1 Year to SAVE!!!

[nicki.momof3]

Do you have a Costco near you? We go through milk, eggs, veggies, etc. in our house like it's going out of style! Started saving BIG time at costco! An example I just picked up 30 eggs for $2.97 (2x18 cartons wrapped together) or you can get the bigger 3 pallets for I believe it's $4.97. We also get the 3lbs of salad mix for $2. instead of at the grocery store the small 12 oz bags for $3! We love Costco!!
Check it out

I hear ya on produce. In my area there is a farmers market type of produce stand that is open until Dec. 1 (I think). It is ALL LOCAL farmers and the cost is SOOO CHEAP it's worth the 25 minute drive. It is not advertised but everyone knows about Larry's Produce Stand. I suggest you search for one of those. Also look for farmers markets that are year round.

Another good tip is to buy seasonal produce, and vacuum seal it and freeze it to be used in the off season. I do this ALL THE TIME and it's awesome!

Thanks for the advice. We do use costco and local markets. I wish we had a longer growing season. Michigan is just to cold - should have chosen a nice warm state to raise a family.

I will keep shooting for the $100 a week - it is just tough for our family. We do same $$ by limiting theamount of time we dine out and in other areas.

Happily save enough for WDW 1-2 times a year.

 

[hereyago]

Does anyone belong to Sam's club and if so, how does it compare to Costco if you have been there as well.

We have both nearby, so I am just curious. TiA

 

[Mickeyflower]

Thanks for the advice. We do use costco and local markets. I wish we had a longer growing season. Michigan is just to cold - should have chosen a nice warm state to raise a family.

I will keep shooting for the $100 a week - it is just tough for our family. We do same $$ by limiting theamount of time we dine out and in other areas.

Happily save enough for WDW 1-2 times a year.

WOW ya that does make a difference living in Michigan. Sounds like what your doing is working if your going at least once a year

 

[worm761]

I will join in the fun. We just got back from a grand gathering on Saturday so my account for Disney is pathetic. I refuse to have less than $5 in there so the first 5 doesn't count. At the moment I have a whopping 38 cents in my Disney account. We bought seasonal passes so we know we are going back in the next year. We want to do MNSSHP in Sept but also want to go in May. Fiance and I will be getting married in June though we aren't having a wedding. Too much stress. Just going to the JOP and having a nice dinner out. So not too expensive. I think he wants to go back in May for SWW and a "pre" family moon. I can't imagine leaving the kids to do to Disney and neither can he so we will be taking them with us.
I do Swag Bucks too and always cash out for Amazon cash. This is how I buy the kids birthday and Christmas. I have spent most of what I had in my Amazon account to buy Christmas for nieces and nephews so I am working on replenishing that for next year. We always do Rain Forest Cafe at Disney and I use Mypoints to get gift cards for that.

Total so far: 38 cents.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

I just earned my first ever survey reward, a $25 Restaurant.com giftcard!!! Of course I am going to save it and hopefully get some Rainforest Cafe or T-Rex gift certs for our Disney Trip.

DH also listed a $50 item on Craigslist last night and he says I can put the $ into our Mickey jar, so here's hoping it will sell quick!


Let's keep up the great savings Disers!!!!

 

[gillenkl]

I would also suggest to get Disney gift cards when you hit a certain amount $25, $50, $100. I found that no matter how much I save I always end up pulling it out for something else. This way the money is spent and saved for the trip for real!! Were leaving in a week and just by doing this I have over $700 in gift cards plus cash, so not bad by putting it in gift cards.

this is exactly what I do - everytime I save up $25 I immediately get a GC so the money won't be spent on something else. DH thought I was nuts, but then I showed him I had already saved up enough to pay for 1/2 our room/site and he couldn't believe it! It starts to add up before you know it!

 

[juliebug]

i am right here with you i have a year to save so me and the kids can go

so far
$50 from baby sitting
$30 for driving my grandma's car while she is here(less gas)
$50 babysitting this weekend
$3 change i am saving

 

[reginaastralis]

Today I listed a ton of books on half.com. They won't sell for much, but if I sell my collection, I should have a decent amount of money by the end. Also, I wanted to get it set up so I can sell my text books soon. Can't believe this semester is halfway over!

So, I'm possibly considering changing our vacation plans. Considering I'm the only one who knows about it, I don't think it will matter. lol. There is talk going on in our family about going to California next year. My parents are considering taking their RV, and we plan on flying out to Arizona and joining them for the rest of the trip. So, IF this holds true, I really need to get the ball rolling. I'd love to go to Disneyland, so I'm kinda thinking that we might go even if my parents don't. We'll see.

Disney total: $15

 

[bigsis1970]

Might have just found a way to get part of my April trip paid for -- going with my DD softball team and they are looking for chaperones.. Not alot involved but not a huge amount of park time either but was planning on mostly watching her anyway and this way I'll get to stay on site - send me all your good wishes that there are only 2 parents interested and if there are more that my name gets picked out of the hat!!!!!

