what on earth is this timeline crazyness

this is just me venting but i cannot wrap my head around this and im honestly very annoyed.
gf and i are at the point where we may have to cancel our whole trip due to funding.

So gencon badge refunds can happen up to june 12th.
so we are heavily looking at our finances right now right?
well i have a hotel booked through the housing portal. and i go look i can actually find cheaper hotels in the nearby area. that could make or break us on our budget. so i go to look at the cancellation policy.

if you cancel BEFORE may 26th - theres a $50 fee.
if you cancel AFTER, youre charged 1 nights stay for the hotel you have booked

also your confirmation for the housing portal isnt until july 13th.

so now im gonna be out almost 200 bucks. for cancelling after the 26th. (which foolish me for not going and switching my booking to one of the cheaper options for a shorter time just to be hit with a cheaper fee)
i have 2 days to decide if we can even manage to go at all
grump grump grump >:[