No budget. More of a spend-as-we-see-fit sort of thing. Usually we do a beach trip per year, couple grand. Last year we did Europe, didn't go all out, but probably spent ~$15k+ all said and done, airfare, hotels, 3 michelin star restaurants, etc. I think the honeymoon was about $10k a few years ago. In a couple months likely doing another $5k-$10k trip if we can get the time off.
I envision once the attending money flows in, that amount might grow a little, maybe double, but not too much since overall I'm still a cheapskate.
If you're sensible with your other spending, it's not a big deal.
-
Really biggest concern is how to make sure kids are not spoiled. Maybe too late. ????
Years ago I met a new colleague at one of the drug dinners. Talking to her about her life and work, I gleaned that she had traveled the world extensively and yet she was only 28 or so, a newly graduated fellow.
She told me that her dad was a cardiologist and her mom was also a physician. They knew that the parents were wealthy and the parents knew that the kids knew about it. So to prevent spoiling them, the dad informed them that instead of yearly Christmas expensive gifts they would get one major vacation a year. That was their Christmas gift. Initially she and her brother were a bit disappointed by not getting the latest Christmas toy but in a couple of years they were looking forward to the next adventure. Even when she was in college and medical school, the family bonding trips continued and she had traveled to 30+ countries that were given as Christmas presents.
I have used the same technique on my daughter. Except for an occasional iPad or a phone, her gifts would be foreign travel. Luckily she hates Disneyworld so I don't have to buy expensive tickets to the theme parks.Leave a comment:
-
Some people are throwing out some monster travel budgets,
Most of those (me included) are in a different phase of our career and priorities in life. Earlier on in my career I would never dream of a $40K vacation budget. But now I am racing against mother time to get my travel done before the window closes.
"Someday" is one of the most dangerous words in the English language, especially when it comes to aspirational activities and travel. I remember the moment that I realized that, sitting in the theatre, in the afterglow of watching my daughter perform professionally in Les Mis. I said to myself, "Someday, we will go to Paris and see all of these...", and it suddenly occurred to me (age 47, at the time), that time was not an unlimited gift but a finite reality.
Five months later, we were on a flight to Paris.
As I think of some other "someday" wishes, the window has closed on many -- a Grand Canyon Rim-Rim-Rim excursion, an ultra marathon, etc. In the mean time, I am going to do what I can to make the most of the vacation time left, while I still can. There's no use sitting around in my 80's, staring at a large balance in my Schwab account and imagining what I could have done with the money when I was younger.Leave a comment:
-
3 kids (7 and under) and pregnant so we don't travel very far often
We try to save about $500/month and have taken the kids to the beach in the winter (Florida, Aruba) and to visit family near SF over the last few years, although some years we don't do any trips requiring a plane ride. In the summer we do a lot of day trips to hike and swim and go biking. Oh, and museums/ aquarium/ walking around the cities in New England where we live. Way more relaxing than spending hours on a plane! One day when they are older we will travel internationally but for now that just sounds painful....Leave a comment:
-
Thank you everyone for their replies. Yes, I do live in the Pacific Northwest but I just moved here last year so I’m still trying to get a lay of the land! If any of you can recommend some affordable vacation ideas for a family of four (with a toddler and an infant) that is within driving distance, would appreciate it. Thanks!
To the OP: Car camping is awesome with young kids (infant, toddler). We've been camping at a lot of state parks in our area and the kids love it. First trip was when our baby was 6 months old. The PNW would be outstanding (in the drier season). We have a large tent which fits the pack-n-play and a large airmattress for wife and I. Camp grounds have hot showers and nice people. We bring our tandem bike with the baby seat on the back and just explore. Another insider tip is to bring a fisher-price tree swing to hang from a tree at the campsite which provides a good amount of entertainment and containment. At night the kid(s) go to sleep around 7 or 8 and you can stay up around the campfire spending quality time with the spouse and friends. It's really inexpensive and a ton of fun.Leave a comment:
-
Thank you everyone for their replies. Yes, I do live in the Pacific Northwest but I just moved here last year so I’m still trying to get a lay of the land! If any of you can recommend some affordable vacation ideas for a family of four (with a toddler and an infant) that is within driving distance, would appreciate it. Thanks!
