Is there room for one more in this group? I'm ready to join.
I have been blessed to have started a "Mommy & DD" trip 4 years ago, and have been able to take her back each year. She knew about trip #1 & 3, but I surprised her with trips # 2 & 4.
Trip #4 is in 2 1/2 weeks, and the paperwork arrived today!
Next year's trip is already planned, so I have to start saving for it ASAP. I will be taking DD and a friend next October to celebrate her (early) 16th birthday. Her friend will turn 18 the day before we leave, so it's a birthday trip for both. This trip is what DD really wanted and she wanted to take this friend, who is a huge Disney nut, like us. DH is not a Disney nut
, so it will just be the 3 of us. We plan to stay at the Finding Nemo Family Suite, per DD's request. I am hoping for
free dining, since it's been offered for the past 3 years, but am adding food to the budget, just in case.
Any money saved between now and Nov 3rd will do towards this trip. That leaves me less than a year to save for the next.
I've read every post here and have some comments to add. I hope those who posted will see them.
For the competitive dance mom: Have you heard of Costumeswap.com? You can sell or trade your costumes there. Also, if you have to stay at hotels for your comps, consider always using Holiday Inn properties. They have a reward program that allows you to cash out for a "Stay anywhere" GC. I chose Holiday Inn for every comp for the first 2 years we competed (and anywhere else we stayed for trips) and was able to get a $100 GC. I used it to pay my tips when I checked out of POP, since it was on my hotel bill, it worked! Also, considering trying to organize an used costume sale at your studio. I made a little money this way, though that money went right back into dance. DD has retired now, but we did the competitive dance thing for 6 years.
RE: Sam's Club: I belong to both. They are similar, though both have certain items that other does not. I think Sam's Club is easier to find mark down items. I don't see items marked down as much at Costco. You can sign up for the E-values at Sam's club for an extra $50 I think. They were running a special when I signed up and I got a GC also. The program will allow you to get coupons on each trip. (you scan your card) I did it for a month, but only saved $2.00, so I asked for a refund and the GC was not deducted, so that money I saved went into my fund. Sam's Club has had a summer deal the past 2 summers, where you can join for a low amount for the summer months. I think they offer a day pass, where you can shop and pay an extra 10%, Costco does not. Also, you can get your RX filled at any warehouse, even if you are not a member. My Costco membership expired, but I was still able to buy the generic over the counter Claradin D, because I have a RX for it.
RE: Restaurant.com GC for the Disney character meal: I think the place is at the Dolphin restaurant. Before you buy, head over the the Dining forums and search for info. I read awhile back that there was a fee for parking, even for WDW resort guests. I am not 100% sure, but the added cost didn't make the deal as good as it could have been. I have never done it, so I may be totally wrong.
I use Mypoints and cash them out for the Landry GC. I do the emails, surveys, and check the website frequently for the bonus questions that give me 5 points. We eat at T-rex every year the afternoon we arrive. We were there opening day, so now it's a tradition. I am a member of the Safari Club, so I get a free Chef's choice appetizer also. DD and I usually split that and a burger and are usually too stuffed for dessert. They send out emails also. I "think" they have let me use the Safari Club free appetizer and the coupon sent by email, but I am not sure. I got an email for DH's birthday (the card is in his name), so I will be trying to use it on this trip. I'll report back if I can. It's a $10 coupon. The issue is you have to sign up for the club while you are there. I am not sure if you can use the card right then or not, but you couldn't mail it in, the form had to be turned in there. They used to send you a coupon for the membership fee also. Again, not sure if they still do. I will try to remember to grab a form when I am there. There is a coupon in the Entertainment Book for Rain Forest I think also, but it can't be used with the Safari Club.
I also use Swagbucks, but learned about more earning options by reading here. I have earned about $75 since the end of July and that has been converted into
Amazon GC. That money will go the buy DS his textbooks I hope. If he doesn't use it this semester, I will use it for Christmas gifts and put the money I would have spent into the Disney fund.
I have a special trip savings account with TD Bank. They didn't require a large deposit to open it, I can deposit any amount and it lets me use their change machine for free. I save all of the change I can find and DH gives me his also. They have a kids' savings account also for free. There is not fee (as of now) for either account. My account has about $700 in it saved for the upcoming trip. They also had a summer reading program, that would have paid DD $10 for reading some books. She was too busy though to fill out the paperwork.
I also put any rebate money in the Disney fund. Most of my rebate checks come from Rite Aid, Staples (free copy paper & batteries, which are on sale this week and free after rebate) and Office Depot (more free copy paper).
I use coupons and have put the amount saved into the fund. I used to record every coupon I used and once a quarter when DH got his bonus, I would get that amount. Sadly, the company changed his bonus schedule, so that's not really possible now. We tried putting a certain amount into a separate account just for food, but since I needed household stuff too and not all stores accepted the credit card, it didn't seem like a good idea. I am still looking for a good way to do this. We eat our way too much, so I am trying to make more meals at home, just so there is extra money. I also will drink water when we go out and then take the $2-3 out of the house fund and put it in my Disney fund. I figure I can pay them for the 1-2 glasses of soda or pay me. I choose me, much of the time!!
Congrats Oopsidaisy on your trip!!!
That is all I can think of for now. Keep the hints coming...this is a good goal and it can be done!
But congratulations anyway 
So I put the change in the jar and had $6 in cash to add to the $21 from above. Any little bit helps I guess!
