want to go on vaca but... no $$$

[AlexOdentchkin8]

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I got about a month and a half before the nightmare that is dental school starts and I was thinking about going on one of those week long all inclusive trips to the Caribbean. The problem is, I have no $$$. Would it be irresponsible of me to use my credit card and then use the loans I get to pay off the card later?

 

[txaggie03]

irresponsible?

Yes.





good idea for you?

depends. are you willing to pay about twice as much for that trip than it is worth?

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

irresponsible?

Yes.





good idea for you?

depends. are you willing to pay about twice as much for that trip than it is worth?

you mean twice as much in terms of interest accumulation?

 

[txlonghorn]

Why not go on a road trip with friends to somewhere like Florida, California, or south Texas. I am sure it would be much cheaper than flying down to the Caribbean islands.

 

[Daurang]

Having been to Cancun and the Carribbean some 50+ times, I can tell you it's probably cheaper to fly into and stay for a week in Cancun than to drive and stay anywhere in Florida, Cali, Texas as suggested. It should cost you no more than $600-$700 all-inclusive for a week stay per person. If you go on your facebook page and click 'like' Expedia, you get $200 off your package. The cheapest days to fly are Tue, Wed, Thu and always go offseason.

 

[txaggie03]

you mean twice as much in terms of interest accumulation?

yes.

 

[txaggie03]

But let's face it. You've already made up your mind.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I got about a month and a half before the nightmare that is dental school starts and I was thinking about going on one of those week long all inclusive trips to the Caribbean. The problem is, I have no $$$. Would it be irresponsible of me to use my credit card and then use the loans I get to pay off the card later?

If you have to ask, then it probably is. You already know you don't have the money, so you cannot afford a trip. Don't borrow money from money you have not even borrowed yet if your intention was to pay the credit card off with student loan money. If you do that, then you will run out of student loan money next year which will set you back again. This will become a vicious cycle. I have seen multiple people fall into this just because they know after d-school they will be making quite a bit of money.

 

[txaggie03]

Also, there is this little gem in your Master Promissory Note:



SECTION C: BORROWER REQUEST, CERTIFICATIONS, AUTHORIZATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDINGS – READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING BELOW

11.

This is a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for one or more Federal Direct Stafford/Ford (Direct Subsidized) Loans and/or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford (Direct Unsubsidized) Loans. I request a......

...
12. Under penalty of perjury, I certify that:

A. The information I have provided on this MPN and as updated by me from time to time is true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and is made in good faith.

B. I will use the proceeds of loans made under this MPN for authorized educational expenses that I incur and I will immediately repay any loan proceeds that cannot be attributed to educational expenses for attendance on at least a half-time basis at the school that certified my loan eligibility.

...

 

[beeho]

who reads those, really?!?!

sign here and there=money money money!!!

on a serious note: just a bad idea, OP. Interest will kick your ass if you play with loan money.

 

[armorshell]

Just get those friends together and go camping on the beach. It'll cost 1/5th as much and probably be just as fun. By a 1.5L bottle of rum and it'll be all inclusive too!

Seriously, using loan money to buy a vacation before you even have it isn't really a great way to start a life of financial responsibility.

 

[Localnative]

Get the idea?
Cheap and THEN some.
You won't be disappointed my friend.
During residency I took a trip, and yes I was a pauper back then. A few weeks there and you won't know what hit ya. Freight train baby.
And go solo. Going in tandem will ONLY slow you down.
G'luck Charlie.

 

[Daurang]

Thailand will cost $1500 in just airfare alone. Are you nuts?

 

[DrReo]

Why would you plan a trip? Learn financial discipline now and it'll be the best thing you can do.

 

[SoulPower]

Thailand will cost $1500 in just airfare alone. Are you nuts?

More like ~1300 but still. You have to stay there for a longer time to make it worthwhile; I recently went there for 6 1/2 weeks. Spent about a total of 5k for the whole trip. So yeah, not cheap but extremely worth it.

 

[rav4182]

debt is just a number, big or small all it depends on is how you manage it. besides, who wants to die with money in their wallet?

 

[SoulPower]

debt is just a number, big or small all it depends on is how you manage it. besides, who wants to die with money in their wallet?

I kind of agree with this. At this point in your life there's some areas to travel to that should be experienced when you're younger. Spring break, Cancun, Thailand to name a few, the kind of thing where it's a party atmosphere. Waiting till after dental school and your debt is down will lower the amount of fun you can have at these places due to being too "old." Old is relative to the age group that usually travels to these places.

