So what was the lesson learned?

An old Filipino saying comes to my mind as i read your account, “aanhin mo pa ang damo, pag patay na ang kabayo” , while i advocate smart money management practices so that we would be able to enjoy more or simply sustain our lifestyle of choice in a future date-the consumption experience is still set in a “future date” .

In my practice-risk management tools as a way to mitigate uncertainty is a central theme in a person’s portfolio allocation, but employing all known and available resources in this area still cannot “guarantee” a specific future outcome that you would have desired.

If i ask you to choose between:

a million pesos five years from now

or

Seeing the twinkle in your husband’s eye as you are leaving the store with that camera?

Your daughter’s laughter as in the disney rides?

The experience of walking hand-in-hand in a strange land, savouring exotic dishes using strange eating utensils..

Which one would you choose?(i think i can guess your choice..)

Money should be viewed as an “enabler” and not as an end by itself, we save now so that we can “experience” something special in the future, but if the opportunity arises now and the “costs” is something you can manage (say equal to one to two month’s income), then go for it..as the positive feelings and memories of this unscheduled trip will surely inspire you to save more for a scheduled future trip..

thanks,

Hey Bianca! Hmm, first timeshare, now camera. Money makeovers should always have room for small luxuries. But I guess Salve and Joe set a limit / quota on this. With consequences if breached e.g. give up timeshare? hehehe

i also went to HK exactly a year ago with my wife. we we’re able to plan well and stay on budget. Macau wasn’t included in our itinerary. we visited various attractions without a tour guide i.e. independent travel style. my most memorable part of it was being able to actually trace the places Jose Rizal visited there as well as the place where our flag was sewn by ms Agoncillo.

even splurges on shopping at Citygate outlet and Lady’s market were controlled.

everybody needs a time off. and you and your family deserves it.
even me and my husband are in a slight financial dilemma but we took our time off and spent a weekend in palawan alone. whew! the expenses we incurred were way too hight to imagine. but looking back at it, no regrets. every moment i spent with husband was worth it.

Nice story
I too would want to be hiking the Inca trail all the way up to Maccu Piccu, banjee jump in New Zealand while I still can and not wait till my bones are too frail to do it Even if that means I might have to live ’simpler’ in my old age heheh

This is a case of ‘living beyond your means’. And the patronizing comments do not help.

I’m sure the “twinkle in your husband’s eye” will slowly grow stale once you see your debts ballooning.

Grow up.

Lessons? Oh, several. Like I cannot resist my husband and that sometimes, it is a good thing, because I am infinitely rewarded - sometimes; two, money is money and it is there to make our stay here, in this big beautiful world, with its beautiful people, worthwhile; three, I would pay the world for a great time and wonderful memories shared with loved ones; four, there is nothing like traveling to add dimension to a person - it affects him, in how he looks at the world and value it, because it is actually awe-inspiring and beautiful; five, I have said “yes” to a hundred things on that trip but I have said “no” to a thousand others - to that beautiful antique teacup (which I collect), to an I-phone, to an expensive buffet at a nearby hotel, to dresses and shoes and shoes (I have fallen in love with a lot and managed to buy none) - I learned restraint on this trip, albeit the magnanimity of this lesson is dimmed in the seeming overspending, which is not really “seeming” because we did overspend; and lastly, I will do this again because… there is no because.

Someone said “know thyself”. I have, through this trip.

You should plan your trip carefully, and make clear what is the purpose of your trip. Is it shopping trip or a sight seeing trip or a both?

If it is a shopping trip, then you must set a budget for yourself. Window shop online for things you wanted to buy from that place you are going to to get an idea of how much it costs. If you know a few people from that place, then ask them where you can get a good bargain of whatever latest gadget or shoes or dress you wanted to buy.

If it is a sightseeing trip, then book the tours ahead. If you have booked online and paid via credit card, then I suggest you pay balances on your credit card before leaving for the trip. If you are meeting friends or relatives during your trip, email them a list beforehand of places you wanted to see and they may offer to drive you there.

If you are doing both, I suggest that you do sight seeing first before shopping. So even if you’ve run out or left with a few bucks at hand, at least you’ve already done the beautiful part. I guess that’s what an overseas trip should be about, witnessing and experiencing things that will take your breath away.

