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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2012 11:35:47 GMT -5
I hang out on cruisecritic.com, both because DH and I will be making another cruise in Alaska in 2014 and because I like to spread the word about small ships for people who aren't enamored of ships with 4,000 fellow passengers and on-board casions and rock-climbing walls. Here are some recent posts, paraphrased. 1. We're going to have the money for our cruise early next year but we need to put down a $700 deposit now. Is there any way we can book without having to come up with $700 right now? 2. Can I use a debit card on-board? I finally got my disability claim approved but in the meantime my credit got all messed up so I don't have a credit card. 3. (In response to a discussion about a fiancee who might miss a criuise due to an important job interview.) My wife and I are scheduled to take a cruise and neither of us has jobs right now. Believe me, if either of us had an interview that conflicted with the cruise, they'd go on the interview and the other would take the cruise. WTH are these people thinking? I don't believe that life for people who are scraping by should be devoid of any enjoyment, but how do you fit a cruise into a bare-bones budget? And does anyone want to bet with me that the person in the first post is planning on using the EIC refund for their cruise?
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Aug 25, 2012 11:47:58 GMT -5
...EIC refunds are used for anything, cruises included, right? ...we took a cruise for a vacation and it was a pretty cheap vacation budget, all things considered... so gone are the days of cruises being a Love Boat hoity toity thing, right?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2012 11:55:48 GMT -5
...we took a cruise for a vacation and it was a pretty cheap vacation budget, all things considered... so gone are the days of cruises being a Love Boat hoity toity thing, right? Yes, there have been some "how do you afford it" discussions on the Board. People who live near ports can take a cruise with no airfare or hotels, and by being very careful you can avoid all the charges for extra activities, alcohol, etc. There are also people like DH and me who put a very high priority on travel and are willing to go cheap on things that matter less (cars, furniture, dining out). I still get the uncomfortable feeling that a lot of these people arent' saving enough for retirement and expect their kids to take loans for their college educations. Yeah, I know. I should mind my own business.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 25, 2012 11:57:30 GMT -5
I hang out on cruisecritic.com, both because DH and I will be making another cruise in Alaska in 2014 and because I like to spread the word about small ships for people who aren't enamored of ships with 4,000 fellow passengers and on-board casions and rock-climbing walls. Here are some recent posts, paraphrased. 1. We're going to have the money for our cruise early next year but we need to put down a $700 deposit now. Is there any way we can book without having to come up with $700 right now? 2. Can I use a debit card on-board? I finally got my disability claim approved but in the meantime my credit got all messed up so I don't have a credit card. 3. (In response to a discussion about a fiancee who might miss a criuise due to an important job interview.) My wife and I are scheduled to take a cruise and neither of us has jobs right now. Believe me, if either of us had an interview that conflicted with the cruise, they'd go on the interview and the other would take the cruise. WTH are these people thinking? I don't believe that life for people who are scraping by should be devoid of any enjoyment, but how do you fit a cruise into a bare-bones budget? And does anyone want to bet with me that the person in the first post is planning on using the EIC refund for their cruise? Re #2...... I recently had to file for disability and I was lucky in that (1) I had someone to fill in the gap for the time that it took to be approved and (2) I was approved in a relatively short period of time. Some people can take much, much longer and most of it depends upon how responsive your medical care facilities are to disability's request for records. If the point came down to needing to take a loan out of my retirement accounts or my credit, I'd let my credit take a hit.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Aug 25, 2012 12:05:52 GMT -5
...what's uncomfortable about parents expecting their kids to take loans for their college educations?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2012 12:08:17 GMT -5
I recently had to file for disability and I was lucky in that (1) I had someone to fill in the gap for the time that it took to be approved and (2) I was approved in a relatively short period of time. Some people can take much, much longer and most of it depends upon how responsive your medical care facilities are to disability's request for records. If the point came down to needing to take a loan out of my retirement accounts or my credit, I'd let my credit take a hit. I know that filing for disability and getting it approved can be arduous (that's why all the lawyers have TV commercials offering to help you!). And when you can't work and aren't getting disability either, money has to be tight. It just seems extravagant to take a cruise just as you're coming out of very difficult financial circumstances.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Aug 25, 2012 12:10:41 GMT -5
I recently had to file for disability and I was lucky in that (1) I had someone to fill in the gap for the time that it took to be approved and (2) I was approved in a relatively short period of time. Some people can take much, much longer and most of it depends upon how responsive your medical care facilities are to disability's request for records. If the point came down to needing to take a loan out of my retirement accounts or my credit, I'd let my credit take a hit. I know that filing for disability and getting it approved can be arduous (that's why all the lawyers have TV commercials offering to help you!). And when you can't work and aren't getting disability either, money has to be tight. It just seems extravagant to take a cruise just as you're coming out of very difficult financial circumstances. ...maybe... do you view cruises as an extravagance?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2012 12:38:58 GMT -5
...maybe... do you view cruises as an extravagance? Of course I do! Since I took my first at the age of 59 (this year), I'd hardly consider them a necessity.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Aug 25, 2012 12:51:49 GMT -5
...maybe... do you view cruises as an extravagance? Of course I do! Since I took my first at the age of 59 (this year), I'd hardly consider them a necessity. ...fair enough... do you view all vacations as an extravagance? (see where I'm going with this?)
