Want your opinion.

Does it make great financial sense, no, but frick it and do it, not every decision we make has to be because it makes financial sense

There will never be a time in your life when you will be able to do this again, go for it and enjoy it, you will figure out someway to pay it off

Try to get a student loan?

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Run the numbers and see if you'll have enough disposable income to service the note once you start working.

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I'm with you and the poster above me (below you).

Some things don't have to be the most efficient use of money, or we'd never enjoy it. If you will make enough to pay it off, the memories will be well worth it. My only concern really is if you want to bring the GF. Because, if you bring her, that will do two things.

1) Sully (a tad) the great memories and the fact you paid 4k for her to go
2) REALLY piss off your future wife when she finds out you brought an ex-gf to Tuscany for a month, but you can't bring her to Destin for 5 days.

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My question is, do you think it's smart to start my professional career a few thousand in the hole on something so recreational? My thought process is that since I have no student debt as is, what is a couple grand gonna hurt when it could have easily been 50k dollars. Just want to hear some other peoples opinions.

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First of all - let's just look at that $7000. If you only invested it in KO (Coca Cola) and let the dividends reinvest for 40 years, that's about $150k. Now, you're not spending that money out of your pocket, but you're borrowing it, so the actual costs might be more, because you have to pay that back, plus interest (this IS the money talk board, I wanted to get all that out of the way first.)

Now, having said that, if you do this, it is HIGHLY unlikely you will ever get to a point in your life where you say, "Sonofabitch, I wish I hadn't spent those 5 weeks in Tuscany with my girlfriend after graduation."

You're supposed to spend money, at least in these circumstances, on experiences rather than stuff.

IF you make the commitment, you will buy autmobiles one level down from your budget, and make up the $7k that way, over, say your next 2 car purchases, that is the responsible way to sacrifice a little material future for a permanent, wonderful, fulfilling life experience.

(But, I think $7k may even be a little bit low for 6 weeks in Italy - maybe you're a better, more economical traveler than I - heck I spend $1200 a week traveling in the US and I drive everywhere.)

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My only concern really is if you want to bring the GF. Because, if you bring her, that will do two things.

1) Sully (a tad) the great memories and the fact you paid 4k for her to go
2) REALLY piss off your future wife when she finds out you brought an ex-gf to Tuscany for a month, but you can't bring her to Destin for 5 days.

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, I was waiting for this. If this were on the OT, I would have gotten hammered for it. It's either her or a buddy and a villa with a buddy in Tuscany sounds about as straight as a football bat. Also, by this time next year she will most likely be my fiance. She has put up with and stuck with me through thick and thin for a long time now. I'm not gonna find anything better from a woman/future wife.

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5-7k ain't gonna cut it for 4-6 weeks in Tuscany

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This is where I have a tad bit of help. My mom grew up 16 years living in Sicily. One of her good friends is a realtor in Naples. She thinks that she can get a good rental extended from a week to a month at a discounted rate. I don't have exact numbers but if she can put her money where her mouth is, it should be a huge help. Also, it's not touristy type stuff. We will buy food and cook at home. Not like we will be eating out every night at lavish restaurants.

The 5k-7k is also to cover living expenses only (food, wine, taxi, train, villa, etc). Airfare is not included in that number.

Couldn't you just get a shitty part time job and save the 7k between now and May? Sacrifice a little work now to pay for your dream. Am I missing something? Couldn't your gf/fiancé save up her half?

I am all for living the dream. I would suggest not limiting your trip to one area. Spend a few days at least in Rome, Paris, ect.. Just save up the cash, first.

nogood, I work part time now being a full time student. While I have no student loan debt, it's not like a $10/hr job is stockpiling me with cash and not like I don't have other responsibilities. I do put money away each paycheck, but when you factor in gas, rent, food, fun, etc., that's not leaving much extra.

Jp, in the process of doing that now. Thanks for the advice.

I lived in Europe for two months while I was in law school. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I would drop another $10k to do it again in a heartbeat if I could.

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5-7k ain't gonna cut it for 4-6 weeks in Tuscany

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F$%k it! Do it! Just live beneath your means once you get back and get that shite paid off ASAP!

Where did you go?