Also, when dining out, well I won’t suggest having McDonald’s meal everyday. I suggest those places where the food is cheap but goooooddddd!!! How do you know this, again research! There are so many web sites offering restaurant reviews or even a glimpse at their menu and prices wouldn’t hurt. Even where to eat should be planned. If you have kids and you are taking them on the trip, then ask if there is a kids’ menu or check out if the place is a child friendly one.

It’s all about planning….but then again, it doesn’t always turn out the way you planned it. There may be a few diversions from your plan, but that’s what makes the trip exciting. But I hope that diversion is not buying the latest DSLR that would have cost an arm and a leg.

Travel abroad, for me, is an enjoyable but expensive experience. It’s just so tempting with all the budget fares available now but, like you, I’ve learned my lessons as well. Planning in advance is really very important if you want to keep travel costs reasonable. Also, I’m very conscious with sticking to my budget when I travel, making sure that I don’t ruin the entire experience with headaches on how to pay the bills that I’ve run up during my vacation. Or, if my budget’s gonna be too tight, I just cut the travel abroad and find other ways for my family to bond and enjoy each other’s company.
In your case, though, what’s done is done and just be glad that it was an enjoyable experience for you and your family. As you said, you’ve learned a lot of lessons from that trip and just take those into consideration when you next have another family vacation.

I, too, believe that experiences and travel are worth more than what money can buy - BUT I save up for these things and can’t go overbudget. It’s one’s way of showing discipline and restraint. Plus, if I have to go overbudget or use my credit card or borrow money to pay for something, it simply means one thing - I can’t afford it.

Don’t get me wrong, I ‘pamper’ myself at least once a month, and have a couple of hobbies that cost money, but I spend on them AFTER I pay myself (set aside money for retirement and my emergency fund), and after I’ve set aside some money for my household budget, including utilities. I’m not wealthy, but I don’t live like a pauper either - but I take everything into account and add even intentionally overestimate my budget sometimes just to make sure that I won’t be broke.

If you’re going to overspend on this thing now, what will you overspend on tomorrow?

PS. That same camera (original) is being sold in some Hidalgo shops at P33k-P39k

is it just me or there’s nothing inspiring about this article? i get that we all need to unwind, take a break, and enjoy a job well done but when an HK/macau trip more than doubles, you know there’s something wrong somewhere. yes, memories will last a lifetime but try telling yourself that when you’re in deep debt again.

I agree with leela.

I was expecting to find the lessons learned not the feeble attempt at justifying the unjustifiable expensive trip.

My two cents. Sorry.

I was looking for lessons learned…where are they?

Lessons learned? Bianca said it best in her comment here:

“Lessons? Oh, several. Like I cannot resist my husband and that sometimes, it is a good thing, because I am infinitely rewarded - sometimes; two, money is money and it is there to make our stay here, in this big beautiful world, with its beautiful people, worthwhile; three, I would pay the world for a great time and wonderful memories shared with loved ones; four, there is nothing like traveling to add dimension to a person - it affects him, in how he looks at the world and value it, because it is actually awe-inspiring and beautiful; five, I have said “yes” to a hundred things on that trip but I have said “no” to a thousand others - to that beautiful antique teacup (which I collect), to an I-phone, to an expensive buffet at a nearby hotel, to dresses and shoes and shoes (I have fallen in love with a lot and managed to buy none) - I learned restraint on this trip, albeit the magnanimity of this lesson is dimmed in the seeming overspending, which is not really “seeming” because we did overspend; and lastly, I will do this again because… there is no because.

Someone said “know thyself”. I have, through this trip.”

And yes, sometimes we need to make mistakes to learn. Sometimes, the mistakes will cost P70,000. Sometimes P1 million. The key thing is the learning and the fortitude to keep trying.

aren’t the lessons she said just a way to justify her overspending?

My my harsh crowd we got here.

Main point of the story I believe is Bianca and family tested their willpower to stick to their holiday budget. They weakened and overspent. Next time they plan for another holiday they will take this experience in consideration. So yeah there were lessons learned.

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