I need help making a decision! New car or 6 month backpacking trip?

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holdencaulfield

go with your instinct- do the backpacking trip!

chances are, you will never get another opportunity like this one- after college, it sounds like you wouldn't pause your career to travel.
i mean, you are young! your parents will pay for it!
after college, your life goes on fast-forward- everything just zooms by, and it's hard to take a break. i know you might say that you will find an opportunity to do something like this later on, but to be honest- as life goes on, you get more tied down.
you have the chance now, so take it!

also, think about it- in 10 years, what will you remember most- a back-packing trip in europe or a car? what about 20 years? 50?
most people would say that they would remember the back-packing trip, because that kind of thing is life-changing!

last- it seems like your instinct is telling you to go on the trip. when i read your question, you sounded like you really did want to go on the trip, but you just wanted reassurance that you weren't making a mistake. if you really are as excited about it as you sound, then it would definitely make you happy, right?

bottom line- it's your choice. but everything indicates that the back-packing trip will be the best choice for you!

hope this helps!

Christina H

You can always get a car down the road.. But how many times in a life (unless you are rich) do you have a chance to go back packing in europe for 6 months.. I would say do the trip it will be worth it and you will have memories you will never forget.. Before life ties you down and you cant!!!!!!!

curious

Backpacking definitely. The other things will come and when you finish school and start working you'll never have the time to travel like that again. I mean, are you really going to take 6 months off of work???

go backpacking, the memories will last you longer than any car.

Elizabeth

From your other questions, it looks like you're from the US. If this is the case, you may have difficulties backpacking in Europe for 6 months. The Schengen Zone only allows a 90-day tourist stay out of every 180. You could stay outside the zone for the other 90 days, but as you can see at the link, you'd have to avoid a lot of countries (including departure flights).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SchengenAgreement_map.png

My suggestion is to take the summer to backpack through Europe (for up to 3 months), go back to school in the autumn, and put the leftover money in savings towards a future car.

Alternately, consider a year abroad with a university exchange. It would give you a student visa and ample time to travel during weekends and holidays. In most European cities, you wouldn't need a car, and in many countries tuition is free (you just pay living costs).

Colonel Link

Couldn't you take the money for backpacking and just go once you've finished school? It seems a bit pointless to get a car if you already have one that works. But yeah, go backpacking. You can always go back to school, but who knows when Europe will blow up?

kiwi_says_hello

well i may be to young to answer but i say that you stay, get a new car, and finish school... then later on you go backpacking through europe. that way you will have a job, have a new cool car, and would've finished school.
on the other hand, backpacking could be a once in a life time oppertunity and a fun experience. you could also just go to school for a longer period( ex. instead of 4 years, take 1 year off and go to school for an extra year later). plus if your car works well, and you love it, why not go backpacking.
so i guess if the decision was up to me, i would go backpacking. that way i have time away from school, i would get to go on a fun trip, and i could come back and make up the school i missed. well i hope for a 13 year old i helped.

CounselorDan

How long would your car last that you have now... realistically?

That would be the question I would be asking. If your car wont last you another 3 years I would definitely say CAR!!!!

Buying a car in the future is something you will definitely have to do so getting it now is something I would do. Thats me though.

I'm very suprised that your friends are saying take the trip. You must come from money and if that is the case who cares. Pick which one you want now because you'll turn out great regardless.

Yes thats coming from someone who doesn't come from money. NOT YOUR FAULT but I'm a little bitter to tell you the truth. I wish I had your problem!

Take care and enjoy whatever choice you make. I hope you truely understand how blessed you are. You probably dont because its hard to understand what you have until you loose it.

Take care
Daniel

: )

dont let us influence your decision, you know what you want!

it seems like you want to backpack rather than buy a new car

Alec

do the backpacking but dont do it now do it towards the end of the school year after all ur tests r done and stuff then summer and college

Necro

either choice is really tempting. if you would have to take off school to do the backpacking, then i would take the car, but if there is a chance that you could do the backpacking when you are off of school, then deff do the backpacking

Tiffanie might induce tomorrow!

Well... If you have the opportunity to do the backpacking now you might want to take it. Once you finish college and start working and start your adult life it is much harder to find the time to do those things that you have always wanted to do. You will keep finding reasons to keep pushing it back and back until it never happens. Later you will have to worry about covering all types of bills and house and car payments while you are gone and I am pretty sure that you won't be able to leave your responsibilities for a whole six months. You should probably take the trip and enjoy it now while you aren't tied down. In the long run a semester off from college won't make a big change in your future plans. Good luck, have fun, and be safe!

regerugged

Used car prices are way down right now. I suggest you consider buying a newer model used car. Save your money. Then, when you are finished with school, you can go backpacking on shorter trips every year for the rest of your working life. The car will be available for your daily use for years to come.

This month I bought a used 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan for $6,200.00. So far, I had to replace the windshield wiper blade on the back window.

meee

travel

crazybutawesome

go for the car!!!!! you can always travel later, europe will still be there!!!

if you go to europe can i have a souvenir? lol

:)

cassiebaby

New car, school is more important!
Backpack later, Europe will still be there!

chrissy s

I think that you should finish school.

It's the same concept as people that decide to take "just a year off" to go travel, work, etc before college. Soon you get yourself into debt with car loans, rent payments, etc so now you're working a full-time job just to make ends meet and college is a far distant thought.

Just get through your education - and then, and only then, take the time to work and save, and take your trip as a great big congratulations for getting through college!

Kristi P

I'd go with the new car. It would be best to finsih up school and do the backpacking thing later. The car will be more useful to you right now.

PortugueÂ§e G!rl

New car

soccergirl407891

i would get the car and save up pennies after your done school..... follow your heart. also you can always go to europe and this way, you wont miss work or school and you can pursue your dreams after and not feel the guilr od missing school

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