13 Days, Family O' 7 $2642 Budget!

[goofyforlife]

Have you ever watched "Supersize Me"? Really Mcscary!!

I've watched it....but you have to realize that he was going wayyyy overboard on everything at every meal....No Normal person who even eats at McD's once a week eats like that.... He also led a very vegan life prior to the filming so with the change in diet so drastic, it's no wonder he got sick....

no grilled chicken on our McDonald's $1 menu, either! (I almost typed $1 spot... I must have Target on the brain )

For awhile, i worked at a job where McD's was the closest easiest place to get to at lunch. I got laughed at by co-workers but what i'd do is get a McChicken (no mayo, no bun) and a side salad. (Total OOP $2.) Then i'd cut up the chicken and have a cheap chicken salad....

A big reason the OP is able to pull this off is apparently her DH is on board with this type of trip and budgeting.

Once i show my DH how we're saving he's usually on board... I've even started to get him to automatically order water w/lemon when we go out (and then add a sweetener for free lemonade ). I refuse to spend $2-3 a-piece on drinks at restaurants. Heck i've even been known to get dollar menu and then drive over to the front of Walmart and get $0.25 sodas from the machine. (of course that was when we were drinking soda...I'm an expensive bottled water gal now...I do refill them at home from the brita pitcher though.)

DH and i like using the restaurant.com GC's too.
A couple weeks ago i got a $25 (off $35 purchase) for a place we've been wanting to try. (i think it was only like $5-6 cause there was a discount code)

Now we usually wouldn't spend $35 on the two of us. (DD was at a sleepover but if she had been there it would have been easier.) We got a really cool dessert and split it (and took half home too...IT WAS HUGE) and i doggie bagged most of my meal... It wasn't bad for a night out for around $20

i went out to lunch with some office peeps on Friday and went to another restaurant that i had $10 GC's to (you only have to spend $10). So i only had to leave a tip and only paid $1.50 for the GC.

But i digress...back to Disney....We bought 10 day passes back in 04 and have been using them a couple days her and there and they've lasted three trips so far and we still have 2 days and "3 pluses" left on them (although we've earmarked those for a trip next year at the beginning/end of our TOAL (DCL EB Repo). The two days we'll exchange to use at Disneyland and then use one water day at DW when we get over to FL.

We have DCL (so i guess that's not really budget but it's nice to stay in deluxe accomodations at a value price) but every thing else usually is very budget... Souvies if bought at all are from the outlet store and purchased from DIS Visa points. With DVC, we can get villa units with full kitchen and washer/dryer (Nice to be able to wash and bring less clothes).

One trip we were at WL for a week and our only splurge for food was Chef Mickey's one morning for breakfest. We stocked up the fridge with stuff from Walmart for less than $100. Of course we did bring a few staples from home. (Box of Chicken helper, a couple cans of veggies, box of cereal, and a few other items..They fit easily in our luggage)

and oh yeah we've been fortunate enough to live near a SWA hub that always has killer deals on airfare. (I think we also get our fare down to like $39-$49 each way) DH and i don't get alot of vaca time so driving is really not an option when we do extended weekend trips.

 

[hsmamato2]

Why is it shocking about the food questions? Op has a remarkably low food bill,and I think many many people are curious about how she does it!
Mine is pretty good,but hers is better!
Right now we're at about $50-$70 a week for 4 people and 4 pets,one kid w/severe allergies/restrictions on food.....
As far as the vacation goes, Tinkbell is undisputed queen of budgets! I confess,now that we are able, I tend to spoil myself a bit now on vacations.....

 

[Scraper]

While I am very impressed with the budget I just wonder what happens if you get to McD and someone is very hungry and wants something else? Like a grilled chicken salad.Do they have to stick to the plan or can they have something else? I know that when I am hungry that a small burger and a couple of fries just does not sound good. We are not big eaters and are not over weight but when I am hungry I want to able to get what sounds good with in limits that is. But like I said I am impressed and am sure the OPP and her family will have a great time.

 

[shelly3girls]

While I am very impressed with the budget I just wonder what happens if you get to McD and someone is very hungry and wants something else? Like a grilled chicken salad.Do they have to stick to the plan or can they have something else? I know that when I am hungry that a small burger and a couple of fries just does not sound good. We are not big eaters and are not over weight but when I am hungry I want to able to get what sounds good with in limits that is. But like I said I am impressed and am sure the OPP and her family will have a great time.

Although clearly not the same as a grilled chicken salad, DH likes the double cheeseburgers on the $ menu. It is very easy to fill even a hungry DH from the $ menu (although clearly not the healthiest, we very rarely eat fast food as I am guessing the OP is the same way).

