What do you give up to get to Couples?

[warmweatherfriend]

We don't necessarily "give up" anything but enjoy all things in moderation throughout the year to afford the vacation/trips that we like to go on.

We also do not feel the need to "keep up with the Joneses", never have. We are now buying slightly older models of vehicles and paying for them in cash.

We have a very nice house but not a McMansion. With one child at the age of 18, before we know it, it will only be the two of us so who needs bigger or better? Not us! We're not getting any younger either!

We do eat at home more often instead of going out to dinner and we are packing more lunches for work.

So...when we feel the urge to take a trip, we haven't over-extended ourselves and the money is there! We are thankful!!!

[wileeandrr]

I don't use a lot of my accumulated PTO at work, so I am going to cash some of that in.

BTW - we are first-timers at Couples.

I love this! Unfortunately, they won't let us do this at my job & I can only carry 20 hours over a year..grrr

[wileeandrr]

I sacrifice my whole check!! My husband is the one who brings home the bacon. I'm a lunch lady in my kids high school. So my checks go towards vacas. We'er fortunate that way. I'm very thankful!!!

I proposed this to hubby & he loved it! We are very thankful & fortunate, as well. We went our first time to CSA & Couples just last month & I am hooked..lol
Hubby got on the computer right away to plan for 8/2010..lol

[Ron & Rosa 25]

Nothing. We are lucky to be debt free for over 5 years now. Our daughter is grown and the last bungee cord cut. We get to Couples twice a year - April and October - as well as at least one other 2 to 4 week trip.

Of course, I drive a 2001 Chevy pickup truck and Karen has a 2004 Acura. So if we've given up anything it's new cars.

Our sitch is closest to yours, with the unfortunate yet very important caveat that we're still paying down extra on the mortgage. In fact, this is one of the reasons we only booked 11 nights next year instead of 14. It is our hope that, assuming there are no big financial bumps down the road, we'll have paid off our mortgage just prior to our departure. So not only will we have a 25th wedding anniversary to celebrate, we'd also be able to say we're mortgage free. So far we're on target.

BTW, I too drive a 2001 Chevy pickup (the S-10), but Rosa isn't as lucky as Karen - her car is a '99 Infinity I30. So you have us there again. LOL

[Cactus]

It's a lazy man that can't find his wife a second job...78 Days 'til Rum Cream All I Want

[Softailgrl81]

My husband and I don't really like material things so we do without if it's not a necessity. We don't need a big house-our little one is fine, expensive cars and eating out all the time-we learned this as we got older. I would rather have the perfect vacation once or twice a year. We just returned from CTI and have already booked for next year. I pay on the trip monthly and it's usually paid for well in advance of leaving. Any additional money taken in to the household-Birthday, Christmas gifts from family automatically goes in the Couples fund. I'm a Couples Lover forever!

[Jahnadian]

We too put money into our Jamrock fund off each paycheck and right now are looking at more ways to cut back to be able to go to Jamaica next year. We are lucky and have been 6 years in a row and the thought of no Jamaica in a year leave a large void. We are lucky in that we have no car loans - yes the King's Kia SUV could ride better and my Lexus is 6 years old but my baby still looks great, drives great and is debt free. We have a small mortgage payment but were hit with high, unexpected college costs and combined with investment loss are looking at how we live. Where there is a will there is a way - and man do I have the will!

[Pamela]

We give up time with our cocker spaniels to visit Couples. They're old boys; Dasher is 13, and Rudy is 12. We don't know how much longer they'll be with us, so our time with them is precious.

[wileeandrr]

Hubby sort of balked when I talked to him tonight about wanting to do a trip just for us every year. I already told him that I'd work to pay for the trip. Any advice to convince him otherwise?

[KarenON]

wileeandrr - We live by the philosophy that life is very short, and you don't know what's coming at you around the next corner on your journey through life. Karen and I love to travel, and now that we have found the beauty that exists at CSS, it is our number one priority to get there each winter for 9 or 10 days, to completely forget about the rest of the world, and the stresses of daily life at home, and focus on nothing other than ourselves and our love for each other. Yes, we could put that money in the bank and save it, but save it for what?? While we have our health, we are going to create as many wonderful memories as we can, and for us, that means spending some real quality time at Couples Sans Souci.

