Challenge for a vacation to New York in 2010

**Dutchie** · 04-26-2009, 07:23 AM

The way things are looking at the moment we will not be going on vacation this year.
Almost everyone in Holland who is working gets vacation money paid out at the end of May with their salary.
This is equal to 8% of the yearly salary but it is heavily taxed (52%).

Because we are financing two households at the moment (2nd son and posted elsewhere on the forum) and there is no sign of this being paid off this year, I don't think that our vacation money will be used for a vacation.

However last year I promised our youngest child (and only daughter) that we would take her to New York if possible this year.
This is a VERY expensive trip for us living in Europe mainly because the flights and the hotel costs in Manhattan are so expensive (even though the flights have recently been reduced - they are still expensive).

However, our daughter is so great. She never gives problems, always does her best at everything, we never have to keep at her to study, she just does it - always has. She helps as much as she can around the house, helps the neighbors with free baby-sitting.
She has only one dream at the moment to visit NY with us.

She has a part time job. She feels that we should never have to 'sponsor' her with anything unlike her four older brothers. Always at some point - sooner or later we have (had) to either lend them money or 'sponsor' them for something. She is also such a frugal young lady. An example - one day last spring she came home from the city and could hardly contain her joy. There had been a sale of shoes and she got 5 pairs for € 5 (about $7).

So I have decided that I will save as much as possible outside of the 'normal' budget so that we can possibly go to New York within a year.
An argument could be made that this isn't exactly a high priority thing but it is for me.

So my challenge is to raise € 5,000 before May 2010 for a 1 week vacation (this is for flights, hotel in Manhattan, all meals, all sight-seeing, all expenses and a Broadway show (if we are taking her then she should see/do as much as possible of the things that she loves).
I know that this is a HUGE amount of money for a 1 week vacation but it will definitely be worth it. (BTW we LOVE NY too so this will also be a great vacation for us.)

This will be outside the normal budget for the house and the extra we pay on the mortgage etc.

Keep your fingers crossed for me please.
I will post here about my progress.
(Of course I am not telling her - it is a surprise. She knows that we cannot go this year.)

€ 7.50/€ 5,000

**Maine Girl** · 04-26-2009, 09:17 AM

Good luck!!! Once you get going i think you will be surprised how you find money to save. Please keep us posted

**lmbaker520** · 04-26-2009, 09:40 AM

Good luck in your saving! New York is great and you will have an awesome time. I bet you will be surprised with how fast that your savings will add up.

**Dutchie** · 04-27-2009, 10:25 AM

It feels so good to have a real, tangible goal for saving.

Today my son had to go to the store and I gave him all the returnable bottles to cash in for my savings.

I got € 2.75 for the bottles which means that my total is up a little.
It isn't much but every little counts.

BTW I haven't told anyone but DH and he loves the idea.

**MoonMommy** · 04-27-2009, 01:30 PM

Always good to have a goal. NY loves visiters.

If you can plan it, you could travel to WNY and see Niagara Falls. (It is quite a distance away from NYC however)

**Cricketlegs** · 04-28-2009, 07:47 PM

Another thing is that the trip will mean more because it didn't come easy.

Some things are worth working extra hard for.

**dean** · 05-06-2009, 09:15 AM

Good Luck Dutchie!
I'm sure you will meet your goal and you will all enjoy it so much more because of all the hard work!
I've been to NYC twice, both on field trips with my kids and it was wonderful. Especially for a country girl like me.

**MumtoEmma** · 05-28-2009, 11:29 PM

Hi Dutchie

GREAT GOAL!!!! I'm sure you'll get there.

I met my 'nederlander' while we were both in America on holidays. I lived in Arnhem/Nijmegen with him for 12 years. I brought him back to Australia with me 4 years ago to live. We realized the other day that it was 17 years since we first met and thought it would be great to go back for a holiday on the 20th anniversary. Our 'meisje' will be 10 then and I think at a good age to appreciate a trip like that. I've started saving too. We want to take about a month so we can see the West Coast and Disneyland again and then New York and Boston. I went to New York alone backpacking and it was great. I can image how great it will be if you are with your family. Especially if your daughter can find bargins like she does. Schoenen voor 5euro!! Better take an extra suitcase. New Yorkers were heaps friendlier than you are led to believe on the TV too. You'll love it!!!

Heel veel succes met sparen
Christeen