Take your time off. Relax. But you don’t have to go away. By Michelle Singletary Michelle Singletary Personal finance columnist Email Bio Follow Columnist April 25 at 8:00 AM Nothing makes me crazier than when people deep in debt try to persuade me that they are being financially responsible because they “saved up” for their vacation.
Twenty-three percent of credit card debtors have been carrying the debt for at least three years, according to a survey by Creditcards.com. Another 14 percent have had the debt for at least five years, and 7 percent can’t even recall how long they’ve carried a credit card balance.I’m not saying you shouldn’t enjoy your vacation time. Take your time off. Relax. But you don’t have to go away.
“While a vacation is worth it, getting into debt isn’t. That just adds to the stress and takes away from the enjoyment of your vacation,” says travel expert Christopher Elliott, who writes the Navigator column for The Washington Post. — Do not tell people you are staying home. Act as though you’re gone by not filling your days with obligations with friends and family — unless they are part of your vacation-at-home plans.
Definitely don’t go into debt for a trip. Or, take what you have saved for your vacation and use it to chip away at your debt, build an emergency fund or invest for your retirement. You deserve some rest and relaxation. But don’t sacrifice long-term financial security for a vacation you can’t afford.Your friends’ social media posts are making you spend more money, researchers sayTell me about your best staycation? Send your comments to colorofmoney@washpost.com.
As one reader pointed out, “Many local gas stations here in Atlanta offer a 10-cent per gallon discount for cash or debit payments versus credit card.”
Tourist industry brings in money to local economies. So there's that. Of course, everyone deserves a vacation. That's like saying if you're on food stamps, you don't deserve the occasional treat. It's classist, imo.
Well... that's a motherfucking lie.
Go read The Two Income Trap
Think I'll save money to pay my debt down by not subscribing (and jeez, what is this, the Scrooge of the month competition?)
As a small business owner, I have embraced the new 'America is for the Rich Only' model by increasing my materials and labor prices for the 'greedy fucks' customers. The quality of life model needs to be built from the bottom up. It is time to reverse inflation to fit greed.
BS !
What a horrible take by SingletaryM. Characterizing those who are in debt as 'undeserving' of things that improve the quality of life is repugnant.
How about this? If you're in debt, don't subscribe to the Washington Post...
💅🖕💃🏻composttherich EatTheRich
Perspective: Unfollowed.
Bc life is always and only about money. Your life must be so sad.
Christ, what an a$$hole. I'm glad I don't have a subscription so as to avoid this lecture.
So you guys are going full NYT editorial section, eh? Sad!
What a douchebag sentiment.
Truly, the headline does the article writer a disservice.
My understanding is that Trump has a massive amount of debt, yet he takes weekly vacations on the taxpayer dime. If the GOP hadn't ratcheted up our taxes to help corps & the 1%, and if we got paid back the money from Trump's trips, we could pay off our debt & save for vacations.
1. Wrong. 2. The world is in debt thus no one deserves a vacay per your perspective. 3. Minus the sentence thats used for the headline that is used to infuriate people, they just gave practical advice 'don't add to your debt for a vacation...there are other things you can do'.
Wow, fuck this article and whoever wrote it
Alternative perspective:Wage inequality and wage stagnation have taught lower income brackets that credit juggling is a near necessity. Non existent studies show that spending the food budget on those pesky blances in lieu of buying food can be offset by eating the rich. ;)
Uhh everyone deserves a vacation -- you work, you get a vacation. Only in the US will you find this kind of draconian devotion to money. Why we have no guaranteed time off in the US.
I will save a lot of money to pay of my debt by never supporting your shit news organization.
Says someone who has never worked a day in her life... I mean worked, not furiously typing at a $300 keyboard
perspective: if my labor produces all the wealth, c-suite don’t deserve the profits.
Whatever
“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?“
People bust their humps making some fat lazy CEO richer by the day in exchange for an unsubstantial income, yet they don’t deserve a vacation? However, even though they do NONE of the work, CEO deserves /multiple/ vacations, a bonus, a company car, etc. Fuck ALLLLLLL the way off
8 in 10 Americans are in Debt.
I don’t think I could come up with a more condescending headline if I tried.
Bahahaha, see you in gulag princess
What a shit headline.
We weren't rich when I was growing up - our parents took vacations they could afford with cash. We camped a lot with army surplus tents and sleeping bags. We had a blast on a dime. Never knew we were poor, that this was all parents could afford, until I was an adult.
