1 Year to SAVE!!!

[reginaastralis]

So, I thought I knew about coupons until I started browsing couponmom's site. Holy moly. LOL.

I spent $18 on groceries so far this week, but I know I am going to spend more than normal because I am heading to Costco today. It'll be an interesting trip. And I only work one day this week instead of the normal three. I have a few midterms next week so I am freaking out, lol.

I also was looking at my schedule for Christmas break, and I am going to end up picking up some extra shifts. We should definitely be able to do this trip. Yay! I listed a bunch of books on half.com, and even if I only get enough to pay for one text book next semester, I'll be happy about that.

Which is another thing, I started working on an envelope system last night, and I made one for what I think my books will cost next semester. I plan on putting aside a little each shift and seeing if I can get the costs down.

 

[bigsis1970]

Wow the cash envelope seems scary to me.. I am not sure I could do that.

 

[SnowWhite607]

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!!!

Hey Magic2000! I grew up for a little while in Bogalusa! Looks like we will be at Disney about the same time too! (anytime someone talks about red beans, I figure they are from Louisiana or close anyway! LOL!)

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm a server, so most of my money is cash. I have a bank account that gets my student loans put in it each semester, but the money I earn is cash. It's really easy for me to make my envelopes in cash each month.

I do use my debit card a LOT, but it's something I am looking at cutting down.

 

[bigsis1970]

Ah ok I see cash in cash out.. we are stickly debit card users.. and online payment people so having cash is rare.. altho I do like to see it in my wallet haaa..

I might try it with just my grocery shoppping this week - I do use coupons and estimate the full price when making my list .. start small

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Wow the cash envelope seems scary to me.. I am not sure I could do that.

It's an old fashioned system - my parents and grandparents budgeted that way.
Personally, I rarely have cash and do almost all of my banking on-line.
Whatever works for you is best.

 

[AnjieNet]

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?

I've been doing Quickrewards for about a month. I have found if I do it daily I get very few surveys I qualify for. I tried clearing cookies and what not but it still didn't work too well. If I do it a couple of times a week, I can get about $4 on a day. There are some surveys that I have never qualified for, regardless of when I've tried it. GMI is one of them. The other points are Quickpoints and you get those even if you don't qualify for a survey. I can't remember exactly the value but it's like 1000 of the Quickpoints is penny or something so you don't get much cash there at all. I usually do it of an evening when watching tv so I don't feel like I'm losing much of my own time if I don't qualify or spend 2 hours for only $2.

 

[AnjieNet]

Adding another $20 to my total for the gift card I got with 750 of my Disney Movie Rewards today:

Goal $1500

$129.5 Discover Cashback Rewards Balance
$28.88 QuickRewards
$20.00 Disney Movie Rewards Gift Card
-------
$1321.62 Left to go!

 

[SnowWhite607]

I am about ready to put the deposit on my trip which will leave me with the balance plus airfare. I know I wont be able to save the entire amount but any little bit will help I guess. We always use our tax refund to help out with a big chunk of it also.

Package - 2362.32 (after $200 deposit from my paycheck this week)
airfare (estimate) - 600.00
food - 700.00

I am starting a long term substitute teaching job in a few weeks - 6 weeks teaching - so that will help out a lot! I will be happy if I can save the money for the food! LOL!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

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!

That really made me laugh!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Okay, so I am starting to get the hang of this survey stuff! Takes quite a bit fo time for little payout, but every little bit counts indeed!

So here is my running total now:

Goal: $1000
Former Balance: $869.50
Quick Rewards: $7.70
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Left to Save: $861.80

Tomorrow is grocery day, so we will see how far I come under budget...

* Question for consideration: I have a $25 restaurant.com gift card from another survey sight. Should I count that in with my savings? Anyone used restaurant.com before? How often would a Disney restaurant show up on there? I thought I had seen at one time where someone got Rainforest Cafe gift certs from there. What is the likelihood????