 

[TNKBELL]

One thing we will be doing is bringing home souvies for all the kids' friends, last time we made little bags with candy from MNSSHP, stickers that we got free from Cms, seashells from the beach and some mickey pencils that we got at a discount Disney store...Character Corner, I think?? Thier friends loved the seashells the best!

I welcome any additional ideas on what to add to that.

Another thing we did was to purchase a cheap collage frame from Dollar General for $2.00 and I hot glued seashells all around it, I have this hanging in the downstairs family room with pics from the beach in it. It turned out sooo cute.

What are some of your favorite cheap or free souvies?

 

[HayGan]

What are some of your favorite cheap or free souvies?

My new favorite freebie souvie that I just discovered this trip is - NAPKINS! I accumulated a bunch of them during our few days and then brought them home. My kids LOVE having the WDW napkins with their lunch/dinner. Discussions about our favorite WDW memories soon follow.

I will continue to pick up bunches of napkins to bring home with us on future trips. Not only is a great souvie but it also saves me from spending money on napkins for quite awhile

 

[TNKBELL]

There will be a change in plans, 1rockinmamato2 pointed out that we would save 300 miles rt if we went through Nashville instead of Cookeville, I checked it out and she is soooo right!! Last time we used a triptics from AAA and I don't know what possesed us to go thru Cookeville, not only will we save gas but time!!! You totally ROCK!!! There is a Comfort Suites close to there that will be the same price as it would be Cookeville.

Our only "issue" is we have 2 GCs to The Cosmopolitan Grill in Cookeville!!

Would anyone like these or know someone who could use these?? Just PM me and I'll send them to you!!


I have to admit I'm smart enough to know how stupid I am!!

 

[bnsilly]

Hey Tnkbell..you are my hero...
I am leaving on Friday for a trip to WDW and am completely stressing over our food budget..How cheap can we eat at WDW for a family of 5 for 5 park days?? Any good tips, etc?? We can eat breakfast in the room with muffins, juice, etc..and don't need sit down fancy dinners or character meals..just want to eat CHEAP..Please help!!!

 

[rentayenta]

Wow, just wow. If my DH ever sees this, my trip we have to be modified to the 9th degree. I can't wait to see if you come in under or at budget!

 

[TNKBELL]

Hey Tnkbell..you are my hero...
I am leaving on Friday for a trip to WDW and am completely stressing over our food budget..How cheap can we eat at WDW for a family of 5 for 5 park days?? Any good tips, etc?? We can eat breakfast in the room with muffins, juice, etc..and don't need sit down fancy dinners or character meals..just want to eat CHEAP..Please help!!!

If you are staying on property and do not plan on leaving, I would suggest you pour over the menus on www.allearsnet.com and see where you could eat affordably.

Someone said they order a double cheeseburger meal and pay a small amount ($.79)for an extra bun and load on the complimentary condiments.

Someone else also said they order kids meals.

Turkey legs are also a good value.

Last time we ate at Cosmic Rays in MK there is a Chicken/Rib combo meal that is $13.99 and it is a ton of food!!

We also had a family meal that we took back to our room at Saratoga Springs in 2004 it was $25.00 and we easily had enough for 2 meals for 6 of us.

I read also in another thread that people buy bread and get condiments such as pb&j off the condiment bar and have a pb&j sandwich.


Most of the meals I have been planning are offsite.

You can order a pizza to be delivered to your room from Pizza Hut and you could probably bring coupons from home to use.

There is a McDonalds at DTD for a cheap eat after a busy day at the parks.

If you can bring snacks from home with you that would help, but if you are flying, that isn't possible with all the new restrictions.

If you are taking a cab to the resort you can have your driver stop at Publix or Walmart and you can pick up some food there. Things to keep in your room could be tuna kits, peanut butter, bread, granola bars, cereal, crackers, soup cups that you add hot water to from the coffee maker.

Good Luck, I have faith in you...give me some tips when you get back!!!

 

[1rockinmamato2]

There will be a change in plans, 1rockinmamato2 pointed out that we would save 300 miles rt if we went through Nashville instead of Cookeville, I checked it out and she is soooo right!! Last time we used a triptics from AAA and I don't know what possesed us to go thru Cookeville, not only will we save gas but time!!! You totally ROCK!!! There is a Comfort Suites close to there that will be the same price as it would be Cookeville.

Our only "issue" is we have 2 GCs to The Cosmopolitan Grill in Cookeville!!