Depending how bold you are on driving (and where in the PNW you are) you can consider venturing out to California, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Canada (Whistler, Banff, etc.). Tons of things to see and do in any of those areas and it's still somewhat driveable, especially if you're willing to do 10+ hour drives, which if you were to spend 2 weeks there wouldn't be seem so bad, imo.Leave a comment:
-
Still a resident. Travel is one of my biggest expenses. This is partly due to being away from family, partly due to friends living all over the country, but mostly because I love seeing the world. I'm not a lavish vacationer (I don't need 5-star luxury when I travel) and travelhack where I can but I spend a fair chunk. While it may not be the most financially responsible thing to do, I'd happily work for an extra year on the back end to pay for things I truly enjoy along the way.Leave a comment:
-
We budget 2k/ month for vacation/Christmas/random crap. But we really mostly use it for travel. We don't do anything international at this point with little kids but I like to get away at least every 2 months and I like to stay in nice places. With a baby this year we meant to stay home for the most part but instead we've vacationed more than ever. I get ancy and going on vacation helps me avoid making impulsive decisions to just up and move to Alaska or some other random place.Leave a comment:
-
I vote San Juan islands, rainier, bend, corrupt d'Alene, seattle, Vancouver, Alaska. Mount hood.
So many possibilities.
Snoqualmie falls, Stevens pass, whistler,
Lucky!Leave a comment:
-
Thank you everyone for their replies. Yes, I do live in the Pacific Northwest but I just moved here last year so I’m still trying to get a lay of the land! If any of you can recommend some affordable vacation ideas for a family of four (with a toddler and an infant) that is within driving distance, would appreciate it. Thanks!
There is no shortage of great places to visit now, and as your children grow...
Mount Rainier
Olympic National Park
Columbia River Gorge
San Juan Islands
Oregon Coast (Manzanita is my favorite town)
Crater Lake
Vancouver
North Cascades
Seattle
Portland
Tacoma
etc.Leave a comment:
-
Thank you everyone for their replies. Yes, I do live in the Pacific Northwest but I just moved here last year so I'm still trying to get a lay of the land! If any of you can recommend some affordable vacation ideas for a family of four (with a toddler and an infant) that is within driving distance, would appreciate it. Thanks!Leave a comment:
-
Some people are throwing out some monster travel budgets,
Most of those (me included) are in a different phase of our career and priorities in life. Earlier on in my career I would never dream of a $40K vacation budget. But now I am racing against mother time to get my travel done before the window closes.
i pulled my groin ... doing yoga! standing and stretching caused me to hurt myself so bad, I now am going once per week to physical therapy.
i tell my wife a normal person would be in the ICU, but i am toughing it out because that's the kind of guy i am.
don't get old! it's not that pretty.
don't let life pass you by! remember ferris bueller!
Leave a comment:
-
If I could do it over again, I would have taken some big international trips then, but at the time felt that we could not afford it. I was short-sighted and wrong.
I am another idiotic one. I was married more to my job than thinking of taking good vacations. Worst of all, worked and lived 3.5 years in Britain but never ventured to the Continent during those years. Sheer stupidity.Leave a comment:
-
Some people are throwing out some monster travel budgets,
Most of those (me included) are in a different phase of our career and priorities in life. Earlier on in my career I would never dream of a $40K vacation budget. But now I am racing against mother time to get my travel done before the window closes.Leave a comment:
-
Hmmm. Once again I don't fit in. No specific budget but we prioritize vacations. My wife needs me to get away from work every three months or else I get crabby.
I have an annual guys trip. We have regular trips with friends on spring break and winter break, when kids are out of school. We sprinkle a couple other trips in between.
Our annual spend is about 25k. We are anticipating spending more in retirement. Hopefully we get to, but obviously very subject to health, family needs, etc.
Really biggest concern is how to make sure kids are not spoiled.
Maybe too late.
Leave a comment:
Leave a comment: