13 Days, Family O' 7 $2642 Budget!

[TNKBELL]

I haven't read through this entire thread yet, but I will. I just wanted to say, WOW! Kudos to you TNK!!

I wish I could get you to overhaul our spending, LOL. We are a family of 5 -- me, DH, DS 14, DS 13, and DD 4 -- and I cannont get my grocery budget under $120/week. We don't even eat as good as I'd like because I feel as if I'm always buying the cheapest foods which aren't always the healthiest. Obviously I'm doing something wrong because you're feeding two more kids than I am and you're doing it for $45/week less, LOL.

I think I need to read every post you've ever made.

I couldn't do it if I was living somewhere else. Cost of living in the midwest is much lower than the Northeast! Lack of scenery makes for lower living costs!!
I still have alot to learn!

 

[madge]

Some more money for our trip.....I sold some of my clothes at a Woman's consignment shop and will pick up my first check tonight!! It's only $15.00 so far but every little bit helps!!

I am BIG fan of consignment sales - there is a large sale in my town, twice a year (and I learned about it right here on the Budget Board ) It takes some work, but it's a fantastic way to clean out closets and make some $$$

I've just about finished our main trip planning, and it looks like the budget for 9-10 days will total around $2500 for 5 people. Not as low as TNKBELL's trip, but not bad at all!

 

[mommiepoppins]

I am BIG fan of consignment sales - there is a large sale in my town, twice a year (and I learned about it right here on the Budget Board ) It takes some work, but it's a fantastic way to clean out closets and make some $$$

I've just about finished our main trip planning, and it looks like the budget for 9-10 days will total around $2500 for 5 people. Not as low as TNKBELL's trip, but not bad at all!

great job. Good to here that

 

[paper1225]

I've just about finished our main trip planning, and it looks like the budget for 9-10 days will total around $2500 for 5 people. Not as low as TNKBELL's trip, but not bad at all!

you have to share! I think $2500 for 9-10 days would be awesome........share your ideas please

 

[madge]

you have to share! I think $2500 for 9-10 days would be awesome........share your ideas please

:::deep breath::::

ok, here goes

This is definitely a work in progress and we actually have two different scenarios, depending on our mode of transportation.

A little bit of background:
~ Family of 5 (mom & dad, 3 kids - 5, 11, & 17)
~ driving from Central Kentucky to Ft. Walton Beach to Orlando and back home to Kentucky
~ dates of trip: October 2007 (9 nights)
Expenses:
Driving:
gas - $250 (as of 6/27, per AAA fuel calculator)
Holiday Inn Express - Forsyth, GA (on way home) $73
The possibility exists that we will get a late start on our departure day and may only drive halfway. If that is the case, we plan to stay at a Hampton Inn in Prattville, AL. $65

total driving: $323 or 388

Lodging:
2 nights free at Four Points Fort Walton Beach on Starpoints
7 nights at Vistana Villages reserved through www.govarm.com around $450. I don't have the exact amount, and it's not listed on my confirmation paperwork.

We will also stay (for free, on points) at the Dolphin one night, especially if we decide to go to MNSSHP.

total lodging in Florida: $ 450-ish

Activities:
We will either do a lot of WDW or not a lot at all. LOL. We haven't decided. It will either be 2 days of park hopping, plus the MNSSHP ($1074 for both) or 6 day hopper passes (1206.75 through UndercoverTourist.com/Mousesavers newsletter) and no MNSSHP. We'll come to that decision closer to the departure date.

If we do the fewer days at WDW, we'll likely go to Cocoa Beach for a day, play WDW mini golf, and other local activities... and if we do all parks, then we won't have time to do much else. So our entertainment budget will be roughly the same: $1200.

We also spend time hanging out at the Boardwalk & DTD.... and we're looking forward to seeing what there is to do at the resort.