[Paul & Sue from NY]

After working for 30 years at UPS "non-management" what started as the Thrift Plan then changed to the 401k and now after retiring it is in a managed fund and growing slowly, that money is earmarked for two things ,our daughters wedding,whenever that happens and our annual vaction for just the two of us.

[Jamietrish]

We only vacation at Couples. We are lucky enough to live near the beach, so other time off can be spent at home. Also, we combine all the Christmas, birthday, and Valentines' gifts towards our vacation. We also started saving quarters and are hoping to have enough to fly TimAir for the first time. Our Couples vacations can never come soon enough.

[Ayslinn]

Hmmm... this is a great thread!!! We've only been to Couples once but with our next trip already planned, I am determined to make sure we continue going once a year!

To make that happen, we do have to give things up. We're both young and don't make a ton of money yet- I'm still working on my PhD and she has a steady job but has not yet risen to the "top", so, we're careful with what we do and where our money goes. She works overtime when possible, we don't eat out much, don't buy a ton of extras, and generally splurge only a few times a year- for our anniversary, christmas, and our daughter's birthday.

Also, the Loveaway plan helps immensely. We don't even notice the $100 coming out of our account, and then, if we have extra, we can call and pay more.

All in all, now that we've discovered Couples, we've realized that having such a wonderful vacation to spend with each other is no longer something we're willing to live without! And we'll do what it takes to make it happen.

[jamie&penny]

We cut back the upstairs maid to only 6 days a week! No I simply make the reservation, and then make sure I find a way to cut back whatever is necessary to put the money away every month. These vacations are as important to us as any other bill that we pay.

[jenniebcmb]

We didn't get our roof repaired!!! We decided that a trip to Jamaica to celebrate our 5th anniversary and reconnect would be better!

[Bilkat]

I work a nice side job in order to afford some Couples fun. Feelin' like a very lucky guy these days. Love, respect, irie.

Bilkat

[EinWI]

Not rich but I am as my hubby calls me a squirrel...I save, I don't spend in excess and I live well below what I take home. If I want something I buy it but I don't go overboard. I pack lunches, we don't go out partying it up anymore just dinner here and there...that is how we get to couples.

[EinWI]

Oh yeah...and WE DON'T HAVE KIDS! So there is a bit of a savings there...

[spice505]

Well, I don't know what my husband & I give up. I go on vacation twice a year. One with my mother and the other with my husband (normally on our anniversary). We also may stay at a local hotel for Valentine's Day and birthdays. Now our birthdays r n the same month so, that kind of help. We also plan our vacations a year n advance. Our anniversary is n Sept. so we have already paid off our vacation for this year and r paying now for our vacation next year to CTI. We just bought a house in September of last year and we don't have a car. We still do date night every month. That can be at home or away from home. I agree with Jahnadian, where there is a will, there's a way.

[Tupperitaville]

Do the same as alot of you....do not eat out, don't buy unnecessary junk, drive cars that are paid for...save save save! We also like to have it paid for before we get there. We have five kids - three at home - 10, 14 & 17. We manage to make it all work....we actually were able to pull off two trips this year - one this past April and one coming up in Oct/Nov.
19 fridays to go.....

[jman]

Wife is saver for us her dad kids her she's only kid he could send with 2 dimes and she would come home with a quarter! We're like most people on here kids on there own we live below our means Our vice is we like to travel I'm heart attack survior so we're working on our Bucket List. We're booked for CSS New Years Eve 1st time we have ever been to anything like Couples wife has already lost 26 lbs if its half as nice as everyone says it won't be our last!!!

[lorib49]

I'm a teacher and I coach as sport to pay for vacation each year. It is extra money and it not already budgeted into our monthly expenses. It makes for a busy couple of months, but our recent vacation to CSA this February was worth it.

[kittybkat]

Could I add my two teens to the mix?

[meenan40]

Traveling is an absolute passion of mine. You only live once, so you got to make it count! I am not a fan of working full-time, but if it means that I can continue to travel and experience new things, then in the end it is all worth it! Also, I desperately need an adults trip without the kids. All you parents out there will understand. This past February we took our kids to Disney World for 1-week, and let's just say even though we had a blast, that trip came with it's trials and tribulations. The countdown is on because I will be at CSA in just a little over a week and this time it is all about the adults!

[wileeandrr]

Thanks everyone for your input! I am determined to make this work