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susanb
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Post by susanb on Aug 25, 2012 13:07:22 GMT -5
Yes, all vacations are an extravagance.
No, don't see where you are going, but then I almost never do.....unless it is against the grain no matter what.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Aug 25, 2012 13:14:10 GMT -5
Yes, all vacations are an extravagance. No, don't see where you are going, but then I almost never do.....unless it is against the grain no matter what. ...in my defense, the OP describes going to "cruise critic dot com" and proceeds to criticize and make "what the _?" comments about other cruise critic dot com users' questions/stories... then later admits that maybe she should mind her own business... so, yes, I'm stirring the pot for effect on a stirring the pot kind of thread...
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susanb
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Post by susanb on Aug 25, 2012 13:16:56 GMT -5
Whatever floats your boat BTDT.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2012 13:35:05 GMT -5
...fair enough... do you view all vacations as an extravagance? (see where I'm going with this?) Yeah, pretty much, especially if funds are limited. If, by "vacation", you mean driving to a local park, pitching a tent you already have, and camping out and hiking for a few days, or taking a few days off from work and visiting local attractions- perfectly reasonable. But if you can't scrape up a $700 down payment, Im sorry, you shouldn't be booking a cruise. Whatever windfall is coming in early next year would be a good start on an emergency fund.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Aug 25, 2012 13:40:20 GMT -5
...fair enough... do you view all vacations as an extravagance? (see where I'm going with this?) Yeah, pretty much, especially if funds are limited. If, by "vacation", you mean driving to a local park, pitching a tent you already have, and camping out and hiking for a few days, or taking a few days off from work and visiting local attractions- perfectly reasonable. But if you can't scrape up a $700 down payment, Im sorry, you shouldn't be booking a cruise. Whatever windfall is coming in early next year would be a good start on an emergency fund. ...well, that question about circumventing the $700 down payment was pretty funny... I wonder if they'd try to do that at a restaurant?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2012 13:46:40 GMT -5
...well, that question about circumventing the $700 down payment was pretty funny... I wonder if they'd try to do that at a restaurant? Apparently there are travel agents who will lend you the money, according to some of the replies.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 25, 2012 15:02:48 GMT -5
I recently had to file for disability and I was lucky in that (1) I had someone to fill in the gap for the time that it took to be approved and (2) I was approved in a relatively short period of time. Some people can take much, much longer and most of it depends upon how responsive your medical care facilities are to disability's request for records. If the point came down to needing to take a loan out of my retirement accounts or my credit, I'd let my credit take a hit. I know that filing for disability and getting it approved can be arduous (that's why all the lawyers have TV commercials offering to help you!). And when you can't work and aren't getting disability either, money has to be tight. It just seems extravagant to take a cruise just as you're coming out of very difficult financial circumstances. Why not, especially if you are terminal? If I found out that I had some sort of disease that would keep me wheelchair bound permanently (quite frankly, one year has been bad enough), I would want to go and do as long as I could under my own power. Having been in this situation at this point of my life, I don't blame him a bit.
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KaraBoo
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Post by KaraBoo on Aug 25, 2012 22:52:25 GMT -5
I was reading the questions and thinking....OMG...someone recorded DH's and my conversations late last year!!
DH was fired from his job in September - the week before we were to make our final payment for our family cruise scheduled in December. We were taking our kids on their first cruise and it was meant to be their Christmas gifts as well. We had the money to pay for the vacation, but seriously questioned whether or not continuing with our plans was the smart thing to do in the economy. We had no idea how long it would take DH to find a new job.
We decided we would take the cruise anyway - smart money move or not....
Turned out okay for us as DH found a job within 2 weeks, but we were really nervous with our decision for a while....
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