Vacation Dilema

[ksgirl38]

Recently I was offered the opportunity to go to Hawaii. I know someone renting a house on the beach for a week and they asked if I wanted to go. Basically all it's going to cost me is the airline ticket. Everything else is being provided. The problem is I was thinking of filing soon and now I'm not sure what to do. I hate to pass up this opportunity because I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to go on my own otherwise. Do I go and postpone filing? Forget it? Any suggestions? I'd really like to go, but now I don't know what to do.

[TwentyTwelve]

Will this postpone your bankruptcy because you're spending money on a plane ticket instead of bankruptcy, or are you worried the expense will look questionable? If I were in your shoes, I would pass on the trip and go on with the bankruptcy. I am sure another opportunity for travel will present itself in the future.

[ksgirl38]

Both. I don't want the trip to look questionable and I was planning on using part of the money I had set aside for the attorney fees for this. I'm just having a really hard time saying no because I really don't think I'm going to get another chance at a trip like this. If I postpone filing I'm not sure how far I'd have to postpone it so that it's off the radar.

[keepsmiling]

how much is the ticket?

[TwentyTwelve]

I don't think a plane ticket would look suspicious unless you purchased it on a card you plan to file on. Most people suggest waiting three months to file after any questionable purchase. That said, is the ticket REALLY going to be your only expense? Vacations get pricey when you start figuring in cost of food, souvenirs, incidentals, etc. I don't know. To me the stress of being in a financial mess was too much and I filed the first second I had the chance. I would've never even considered a trip if it meant having to postpone things. Of course, I had already been sued and was constantly stressed about them wiping out my bank accounts or garnishing my wages. So I guess it depends on your situation and what your priorities are at the moment.

[keepsmiling]

You have to buy food no matter where you are.
Just sayin' .
Souvenirs can be shells from the beach.

[TheBajan]

Recently I was offered the opportunity to go to Hawaii. I know someone renting a house on the beach for a week and they asked if I wanted to go. Basically all it's going to cost me is the airline ticket. Everything else is being provided. The problem is I was thinking of filing soon and now I'm not sure what to do. I hate to pass up this opportunity because I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to go on my own otherwise. Do I go and postpone filing? Forget it? Any suggestions? I'd really like to go, but now I don't know what to do.

Hello ksgirl,

I know you are not going to like this but truly... this is the second thread you've started in less than a month asking us (forum members) what we think about you purchasing an airline ticket. It seems obvious that you are really struggling with what you know you should do verses what you want to do. I can't tell you what's right for you. You have repeatedly pointed out that none of us really know your situation. That's true. We can and do only go by the information you give us. My ONLY REASON for responding to any of your questions is because you pose them and I HOPE TO HELP YOU. I do not judge you... I do not think you are a bad person. I DO think you come to this forum looking for confirmation that what you want to do is okay even when there's a little voice telling you it's not. We all know that there are a million reasons and ways to justify doing the things we want to do. I don't know how old you are but I'm pretty sure you're young enough that the chance to travel to Hawaii in the future will probably present itself again.

You are on the verge of filing bankruptcy!!!! Even if you don't have to pay for a hotel, you still can't afford this trip!!! Hellloooo.... do you hear yourself?? For your own sake, please wake up!!

If this response is not what you are looking for then PLEASE stop asking us what we think. I can't imagine very many of us really thinking that taking a trip to Hawaii on the verge of BK is a good idea. You have been repeatedly told by forum members who are genuinely concerned for you that your thinking indicates a lack of having learned the lessons you need to learn in order to not have to go through this again. You use excuses to suggest why you have it so much harder than the rest of us (ie you're single, you were laid off twice, etc). From my perspective, the fact that you are single means you have fewer obligations than those of us who have families to support and I have already expressed how both myself and my husband were laid off at the same time. We all have stories. None of us here wanted to be here.
Your posts repeatedly indicate what a victim you are of the economy. Surprise.... nearly all of us have been hit by this economy. The thing is that most of us here have an understanding of the mistakes we've made along the way that contributed to our BK and we accept that we must make changes in our financial lives. You don't. All I hear from your posts is that you 'have' to do this or you 'have' to do that. What's the point of asking us for our opinions if you have already made up your mind that you have no options?

Now I know I don't sound really warm and fuzzy and this is going to p**** you off. IF IT GETS YOU TO THINKING it's worth it. If it doesn't.... you have my word I will not respond to another one of your questions so you don't have to worry about me bothering you with my opinion. Ask yourself... why would this complete stranger bother to write this offensive post? You've come to a forum where people are trying to help each other. You've come here asking questions. What motivation would I (or anyone here) have for responding to you? The answer is that we are trying to help. All of us here are in, or have been in, the same boat. We care. It's the ONLY REASON I am taking the time to write this. I wish you the very best. I truly hope all goes well for you whatever you decide to do.

The Bajan

[LadyInTheRed]

Any suggestions?

Yes, read your own words:

I'll just be glad to get rid of the debt I have now so I can move on with my life and start over.

