I flash the cash rather than flex the plastic, but (gasp!) am I about to break my own frugal rules? Truth is, I’m having a dilemma here – dilemma being a Money Monster sitting on my shoulder, whispering sweet IOUs into my ear – and if you have any thoughts on this one, I’d really like to bend my other ear in your direction.
As you know, my husband and I keep our spending firmly in check. Take our annual holiday: we will be flying out to America in October and it’s going to be another thrifty roadtrip. Credit cards? Pah! The flights were booked and paid for back in February, and now we are saving up spending money ready for when we go. Exemplary, no?
So… friend is getting married overseas in February next year and we have been invited. It isn’t the first time this has happened: we have had a number of such invitations over the past few years and up until now we always declined them, albeit with regret, because it was difficult to justify a jolly to Southeast Asia or Scandinavia or wherever when we were scrimping to pay down debt.
Here’s the rub. This time it’s my very dear friend L and her wonderful fiance getting married, an amazing opportunity to spend two weeks exploring a beautiful part of India and a great deal… and I really want to go. However the flights have to be booked and paid for in the next four months. As for spending and accommodation: with this trip scheduled so soon after our holiday in America and the Christmas break, there is fat chance that we would be able to save enough before went. We are thrilled to have been invited but if we go, this trip will be going straight on the never-never card.
So what would you do?
In the interests of disclosure, I should point out that L is also having a wedding ceremony in England next summer. So although I wouldn’t miss her wedding for the world, if we don’t go to India we won’t miss out on her special day(s) altogether.
As for India: L’s family is from Assam, in northeastern India. Tourism is a growing industry there, but it’s no Goa. L loves the place and it does sound incredible. Read the lavish Wikipedia description and you’ll see what I mean.
L and her mum have secured a very good deal on flights and compiled a fabulous itinerary, which includes:
First and foremost, L’s wedding! (Note: this picture is not her actual wedding!)
A visit to the family tea plantation. I’m a tea freak: this part makes my heart do a happy little skip.
Elephant safari!
A cruise on the Brahmaputra
(If we’re lucky.)
Also, a detour to visit the Taj Mahal on the way home.
I really want to see L get married, it’s a great deal and a once-in-a-lifetime experience… but but BUT! Should I, just this once, throw caution to the wind?
Help! I know what I want to do and I know what I should do. So what would you do?
UPDATE: Gosh, well you lot certainly helped me make my mind up! Thanks for all your comments – they were really helpful. The upshot is…(drumroll)…We’re going! 
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Erm, well obviously you should go. There are times when life gets in the way of being sensible (sadly for me all too often) and this is one of those occasions. Maybe you just work that bit harder to earn extra cash for it – the payoff will be more than worth it.
Or maybe get some money towards it from family for Christmas.
Either way, BOOK IT.
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As long as you know that the money will be coming in to pay off the credit cards before you have to pay too much interest, I’d go for it. It’s not as if it’s going to send you off into some crazed money spending whirlwind.
The important thing to remember is that through your process of paying down debt and being careful with your money over the past few years, is that you have learnt good money habits. You won’t go back to the way you were before. Don’t be scared of money and your ability to control it. Being afraid to spend money is just as bad as being in out of control debt, in my opinion, sort of like exchanging one bad habit for another. Credit cards aren’t bad in and of themselves. Go on the holiday, I think you’ll regret it if you don’t!
You have to go. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity, which will provide memories that will be priceless.
Frugality and careful spending are great, but they shouldn’t limit your experiences. You only get one life, and you will most probably regret not doing this.
GO !!!!!!!
It sounds amazing and a once in a lifetime thing to do. You only live once and you have to pack as many amazing things into life as you are able to.
The trip sounds amazing and like a once in a lifetime opportunity – I think you would regret it if you didn’t go!
Being in control of your money is great but I don’t think it shouldn’t let it limit the things you do with your life, we only live once and all that.
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Of course you should go. A chance like this may never come again in your lifetime, especially with such a great itinerary.
The important thing is not to get into paying any interest on your credit card, if this is unavoidable perhaps you should consider a loan from a sympathetic relative.
Go for it gal !
Sometimes those one in a lifetime opportunities are worth breaking your rules. It’s a simple question: will you regret it if you don’t go? It sounds like the answer is yes. (I know I would.)
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Wow – thanks for the comments chaps. It looks like the decision is unanimous! I think my mind is just about made up…
Go. In 10 years time will you really look back and think “I’m so glad I didn’t go and get myself into debt” or will you think “I’m so glad I had the time of my life”?
You could ask the travel company you are going to America with if they would consider changing your tickets to India.
Have fun.
Tell you what, if you decide not to go, I’ll go on your behalf!!!
I went to a friend’s wedding in India and it was the most amazing, unforgettable experience – nothing like a wedding ceremony in this country, for a start it lasted 4 days! We also spent a week travelling around and went to the Taj Mahal. Go! It’s really, really worth it and you won’t regret it. Also, it doesn’t have to be that expensive – we got flights for about £400, train travel is very, very cheap (ie a couple of pounds – check out seat61.com) and cheap accommodation can be had (eg we paid £6 a night to stay a 10 min walk from the Taj Mahal). So it might not cost as much as you think and I can’t recommend it enough!
Book it! Life is way too short to miss such an oppertunity, it is much better to regret having to pay a little interest on your credit card than to regret missing seeing your friend get married in a beautiful part of the world.
Definitely Go. You’d be fools not to.
Go go go- this is such a great opportunity, no point in saving money just to have it there and not spend it when necessary, you must deserve it by now!
Enjoy
Sounds like a once in a lifetime holiday not to be missed. You only live once, so why not go a bit more crazy with ur spending every now and then. Make yourself feel like you have lived a little.
You’re all great! Thanks so much everyone – I really didn’t expect such a unanimous response.
I have just updated the post with the following:
UPDATE: Gosh, well you lot certainly helped me make my mind up! Thanks for all your comments – they were really helpful. The upshot is…(drumroll)…We’re going!
Having been in frightening amounts of debt myself I can understand your concern. Bearing in mind the money managment skills you have learnt and the comprehension of the stress that debt brings, if you can plan to repay, without adding to your indebtedness in any way, over a period of one to two years and are happy with the extra that this will cost you…..
GO FOR IT!!
I’ve been so careful at first to mention the extra cost and the stress, but if you make sure that you are able to not only cope, but also actively thrive both after and because of your trip, I think that you really should go. Living the debtfree way of life should not be joyless.
Congratulations on such a wonderful chance, take it and thrive.
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