Parking costs: $50

Food:
Here's where it gets tricky.... Like TNKBELL, I will use my weekly grocery budget for food at the condo, and do not factor it into my vacation costs. I also bring some food from home, although that could be a little trickier with 2 nights at Ft. Walton Beach before we head to Orlando. I haven't worked that out just yet

We eat all breakfasts at the condo (or in the hotel room) and do counter service meals in the parks. Our meals average $22.50 - 27.00, depending on where we eat. We rarely order soda with a meal, unless it comes in a kid's meal. We also try to take a midday break, and when we're at the resort, we have a little snack time - carrots & dip, chips & salsa, cheese & crackers, etc. Doing that gives us a little non-fried semi healthy food, and takes the edge off the evening hunger. We usually snack around whatever park we're visiting. Our food expenses (on park days) usually average $75, give or take a Mickey bar I'm going to budget $500 for non-grocery food and that may not be enough or it may be too much, depending on how often we visit a theme park.

That brings my total to $2588. (or $2523 if we don't stay in Alabama on the drive down. LOL)

As I'm typing this out, I realize that I haven't allotted any money to travel food - I'll try to keep that cost low by packing lunch, snacks, etc. in the van. We'll order pizza on our driving days - so that will be an additional $50 or so.

There's no money for souvenirs because the kids will have their own spending money for things they want, and on the off chance that I find something I can't live without, then I'll dip into my Target fund from home. LOL.

So I'm closer to $2600 than I thought. 9 nights, 5 people. not bad. And I'm not bound to this at all. If Southwest comes through with a Ding! fare, then I'll be doing some readjusting to the budget. LOL.

edited to add: I just realized I hadn't thought of dinner in Fort Walton - I'd like to find some reasonably priced local seafood place and need to add that $$ into the budget. crapple. LOL.

 

[madge]

If we fly ...

the only way we'll fly is if SWA comes up with a Ding! fare sale as cheap as last year. The 5 of us flew for just over $400 ($73RT plus fees). IF that happens, here's what we'll pay:

Travel:
airfare: $350 (I have $100 in SWA credits)
parking at the airport: $42 - 48
tips at curb check-in: $10
rental car: ??? haven't priced

travel expenses: before rental car: approx $400

resort:
same condo cost: $450-ish
will use Starwood points for 1-2 nights at the Dolphin, for MNSSHP and to take advantage of EMH.

total lodging: $450

Activities:
park passes (2 day hopper and MNSSHP tickets) $1074

**I just did the math, and it isn't much more $$ to get 3 or 4 day non-hopper passes in place of the 2-day hopper. Interesting**

we will drive to Cocoa Beach one day, hang out at the resort one day, etc. Other activities will depend on our travel schedule.

parking: $30

Food:
use the weekly grocery budget for condo food. Will possibly be limited to sending package of snacks, misc. to ourselves at the condo.

Theme park food costs: $225-250
Will order pizza one night at condo, and will likely eat out one or two other meals ...so I'll say $400 for food.

The total cost of this scenario is $2354, before the cost of a rental vehicle. Cheaper to fly... but (could be) a slightly shorter and different vacation. LOL.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Activities:
park passes (2 day hopper and MNSSHP tickets) $1074

**I just did the math, and it isn't much more $$ to get 3 or 4 day non-hopper passes in place of the 2-day hopper. Interesting**

when we went in May, we planned to buy 3 day tix and ended up with 7 dat tix thru undercover tourist because of the price -- a nickle more to go 7 days then 6.

 

[madge]

when we went in May, we planned to buy 3 day tix and ended up with 7 dat tix thru undercover tourist because of the price -- a nickle more to go 7 days then 6.

we found ourselves doing the same last year - the cost per day really drops the longer you stay!

We've always been a "hopper" family, so the idea of getting non-hopping tickets never occured to me. I could get 4 day base passes and tickets to MNSSHP for $84 more (and 3-day passes are only $38 more) than 2-day hopper passes and tickets to MNSSHP. That's definitely worth considering for our family.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

maybe this has already been covered but if not, maybe this will help someone.