I Unfortunately I have more credit card debt that I can pay. I've spent the past 4 years trying to pay it off and gotten nowhere. I feel like I'm not making a dent in it. If anything the balance just gets transferred from one card to another. I can't keep up with the payments and still have enough to live on. It's one or the other. I make a $400 payment and on the next statement I get a $200 interest charge. Unfortunately it's just not working. I don't want to be 60 with this same debt.

I'd really like to go, but now I don't know what to do.

Of course you'd like to go. But, I think you already know what you should do.

[Drazil65]

You cannot afford it period. Maybe use the time for some real reflection on your situation because we are not sure you understand that if you do not change your way of thinking (ie: I want to go, I must have it, I need to go, etc) it will do no geed to file bankruptcy. Yes, you may get rid of some annoying debt BUT you are headed right back into debt land and spending more than you have because of your attitude.

There are people here that have made real sacrifices and suffered through having to give up the roof over their head literally and you are worried about missing a trip somewhere. You seem to have a job, many on this board do not, you seem to have a place to live, many on this board do not, you seem to be a bit entitled and believe you deserve this stuff so why sacrifice attitude and its getting a little old truthfully. Sorry if you want validation that you deserve this almost "free" trip (at least in your mind you have justified it in that category) but you have other things to deal with right now and you should. Part of filing is being responsible and taking ownership of the situation. Take care of your business and be accountable for your mistakes, it will change your attitude. You seem to be a nice person who is a little misguided but its not too late to get on the right track and learn from your situation. Good Luck!

[pamkev]

I agree with the above posters. I was freaking out about a hotel stay for one night in Boston no way would I do Hawaii.

Pam

[ksgirl38]

how much is the ticket?

I'm guessing about $800.

[ksgirl38]

I don't think a plane ticket would look suspicious unless you purchased it on a card you plan to file on. Most people suggest waiting three months to file after any questionable purchase. That said, is the ticket REALLY going to be your only expense? Vacations get pricey when you start figuring in cost of food, souvenirs, incidentals, etc. I don't know. To me the stress of being in a financial mess was too much and I filed the first second I had the chance. I would've never even considered a trip if it meant having to postpone things. Of course, I had already been sued and was constantly stressed about them wiping out my bank accounts or garnishing my wages. So I guess it depends on your situation and what your priorities are at the moment.

Well, I'm not at all stressed about this situation, just not sure what to do with this new scenario that has presented itself to me. I just stopped paying the credit card bills last month so all I've gotten so far are phone calls that I've blocked from calling.

That's the thing, I won't have any other expenses. A house on the beach has been rented and they are planning on just cooking most of the time so I cold easily get away spending less than $50 in additional expenses.

[ksgirl38]

You have to buy food no matter where you are.
Just sayin' .
Souvenirs can be shells from the beach.

Maybe a meal at the airport while on a layover, but otherwise we'll be cooking the entire time. The person that invited me has small kids and they are still at that point where it's too much of a hassle to take them to a restaurant.

[ksgirl38]

Yes, read your own words:





Of course you'd like to go. But, I think you already know what you should do.

I'm just afraid to pass this opportunity up. Maybe everyone else gets offered things like this all the time, but I'm afraid to pass it up because I'm sure I won't get the chance again.

I do have the money, even after the money I set away for filing, but I guess I'm afraid to blow it all. I was hoping to have it there if I needed it. Emergency fund kind of thing.

I know it's not the best situation, but when else do you get offered a trip to Hawaii that will cost you under $1000 total? Unfortunately in life sometimes you have to grab opportunities when you get the chance. I'm just afraid of passing it up and regretting it later. I'm so confused.

[ksgirl38]

You cannot afford it period. Maybe use the time for some real reflection on your situation because we are not sure you understand that if you do not change your way of thinking (ie: I want to go, I must have it, I need to go, etc) it will do no geed to file bankruptcy. Yes, you may get rid of some annoying debt BUT you are headed right back into debt land and spending more than you have because of your attitude.

There are people here that have made real sacrifices and suffered through having to give up the roof over their head literally and you are worried about missing a trip somewhere. You seem to have a job, many on this board do not, you seem to have a place to live, many on this board do not, you seem to be a bit entitled and believe you deserve this stuff so why sacrifice attitude and its getting a little old truthfully. Sorry if you want validation that you deserve this almost "free" trip (at least in your mind you have justified it in that category) but you have other things to deal with right now and you should. Part of filing is being responsible and taking ownership of the situation. Take care of your business and be accountable for your mistakes, it will change your attitude. You seem to be a nice person who is a little misguided but its not too late to get on the right track and learn from your situation. Good Luck!

I have $3000 cash set aside. $2000 of that I've allotted for the attorney. The other $1000 I was hoping to just keep there for emergencies. I know I can replenish that in a couple of months easily, but I was hoping to have it there as more of an emergency fund. I could use it on this trip if I wanted. Ideally this wouldn't have been the vacation of choice or how I would have decided to spend the money, but it was all planned by someone else who invited me last minute.