Where to find $2k?

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Alright, so I'm not a mindless spender, but I'm also not frugal. I spend on what I want, but I prioritize.

I'd like to take my mom on a cruise. Her portion would be somewhere between 2k and 2,500 all said and done. How would you fund this?

I don't work a shift job so picking up OT is not an option. I wouldn't be opposed to working for extra money.

I've booked the cruise already so there isn't a huge time crunch as I figure it might take awhile.

I spend a lot on food so if I can figure out how to cook for myself for a few months instead of ordering CateredFit that would probably be significant.

I also figure I can save $70/month if I do my own nails for awhile. I can't do my own hair though.

Any other thoughts?

 

[disneyjunkie]

Work retail during the holiday season. If you work from October - January, you could make about $4000.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I agree, an extra job is the way to go. You can check around your area but where I live places like Lowe's, Menard's and Aldi's pay their workers a couple of dollars higher than other area retailers.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Work retail during the holiday season. If you work from October - January, you could make about $4000.

I agree, an extra job is the way to go. You can check around your area but where I live places like Lowe's, Menard's and Aldi's pay their workers a couple of dollars higher than other area retailers.

Do retail places often hire people who only have weekend availability? I also have zero retail experience. I have an advanced degree lol, but I highly doubt that's an asset.

The cruise is in November so also not likely great for seasonal :-/

 

[Vernie822]

Try meal planning each week. Shop sales - when chicken breast is buy one get one free I get four and freeze them. Make a big pot of chili or something and freeze some. Make your own meatballs or turkey burgers or whatever you like and freeze some. I write out our meals each week and I've been pricing everything to stick to our budget.

Do you have a bunch of extra stuff like clothes lying around? Drop them off at Plato's closet or Clothes Mentor for some extra cash. Don't think you'll get a few thousand but it could help.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Do you have a local college or pro football team or both? You could get a seasonal job with them and just work game days which would often just be Saturdays and Sundays. Any time you get a new job I assume most places understand when you already have vacations booked.

 

[StaciaRae]

Sell things on either eBay, your local facebook pages, or have a garage sale. We made almost $800 on a 3 day garage sale two weeks ago. There are also consignment shops that will sell your items for you (usually take a big chunk for fees, but not much work on your part).

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

This is already going to be a challange when you don't have savings, and are not thrifty...
but
To reduce cost: Check the cruise line your Mom may have AARP and be eligible for a discount. Also, right now Norwegian has various specials going on. We got a third and fourth person free; paying tax and port fees, plus gratuities.
Book an inside room instead of a balcony that can save you half. Compare cruise lines. Some leave from NYC and NJ if you are in the Northeast this saves the airfare.
You can cut cost going off season: May-June, Sept-October.
Our family of four is going 8 days at $2,800 total in late May. 3-4 person free and ultimate beverage package free.
When is your payment due, most are 45 days before sailing, how long does that give you to sail.


Have you been on a cruise before? There are a lot of incidental cost;
The deposit, usually $250 a person at time of reservation.
Parking or car service- either one can be a few hundred.
Trip insurance, never cruise without it, a small trip to the infirmary can be major dollars. Especially if there is a health issue that needs an air evacuation.
Passports- You don't have to have passports, but if you have an emergency or miss the boat, you can not fly from another country without one.
Tips, most are pre added before sailing or added per day if you didn't prepay. You need some extra too for porters or room steward.
Drinks; they have coffee, tea and juice. You can take your own water in original container.
Excursions off the ship; beaches or transportation to the beaches, ferris, taxi or bus

My one concern is, what savings do you have if you need a major car repair, need to relocate in an emergency situation, or uncovered medical event. Where is that money.

Cruises are fun, relaxing and great experience. But if you can't write out $2.000.+ check without missing it, this could be risky.

 

[KristinU]

Have you done a written budget? If not, write down all of your expenses each month and then go from there to look for places to either slash or supplement.

 

[BabyHabs]

We could be the same person.