Perspective: if you're a billionaire, you've lived enough already
Not that you don't deserve it. It's literally that you can't afford it.
I thought Republicans told us it was our patriotic duty to go shop, and spend money we don’t have in order to keep the economy going?
Perspective: Get bent
This is pure elitist crap. Vacations are an economic boost to the areas you visit and spend, we should be promoting a society where people make enough to see more of the world we live in.
Sam Hyde gun photo
The headline needs work. I debated even responding because I don’t want to reward click bait
Fuck you I do what I want?
Let me get this straight. I have a mortgage- debt, I have a car payment- debt. I have a credit card balance of $2500- debt. But I can’t take a week vacation until all this is paid off. So stupid
Given the size of the National Debt, no American may ever go vacation again.
And if you’re a billionaire you don’t deserve to live.
This is nothing more than a distraction this is pure propaganda diversion.. The Gop's truly feel this way. They hate themselves and America. There's self-aggrandizement and greed knows no bounds
So does my mortgage count as debt? If so, me and Mickey are gonna be pretty damn old before we get to high five in person. Sad news
Being “just broke” should be every Americans dream
We need an article about this? If you cant afford something dont do it or buy it! Work towards someday being able to afford it
Lol
SingletaryM: Awful.
This is why people continue to believe Trump and hate
Perspective: You’re wrong
Perspective: who ever wrote this is an elitist pice if shit.
Thanks for the “perspective”!
And now the wp is for the bourgeoisie
Dumb
You should take a vacation to mars
I can maybe see saying that it’s not a good financial decision to take a vacation if you’re in debt. Maybe. But passing a value judgment about what someone doesn’t “deserve” because they’re in debt? That’s pretty despicable.
ummm... Ok... But... Nevermind..
Everyone in this world needs a vacation because that's what we need as human beings. But paying for an expensive trip would be unnecessary.
That little girl doesn’t deserve to see anything but the walls of her house because her parents have student loans. 👍👌🏻
Might want to rethink that headline. It's a bit triggering 🤔
Perspective: 🖕
I mean, everyone in this world deserves a vacation because that is what we need as human beings. But paying for an expensive holiday would be unnecessary.
Did Bezos ask you to wrote this as a warning to amazon employees?
Omg we gonna TaxTheRich so Jeff Bezos starts paying his fair share of taxes. bernie2020
With this Logic, Congress and the President should never have a federal holiday again.
Garbage take
What...
I don’t regret a single vacation. Life is short & the world is huge. I’ll go see it, thank you very much.
Meanwhile, here's all the insane stuff 'vaping congressman' DuncanHunter charged to his campaign credit cards
I know the author is a woman, but...
😂😂😂😂
Pretty sure SingletaryM doesn’t deserve a job
Don’t spend money because it will decrease your savings kinda logic.
You really need to do something about entitled, conservative writers.
If you’re in debt and going on vacation, or other “wants”, and doing so will cause bankruptcy or reduce your ability to care for your family, then no, you shouldn’t. If none of that applies, enjoy your time reconnecting with you and your loved ones.And leave the PHONE!
Someone tell Trump no more golf long weekends. He’s up to his eyeballs in debt & has at least 4 bankruptcies. Oh, wait, you just mean poor people with debt? I know many “wealthy” folks who are completely leveraged but it’s fine for them to vacation
When you undervalue and overwork yet underpay your employees, more like you and your cheap piece on the side don't deserve another vacay.
No. Find a way to continue addressing the debt & also take time off. Debt is not the sin the business world makes it out to be.
What is this classist trash oh my GOD
File for bankruptcy and then go on vacation
You may not be able to afford a vacation, but deserving one is another story. My father worked 80 hours a week & we never were able to take a vacation, but he certainly deserved one.
Jesus. Poor people suck, amirite?
ArtOfTheTakePod
This should be interesting
Haha. 2019 people. The future is now.
Did Bezos write this
If you can’t write, you don’t deserve a job at WaPo.
No You deserve a vacation if you work to your max and pay your fair share of taxes and keep a good credit score Your debt is because Trump spends days in Mar a Lago
I’ve been a fan of WP for decades, (came to my doorstep growing up) but the insensitive, out of touch, self righteous, and shock value pieces you put out under “perspective” or “opinion” or “analysis” are driving away loyal readers. It’s gross. Inform, stop the judgy bs.
this is one of the worst things I've ever read
That’s the most idiotic perspective ever written. Everyone is in debt what else is new. Had to much time on your hands correct.
