Maui...It is beautiful here. And expensive. But if you know me, you will also know that there has to be some bargain angle on this or I probably wouldn't be here.
The angle is I inherited two weeks of Timeshare from my parents and can't get rid of them. I have tried, unsuccessfully. Gave the guy at the one of many Marriott kiosks promising free dinner, golf, boat rides or a variety of other expensive tempting fleeting vacation non-essentials I once fell for as bait to listen to their (strings attached) spiels...
So we debated.
He lured me in. I demured, telling him my husband wasn't arriving till Sunday and would not sit through another presentation. (They don't give the incentive unless both husband and wife attend).
He pushed; found out I was an owner and said, "Well, you must have recognized the incredible value you have" if you are an owner.
I told him not really, I inherited them from my parents and viewed them more as financial albatrosses that felt more like nooses.
I am certain he was glad no other prospective victims were close by, I would have ruined his numbers for the day...
We bantered back and forth and I said the best I could do was hope to break even financially with what the maintenance fees were (atrocious) and that I am thinking about giving them away.
He squirmed.
We continued for awhile and amicably bantered back and forth basically agreeing to disagree about the value of timeshare.
Granted, I am in Maui, and it is beautiful, but this is still not an inexpensive vacation which always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. How could this money be better put to use? We live well and have other opportunities to vacation and create family memories.
But the girls did really want to come and if we were "paying for a hotel" (as if we didn't with the maintenance fees...) we will enjoy, but try to do so with some financial restraint.
Hard to do when we are staying at an Ocean Front Marriott.
BUT...we are off to a start...we brought our own snorkeling gear, and because I have a United Explorer Card managed to get the large (2) bags checked for free.
Bing. $50 savings. (that will be multiplied by two, based on round trip travel....) I told the girls they were required, as was I to travel with only carry-ons. No elaborate outfits necessary, because no elaborate events will be attended.
Even though we don't have a full kitchen (microwave and small fridge but full size dishwasher, still haven't figured that one out...) there are gorgeous gas grills scattered around the property, so Matt will be our willing chef.
We are not paying for the convenience of valet parking, the trek to the parking garage may work off a couple of mai tai's...
So there are ways to create memories without spending a fortune.
Which isn't to say we won't indulge in unique opportunities, we will, but will do so prudently, remembering that money can't really buy happiness.
Now, to apply some sunscreen, wiggle my toes in the sand and grab a soda from the fridge.
So money doesn't buy happiness, but it can certainly facilitate it sometimes. Right?
ReplyDeleteHow do you keep frugality from becoming the focus of your vacation?
You are absolutely correct, money does help. There is a fine balance here like in many other areas...it may sound a bit unbalanced, as if frugality did become a top focus, but in actuality, the areas where we were able to be frugal allowed other opportunities without totally breaking the bank. I like to pay off my credit card in full each month, accruing frequent flyer miles and not paying any interest, so the "priceless" parts of the vacation that frugality "afforded" were a round of golf for my son at Wailea, which infused him with life, and a great full day snorkeling trip to Lanai, where we were practically on top of a group of whales doing their courting territorial dance. It was awesome!
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