No cruise until debt free... how to cope?

[pcur]

I can certainly understand and feel your disappointment. I have something I do for myself when I have a long haul of unpleasantness ahead of me. For instance, I have made the decision in the last month to work an extra year, which is REALLY distasteful to me.

 

I give myself a cruise as a reward at the end of my "hardship". I find something that I CAN afford, and I really like the idea of putting $5 or $10 a week away.

 

Here's how I do it:

 

Book a cruise with a deposit you can handle. In your case a short cruise to a good place. Book it far in advance to get the benefit of the (most likely) lower cost. Your $5 - $10 a week will go toward paying that deposit off to begin with, or don't book/pay the deposit until you have the savings for it.

 

Now, you have a cruise to look forward to, work towards, plan for, research and get info on, join a meet-and-mingle thread for.

 

Keep the $5 - $10 a week savings going, and pay for things as you get the money set aside. Look for bargains for air, hotel, etc.

 

By the time your 2 years is up you will have the debts paid off, had a great time planning the cruise and talking about it, and your reward is the cruise!!

 

I call this my "carrot on a stick cruise".

 

I've done this for years, and I'm in the process now. I set up a BIG carrot dangling in front of me now to keep me working another 18 months.

 

I believe in trying for a happy medium between enjoying my life and not spending crazy.

 

Good luck!

[Captain Jake]

Erin - Chin up - lots of good advice here!;) We are ALL keeping our fingers crossed the housing market turns around. But your plan to get out of debt is best....when you can afford to finally to cruise - you will really appreciate it.:D

 

It will turn around.Backs in the 90's there was a over 10% dip .Difference today is there are so many more new houses on the market that its hard for a homeowner to compete with the builders -------BT

[It'sRC4ME]

Erin,

 

Good for you for stopping the spending and working to pay off your debt! You should be proud of that decision. You just won't believe how good you'll feel once you have the debt paid off and emergency money in the bank. During the economic downturn after 9/11, I had some credit card debt, a job in an unstable industry, no savings and had just bought a house - it was so stressful, so I know how you feel.

 

I also feel for you on the "must cruise now" feelings - we cruised last October, and didn't plan another one until recently. When we didn't have one booked I just felt like there was nothing to look forward to!

 

Just keep in mind how quickly the cruise money will pile up once your debt is paid off and you can put that money into a well-deserved vacation.

[NancyIL]

But every day my mind is on cruising and I find myself lurking on these boards. Is it better to just stay off and not feed my addiction? I'm afraid I might become terribly depressed if I try to stop thinking about cruising altogether.

 

Hanging out at CC or looking at cruiseline web sites will make it harder for you. You'll read about others having great cruises and wish you were there, too. You don't have to stop thinking about cruising altogether - but don't feed the beast!

[veryhotred]

Two years seems like a LONG way off but it will be here before you know it and just think how you will feel :) We did this same thing almost three years ago and come this August, we will owe NOTHING to anyone!!! We will have paid off every debt we owed. We decided a year ago to add our second vehicle to the mix too and have been paying double payments and it will be paid off in August as well. :):) I look back now and yes, there were times we had no extra money and it was hard then other times we had more-hubby got a promotion (yay!) and we were able to take short vacations. We booked a cruise for next January and that will be our celebration cruise!! Only two more months to go and we will be debt free and I tell you what, it feels great!! You can do it, and it will be be worth skipping cruising for two years, trust me! Good luck and hang in there.

[Jeano222]

I feel your pain as well. We made the decision to be debt free in 12 months, so the Disney trip in October 2008 [already paid for including air] will have to hold us over until we can afford to cruise again. It's depressing to think about not cruising but we are watching our credit card debt go steadily down, and when we do cruise again, we know it won't be a financial hardship. plastic was soooo easy to use.

[sea-cruise]

Hanging out at CC or looking at cruiseline web sites will make it harder for you. You'll read about others having great cruises and wish you were there, too. You don't have to stop thinking about cruising altogether - but don't feed the beast!

 

Erin,

First let me congratulate you on being a very intelligent person....thinking ahead and not just living for today only. NancyIL (quoted above) gave you very good advice. You probably already know that without me telling you though ;).

