Review my budget - The DIS Discussion Forums

tfiga1 · 10-07-2012, 06:42 PM

Every week I have been adding money to my shipboard account and am currently at $800 which I think is enough. Is there anything I am missing? A few pieces on information, we do not buy the photos, not drinkers (last time in WDW we each had 1 drink each) and do not really buy souvenirs. Also, we have already paid our tips in advance and plan on taking a bunch of 1's and 5's for room service and porter tips.

$250- 3 sessions of bingo
$100- drinks
$60- Palo brunch
$80- 2 tastings
$100- $50 for each of my 2 children for souvenirs
$50- Misc costs
$25- pin and magnet souvenir for me
$12- float rentals at CC

We have 2 ports, Cozumel and CC. In Cozumel we are going to Mr. Sanchos and paying out of pocket. Does this seem sufficient?

TIA

raceboymom · 10-07-2012, 06:45 PM

Sounds like you've got it covered, but you never know when you are going to see something that you want to do or buy that you weren't expecting. I'd add a few hundred just for unexpected items.

kcashner · 10-07-2012, 06:46 PM

How are you planning to get to the port?
I'm guessing you are on a 7 night cruise based on your stops...and that you are a family of 4 or 5 (not sure with the Palo brunch amount at $60 (3 people) and the comment about $50 to each kid......

Spa? Smoothies for kids? arcade? simulators? fitness classes?

sissy_ib · 10-07-2012, 06:58 PM

If the $60 for Palo does not include a tip a little more for that.

Anonny · 10-07-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sissy_ib

If the $60 for Palo does not include a tip a little more for that.

Perhaps $60 for Palo is two adults. $20 for brunch and $10 tip each. Isn't that appopriate?

Anonny · 10-07-2012, 07:11 PM

If you don't drink, I think you are over-budgeting with $100 for drinks.
Most non-alcoholic drinks are included in the cost of your cruise.

tfiga1 · 10-07-2012, 07:31 PM

The $60 for Palo is 2 adults for brunch with tips, the drinks include a couple of smoothies for my oldest son 13, as my youngest 11 does not like them. We are on a 5 day cruise. We are flying into MIA and are planning on paying the $30 cab ride in cash. I do have just over $100 pad in my total, currently the expenses budgeted for are just under $700. I think I should be ok, but just do not want to be short as I try to pay for my entire trip before I leave, it makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

kcashner · 10-07-2012, 07:36 PM

Your budget looks pretty good. I don't think anyone was trying to be critical but rather to try to figure out how you had allocated some things.

Every family is different. My bingo would be zero, but I might enjoy some spa time. On the other hand, one of your family might like the golf simulator or whatever. We each make different choices.

It looks like you have all of yours covered.

Itinkso · 10-07-2012, 07:49 PM

Speaking from very recent experience (Friday morning at 1 a.m.), you may want to factor in an unexpected medical emergency. After hours visits to the Fantasy Medical Center is a minimum $221 fee. One hour into watching Frankenweenie, DD yawned and dislocated her jaw. She couldn't relax her muscles for it to reposition and we were at the Medical Center at 1:10 and the Dr. was on his way. Three repositioning attempts later she was back to normal. Prior to this emergency, we were running at just $200 on our account - $90 in drinks for DD and two meals at Palo with tips and one Mixology class - our souvenirs were on her credit card and my card was on file for our account. When we disembarked, our final account total was $800! So, with two children, you may want to pad your total a little more just to be safe - not necessarily hundreds of dollars but maybe enough to cover a basic emergency visit just in case.

MDTerp · 10-07-2012, 07:50 PM

I just re-read and say you took care if gratuities in advance. Unless you decide to do spa or fitness class, you look good.

PrincessShmoo · 10-07-2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDTerp

I just re-read and say you took care if gratuities in advance. Unless you decide to do spa or fitness class, you look good.

