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OT - Dilemma

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

You guys are probably the only ones who can understand this dilemma I am facing!

At the end of July, will be my 31st birthday, and the weekend of my birthday, the Australian Rugby team will be playing in Brisbane, so my brother and I were talking about getting a group together and heading down for the match and to celebrate my birthday.

Now this sounds just plain AWESOME to me - I LOVE rugby, LOVE Brisbane, would LOVE a weekend away... but it will cost around $500 (flights/accom/match tickets/spending etc).

Now for me and my very limited budget, that is a LOT of money... doable, but still a big expense.

And the dilemma for me is that I need a biker jacket and a denim jacket.

So, now I need to decide if I want to have a fantastic weekend away to celebrate my birthday, or spend the money on clothes!

Obviously the clothes will last longer, or I could have memories of a fun-filled weekend...

This seems so silly - a weekend away vs clothes, but its a very serious dilemma for me!

Have you guys ever had similar dilemmas???

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from lynne

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I had to check the schedule to see if this was a Bledisloe Cup game - because do you really want to see the Wallabies lose on your birthday?

That aside, I think that you should consider whether this opportunity is likely to present itself again in the near future. If yes, then perhaps consider getting the clothing, if no, then I would go. I am all about experiences at the moment.

Is there anyway that you can cut costs - perhaps rent a serviced apartment, book flights on a budget airline?

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

haha Fi!! It will be South Africa that we'll be playing LOL My eldest girl was born the day the All Blacks thrashed us in a Bledisloe Cup match in Christchurch in 2004 where it actually was snowing and I remember lying in hospital full of drugs from the caesarean, wondering if the screen was working properly or if it were really snowing LOL

OT here is a little pic of my girls in their Wallabies jerseys before we took them to see the All Blacks vs Wallabies in 2008. Don't you love the pink shoes LOL They were 2 & 4 at this time...

http://i294.photobucket.com/al.....C05501.jpg

But yes, this game happens every year around my birthday, so its one of those things that I could wait til next year for... if I wanted to...

I think the costing will come down to how many want to go - then working out the accommodation. Actually, if I wanted to make it cheaper for me I'd make my brothers buy my match ticket as my pressie LOL

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Your children are too cute!

I think that your brothers should cough up for the tickets (and ta-da there is your money for your jackets!)

Claudia

Veteran

Theresa, I as an often struggling single parent for many years (I divorced in my 20's with two babies still in diapers and very little financial contribution from their dad) and being familiar with having to make such choices I say go for the adult me-time over the clothes if you can swing the trip.

The memories will last a life time, it will be great for your spirit, and these kind of opportunities don't come along often -- and you can always find the clothes. Go have some fun for yourself with your pals.

Queen Mum

Veteran

omg the littlest one is the spitting image of you Theresa!
I agree with Fiona- let your brother treat for the weekend But if that is not possible, I do agree to go for the trip first. You will have a great time and great memories. There will always be clothes to buy.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Fi's suggestion was what I was going to say. There are lots of little ways to cut expenses on a trip. Figure out how much you need for your jackets, and trim that much out of your budget. We're going away for a couple of days and can't really afford it (but can't afford not to either), so I'm having a neighbor take care of my dog rather than boarding her, and bringing food for our breakfasts/lunches/snacks. Can you double up on a room and share, buy groceries to keep in your room for breakfast/lunch rather than eating out, and downgrade your flight/hotel?

stringy

Veteran

Chiming in to agree with everyone else: choose experiences over possessions! Unless you can get your brothers to chip in to get your ticket, so you can still get at least one jacket or maybe both

Rosie

Veteran

What a fun opportunity!! As much as I love clothes and buying them, trips with friends and loved ones are irreplaceable. Is there anything in your wardrobe now you could sell? Try to get some money to go towards the jackets?

wilson

Like Claudia, I'm a single parent who also runs into this kind of thing almost weekly. My experience has taught me to take the memories over the extra things, but only if its something you truly want to do, not just something you are doing to appease others. You will never regret having shared memories of people you love when they are healthy. But then again, I'm not the best dressed mom on the block

Phoebe

Veteran

Memories are the best money can buy. The jackets are dated next year, the experience stays for the rest of your life.
Put the denim jacket on your wishlist for your birthday, that seems doable.