Before we went to DW, we bought ($24) a backpack at Target that is an insulted cooler. It's very lightweight (don't want any of you thinking I was carrying a cooler on my back!)

Anyway, we had a frig in our room thanks to the frige swap -- and we got sandwich making supplies. We took sandwiches, pringles, fruit every day for lunch. Got free ice water and we were set for lunch. We took some of the crystal light mix to add to the water for 2 people in my family who have a taste aversion to FL water.

It saved us a TON of money. ANd was much healthier. We a ethe pringles the first day. Saved the can. Used it to pack pretzels the 2nd day. etc.

DOn't rule out taking your lunch to the parks.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

does your condo have a washer/dryer? don't forget laundry detergent.

 

[grlpwrd]

madge, thanks for the breakdown. I think I better do that for our upcoming trip so I can see where I can make changes.

 

[madge]

does your condo have a washer/dryer? don't forget laundry detergent.

it does. I bring laundry supplies from home

 

[TNKBELL]

it does. I bring laundry supplies from home

I always bring my free samples to do our laundry. Great Plan Madge!!!!
I like how you broke it down.

 

[madge]

madge, thanks for the breakdown. I think I better do that for our upcoming trip so I can see where I can make changes.

that's why I got a jump-start on mine after reading this thread. I don't follow an ultra-strict budget, but I do know what we have to spend on our vacation. The only thing that I'd paid for and am set on is the 2-BR condo at Vistana Villages for 7 nights. The rest of our trip is totally flexible at this point. Just by going back and running the numbers, I realized that 2-day hopper passes might not be the best choice for this trip. I could get 2 day passes with the water park option, instead... or 4 day base tickets.

We don't plan on making this an all-disney, all the time trip. We did a vacation similar to this in 2004, when we stay at Silver Lake, and it was a lot of fun. I think, on that trip, we did 3 park days and MNSSHP? I can't remember exactly.

Running the numbers 100 days out gives me an idea of what our options are, and that's a very good place to start

 

[mommiepoppins]

great tips. My dh works out of town all summer. His office pays for the hotel room.He signed up for choice hotel rewards . I am hopeing we can use those points for our trip in 08 always thinking

 

[elan]

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


The prices at the DTD McD's are higher than at home. I'm pretty sure they don't have the value menu either. Maybe someone can verify so you won't have sticker shock.

 

[derocas]

OK I read all of the pages on this thread. I still can't figure out how you spend so little on groceries. Do all of your kids usually eat the same thing? Doesn't diapers and baby wipes eat a huge part of your budget? I'm just so amazed!
I also was wondering if you included gratuity? 15%-20% of a meal can really add up plus tipping housekeeping in a hotel. Did you already include this in your budget?

 

[madge]

OK I read all of the pages on this thread. I still can't figure out how you spend so little on groceries. Do all of your kids usually eat the same thing? Doesn't diapers and baby wipes eat a huge part of your budget? I'm just so amazed!
I also was wondering if you included gratuity? 15%-20% of a meal can really add up plus tipping housekeeping in a hotel. Did you already include this in your budget?

Do my kids usually eat the same thing? If I make a meal, they eat it... I'm not a short-order chef

I don't have children in diapers any more.

We tip at restaurants, and won't have housekeeping at the condo. We do tip at hotels, though.

 

[derocas]

Do my kids usually eat the same thing? If I make a meal, they eat it... I'm not a short-order chef

I don't have children in diapers any more.

We tip at restaurants, and won't have housekeeping at the condo. We do tip at hotels, though.

I was actually asking the OP, TNK. I think it's great it you can feed a family of 7 on $75/week I just can't figure it out how.

 

[madge]

I was actually asking the OP, TNK. I think it's great it you can feed a family of 7 on $75/week I just can't figure it out how.

I agree - and I can't either. LOL.