OP said they've paid thier tips in advance.

tfiga1 · 10-07-2012, 08:48 PM

Thanks for all the responses. I think I will add $100 more and pray for the best. Also I did not feel anyone was being critical....I absolutely love this board, so much great information and wonderful people. I am sorry if my post came off that I felt I was being criticized. I was just trying to clarify my original post because once I hit the submit button, I remember all the other information I should have included.

tvguy · 10-07-2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itinkso

Speaking from very recent experience (Friday morning at 1 a.m.), you may want to factor in an unexpected medical emergency. After hours visits to the Fantasy Medical Center is a minimum $221 fee. One hour into watching Frankenweenie, DD yawned and dislocated her jaw. She couldn't relax her muscles for it to reposition and we were at the Medical Center at 1:10 and the Dr. was on his way. Three repositioning attempts later she was back to normal. Prior to this emergency, we were running at just $200 on our account - $90 in drinks for DD and two meals at Palo with tips and one Mixology class - our souvenirs were on her credit card and my card was on file for our account. When we disembarked, our final account total was $800! So, with two children, you may want to pad your total a little more just to be safe - not necessarily hundreds of dollars but maybe enough to cover a basic emergency visit just in case.

Available credit on a credit card is also something to consider, especially if flying. I always tell folks to have an amount equal to the cost of the full fare, one way flight home for everyone in your party available on a credit card in case of a flight issue. Even if you get travel insurance, you would have to pay that fare and have to file a claim when you get home. You could do that with travelers checks or cash, but I wouldn't recommend traveling with that much cash. I'd also add enough for hotel rooms and airport price level meals for a few meals in my reserve.

I don't mean this in a snarky way, but, I am amazed at how little financial breathing room some cruisers have.

tfiga1 · 10-07-2012, 10:08 PM

Thanks, we do plan on taking a credit card for extreme emergencies, but after spending so many years paying them off, I do not want to use one if I do not have to. I am just trying to get make sure that my onboard account has a zero balance when I disembark.

sissy_ib · 10-07-2012, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvguy

Available credit on a credit card is also something to consider, especially if flying. I always tell folks to have an amount equal to the cost of the full fare, one way flight home for everyone in your party available on a credit card in case of a flight issue. Even if you get travel insurance, you would have to pay that fare and have to file a claim when you get home. You could do that with travelers checks or cash, but I wouldn't recommend traveling with that much cash. I'd also add enough for hotel rooms and airport price level meals for a few meals in my reserve.

I don't mean this in a snarky way, but, I am amazed at how little financial breathing room some cruisers have.

We always have an empty CC each when we travel. Well, we always have it in general but make sure we carry it when we travel. We don't really consider that part of the budget. We may set a spending limit with little room, but we have at least the credit to get us home or where we need to go in an emergency. When looking at my upcoming trip I've accounted for Palo, excursions, the spa, but not an emergency. That is what the Master Card in the back of my wallet and the Visa in the back of my husband's is for. Oh, and passports of course!

10-07-2012, 06:42 PM	#1
tfiga1 Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 100	Review my budget Every week I have been adding money to my shipboard account and am currently at $800 which I think is enough. Is there anything I am missing? A few pieces on information, we do not buy the photos, not drinkers (last time in WDW we each had 1 drink each) and do not really buy souvenirs. Also, we have already paid our tips in advance and plan on taking a bunch of 1's and 5's for room service and porter tips. $250- 3 sessions of bingo $100- drinks $60- Palo brunch $80- 2 tastings $100- $50 for each of my 2 children for souvenirs $50- Misc costs $25- pin and magnet souvenir for me $12- float rentals at CC We have 2 ports, Cozumel and CC. In Cozumel we are going to Mr. Sanchos and paying out of pocket. Does this seem sufficient? TIA

10-07-2012, 06:58 PM	#4
sissy_ib DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5,673	If the $60 for Palo does not include a tip a little more for that. __________________

