Rachel Cruze: 5 Reasons Experiences Aren’t Worth Taking on Debt
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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In a YouTube video, financial expert Rachel Cruze is taking on one of our biggest money justifications — going into debt for experiences. Here’s why those “worth it” moments might be costing us more than we think.
The Disney Reality Check
“I saw a recent stat that 45% of parents who go to Disney with kids under 18 take on debt for their vacation,” Cruze said. The average amount? A whopping $1,983. While the motivation comes from a good place, those magical memories come with a real price tag.
The Perfect Parent Myth
“Just because a parent takes their kid to Disney does not mean that they are a better parent than someone that doesn’t,” Cruze said. Yet in the heat of the moment, that parent guilt kicks in and we convince ourselves expensive experiences equal better parenting.
The Social Media Illusion
Think those perfect vacation photos tell the whole story? Think again. “People aren’t posting their meltdowns because nobody has time to whip out their phone and record the meltdown,” Cruze added. We’re comparing our financial reality to carefully curated moments.
The Memory Reality
Here’s the truth about those expensive experiences: “Your kids won’t always remember every single detail of every day,” Cruze said. “What they remember is the overall emotion of the trip. They remember how they felt in a moment versus the actual thing.”
The Joy Factor
“Your kids can have the same level of fun on a staycation,” Cruze explained. “If you don’t have cash for Disney, maybe book a room with the local holiday inn with a Groupon and let the kids go crazy with the vending machines and the indoor pool — trust me, they are going to have a great time.”
The bottom line? As Cruze puts it: “The vacations that follow you home in payments are not worth it.” Instead of debt, she recommends setting up a sinking fund — saving monthly for future adventures. Because the best memories are the ones that don’t come with monthly statements.
