Okay guys thanks, see I knew my time on here was not a waste of time, you could make me rich.
I will go onto the record dealing sites and place a bid for some of the original Beatles uncut and not released CD's that they may have done in the 1960's.
Nice one 8), again thanks for advice, you two are so cool
Im single, never married, no kids, vehicles payed for, only debt is a 79k mortgage. Even though my job has decreased almost 50% I was able to take a last minute cruise last week..Thanks for the price of gas is back to 1.70 or so, that helped alot. Normally i can only go when family goes unless i want to pay double for solo. I still try to go at least once a year.
Things were looking very good UNTIL today when hubby came home and said, I might be out of a JOB by FRIDAY!!!!! :o Makes me want to rush to the closet and return everything ive bought for this cruise, I sure hope this wont be our last!!!!! But it will be our last for a little while, unless A long lost Uncle has left us in his will lol...s0s
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December 2008 Carnival Freedom
July 2007 Carnival Holiday
Things were looking very good UNTIL today when hubby came home and said, I might be out of a JOB by FRIDAY!!!!! :o Makes me want to rush to the closet and return everything ive bought for this cruise, I sure hope this wont be our last!!!!! But it will be our last for a little while, unless A long lost Uncle has left us in his will lol...s0s
Good luck to your hubby. Hope he is wrong about losing his job.
I just heard last night that another friend is working his last week. Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) is his last day. I feel so bad for them with 2 small children. His wife works also, but he is the main bread winner. They will definitely be hurting.
That has been the story around here for months. A friend gets laid off-they finally find another job, but in the meantime another friend has lost their job. Right now we have at least a half dozen friends who have lost their jobs. A few others of our friends have been surviving by taking short term contract positions-so they are okay for 2 or 3 months and then they are looking once again for something else.
My problem is, even though we can still afford to cruise, I am too upset to enjoy cruising while I am worrying about my friends. I have about decided perhaps it would be better that we give to charities more and skip the luxury trips for the time being, and just take simpler more affordable vacations, that others are not envious of me taking. I just do not like rubbing it in my friends' faces that we can still afford to cruise, when they are worried about losing their home, affording to stay warm this winter, or keeping groceries on the table.
It’s your money and your life, you cannot approach life being guilty because of others. If I had to live that way…… I would just donate all my salary to "needy causes"
Okay not cool on their personal position, but you have to be a ME , and still have your life.
But the great thing you did bring to it is your concern for them, that shows a caring person, but cancel your cruise, and don’t do Christmas NO. It don’t change anything, you have your vacation. And these people will still be in the same position when you get back, and if you did not go..mmmmm They would still be in the same position, nothing you can do about it
to momofmeg , why should you feel guilty about taking your vacation. i work 2 jobs and make a lot of sacrifices in order to travel. i spend not a lot of money during the whole year so i can go on my cruises. most of my friends spend they money all year long and want to be cheap on vacation. i am just the opposite. take your cruises.
It’s your money and your life, you cannot approach life being guilty because of others. If I had to live that way…… I would just donate all my salary to "needy causes"
Okay not cool on their personal position, but you have to be a ME , and still have your life.
But the great thing you did bring to it is your concern for them, that shows a caring person, but cancel your cruise, and don’t do Christmas NO. It don’t change anything, you have your vacation. And these people will still be in the same position when you get back, and if you did not go..mmmmm They would still be in the same position, nothing you can do about it
I don't have any cruises booked right now-so nothing to cancel. I just do not feel the desire to book anything. Plus the economy is so bad everywhere, that these people in these beautiful islands are desperate. They have always tried to make a hard sells-but my cruise last month was MUCH worse. It was heart breaking.I just decided that -instead of buying things I don't really want- to help these poor people what amounts to a tiny amount that I would do better to donate.
I love the ocean because it relaxes me to watch the waves. It is a great "destresser". Right now, I am more interested in seeing the ocean than tropical islands that are poverty stricken. That just "defeats the purpose" in going-if you know what I mean. I want to destress, not look at poverty which actually adds stress.
We know of a great condominium complex in Myrtle Beach, south Carolina, USA that is really nice and the majority of the owners will rent them out when they are not occupying them. Almost all have balconies that face the ocean. We loved staying there in September and it was MUCH less expensive than our cruise was last month, a good two thirds less in cost. I just feel that-for the time being, I will get my "fix" by going there.
I will gladly donate funds though instead to other good causes for the difference in cost.
I understand that if I took upon my shoulders all of my friends problems and tried to help all of them-that I soon would be in worse shape than any of them. I realize I can't help everyone. Nevertheless, I want to do "my bit," while I can-whose to say if not next year I may be the one needing help.