It's a good feeling to be able to sleep at night, knowing that your future is secure and you're free of debts.

You'll be cruising again and when you are, you'll still be smiling, even when you disembark and go back to day to day reality. :D

[scopewest]

We did no major traveling for the first few years of our marriage. DH insisted that we were going to pay off our mortgage asap, and all our extra money went towards that goal.

 

25 years later I bless him for his insistence on this. We've now gone on over a dozen cruises (okay, we also don't have kids).

 

Stick with it, two years will be up before you know it. Go to the library and check out all the cruise DVDs you can find. Go online to every cruise line (whether you think you'll sail them or not) and send away for the free brochures and DVDs. Watch them, dream, and wander around all the CC boards and read up on cruising. When the time comes you're out of debt, you'll be ready to make your cruise decision(s)!!

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Congrats on a great decision to be debt free!

We've all had to make changes with this economy and I can most likely speak for everyone when I say.....we don't like it one bit! :(

 

One poster who said they have a travel savings account is a great idea.

 

Good luck and I hope all your travel dreams come true in the future!! :)

 

***

[flagger]

I know the number one secret to decreasing your debt.

 

It is really simple and people have made millions selling this secret which I am willing to give away for free.

 

I know you want to know. It is a secret that many of your peers have failed to learn it is right out there under their noses.

 

Ready?

 

STOP INCURRING NEW DEBT!!!

 

Good for you to get your finances under control. Two years in your life is merely an eyeblink.

[amy16_]

I live for today. I do not encourage going into debt for a cruise. We did that with our first one. The last 3 vacations we have taken have been paid for before we go on them. It is such a good feeling to not worry when you get home on how you are going to pay for what you just did! But also, you need a little reward for yourself. I always say, "If your bills are being paid, you have food, shelter, and love go for it." Yeah, I could pay off some of my debt faster if I did not go on vacations. But how miserable would I be? Look at the 2010 prices and that will give you 2 yrs. to pay and time to pay off debt too. Good luck!

[goodml]

You are absolutely doing the right thing. Stick to it and by the time you're done and your debts are gone it won't take you long at all to have cash in the bank to pay for a vacation. You're young and you've got it figured out. Your parents must be very proud. :)

[Mike45]

One of the first things my wife and i did was to cut up our credit cards. It was a little scary, but should have done that long ago. If we don't have the money, we don't buy it.Save, save, save.

[elliekate]

yes yes yes!! Good to know that someone else is able to live debt free and it will be worth it. a lifetime of security because no debt (except for mortgage)... Ah....I can breathe easier just thinking about it. :D

 

 

You must be a Dave Ramsey follower! I wish we had listened to someone like that when we were in our 20's or 30's! We are in our late 50's and have always lived frugally, but he has some great advice! Good luck with your goal!

[tootsieroll31793]

Becoming debt free is the best investment that you can do. I don't believe in Credit cards any more. We have planned a cruise for 7 of us next May. Yes we are making payments but it is an investment for us because we are investing in to our kids. One is graduating and it will be the "real" beginning of her future.

 

I became debt free with http://www.daveramsey.com.

[NancyIL]

[quote name='scopewest']
Go to the library and check out all the cruise DVDs you can find. Go online to every cruise line (whether you think you'll sail them or not) and send away for the free brochures and DVDs. Watch them, dream, and wander around all the CC boards and read up on cruising. When the time comes you're out of debt, you'll be ready to make your cruise decision(s)!![/QUOTE]
I have found that I spend a LOT less money and I want far fewer things when I don't read the weekly sale flyers, don't window shop at the mall, and don't pour over catalogs. I think the same is true for travel. When I look at cruiseline web sites, read their glossy brochures, and read about others' great deals - it makes me WANT to go somewhere. That's great when you are ready to plan a trip and you have the money to pay for it. But if someone is trying to break their obsession with going on another cruise - then I wouldn't do as you suggest until the OP is closer to her goal.

[Cruise_Couple]

I applaud you for being smart enough to get out of debt! I wish we had been that smart when we were starting out. Look to the future and try to ask yourself what you will be saying... "Boy, we had fun on that cruise" or would you rather be saying "Boy, it is great to have a family with wonderful kids, a house to live in and financial security". You do not know what the future will bring to your life so stay on the path you are on... you can get debt free and still have kids and cruises in your future!