What I do to save money for my vacation is every pay day, I take a certain amount and transfer it to my vacation savings account. If I don't have enough money left over to eat out, I don't. If I don't have enough money for nails, I don't get them done. No credit cards.. that's cheating. Just take the money right off the top and put it away like you never had it.

 

[LynnTH]

I would be interested to know what cruise line and ship you are going on and what kind of room you have booked. That seems really high. I can take my family of four for that price (not counting airfare). We are going during spring break in March and paid $2700 for the 4 of us in a room. Inside Cabin on Lido Deck on Carnival Breeze. Airfare used SW Points.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Try meal planning each week. Shop sales - when chicken breast is buy one get one free I get four and freeze them. Make a big pot of chili or something and freeze some. Make your own meatballs or turkey burgers or whatever you like and freeze some. I write out our meals each week and I've been pricing everything to stick to our budget.

Do you have a bunch of extra stuff like clothes lying around? Drop them off at Plato's closet or Clothes Mentor for some extra cash. Don't think you'll get a few thousand but it could help.

Sell things on either eBay, your local facebook pages, or have a garage sale. We made almost $800 on a 3 day garage sale two weeks ago. There are also consignment shops that will sell your items for you (usually take a big chunk for fees, but not much work on your part).

Thanks for the suggestions! I will definitely try to cut food budget as that could be a HUGE savings for me.

I will also take a look around for things to purge. There won't be much as I don't keep a lot of stuff but every little bit helps, right?

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I would be interested to know what cruise line and ship you are going on and what kind of room you have booked. That seems really high. I can take my family of four for that price (not counting airfare). We are going during spring break in March and paid $2700 for the 4 of us in a room. Inside Cabin on Lido Deck on Carnival Breeze. Airfare used SW Points.

It wasn't really planned as a budget trip. The plan was for us to each pay our way, but I would like to surprise my mom. Hence wanting to replace the additional $ that was not a planned spend.

It's on RCCL and the price is definitely a bit high as it's just the two of us and we're booked in a Grand Suite.

The cruise itself plus pre-paid gratuity was $1900pp

We're big water and coffee (latte, iced, cappuccino, etc.) drinkers so we got the non-alcoholic drink package which was $109pp (we'll just pay OOP for the few alcoholic drinks we get)

Flight to SJU $179pp

I have one excursion planned for the two of us $175pp

 

[LynnTH]

It wasn't really planned as a budget trip. The plan was for us to each pay our way, but I would like to surprise my mom. Hence wanting to replace the additional $ that was not a planned spend.

It's on RCCL and the price is definitely a bit high as it's just the two of us and we're booked in a Grand Suite.

The cruise itself plus pre-paid gratuity was $1900pp

We're big water and coffee (latte, iced, cappuccino, etc.) drinkers so we got the non-alcoholic drink package which was $109pp (we'll just pay OOP for the few alcoholic drinks we get)

Flight to SJU $179pp

I have one excursion planned for the two of us $175pp

Ok. That explains why it cost so much. That is a lot of money per person for a cruise but that will be fun to have a Grand Suite.

 

[JenzyHP]

Could you downgrade the room some? I can't imagine needing a Suite on a cruise. So many fun things to do outside of the room.

 

[HM]

Yard sale could bring in several hundred dollars if you do a good job of gleaning things from your house.

 

[tvguy]

Judge Judy always suggests picking up cans and recyclables.

 

[disneylove69]

Judge Judy always suggests picking up cans and recyclables.

I collect can just from my house and surprisingly it adds up quickly. As far as retail "Nov-Jan" are black out dates and we laugh when people come in wanting time off. Those that work retail all year round don't get it off so newbies aren't. Nights and weekends is what most retailers look for and experience is not a must. Most places it is going to be minimum wage and less than 20 hours a week.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Judge Judy always suggests picking up cans and recyclables.

I know Byrd does not agree with her…

 

[CF'er]

I would downgrade the room to a balcony.