 

[gillenkl]

* Question for consideration: I have a $25 restaurant.com gift card from another survey sight. Should I count that in with my savings? Anyone used restaurant.com before? How often would a Disney restaurant show up on there? I thought I had seen at one time where someone got Rainforest Cafe gift certs from there. What is the likelihood???? [/QUOTE]

Yes, I would count that toward your savings. I have seen House of Blues (at DTD) on restaurant.com and also the one from the Swan or Dolphin - I forget the name. Subscribe to Groupon and Saveology - I have gotten a Rainforest on there.

 

[AnjieNet]

* Question for consideration: I have a $25 restaurant.com gift card from another survey sight. Should I count that in with my savings? Anyone used restaurant.com before? How often would a Disney restaurant show up on there? I thought I had seen at one time where someone got Rainforest Cafe gift certs from there. What is the likelihood????

I haven't seen Rainforest Cafe on there but there are several Swan & Dolphin Restaurants listed. Keep in mind they are pretty pricey to begin with and read the details on the restaurant.com purchase. They usually add 18% automatically and there is usually a minimum purchase like 2 entree's, $35 for a $25 redemption etc. House of Blues and Earl of Sandwich used to be there but not sure if they still are. Giordannos is on there and it's a great place to get pizza. They were out of the $25 last week but may not be now. Wait and use your card when they are running 80% and 90% off sales. (The codes are usually listed here on the Budget Board) That $25 restaurant.com card could go quite a ways on those deals!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

OMG...I am getting tooooo excited right now!

It could be VERY possible for us to go in March instead of October!!! I am trying really hard to crunch numbers. Someone on one of the DIS threads had suggested I look into getting 2 rooms @ Pop instead of a family suite elsewhere. I had never thought of that! Sooooo...Here is what I came up with:

1 Rm at Pop for 1 adult and 1 child 6 nights with 7 day base tickets: $1183.49
1 Rm at Pop for 1 adult and 2 children 6 nights with 7 day base tickets: $1480.21. I did not include the dining plan cost since DP IS FREE FOR MARCH 2012!!!!

So this brings the total up to $2664.21. My question for you is how much is it to upgrade from QS dining to the regular dining plan? Does anyone know?
Since our tax returns are typically close to $4000, this is so very doable!!!

I want to have all my money ducks in a row before I present these numbers to DH, so could you DIS'ers help me out? What is the usual upgrade cost???

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Well several miscalculations on my part equals about another $1000 added to that estimate. Probably NOT gonna happen. Oh well, we still have October!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

My how things change...have you noticed anything different about my ticker??? Go ahead and check, I'll wait...

Our trip is BOOKED, and we are going in March!!!!!!! Hello free dining and the Port Orleans Riverside!!

 

[scrappinmom]

My how things change...have you noticed anything different about my ticker??? Go ahead and check, I'll wait...

Our trip is BOOKED, and we are going in March!!!!!!! Hello free dining and the Port Orleans Riverside!!

So wait a sec....you're telling me you started out needing to save $1000... saved about $40 or so & got to BOOK your trip???? Totally NOT FAIR! lol - Free dining is awesome...it's not too much to upgrade to reg ddp I've done it twice now...

I'm still pluggin away....my goal is quite lofty.....I need $4000 for the trip I want to take...

$200 in savings so far
$4.90 quick rewards
$288 in comission from booking trips...should be arriving any day now

Saved: $492.90

sigh....it's gonna take forever to get there.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Well, the $ I am saving is our "mad cash". We were planning to use our tax return to pay for the package. What we figured out was that it would cost us about $1500 more to wait until October when there is no gurantee for free dining. So DH's logic: why would we wait another 7 months just to pay so much more?!? So, March it is!!!!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Good for you, Daisy!
Have a great trip!

 

[hereyago]

my how things change...have you noticed anything different about my ticker??? Go ahead and check, i'll wait...

our trip is booked, and we are going in march!!!!!!! Hello free dining and the port orleans riverside!!

congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!