 

[8 SNAKE]

debt is just a number, big or small all it depends on is how you manage it. besides, who wants to die with money in their wallet?

With all due respect, you sound like someone without much practical life experience. You will (hopefully) learn that debt is an anchor. Get rid of it as quickly as possible, because you can go so many more places in life when you're free of debt.

 

[ToothBlaster]

Whats so great about thailand? Can you humor me please?

 

[SoulPower]

Whats so great about thailand? Can you humor me please?

Super huge tourist destination for Europeans, I met people from just about anywhere on this planet. Not many places you can do that. It's as much a social/enculturation experience as a vacation experience.

And their islands are pretty much paradise without the huge bill. White sandy beaches, blue water, awesome coral reefs all for about $20-30/ day. Yeah, it's sweet.

Oh yeah and you can pet a tiger.

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

I think its obvious to displaying sound fiscal responsibly while in dental school. I kinda knew it was a bad idea but I wanted some feedback. In a differed scenario, ignore that fact that I will use my credit card for pay for a trip. If I had some remaining loans at the end of D1 and I want to take a trip before I study and take NBDE 1 (we take it after the first year), would that be so bad. In other words, I'm sure I wouldn't be the first person to take a vacation while in dental school using the loans (even if we aren't supposed to)

 

[MowgliR]

Whats so great about thailand? Can you humor me please?

The Hangover Part II.

 

[8 SNAKE]

In a differed scenario, ignore that fact that I will use my credit card for pay for a trip. If I had some remaining loans at the end of D1 and I want to take a trip before I study and take NBDE 1 (we take it after the first year), would that be so bad. In other words, I'm sure I wouldn't be the first person to take a vacation while in dental school using the loans (even if we aren't supposed to)

You're using money that you don't have to take a vacation you can not afford. Spin it any way you want, but this is the reality of your situation. Would you be the first? Not by a long shot. Do you want to be in this group? That's the more important question.

 

[txlonghorn]

The Hangover Part II.

Ladyboys? lol

 

[ToothBlaster]

Is it a good idea to become a counselor on a teen tour or something?

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I think its obvious to displaying sound fiscal responsibly while in dental school. I kinda knew it was a bad idea but I wanted some feedback. In a differed scenario, ignore that fact that I will use my credit card for pay for a trip. If I had some remaining loans at the end of D1 and I want to take a trip before I study and take NBDE 1 (we take it after the first year), would that be so bad. In other words, I'm sure I wouldn't be the first person to take a vacation while in dental school using the loans (even if we aren't supposed to)

You asked for our opinion, well, here it is. Here is the thing - unless you are in the situation where you don't take out student loans to pay for your education, then realistically you cannot afford to take the vacation. Now, you would not be the first nor the last to do it, but financially you don't have the spare money for a vacation even with money left over after yr 1. There may very well be expenses that come up that can really kick you in the butt that the spare cash will needed. It is unfortunate, but the money that is allotted for living expenses for d-school do not usually budget for emergencies that come up. If I had to survive off student loans, this past month would have sucked hardcore. First, both daughters had to have tubes surgically placed in their ears. My wife discovered she has broken cartilage (yes, broken cartilage) in her knee which requires a lot of physical therapy, the transmission went out on my Acura and had to be replaced - big bucks. The very next day after the transmission went out, my A/C on my house went out as well which had to be replaced - very big bucks. Point is - you never know when expenses will come up that are not planned for. The money that is allotted is there for you to live off, not vacation on. You choose to do with your money as you wish, but don't complain you have no money if you need money if something should happen.

 

[squeegeediver]

As they say, "if you live like a dentist when you are a student, you will be living like a student when you are a dentist."

 

[youknowthedrill]

You need a job. If you already have one, you need a second job. Don't go on vacation if you don't have the money. A little hard work isn't going to kill you- and you'll enjoy your vacation more.

 

[zorrox]

Bad idea. Don't use money you don't have. Try a simple beach trip or weekend getaway. It will cost you a few hundred at most depending where you go.

 

[zoralsurgeon]

👍

As they say, "if you live like a dentist when you are a student, you will be living like a student when you are a dentist."

haha...if you are willing to be paying back double what the price tag currently says..then go for it...when you get back you will probably wish you hadn't done it...then again, these types of trips are absolutely amazing...so...haha, idk. u decide.

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

I've decided not to go on any trips I can't afford. I've spoken to some current students about this and they have gone on trips, but while they were in d-school. I'm sure I could use a trip during spring break or something for mental health but we'll see how that goes. The quote about living like a student when you're a dentist I like a lot. I will keep it in mind whenever I'm about to make a bad purchase.