that would be out there for more than a year... but these are things to think about. I'm not sure i could do london in a week... for me it'd be a return trip, but for my husband it'd be his first time there.
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Practice, practice makes perfect, Perfect is a fault, and in fault lines change
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#204673 - 06/25/04 07:02 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,357
A Grant Wood painting.
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Sixteen years ago this August, my wife & I flew to Alberta (from Dallas) on our honeymoon. That is the last thing we financed on a credit card and I don't regret it one bit. I believe that if you want to be a good parent you should start by being a good spouse. Take the trip while you still have the energy to enjoy it!
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The opinions expressed are what you can expect for the price paid.
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#204674 - 06/25/04 07:19 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,355
The O.C., California
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Travel is a gift to yourself! You deserve it. You won't be able to take a trip like this for quite a while after you have children. I love London, have been there 5 or 6 times. And just think, if you happen to conceive while you're there, you can pretend you're a movie star and name the child London (boy or girl)!
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#204676 - 06/25/04 07:53 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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10K Club
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 21,939
Next to Harvey
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Fast forward 40 years...do you really think you will be sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair holding a a gurgling grandchild and saying, "I'm so glad we never went to London when we were young?"
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In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.
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#204677 - 06/25/04 07:54 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 660
KY
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not a bad idea... actually my best friend is getting ready to start trying for kids (i figure, let her do it and we'll all see how it goes ) so she was buying all these baby books and i felt left out so i bought one of those 35,000 baby name books, now my husband and i play the "what about..." game... so far all i know if that we can't agree on more than a few names. i can't imagine him going for london, though i like the sounds of it.
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Practice, practice makes perfect, Perfect is a fault, and in fault lines change
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#204678 - 06/25/04 08:34 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,636
snorkeling in warm, clear wate...
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We got married right out of college, got pregnant 2 years later, got pregnant again 17 months after that - had a kid who lived for dance (not cheap!) - in a nutshell, the first family vacation we had that didn't involve staying with relatives was when she was 23 and our son was 21 and we spent 3 incredible weeks together in the UK and Ireland. I wish we'd been able to do something like that before we had the kids too - my vote is GO FOR IT!
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#204679 - 06/25/04 08:38 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,289
dreaming of a warm beach......
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Quote:
Quote:
And just think, if you happen to conceive while you're there, you can pretend you're a movie star and name the child London (boy or girl)!
Let me introduce my daughter "Pontiac" and my son "Drive-in-Movie".
LOL- mine would be Merry Christmas, Wedding and Birthday!!!!
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#204680 - 06/25/04 08:45 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,722
Oklahoma
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
And just think, if you happen to conceive while you're there, you can pretend you're a movie star and name the child London (boy or girl)!
Let me introduce my daughter "Pontiac" and my son "Drive-in-Movie".
LOL- mine would be Merry Christmas, Wedding and Birthday!!!!
LMAO! Mine would be Eve...as in New Years Eve!
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#204681 - 06/25/04 08:45 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Even if you put it on your CC and took 5 years to pay it off that's only $125 a month at 18%. Go, go, go! Post the pictures on BOL for us! Yes, we married people with kids are trying to live vicariously through you.
If you do some planning, you might be able to write off the trip if you are going to look for a job. London is an international banking center. Talk to your CPA to see what documentation you will need.
Or, do you have a side job that requires you to go to London to taste food (catering business). Or, are you thinking of writing a book and need to do "research on the London nightlife scene". If you don't have a CPA get one, just make sure they can represent you in IRS court.
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#204685 - 06/26/04 05:28 PM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Power Poster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,615
SC
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Excellent idea. My brother golfed there and you would have thought he'd died and gone straight to heaven (I'll never understand golfers ). If this is something you really want to do and can afford, go for it. Bon voyage
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#204686 - 06/28/04 01:19 AM
Re: Thoughts on want vs need...
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,139
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I absolutely love to travel! I have sometimes gone into a little debt to do so. I have never - not once - ever regreted one trip. I have only regreted a time I had the opportunity to go somewhere and didn't go. I have the most fabulous memories, and beautiful photos to relive the moments. You don't want to regret not going while you're healthy and excited about going and able to carry bags and walk through an airline terminal and wait in lines, etc. You must go!
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