We spent our travel budget by July — and I Regret Nothing
Life’s too short to take fewer vacations.
I’m writing this in early August, fresh off my end-of-month budget review, and I realized something mind-blowing:
We’ve officially burned through our annual vacation budget…5 months early.
The 20-something version of me (okay, maybe even early 30s me) would have panicked about this budgeting catastrophe. But honestly? I’m at peace with it.
Here’s why.
Making up for Missed Vacations
One thing I’ll never get more of is time.
When COVID hit, we lost our ability to travel just like everyone else. I still recall excitedly booking our European vacation in January 2020, only to cancel it two months later.
Looking back at our budgets from that time, we spent just $10,000 on travel combined across 2020 and 2021.
Celebrating Big Moments
We usually take a family-oriented trip in the Spring as our first weeklong vacation, but this year we decided to kick things off in February with a Hawaiian getaway to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary. We honeymooned there and always wanted to return, and this was a great excuse to do it. This time we explored new islands via cruise ship. Some days genuinely felt like we were back on our honeymoon, which is quite a magical feeling a decade into marriage.
We also had several other special occasions this year. After a 10+ year hiatus, a few of us in my family decided to plan our first annual family reunion. Despite all of us being hours apart and busy in our own day-to-day lives, we managed to bring together almost 70 people! It was such a nice feeling to talk to some family members whom I hadn’t seen in more than 20 years.
On another trip, we got to visit one of my younger siblings, meet their partner for the first time, and experience a few days in their everyday life. It was really special to us and something we hope to repeat in the future.
And next month (but already part of our 2025 spending), we’ll travel to meet up with another of our siblings for their wedding!
We’ve Learned What Matters Most
Over the years, we’ve really honed in on the few things we’re okay with spending disproportionately on. At the top of the list: travel.
For us it’s not some competition or status symbol, but rather a deep appreciation of new experiences.
You’ll often find us hiking a breathtaking trail, perusing local bookstores, sipping coffee at a local café, and tasting our way through a new city.
The Future is Always Uncertain
We’ve had friends our age who’ve lost their lives in accidents or who’ve received a diagnosis that changed everything. When those things happen, the opportunity to travel freely is too late.
And even without tragedy, we’re living in tumultuous times: AI is eating formerly safe jobs left and right. Tech layoffs and “The Great Flattening” are a part of life for many. Our purchasing power could take a dive at any moment, and I don’t know how long it would take to recover. Maybe it wouldn’t, or maybe our health would be less certain by the time it did.
A Reality Check
We wouldn’t be able to travel like this if we hadn’t spent our 20s living below our means and catching some lucky breaks with investments. I’m aware that this isn’t everyone's reality.
But that’s part of what motivates me to write — we’re all dealing with different forms of uncertainty.
And even in abundance, it’s not always clear how to use what we’ve earned or saved.
Your Turn
Are you over budget on travel this year?
If so, does it stress you out… or does it feel like a conscious choice?
There’s no right answer, just your own priorities, your own season of life, and your own way of measuring what’s worth it.
Let me know. I'd love to hear.