Florida Once Every Three Months
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (78759)
United States
April 28, 2019 4:25pm CST
We save and save and save money. There HAS to be more to life than just HAVING money. And we have an AWESOME time in Florida. Whenever we go there it is just awesome.
I am starting to think that maybe the wife and I should go to Florida about once every three months or so.
We will fly out on a Friday night after work. We will get a hotel room in Ft. Lauderdale on Friday night and Saturday night. We will spend Saturday with our friend out there. We will fly back on Sunday night and return to work on Monday.
Is it a bit expensive? Probably. But what else are we saving this money for?
I think between flight, spending money, and hotels, we could probably easily get by with $1000 a weekend.
My wife would be ELATED.
9 people like this
10 responses
@porwest (78759)
• United States
7 Sep 19
Turns out it is a very expensive weekend, and while we have the funds for it, I can't see blowing that much money on just a weekend. But if we did I would definitely give her some funds for shopping, and we'd probably hit a casino as well.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
30 Apr 19
Just did some pricing and looks like just getting there and renting a car for the weekend will cost me about $900. Then I have to add in money for a hotel and of course spending money. All said it would be about a $1500 weekend, and while we have the money, I am not sure all of a sudden I want to blow that kind of money just for a weekend. We'll see.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157692)
• United States
25 Jun 19
Having an elated wife is priceless. Enjoy yourself.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
28 Apr 19
Joking aside, an AIRBNB would probably save you a good chunk overall.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
1 May 19
I'm just not into those AIRBNBs for whatever reason. I can get a hotel room pretty cheap as a Wyndham Rewards diamond member. And our travel agent is pretty good about finding us the best rates, plus she only charges us a nominal $50 booking fee,
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
1 May 19
@porwest That's understandable. Yes, there's a bunch of different hotel rewards places. I used to work for a group of hotels, including the Marriot. The Marriot would give me a discount to stay in their hotel, and also a discount to a friend or family member. We also were able to offer a discount to anyone wanting to book an event with marriot.. That's been a long time ago now though.
I have stayed in an airbnb once and it was a pleasant experience.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
1 May 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Being a diamond member with Wyndham I get quite a lot of perks, and I cash in my points usually for $100 gift cards. It works out quite well actually. Of course, I am only a diamond member because I am in hotels probably about 120 nights per year on business.
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Apr 19
How often do you go at present? While it might be fun to go more often, it might also be good to save some of that money before spending it into an emergency fund and then save that for actual emergencies. I know from experience that things can crop up before you expect them and once money is needed for those events then all the elation we've experienced through the years goes up in smoke.
Once you have a short term and long term emergency fund in place, then I'd say go for it.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
1 May 19
@porwest Well if you don't go too often it might be okay, but maybe you need to come up with something less costly for trips to take more often. If we weren't conscientious of the money we were spending it would be quite difficult to keep the extra in the bank for the rainy days. So, not wanting to spend too much is a good thing, really.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
1 May 19
@MarshaMusselman Yeah. I am thinking it might even be more fun to just take closer weekend jaunts. We live about four hours each from Memphis, Nashville, Kansas City, Branson...so there are places to go and have a good time without spending a fortune.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
30 Apr 19
Financially we are fine. Six figures in the bank. But I am CHEAP. Probably why we have money. But I did just price the weekend and between the flight and rental car it will cost just under $1000. With spending money it just seems a bit steep for a weekend getaway even IF we have more than enough money to do it.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34445)
•
1 May 19
You could change Ben Franklin's quote to "A Penney Saved Is a Penney Spent."
The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don't celebrate those, they can pass you by. Alek Wek
But I will say, it's nice to have a little money saved up to be able to make those memories...
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
1 May 19
That's an interesting twist on an old phrase. My thing is really that I cannot live paycheck to paycheck and cannot imagine not having money when something comes up that requires a bit more than I anticipated. I have been able to do quite well, and I still get to enjoy spending pretty much what I want. But it is ALL calculated and there is still a plan on both sides of the spectrum...saving and spending. For example, I took almost $3000 for our trip to Florida and the way I worked it out between stocks, options, interest and dividends, when we came back we not only recouped the $3000, but had more than when we left and took it out. It's just the way I do things. And it has always worked in my favor.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34445)
•
3 May 19
@porwest Careful planning can go a long way towards achieving happiness. From your response, it appears you have found that key, or at least a philosophy which achieves your goals in life.
@porwest (78759)
• United States
30 Apr 19
I have always enjoyed Florida for a vacation spot, but would never want to live there. Too hot in the summer and most places where I would want to be the cost of living is just too high. Maybe one day. But I'd rather just visit. But you are right, it WOULD save trips. 
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
29 Apr 19
I will do vacations sooner than later but not all to the beach, I wanna see the whole USA. Maybe get an R.V, unless all my mylot family wants me to visit. 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157489)
• United States
29 Apr 19
I'd rather spend a week down there...or even live down there!
1 person likes this
