Nosy
how can you afford to go on a trip like that? I'm guessing it will cost in the 10-15 thousand dollar range to take both kids there. have you figured out the cost? europe is expensive. i also happen to know the area you live in, guessing you pay close to 2500 a month in rent. you guys are so young i just dont understand how that happens on one income. Signed, Nosy in Denver.
Dear Nosy,
First off, I debated on whether or not to answer this question, I think it's a legit question? But from your tone I don't think you are being snarky just curious. And I'm personally curious my nature, so I can't fault others for this.
So, how can we afford this trip? And yes I'm also estimating it to be in the 10-15K range, probably closer to 15 when you include passports which I'm in the process of getting for Tindra and getting Jaspers renewed, so we do know the costs involved. There's no one answer to how we can afford it. One, we sold our house and make a good chunk of change for us on that, and one of the things we decided we wanted to do with that was put towards next summers vacation. Two, Drew has a fantastic job. He works hard, really hard, but it pays pretty well as well, especially for being just 26 years old and only in the 'real' workforce for 3.5 years. He works long, and I mean loooong hours. He's at work by 8 and tries to make it home by 6:30 for dinner, where he will spend 1.5 hrs with the kids and after they are in bed for the night we will go into his office and work another 3-5 hrs at least three sometimes four nights a week. But he loves his job, and it supports us so I try not to complain. Three, travel is what we choose to spend money on. We don't own brand new cars, we don't have a huge savings account, we don't eat out 5 nights a week, we choose to spend our money on traveling. We live for it. I don't think there's a better experience we can give our children except a chance to see different parts of the world. So we save for that. Ideally I'd love to make it over to Sweden every year, but with two children that's not super realistic to us right now. But I'm hoping it can be a yearly or every 18 month type thing. And until we can travel internationally as much as we would love, I'll stick to quick trips around here and the rest of the US for now!
And for your second (third?) point, yes we live in an expensive area and you aren't too far off with what the monthly rent is for around here (do you live in the area as well?) and yes that's all done on Drew's income. But I don't Not make money. I nanny a few days a week out of our home for another 1 year old (Tindra's BFF) but you won't find me talking about that much on here. I'm not sure if they would mind or not, in fact they probably wouldn't because they are Awesome, but still I like to stay away from that. Any money I make doesn't go towards our household expenses or bills. Instead my money is 'fun money' that I like to spend spoiling the kiddos (myself) and Drew. And right now it's also helping fund my expensive photography hobby/hopeful someday business. I don't Have to work. I choose to because I'm an independent person by nature and enjoy making my own money. Plus, how else can I justify my stitch fix obsession?
So I guess that's how it's done for us? Hope that answered your question.
I'm not the original 'nosy' but I AM always curious to how people can travel like that, so thank you for answering! I think you handled it very well!
ReplyDeleteNo problem :)
Deletewhoa can't believe someone asked you that! manners, people!
ReplyDeleteI didn't take offense :)
Deletei appreciate your truthful answer. i wasn't trying to be rude, just curious! and no I don't live in the area (I sure wish) i'm slumming it over in city park. -Nosy
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say city park is slumming it! And we absolutely love the park!
DeleteI get questions like this too... I don't know why people make it seem like only rich people can travel. I don't think I know what your husband does, but I never questioned your financial ability to travel to Sweeden when I read about it.
ReplyDeleteMy family is the same way. My husband doesn't make an extreme amount of money but it's not like we are barely scraping by. We just don't spend money on movie tickets, restaurants, or new clothes. We save it to travel. But still, after the one trip we take a year (IF that), people are always like, "How do you do it?" "You're so lucky!" "I wish I could do it!" And I look down at their new coach bag or iPhone 5s and say, "Why don't you?"
He works in finance for a real estate developer..whatever that means :) And EXACTLY- its just how you choose to spend your money, for some going out to eat and expensive clothes etc. are where they want to spend their money. On top of the how can you afford it question I get the " you are wasting money traveling with kids" comment which bugs me even more. It's not a waste! They make it more fun (yes more difficult) but those memories and experiences are priceless.
Deletei followed over from erica's blog and thought i'd give my two cents. i, too, am also curious and appreciate that you answered honestly, although it still piques my curiousity how families manage to live on one income and go on trips/have extranneous income. coming from a situation where two full-time incomes do not come close to equaling or surpassing a single income + trips, i am always curious as to what work people do & how much they make. maybe i'm from a different area/background, but i don't tend to see or know many people who are in your situation. as much as I am a home body, traveling doesn't pique my interest, but the financial aspects of it do, so thank you for elaborating. to clarify: none of this is meant in a negative manner, but mainly to express that i appreciate your honesty....and wish more people were forthright with the sacrifices they make to live the life they want with the money they have.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand your curiosity- I see the multi million dollar homes in our area and I REALLY just want to go up and ask them " What do you do for a living?" because I'm definitely curious to how they can afford that! Drew makes good money but for our area it's definitely on the lower end, seeing as we know people who make 1,000,000/year. It's insane isn't it? The other thing about our area is childcare is SO expensive. I know nannies who make 50,000/year. And while centers are more affordable, I'd still be paying at Least 15K a year to have my daughter in a day care center and staying home just makes more sense to us when we look at those kinds of prices! Thanks for commenting!
DeleteSome people make more than 100k/year, yes, even at the young age of 26 (my age) (though I don't make that much, I have friends, some even younger than me, who do). Business consulting, finance, engineering jobs, etc. At 26 you are old enough to have earned a masters degree. The question "how can you afford to (blank)" is always answered by either (or both) of these responses: 1) we have more money than you 2) we spend our money differently than you. The "we have more money" response is even more complex - some people have funds from a relative who has passed, others are from very wealthy families, others have high paying jobs. You may be happier if you stop comparing your money situation to that of others, because there will always be people your age with more money.
ReplyDelete