After saving for two years in our money jar,

[lisaross]

we had 486.00!!! and we still have a year to go till our 2nd Disney family trip-adding a few days of Universal too!

I can't believe the planning is beginning - we just purchased Universal Tickets!

Lisa

 

[mncherokee]

We have just started our 'Dream Jar' a few weeks ago! (So far $5.49)

Isn't it fun to start actually purchasing trip items?

 

[CarolinaMomOf3boys]

way to go, Lisa!!! great, great job!
Do you save change or throw extra dollars in there?

 

[rentayenta]

That's awesome. I started our jar about 6 months ago but I think the kids are swiping the quarters.

 

[njsweetP]

We just started ours this past week and booking our vacation for next year! It really adds up and our jar paid for all our meals on our last trip! Woohoo

 

[Louisianafive]

It's amazing how much you can save in a jar!!

What size jar are you using? We are using large pickle jars.

 

[lisaross]

We use a large Water Jug - the gigantic ones. Yes we throw in bills as well - had a 20 and some 5's as well!

Planning is great - just went to the Disney store and bought some 5.00 t-shirts and sun-glasses for my kids. Planning to me is just as fun as going! Next on my list is airflights.

lisa

 

[SLM]

I didn't save as long as you are doing, but that's how I paid for our dinner for four at the Cape May on our last trip-it really adds up, doesn't it? And what a good lesson you're teaching your children!

 

[czycropper]

I decorated a paint can and sealed the lid shut so no one can be tempted to get in . We're saving for a 2010 Galapagos August trip & Disney/Universal in Nov. 2010 - I have to go see the HP World when it opens

I've been putting change as well as dollar bills!

 

[Laneychris]

We ahve a jar as well. THe kids help which I think makes them see why it is improtant to save!

 

[lisaross]

Yes, my kids love contributing as well!

We ahve a jar as well. THe kids help which I think makes them see why it is improtant to save!

 

[Leigha]

Congrats!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Congrats..

Now after your trip continue to keep up the tradition and at some point use the $$ for whatever. Weather it be emergency money or another family vacation.

What I like to do is when our bank sends out our X-mas savings check if the check is say $987. I take the $87 and stash it away as rainy day money.

 

[sticker231]

congrats on your savings and starting to put it to use for your trip. I keep a small coffee can and it is amazing how it adds up. I swap the coins out for dollars every month or so. We use it for souvie money.

 

[megthewonderful]

I just started a new jar after our last trip to Disney in early May. So far, we have about $40. Not too bad considering quarters usually don't make their way into our jar. It's incredible how much change can add up in just a short time!

 

[kimsuenew]

I started saving my change 11 months ago (after booking bounceback free DDP). I am the only one that saved my change (DS & DH did not) and it was strictly coins, no bills. I figured/hoped that this would end up being nearly enough to pay for tips (and it is ). I cashed the nearly full container in May, deposited that money in my savings, and began immediately trying to fill the jar a second time. The amount of the first deposit (thankfully our credit union offers free change counting at two of their locations) was $207.00 and the second deposit, just taken in on Friday, totalled $118.00. That totals $325.00 in 11 months! It is amazing how quickly change adds up. I have already started "depositing my change" into the jar again! It will be several years before we return to "The World" and it will be wonderful to see how the change adds up over a several year period!

 

[Dismom55]

We have one of the big water jugs, 5 gal, I decorated it with Disney stickers we got free from a mailing of some kind. We sealed the top, can't tell you how much is in there, just know I can no longer lift it, I have put bills in there as well. Much is pennies and a good assortment of silver coin.

I also have a Disney only checking acct. In there I usually put dollars, I give myself an allowance each payday, the money left over on the following payday goes into the Disney account that earns interest. I also deposit rebate checks into that acct. So far that acct has paid for our deposit for the next trip as well as a balance of several hundred dollars.

 

[grumpyvet]

I do the jar thing as well, but have a jar each for Quarters, Dimes and Nickels. I had been saving pennies for 28 years, the last 12 with my husband in a huge glass jar that we hadn't moved for about 9 years. The glass started creaking, so my DH vacuumed the coins out with a shop vac since we couldn't lift the jar.

$266.27 in Pennies!!!! We got it all in gift cards to Starbucks/Borders/Amazon.com since we couldn't find a place that would count them for free. The giftcards are to be Holiday gifts so we have more spending money for WDW when we go in Dec. 2008!!!

Current other change savings since our trip last September is $248!!!

Seems like found free money!


AMY

 

[monsterkitty]

I don't spend $20 bills, I save them. When I go to the grocery store, I take the money I save using coupons as my allowance. If I save $20 or more and they give me a $20, I put it in a PassPorter pocket for my next trip.

 

[Applemomma]

We have a Winnie The Pooh bank we put all our spare change in and when it starts to get heavy the kids and I have a coin rolling party. Also with each pay cheque I pay our vacation account first,depositing $10 or $20, depending on which job I'm cashing the paycheque for. Also all the money from our refundable bottles goes into the vacation account and to top it off I go through all the banking transactions on line a few times a month and for every purchase I round up to the dollar and transfer the difference into the savings account.

It really adds up! I started after our first real family trip last year and in six months I had more the $600 dollars! I managed to pay for our entire camping trip this year, with the exception of some gas cards that we got from collecting point on our local gas stations "loyalty" card. My plan is to try and save up for a trip to Newfoundland next year , then camping again the year after, and then Disney again the following year.

Hubby and I don't make much money but seeing how fast the small stuff adds up makes me think there's no excuse for not having some nice family vacations.....though DH does think I'm a little odd when I leap at the dime on the ground or collect all the kids water bottles that get left behind after a game