Your girls ar so cute!! Is this the view from your apartment? It´s terrific!!

Kristine

Veteran

I would go for the experience over the clothes! Try to find a denim or biker jacket at the thrift store or try to find something in your closet that can serve as a substitute.

Isabel

Veteran

Hi Louise, I agree with the other ladies. If you had absolutely nothing to keep you warm on chilly days, then I would say that you needed one jacket. But if is a matter of style, then take the trip.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

aww thanks for the compliments on my darling girls! They are cuties! That photo was taken from the balcony of the place we stayed then - that was our last holiday before the girls dad and I separated so it was a posh place right on the river and on the top floor LOL Definitely nothing like that in my future for a while!

Kim its funny you say the little one looks like me - a lot of people think she's more like her dad - but that's probably because personality-wise she is and she has his colouring, whereas Em (the eldest) and I are very similar in personality and colouring. But in their baby photo's its hard to tell which is which cos they look so similar and are very similar to my baby pics.

As for my dilemma, I think it wouldn't be a dilemma if I had just 1 nice casual day to day jacket - but I mainly have cardi's and my red blazer... Weeks of thrifting have resulted in nothing even remotely passable, and the days are starting to get chillier! If I can't find anything I'll no doubt live in my too-big, navy cord denim style jacket.

But, I am going to talk to the other brother tonight and a few friends this weekend and see who is keen to go firstly - no point getting excited about a holiday if no one else wants to come LOL

That price is based on the cheapest flights at the moment, all sharing a room and the cheaper rugby tickets, so there's probably not much room for reducing it any, but yes, if I can swing at least my ticket as a gift that will help me.

I'll keep you posted though cos if this happens, the next dilemma will be what to pack ROFL!! And thanks for your insight

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Btw, South Africa is going to thrash the Wallabies and the All Blacks. Just saying :0)

Your girls look KILLER!!! Love it! Thanks for sharing,Theresa. Just beautiful.

Hands down choose the holiday.There is no competition.

Kristine

Veteran

Theresa, I seem to remember you sew, any hope of altering your cord jacket so it fits you better?

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Theresa,

Your daughters are just beautiful. Gorgeous!

Go, Go, Go on the trip!!!!

Experience hands down has to be the choice here over clothes.

Look, seriously, I believe that when you least expect it, a jacket (either denim or moto) will turn up for you at an unbelievable price. Don't ask me how I know. I just do.

And.... I say...... If your brothers won't buy you the ticket, get them to give you money to buy a jacket instead!

K

PS - Angie, for the first time ever, I must disagree with you. The wallabies are going to kick butt! <tee-hee!>

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Another vote for holiday!! Why not get the bros to combine forces and get you a jacket for your birthday??

An

Oh Theresa, your girls are so, so cute. I think the older one looks just like you!

Maya

Veteran

As someone who hasn't had a vacation in 10 years, I vote for the birthday trip. Hands down.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We'll see Katie! I'm a South African when it comes to Rugby. Go Springboks!!! :0)

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

LOL you girls are funny!

But FWIW... I really don't mind who wins this game as long as its a GOOD rugby match... BUT, next year, for the world cup... ITS OURS!!!!! ROFL

Oh and still no decisions on the trip - I can't even get my friends to commit to a dinner date so a weekend away is difficult and my brothers are still deciding... I don't think I want to go all by myself

Beth

Veteran

Theresa, you want to go on the trip. Really. Twenty years from now you won't even remember the clothes, but you'll always recall that birthday trip with people you love:)

You know, there's actually been research to show that events and experiences are recalled much better than concrete things. Now go, but those tickets!

lynne

Veteran

Chiming in with encouragement to take the trip. It really sounds like you'll be sorry if you don't. The memories will last you a lifetime.