[sandytoes03]

I suggest that you plan a cruise for two years from now when you can afford one. Wait to have kids until after that cruise. As you said, you are young, only 25. You should be able to get a few cruises in before having kids . . .:D ;)

[BobBeaSea]

For the OP, wise move - reduce debt! :) Get rid of the highest cost debt first, consolidate your debt if you have to. With a plan, paying down debt does not have to be painful. Always remember there are different kinds of debt, some types of debt are not necessarily a bad thing and some are atrocious. If you plan to be in the house for at least the next few years don't fret about it's value just yet - it is a home first and foremost and you seem young, plenty of time for equity build up. Real estate isn't so different from other investment choices (except for perhaps carrying costs :D), it will go up and it will go down and then cycle again over time. The long haul is what is important.

Time is your friend, if you let it be, especially where debt reduction and asset growth are concerned. Good luck :).

[frito58]

Yes it would be great to be out of debt, BUT IMHO life is to short not have any fun. I agree you can't be out of control but there has to be a happy medium, even if its a 3 or 4 day cruise in an inside cabin.

[patrice1]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=purple]Can't speak for anyone but ourselves, but we have no credit card debt (and only a small car payment) and here's what we do:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[LIST]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Pay ourselves first in savings every paycheck[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Book way in advance & utilize Military Rate (CCL only)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Buy a $50 Funship $ (CCL) every other paycheck ($100/month)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Use CCL credit card to book cruise deposit, pay it off, then make a payment on the cruise, then pay it off, etc. earning points for future use.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Buy an accordian-style check folder for each cruise and tab things like each port, casino money, extra tips, spa day money, etc. and sock away $20 every paycheck into it[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Book shore day activities ourselves & pay in advance, or beach it & pay for a cab[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Apply Funship $ to S&S on boarding the ship. That is our spending budget & we check it every day with Purser or on TV.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Book ancillary costs and pay for them in advance, such as rental car to get to port & pre-cruise hotel[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]limit souvineirs[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Don't worry about a thing while on the cruise and come home with no debt[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/LIST][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]Works for us.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[sea-cruise]

[B][COLOR=darkorchid]We've received military rates/discounts as well with RCCL. :) [/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=#9932cc]If you book with them, don't forget to ask. [/COLOR][/B]

[MDSue]

I didn't take my first cruise until I was in my forties and then had to wait quite a few years before I could afford to go again. Now I have 2 kids in college so it's a struggle to come up with money for a cruise.
I think it's important to always take some sort of vacation each year, but paying off debt and living affordably is essential. Maybe you could start planning some fun affordable activites while still paying down your debt. When I was in my twenties my vacations were mostly camping because that's what I could afford at the time. I've had some great low cost vacations.
I think it's a shame how the credit industry has pushed irresponsible spending for years. My teenage kids are constantly getting credit card offers, college loan offers, etc. etc. There's so much temptation out there.
Good for you for making a commitment to spend your money wisely. It's a good lifelong habit to make. It may be years before cruising will be affordable again for you and the cc website makes it hard not to dream. It sounds like you have some great travel memories to keep you going, but you won't regret spending wisely. Best wishes to you.:)

[TexCruise371]

Congratulations on a great decision :D We made the same decision in 2001 and we've accomplished it...completely debt free now.

We did it with the snowball plan (Dave Ramsey type plan). We started with the smallest first, that way when you get one paid off you'll feel some success quickly....which builds momentum. The others will go quickly when you get to snowballing your payments.

One of the greatest feelings we have ever had is to pay that last one off! Good Luck and we're wishing you the best!

[Three Rings]

[quote name='tootsieroll31793']I became debt free with [URL="http://www.daveramsey.com."]www.daveramsey.com.[/URL][/quote]

If you have itunes, you can subscribe to his podcast (for free) and get an hour of his call-in radio show each weekday. He's very inspiring, and will help keep you on track if you listen every day. I love to hear people call in and yell "I'M DEBT FREEEEEE!!!!!!!"