21 Days to WDW, Still Raising Money!!! UPDATE

[lucky_bunni]

YEAH!! 21 days to go and in the 5 days since my last post we've 1) Bought tickets - 4 Day Hoppers and 2) Sold well over $250 in books on half.com.

Things are definitely coming together now. If I can only make it through these next 3 weeks! $600 to go - I think we can do that in 3 weeks!

 

[SnoWhite]

Do you have any stuff you need to get rid of?
I know that I have a ton of crap that I need to sell on ebay pretty soon. That always seems to help people get money for Disney!

Other than that I don't have any good ideas. (Maybe a garage sale?)

People will buy anything, really!

And good luck, I'm jealous that you get to go so soon!

Lisa

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Student loan surpluses are nice

 

[ilovepcot]

Hanging head in shame ....okay, just what is "SRR"?

Does a studio offer a microwave? Buying frozen dinners at an area grocer and eating most meals in the room is about the only way I can think to attempt cutting costs a bit. Not nearly as fun, but hey....not cruel and unusual punishment. And yes, $900 is a hefty little sum to save in 26 days. Sure hope you do it!!!

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Saratoga Springs Resort, the newest addition to the Disney Vacation Club. It's directly across the lake from Downtown Disney.

 

[ilovepcot]

So that's the new place I saw! Nice!

 

[MScott1851]

Josh...we're going right after you!!!

Let's see. You could not eat out AT ALL, meals or snacks, for the next 26 days. You would be amazed how much money you spend on a coke here, a candy bar there, McDonald's, etc. Learn to love cereal and PB&J for three weeks. If you or Wes smoke, now's a good time to quit. No going out on weekends. No extra trips in the car (save gas money). If you run out of shampoo or facial cleanser, buy Suave this month. You can go back to expensive next month.

Second...consider slashing the "spending money." Souveneirs aren't a must. I kept menus, hotel amenities, and other freebies as mementos.

 

[Hillbeans]

If you're desperate, use a CC and pay it off as soon as you possibly can.

 

[GoofItUp]

Try a garage sale if you have some things you could get rid of and feel you live in a good area for it. I've had garage sales that made nothing and garage sales that made over $200. Just depends on where you are and when you have it.

Definitely cut out any extra expenses for the next 3 weeks. No eating out, no movies, no clothes.....whatever it is that you usually spend your money on. Stay home and watch the Olympics.

Give your name and address out on the DIS and ask for everyone to send you $1. (That was a joke. Don't really do this. Although if you try it and it works, do PM me as I would like to be next!)

 

[GoofItUp]

Here's one more....if you do use a CC and pay it off, either get one that has 0% interest for the first 6 months, or call your credit card company TODAY and ask them to reduce the interest rate. Tell them you got another offer with 0% for 6 months and ask if they'll match that to keep your business.

 

[auntpolly]

Sell blood? Plasma? Other stuff?

The garage sale idea was excellent. People really will buy <i>anything</i>!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Do either you or your BF have AAA? You may be able to get something off with that (tickets, food discounts etc.)

Can you possibly cut back on your food budget? When my BF and I go we only usually spend around $400 on food. We are pretty light eaters and we eat two full meals a day, instead of 3. We usually have either breakfast in the room or something really light and cheap like bagels or we have a light lunch or a heavy lunch and a snack for dinner.

You may have to cut back on shopping a bit. I know when I go in Dec. the only shopping I'm doing this trip is Christmas shopping (which I would have budgeted to do here anyway). If I was not going during Christmas shopping time, I'd probably only budget about $100 to spend on souvenirs.

For quick ways to make money, I'd go with the garage sale idea. Ebay might be tricky because some transactions literally end up taking a month if you get a non paying bidder and I don't know if you want to deal with any potential hassles less than a month before your trip.

As long as you get your park tickets, that is all that really matters. You may end up having to skimp on super nice meals and shopping but at least you'll be at WDW!
Have fun!!!

 

[DoeWDW]

Your food budget seems pretty high! If you're in a studio, you'll have a microwave and a small fridge. Stop at the grocery store on the way to SSR and pick up stuff for meals in the room. I know we usually eat a light breakfast in the room and then we usually make sandwiches for another meal in the room. We usually eat out once per day. Take small snacks with you into the parks. Buy water bottles at the grocery store and take them into the parks - don't spend $2.50 on water or soda!!

The souvenir budget seems high as well. Don't know how much you really need to bring back. Spend your $ on taking pictures and making memories - not on "stuff". Pick one nice souvenir to bring home and that's it - budget $50 apiece for souvenirs.

Best wishes for a magical trip!

 

[Bumbles]

you could sell blood or plasma or other bodily fluids as you see fit

 

[Lisa F]

Personally I think that rather than saying how much you'd like to have for your trip, you should figure out how much you CAN have for your trip and plan from there. If you can save half that this month, use that and budget appropriately. There have been good suggestions here already... just cut back on the souveniers and check out the budget board for ideas on how to maximize a small food budget, especially since you have the resources (fridge and microwave) of a studio.

Maybe you are just joking but student loan money shouldn't be used for a trip to WDW. Student loans are money that has its interest subsidized by the government in order to help people get an education, not to help young people take vacations. I know people do all kinds of things with their loans but just because it happens doesn't make it right.

I also think it would be a mistake to get a credit card and "live above your means." That could be a self perpetuating habit that you just do not want to start. IMO it would be much better to start learning how to get what you want with what you have, not what you wish you had.

 

[KristaTX]

Your food budget comes out to around $42 per person per day. I'm sure you can eat for much less than that on average per day and not feel like you are depriving yourself. Buy some stuff to eat for breakfast in the room; it will save you time anyway. Eat at some of the walk-up service places for a meal or two a day, and just eat nice table-service meals 3 or 4 times during the trip instead of every day. And drink ice water - it's free and is better for you than cokes or alcohol anyway. Especially in the heat. And only buy the souvenirs that your REALLY want - no impulse buys.

You should be able to shave the budget by quite a lot and still have a wonderful trip .

 

[Feralpeg]

lucky_bunni, PM me with the name your reservation will be under and the date you will be checking in. I will bring you a complimentary snack basket! I've been doing a lot of deliveries lately. One more won't be any trouble.

 

[lucky_bunni]

Thank you all for the ideas. Taking them all to heart while trying to save money over the next month. Luckily, I have 40+ textbooks on half.com right now. I repriced them last night and I moved 3 of them today alone. That's about $100 for the trip right there. Hopefully more will sell - I have a goal to sell a bunch this week with aggressive pricing. Granted not all of them will bring in the "big money" but every $$ counts.

Feralpeg, that's sooo sweet of you. I PMed you with the ressie info. Could I bring you a lb. or two of fresh Starbucks coffee?

 

[Tinkim]

lucky_bunni ~ Another idea on the text books. A friend of mine recently had five text books to sell so I listed them for her on Amazon.com. Very simple and sold all five within one week. Never had to go back and change the prices either. She ended up with about $200 and the books originally cost her $300; a pretty good return on her investment. The text books seem to do really well there. Good luck meeting your goal. I know it is scary less than a month out but I think you'll find a way to make it happen between the two of you! Have a great time.

 

[Feralpeg]

Feralpeg, that's sooo sweet of you. I PMed you with the ressie info. Could I bring you a lb. or two of fresh Starbucks coffee?

Thanks, but I'm not a coffee drinker. I got your info and will have a basket waiting when you check in!