How much better off would you be without travel? (financially)

[Warks]

I don't make a fortune but enough to live, raise a family and go on a couple of holidays per year. I've paid off the house but outside of that have very little apart from super. I always think I should have more money to spend on house maintenance or maybe to invest in something outside of super. However it doesn't seem to happen. Then I look at the holidays and I think how much more would be in the bank if we didn't take them but how much more boring life would be. I've been running my own business for almost seven years and every year we've done a trip away somewhere plus a beach holiday locally. The beauty of working for myself is that I can take off when I want (with the limitation of school holidays these past few years).

I have a friend who also has his own business. He's only taken one holiday of more than a few days in the past eight years. He does live in a bigger house than me but seems to have about as much cash to spare as I have.

It makes me wonder. If we didn't travel we'd have more money but then that money would just have gone into something else and I'd probably still not have the spare cash I'd like.

I'm pretty sure most people here would value travel over spending money on other things but probably question themselves now and again.

 

[Mogul]

Travel is about the experience's and knowledge gained which to me is worth than a few extra $$$$ in the bank, and yes for most people it would probably be just spent on one off things that ultimately will not add to their life experience.

 

[robd]

Of course, I would be much, much better off financially without having done the travelling, but I consider myself a lot richer having shared those travels with my kids. They will always remember and cherish the year we went here or there, but I bet they won't remember the year we got the new kitchen or bought a bigger house (we didn't)?

I am not suggesting blowing all your dough on travel, and would hope that most people would be aiming for self funded retirement, but I'd prefer to holiday somewhere new and exciting with family and friends rather than an entertainment room of a beautiful house.

I did purchase a Tatts Quickpick for the superdraw this weekend in the hope of having it all

 

[Mattg]

I spend a lot of money on travel. Obviously that doesn't help much from a financial point of view, but I think the value I get in terms of life experience, education and overall enjoyment far outweighs the cost.

Besides, when I do travel, I always look for the best deals to bring the cost down. I don't spend nearly as much money on airfares as some people might think. That way I can take more trips for the same amount of money. AFF helps a lot with that.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

What's the point of money in the bank? A little is a safety net, but at some point it doesn't do much for ya.

I love my holidays. Escaping "reality" for awhile, seeing new things, experiencing the ups and downs of being away from home. Priceless.

Then you have the proverbial bus hitting, so why delay if you can afford it today. Get out and enjoy things while your body and health let you. No use thinking you'll do that machu picchu trekking tour, or visit the Tibet when you're retired and can't cope with the stress of the altitude.

Now let me get back to my suites planning to JFK. Pace myself in terms of the enjoyment

 

[Melburnian1]

These are all excellent sentiments. It can be the small things in travel experiences that one remembers, and no, I don't regret for one moment spending money on travel instead of (say) buying more property, having more money in the bank or buying moreshares. Jeffrey O'Neill and mattg's thoughts hit the nail on the head.

 

[codash1099]

At my age and with nobody directly dependent on me, I'm more than happy to continue to spend on SKI* holidays for as long as my body and the money hold out.

* SKI = Spending the Kids Inheritance

 

[RooFlyer]

These are all excellent sentiments. It can be the small things in travel experiences that one remembers, and no, I don't regret for one moment spending money on travel instead of (say) buying more property, having more money in the bank or buying moreshares. Jeffrey O'Neill and mattg's thoughts hit the nail on the head.

+1 to that.

 

[LadyC]

Concur with all the posts. I would much prefer to spend my money on travel experiences than stuff. (eg fancy car, jewellery)

 

[Pushka]

I would be much worse off if I didnt travel.

 

[Renato1]

About $100,000 better off.
Regards,
Renato

 

[sinophile888]

One of my mottos is
"You're a long time dead".

 

[marki]

My Work is travel and this is what makes a difference. If I don't travel = no $

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Something I read in a travel blog was that spending money on travel, and experiences in general, is one of the few things you will spend money on that increases in value.

In 10 years time what's the new laptop or car or smart phone going to be worth?

Memories don't devalue. If anything what we do over time is polish the good experiences while making the bad ones not quite so bad, or even just forgetting about them.

So the memories of that amazing holiday in cancun, or walking around Angkor Wat will be even better as time goes by. It's a bit like the fish that got away. Gets bigger / better with each telling

 

[Dr Ralph]

$1000000+ is my best guess.

 

[mark4217]

$1000000+ is my best guess.

+1 for that.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'd be much better off financially but I don't think l'll look back in 20 or 30 years and say "Jeez I wish I hadn't travelled so much".
Life isn't a dress rehearsal......

 

[serfty]

I thinks it was Bundy Bear who had the signature along the lines of (to paraphrase) "Don't put off today what you want and are able to do until tomorrow - because you may find tomorrow you won't be able" (or something like that).

Some things nowadays are getting harder for me - my golf handicap is out past the mid twenties - I've climbed the Batu caves steps and those at the Lantau big Buddha (before the cable car) but would not try these days.

Simple stuff and perhaps ordinary, but no financial regrets ..

 

[Pushka]

And I am betting my last memories in life will be family and family holidays.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I would be poor and stuck in a boring job if I didn't travel