 

[SnowWhite607]

 

[scrappinmom]

Moved $200 into savings today, so grand total so far $242. Won't count the change jar till we get closer.

I like the idea of taking the money & buying gift cards with it now...might do that...

 

[AnjieNet]

Joining in!

We have a family vacation fund that I'm trying to talk DH into using for a trip to DLR sometime next year but I'd like to do a girl's trip to WDW with my DD and best friend for my 40th birthday in November of next year too. This will require me to scrape together some extra funds from somewhere for this extra trip!

We have free lodging (friend has a vacation plan we are using that's already paid for) so won't have to worry about that. Airfare will be about $600 round trip (ouch! Hopefully I can get these cheaper but won't be holding my breath), 2 - 6 day MYW hoppers is approx $600 plus food and a few souvenirs. So I figure I need at least $1500.

$129.50 Discover cashback rewards balance
$23.60 QuickRewards balance
---------
$1346.90 left to go!

 

[worm761]

So I decided to look around to see what I could find and I found $4.64. Not much but I am up to $5.02 now! Still a very sad number though. I don't work and I am trying to find money from my programs or extra in the household without actually taking from the household.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Every time we save another $5, my DD10 says "Thats another Mickey ice cream bar!" LOL!

Put some change in the jar this morning........$53.75! We have been saving for a while though, but I am looking for at least $100 from that for the summer trip! (which is 20 Mickey ice cream bars, LOL!!)

 

[dizluvah]

I was just thinking about saving for our 10th Anniversary trip - it will be March 2013 - so I have more than a year but I would like to save $4000 so that will be tough. This thread comes at a perfect time for me - thanks op for starting!

It will also be my daughter's first trip and she will be 2 1/2 then so I think that will be great. Of course I wish I could bring her sooner but its simply not in the budget.

I have some left over money from my grocery budget this week - and I do have a small change jar going so I will count it and update my total savings later today. My daughter is going down for her morning nap so I should be able to figure my starting amount in the next hour - I am so excited!!!!

 

[Magic2000]

I take any leftovers from my weekly grocery budget and put it away for Disney! I like to challenge myself to come up with good meals that I can fix and still save money!

On the weeks that I do not need cleaning supplies, I can do really well in savings - sometimes, I've even put away as much as $50!!!

We can usually get at least three meals out of a pot of red beans, so we'll maybe have beans for dinner on Saturday, then one other day during the week. I'll freeze the leftovers for dinner another week.

Its just a little game I play with myself - to see how much money I can save on groceries (but still fix good meals). We've also been trying to eat out less. I've been bringing my lunch to work every day, and that really helps!

I'm also going to try to start some of the "rewards" programs others have posted about! I've sold a couple of things on ebay, and I'm also going to try craigslist.

We're planning a two week trip to Disney in June - so I've got to get busy and stay focused!!!

 

[debbiedana]

I'm in too!

I just looked at my DD12 yesterday and said "I miss Mickey Mouse." She wholeheartedly agreed!

The biggest problem is that my DD is dancing competitively, and that's not a cheap hobby. I use my craigslist/garage sale/found money to pay for costumes and fees, but now I have to figure out how to split that up!!!

Here's to summarize the ideas I'm borrowing from all you great savers:
Saving Star
Sunshine Rewards
Swag Bucks
Mypoints
Opinion Outpost
Viewpoint Forum
My Survey
I Say Surveys
Kidseyes
Epoll
couponingtodisney
quickrewards.net
use disneyyouth.com for tix (wow, I forgot the savings!)
use a credit union for my Mickey savings account

Thanks to all of you for these great suggestions! I'll find a way to get me and DD there...and give DH a break from the two of us

I need:
$418 - 6 day YES premium tix
$400 - airfare
$600 - 6 nights at Pop (I WILL get a discount)
$300 - food (we bring stuff for breakfast and eat 1 big meal abt 3pm)
--------
$1700

I have about $45 in my change jar. Better get moving! Good luck everyone!

 

[princess isabella]

I counted out what we have so far and we have a grand total of $11.25, I guess every little bit helps!

I get paid tomorrow so I'm going to see what I can add.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

$129.50 Discover cashback rewards balance
$23.60 QuickRewards balance
---------
$1346.90 left to go!

Just curious: how long have you been doing quickrewards? I started Monday and I have a $4 balance. I get rejected for a LOT of surveys, but I just keep plugging away... Also, what are the other point values that are listed by your $ amount total? What are those used for?

 

[scrappinmom]

I nstarted Monday too & have about $4.10 - I keep getting rejected like crazy! I'm almost tempted to say I'm a MAN! bet they don't get a lot of those!