> I started the year with almost nothing and ended with a used van, a new utility trailer, less debt, fully paid bills and money left to take the family to Hawaii.
> less debt > family to hawaii
Something does not compute here.
> less debt > family to hawaii
Something does not compute here.
Hawaii: We used to live here, and have spent the past few years saving for this trip. We came to see friends that we haven't seen in 4 years. They are meeting two of our children for the first time. Airfare: $400/ticket round trip purchased months ago at the lowest price of the year. Van: Our friends are letting us use their van for free for all 16 days. We are staying at three friends houses while we are here, also free. Our expenses while here are food and gas. Everything else we are doing here is free, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, going to the lava etc. The entire trip is costing us less than $2,500 for our family of 6 to fly to Hawaii and spend 16 days with our friends. I've saved money money on just about everything. I'm not sure it's possible for this trip to have cost any less than it has. We valued this trip over paying off a chunk of our debt for many reasons. Having money and being debt free is important to us, but recognizing that being debt free is a few more years out, we saved and paid cash for the trip. The rest, sunshine, body boarding and time with friends is worth a lot more to us than the money.
"Paying back on things you've already purchased with someone elses money is not everyone's highest priority"
Now we take this statement and multiply it by 34 million, and we have the reason why America's total US consumer debt is 2.43 trillion.
I dont mean to nitpick, but I get really annoyed when people do extravagant things when they can't afford it.
Everyone does. Good luck getting people to settle on your definitions of "extravagant" and "afford."
I think a vacation to hawaii from portland for a family of four while still in debt is clearly extravagant, and unaffordable. But's thats just my opinion, and I dont expect you, or anyone else, to share it.
Debt shouldn't be seen as ok to have but I think that is sadly how most Americans view it now.
Do these pass your muster? A lot of people still view these forms of debt as acceptable.
I mean, do you really think that as soon as you buy a house (which pretty much anyone not absurdly rich — and many who are — will take on debt to do), you must immediately neglect your family and pursue money at all costs? That hardly seems like a tenable position. People who have grave problems with debt have those problems not because debt is inherently a grave problem, but because they took on debt they couldn't handle.
It's one thing if the money is borrowed from a friend or family member (as a charity or with extremely below market interest rates). But the 2.43 trillion dollars of debt that you cite is almost entirely with institutions which make a profit off of debt. [not bashing creditors]
My dad pointed out "Your family's wellbeing includes their morale."
Either way, only Ryan (and possibly his accountant [probably his wife]) can make that call.
But he says he sold some stuff in Hawaii, so it's very possible the trip didn't cost him much or anything at all.
He might see ideas and get new perspectives on things while on vacation in a new land that he otherwise would not get while at home in work only mentality.