10-07-2012, 07:49 PM	#9
Itinkso DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,151	Speaking from very recent experience (Friday morning at 1 a.m.), you may want to factor in an unexpected medical emergency. After hours visits to the Fantasy Medical Center is a minimum $221 fee. One hour into watching Frankenweenie, DD yawned and dislocated her jaw. She couldn't relax her muscles for it to reposition and we were at the Medical Center at 1:10 and the Dr. was on his way. Three repositioning attempts later she was back to normal. Prior to this emergency, we were running at just $200 on our account - $90 in drinks for DD and two meals at Palo with tips and one Mixology class - our souvenirs were on her credit card and my card was on file for our account. When we disembarked, our final account total was $800! So, with two children, you may want to pad your total a little more just to be safe - not necessarily hundreds of dollars but maybe enough to cover a basic emergency visit just in case. __________________ WDW 1/13 - AKL; 10/12 - Pop; 4/12 - Off-site; 11/10 - BWI CL; 8/10 - POR; 7/09 - POFQ; 4/04 - ASMo; 2/97 - CBR ~ DLP 7/2012 ~ DLR - Mother Ship ~ August 6, 2005 - Magical Cruise of the Mexican Riviera ~ Sept. 29, 2012 Fantasy Western Caribbean

10-07-2012, 07:50 PM	#10
MDTerp Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 316	I just re-read and say you took care if gratuities in advance. Unless you decide to do spa or fitness class, you look good. __________________ Monica DH and DD (15) October 2007 - Western Caribbean - Disney Magic September 2009 - DVC SSMC - Disney Wonder September 2010 - DVC SSMC - Disney Wonder July 2011 - 10-Day Mediterranean - Disney Magic April 2012 - 5 Night Double Dip - Disney Dream November 2012 - Bahamas - Disney Dream March 2013 - Mexico/Castaway Cay - Disney Wonder DVC Member Since 2007 - AKV and BLT Trips to the World...2001, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

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10-07-2012, 06:45 PM	#2
raceboymom Earning My Ears Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 11	Sounds like you've got it covered, but you never know when you are going to see something that you want to do or buy that you weren't expecting. I'd add a few hundred just for unexpected items.

10-07-2012, 06:46 PM	#3
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	How are you planning to get to the port? I'm guessing you are on a 7 night cruise based on your stops...and that you are a family of 4 or 5 (not sure with the Palo brunch amount at $60 (3 people) and the comment about $50 to each kid...... Spa? Smoothies for kids? arcade? simulators? fitness classes?

10-07-2012, 07:11 PM	#6
Anonny Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 187	If you don't drink, I think you are over-budgeting with $100 for drinks. Most non-alcoholic drinks are included in the cost of your cruise.

10-07-2012, 07:31 PM	#7
tfiga1 Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 100	The $60 for Palo is 2 adults for brunch with tips, the drinks include a couple of smoothies for my oldest son 13, as my youngest 11 does not like them. We are on a 5 day cruise. We are flying into MIA and are planning on paying the $30 cab ride in cash. I do have just over $100 pad in my total, currently the expenses budgeted for are just under $700. I think I should be ok, but just do not want to be short as I try to pay for my entire trip before I leave, it makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

10-07-2012, 07:36 PM	#8
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	Your budget looks pretty good. I don't think anyone was trying to be critical but rather to try to figure out how you had allocated some things. Every family is different. My bingo would be zero, but I might enjoy some spa time. On the other hand, one of your family might like the golf simulator or whatever. We each make different choices. It looks like you have all of yours covered.

10-07-2012, 08:48 PM	#12
tfiga1 Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 100	Thanks for all the responses. I think I will add $100 more and pray for the best. Also I did not feel anyone was being critical....I absolutely love this board, so much great information and wonderful people. I am sorry if my post came off that I felt I was being criticized. I was just trying to clarify my original post because once I hit the submit button, I remember all the other information I should have included.

10-07-2012, 10:08 PM	#14
tfiga1 Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 100	Thanks, we do plan on taking a credit card for extreme emergencies, but after spending so many years paying them off, I do not want to use one if I do not have to. I am just trying to get make sure that my onboard account has a zero balance when I disembark.