Would anyone like these or know someone who could use these?? Just PM me and I'll send them to you!!


I have to admit I'm smart enough to know how stupid I am!!

Yay!

Is the Comfort Suites in Murfreesboro, TN? Murfreesboro is a great town to have a stop over. It's just as good as Cookeville. M'boro has tons reasonable places to eat.

Whether you're staying there or not, you'll be passing through so just to pass out a bit of trivia about M'boro: it used to be the capital of Tennessee, it is the exact geographical center of the state, and it is also the site of a famous civil war battle (the Stones River National Battlefield is located there).

Anyhow, I'm all for getting you to Disney faster so I'm glad to have been of assistance in saving you time and gas money.

 

[TNKBELL]

It's in Goodletsville, do you know anything about it? The hotel has an indoor pool and that is a lifesaver after 12 hours in the car with all our little monkeys!!! Thanks again!!!

 

[bnsilly]

Thanks TNK...will keep all that in mind..We are driving in, so we can bring snacks with us..I am all about eating cheap, now just have to get the kiddos and hubby on board...

 

[1rockinmamato2]

It's in Goodletsville, do you know anything about it? The hotel has an indoor pool and that is a lifesaver after 12 hours in the car with all our little monkeys!!! Thanks again!!!

Goodlettsville is also a good area too. I'm sure you'll be pleased.

My bit of trivia for that area: James Denton from Desperate Housewives is originally from Goodlettsville.

 

[goofyforlife]

If you can bring snacks from home with you that would help, but if you are flying, that isn't possible with all the new restrictions.

Just a FYI....Snacks/Dry Foods are still ok to travel with....It's only liquids they have a problem with....

We've flown several times in the last couple years and we always have that one bag that has snacks/cereals on the way down and becomes a souvie bag on the way back....

 

[mommiepoppins]

hey tink what types of snacks do you bring into WDW? Also do you drink the water ..Also tink.my family will be flying this time and we are bringing my dd friend. Do you have any budget suggestions about what we could eat in the airport. I know that I can not bring drinks and 7 people for drinks is quite a dent in my pocket any suggestions.

 

[grlpwrd]

Is anyone else shocked at all the replys to food on this thread? Why does anyone care what she spends on food for her family? OK so maybe we can't get that price where we live or whatever but come on people move on. Her post is about a budget trip with her family not her food bill.


I hope the OP has a great trip.

Well, food is a big part of it all and with such a big family some people can't fathom that it can be done or maybe people don't think it's realistic - who knows.

I remember TNK's posts on her frugal birthday party which was a breath of fresh air. Now who in this day can spend about $30 for a birthday party? This woman has talent!

I am "frugalled out" - lived this way since childhood and I frequent many boards on frugality and simplicity since 1998 so what she does is not foreign to me - and it is nice to see her take it to a high level in order for her and her family take a vacation. Frugality is a means to an end ...and I think we can all learn from her example.

..."I hope the OP has a great trip".... I think that's the nicest thing hollyb has ever said on these boards. How cool is that!

 

[TNKBELL]

hey tink what types of snacks do you bring into WDW? Also do you drink the water ..Also tink.my family will be flying this time and we are bringing my dd friend. Do you have any budget suggestions about what we could eat in the airport. I know that I can not bring drinks and 7 people for drinks is quite a dent in my pocket any suggestions.

Well the days we go into the parks, I don't take a ton of food in with us, I do take bottled water, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, fruit snacks,cheese crackers(prepacked stuff). Basically to stave off hunger for the Dks, it always seems to hit while we are in line and then without a few snacks they would have a major meltdown!! I don't think I have ever tried the water, but I honestly can't remember . I have budgeted out to spend some $ while there on food. I haven't decided what or talked with the fam about this part yet.

I guess could you take those koolaid single drinks packs with you(or is that forbidden) and then just get cups of water from the snack counter? That's a tough one!! Good Luck!!

 

[MEM]

Suggestions for airport food and drink ideas:

Bring paper or disposable plastic cups with you and fill up at the water fountain - you could add the powdered drink mix if you like. I brought bagels and bananas because our flight was at 7:00 a.m. I also bought one large fountain drink near the gate and asked for cups of ice (this was at TF Green in RI) and they were happy to give them to me. The Coke was only necessary for the caffeine boost at that hour.

 

[MeMom]

I sent you a PM about Goodlettsville. If you don't get it, let me know and I will try again. I'm another "Budgeteer", although not quite as much as you guys. I'm enjoying the budget ideas, though, as I am footing the bill for the entire family for our July trip. Best of everything to your family on your travels.