Momofmeg, that is so sad about your friends. Jobs are difficult to replace now. When the company my son works for does a mass "downsize", he calls me up and says that he didn't get fired. So far so good.
I can understand how you feel about the cost of vacations. We were going to plan a second vacation this year, and it is on hold. The economy is frightening and we have to conserve our money because it may come in very handy.
As for donations, we are giving the same as usual. I wouldn't go overboard this year for the same reason that I wouldn't spend too much on vacations.
I think common sense has to prevail.
Let's hope that a year from now, everyone will be in a better financial situation.
The best cruise that we took was with a group booking that involved seminars during the sea days involved with financial planning. It is an education group that allows you to manage and control our finances. We have been able to invest conservatively and that is the key, to not want it all at once.
Some post have suggested that while they were working they saved and budgetted..the thing that we learned was that you need to make TIME be on your side when investing and making financial decisions.
Although we don’t have a lot of responses to gauge a true reflection of today’s society, it is very interesting that we have two or maybe three camps on this.
We appear to have those that have enough money and no matter if "whatever" is going on today, it does not affect their lives or cruise plans.
We also have I think, those that have not yet woken up to the reality, and will still stick "it" on the credit card and worry later.
And those those like me, that given all presented by today’s economy, question if I can afford it, and not just a cruise, but a new car, new house, an extension, new roof, new windows, kitchen. I feel ordinary people are backing off in how or what they will now commit too
This web site given the stat cannot be made up of only those that can afford what the economy throws at us and survive, and if true,,,,,then the cruise industry can ignore the “credit crunch”…mmmm
Nice one for some..but I don’t think some people are being honest on this subject.
I started this back in OCT 08 for good reason as back then, there was no doubt regarding the direction the current economic climate would take us. And I could see back then what would determine how much money people had to PLAY with in the future.
The graph ABOVE TODAY just amazes me, if that reflects today’s spending power. Why are governments bailing out banks, the car industry etc etc????
i usually go by myself and pay the single supplement. but on the cruise i am going on in 3 weeks i had the travel agent hook me up with a roommate. the cruise i am going on next year i met a new friend on the last soap opera cruise so we will be roomies on the next soap opera cruise. i have decided that in order to save some money, i will have to do this. i am still going to have a very cheap lifestyle during the year in order to tske my cruises.
Well I'm not rich even by congresses standards but my wife and I make good money and we do something fairly unique in the good ol' US of A, we SAVE. We do not buy on credit, we do not splurge on the newest fancy just because we can, we purchase things we need or want but do so in a thrifty manner. Therefore, unlike most of my friends, relatives and neighbors, many who make 2 or 3 times our income, we actually have money to take nice vacations every year. Some prefer immediate gratification. I prefer extra special gratification a little less often.
__________________ I'ld Rather Be Cruisin'
Disney Magic February 4 2006
RCCL Freedom January 20 2008
Disney Wonder October 2009
thasic,
We're with you. We skimp on lots of things....our car is virtually an antique, as are a lot of our things. We also use a cruise point credit card....one of the good ones that you can't even get anymore. Clip coupons, shop sales on basics and, doing the taxes, I figured out that the total I spent last year on clothes, shoes, purses, et. al. was under $200. Granted I have a good wardrobe of basics and am housebound a lot due to health, but we will bypass pretty much any other "luxury" in order to get ourselves on a ship once a year. Hubby is in show biz, so it varies year to year. Super cheap cruise one year, spend more the next.
Too bad that I really need one right now!
Marty
Today, my potential cruising vacation and my income are slowly getting tighter, exchange rates are crap, employment futures disappearing. The next few years dont look good for me personally going cruising. My free "income" is and will now be directed towards things that mattter and cruising is dropping down the list.
Wish I was as rich as all you other folks that this "credit crunch" does not seem to bother
Today, my potential cruising vacation and my income are slowly getting tighter, exchange rates are crap, employment futures disappearing. The next few years dont look good for me personally going cruising. My free "income" is and will now be directed towards things that mattter and cruising is dropping down the list.
Wish I was as rich as all you other folks that this "credit crunch" does not seem to bother
David, I hate to say it, but many of these posts are old and they may be seeing things very differently now.
On the bright side, my friend's son (the one with 2 small children) found another job, he is working second shift, but he is working. Two other friends recently got fairly decent jobs, so it is much better for them. However, several others are still struggling.
We are still okay but my hubby is a IT specialist and that is one of the few jobs here is the USA that seems to be surviving the recession.
We have no cruises booked, but we hope to do a partial Panama canal next winter. We have decided to wait on booking until late summer/or fall. We just do not feel things are good enough now to plan a year ahead.
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