*last straw unfollowed
No one is going on vs action.
Counterpoint: eat my whole, debt-ridden ass
Yea, don’t deserve a vaca if make min wage or if child is ill or if went into debt to bury them or....Do we deserve house, car, food? thought it was just stupid title but nope right in article what others ‘deserve’. Guess whether I think u deserve pay for this perspective. 🤯
Perspective: you need new columnists
If you already have billions of dollars, you don't deserve to draw interest from people who you know will never be able to climb out of it. How 'bout that?
Simply living in Trump's America is a vacation.
I haven't taken a vacation in years, and I won't fly!
If you’re in debt, you need to pay down debt, NOT worry about getting away
I think the word you’re looking for is “afford”, not “deserve”
“If you’re in debt, it’s financially unwise to take a vacation.” Fixed. “Deserve” has nothing to do with it. The headline writer deserves to be reprimanded.
Alternative perspective:
Capitalism folks. Here it is.
Worst article ever written. Everyone deserves a vacation if they choose to take one. If they saved up for a vacation even if they are in debt why shouldn’t they use thier funds for their vacation?
So anyone with a mortgage?
Perspective: If you’re in debt, you probably shouldn’t impulse shop on Amazon. NoPrimeDay
Amazing to read something like this in a country where more than half the citizens Iive below the poverty line. I don’t remember the article titled “If you’re rich, you’re not entitled to bribe your way into a college you’re not qualified for”. I guess I missed that one?
Is this Jeff Bezos’s way of rubbing our noses in it?
This is the problem with American ethics. Y’all want to work people to death with no joy in life.... 🖕🏾
Because you can't afford a vacation doesn't mean you don't deserve one. You can reduce leisure costs drastically by taking bus, staying w/ friends, doing free stuff, packing picnics.
Does the author include student loans or mortgages in his definition of debt? If so, the tourism industry in the U.S. is all but dead for the next few generations. So only baby boomers deserve a vacation
What a rubbish headline for, imo, a sensible article.
I'm sorry, did the Wall Street Journal write this article? I don't suggest racking up more debt to pay for an expensive trip but a family vacation is a great way to take a break and bond which people need. No one should be working themselves to death.
Mind yo own business.
But how else are millennials gonna do it for the gram? Photoshop?
I don’t care what people do with their money. Where I have a problem is when people want to take more of my money to pay for things for people who didn’t make responsible financial decisions.
what are you guys doing. you could have published nothing instead of this and no one would have noticed
What a ridiculous thing to say! Just from a pure cost/benefit perspective a cheap break is a lot less costly than a stress related breakdown and/or divorce. Do you put such a low value on mental health?
Conservatives really love sweeping statements about who 'deserves' what and who doesn't!
America first attack running Afghanistan Pakistan catch Osama bin laden but problem Afghanistan terrorism continue confused second attack America double running other country terrorism close first choice America first all terrorism close emergency America coming soon
My brother begged penury to borrow $5,000 from me & then proceeded to not pay me back while taking his family on a Disneyland vacation.
Perspective: Americans working harder and longer than ever could probably use a lot more vacation, asshole.
Okay. I'll add it to the list with healthcare and food and all the other things people without money don't 'deserve' 🙄 Its not necessary to make it a values judgment. There are better ways to use the money. Just say that.
That sounds very conservative for a left-wing shit-rag like Wash post...
Tough but fair
🤔🤔😅😅 I guess 85 percent of Americans are staying home. Plus all of government since they are a trillion in debt. Very judgy...”they don’t deserve.” We are all not multi millionaires like you. New POTUS is going to erase all our debt. Didn’t you get the memo?
🖕
Well, let's make the distinction between deserving a vacation and actually taking one. You can work your butt off and deserve a vacation, but not take one and put yourself further in debt.
I mean, it depends on the circumstances. Anyone with common sense will pass up on a vacation if they're in debt. Saying you don't 'deserve' it is typically American. I'm legally entitled to a certain amount of paid time off work - I don't have to take a trip, though.
But what about insta photos needed to show lifestyle and location 😱🤯🤣🤣🤣
Ok mom
Well duh. I can't believe my generation is so entitled and stupid.
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