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If the $3000 is more than enough to cover my vacation costs, then it's the vacation for sure.. if it's just a credit to cover bigger costs, then I might need to rethink it..
We would probably take the cash then hop in our motorhome and go where we want like we do now. The cash would help defray the cost of gasoline and we could be gone longer or go further if we chose to.
Vacation - if it were an actual vacation that I got to spend with family. I "vacation" alot - that is, my daughter and I tag along when my husband travels for business. Most of these trips are to places most people regard as vacation spots - pananma city, fl, Hawaii, overseas, etc.
I get alot of beach time but we don't get alot of family time
I'd choose a vacation, all expenses paid, over the cash. Wherever you go, there you are. I'd find something to do if necessary. I never admit it at the time but I really enjoy novel situations.
Is this another "frugality" thread that's really just about being plain old poor?
Can't one be both "plain old poor" AND frugal??
As for the original question posed:
I'd take the vacation. I know, if I had the cash, I'd use it on something "practical". I am one of those people who, when given a gift of cash, and told repeatedly by the giver "Now use this on something for YOU!", is never able to follow that and always use it on something sensible for the house or the family or the car or whatever. It's just very hard for me to go out and spend $50 on a salon trip or whatever. I'd end up paying off credit cards and putting the rest in savings.
So with the vacation I'd not be tempted to go practical and my kids would really enjoy it. We haven't been on any kind of vacation in a couple years and it was our out of state trip to get married, which was really stressful, so yeah, I'd opt for the vacation. I guess I need to be "forced" to have fun.
Assume whatever vacation you want; the comparison is the vacation or half the price in cost.
Also, I did write tax free in the original post.
Whatever vacation we would want? It would cost us more than $3,000 for a week of that! We have 9 cats and need to pay for a pet sitter @ $100 per day (since we have special needs) just for the sitter. And we don't do low grade hotels, only 3 star and up. So, it would cost more than $3,000 even if we drove.
So, basically the question is, if a vacation package was offered at 50% off, would you buy it?
If you're also assuming the vacation is something I would like to do and would probably do anyway, of course I'd buy it.
If it's something I wasn't interested in, I don't spend money on things I don't need just because it's a deal.
I don't understand the time argument. The vacation package doesn't come with paid vacation days.
The gift argument I understand depending on the type of person.
I'd take the cash only because vacations really don't make me that happy. I would probably be bored. And stressed. I have no interest in all the hassles to see something historic in the world (I can get enough online). Fancy rides - not worth it. Sitting on the beach - boring. Travel hassles - not worth it. That's just me. I'd rather keep the cash and either invest it or buy something I want or need or upgrade something in the house. Or keep the cash and have a "staycation".
Vacation for sure. Especially since the value of the vacation is twice what you would receive in cash. In other words, it would take twice the work to earn the money to take the vacation than to pocket the cash.
It would depend where and what was included (and how much) - there's only 2 of us, might be able to do it cheaper ourselves w/the cash (although we really, really need a vacation)
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