Anyone afraid they won't have enough money for their trip?

[JohnTigger'sMom]

This is one of those years when the money for vacation could really be used on other things....paying off some debt, college funding, painting the house, etc. But, like some of you have said, I want to make these last few vacation years memorable for my son who is 12, because the day will come when he won't want to vacation with Mom & Dad (believe me, I know this from experience with 2 older children). When I look at the amount I've budgeted for this upcoming trip, it really freaks me out!!! And this is with lots of planning....getting the best possible price on hotels, park tickets, planning each days' food budget, gas for the trip, tips, parking, etc...

So, yes I do worry about it but the one consolation is that it will be paid for with cash, nothing on credit cards to worry about when we get back!

 

[dolphincrazy]

Originally posted by beansmom
My h and I are separated now and I just decided for sure last week that we cannot make the trip to WDW this year...there is a possibility that *my* division of SBC may go on strike in December so I'm afraid to spend the majority of my savings on a disney trip.

So....we are planning for November of 2005 and by that time we should have plenty of $$$ to have a great time.

Hi Beansmom,
sorry to hear that you will not be able to make it to Disney this year my husband is on strike right now, he too is with SBC
We already paid for our airfare and park tickets but, have to pay for hotel and rental car(about $500 for both) luckily I socked away some money in an INGDIRECT savings account and we're good for the $500 and have another $700 in there for food and
gas, parking etc. hopefully this strike will only be for the 4 days thay said it would but, who knows? we still will need more than $700, we're going for 10 days!!!! good luck.
Maryann

 

[Miniefan]

I also am glad to know that I am not the only one who stresses on where all this money is going to come from. We just went to WDW for 5 days in March. My husband is a contractor and works on construction, and 3 weeks before the trip he hurt his back, to the point of not being able to leave the bed. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place on that, I was feeling lousy and wishing I could remedy his back, but being a stay at home mom, we are one income family I also couldn't help worrying about how we were going to be able to take our trip now. Thankfully, his back got better after about a week and a half and with a little bit of scaling back, we were still able to make it. We stayed at the Values, bought 4 day passes from AAA instead of Ap's and ate at counter services at the parks, ate meals off property, only bought our kids souvenirs, it was still a very enjoyable trip but I was sweatin it. Almost immediately after we came home we decided to go back in October, and instantly started planning, having learned a lesson, I have made some money saving changes, and now I have a change jar, which I counted 2 weeks ago and it already had $87.00 in it !! woohoo!! I also have 4 envelopes, one for MNSSHP, PS @LTT, PS@CP, PS@Garden Grille. On Friday my husband gives me $100 for misc. things during the week and I have been putting $10 in each envelope every week and when I get enough in each I will seal it. As for the $60 left over, I use it for meals out in the week, gas ect, and anything left I put in my change jar, also any change or bills found in the laundry are automaticly the property of me, Another $$ saver, we give our kids $5.00 a week for allowance, and they save it each week, my mom gets paid bi-weekly and gives them $5.00 each every other week, each month they manage to save $30.00 which is a lot for little kids, they can then bring this for their souvenirs. We did this last trip, I can also say that they are very choosy when mom and dad aren't paying for it. It is great! I hope I have helped someone out there. Sorry this post is so long, it's just that I am so bad when it comes to spending money and I am so proud of myself for saving this money, its weird, now that I have a purpose, I find myself second guessing myself, like do we really need the clorox toliet brush, $9.50, you guys get the picture. I am glad someone finally opened this can of worms

 

[Shelly Pierce]

I certainly hope that all of these people who are not sure if they can pay for a vacation either don't have children or have savings set aside for their children's college! I can't imagine planning a trip, not knowing if you could afford to pay for it!!

 

[Castillo Mom]

I'm starting to stress a bit as well. Fortunately airfare, resort, park tickets are all paid for. I have a holiday account that I've been putting money into since December which is our spending money. Everything was going just fine until the month before last. Started having mechanical problems with our minivan and had to spend around $900 for repairs. That didn't worry me so much at the time though. What put me over the edge was that they cut overtime here at work. Some of our staff was not authorized to work OT, so when the boss found out, she cut it for all of us. That means a cut of $600 a month. This is our first trip so I have quite a few things planned that I don't want to cut out like 1 sit down meal per day, Illuminations Cruise (definitely not cancelling that). We'll be at WDW 9 days with 3 days at Universal and 4 days in Miami. The Universal theme park tix are paid for but need to pay off the hotel. Right now I still need to go clothes shopping for 14 year old DS, a few more things for 10 year old DS and clothes shopping for me. I was going to buy a new camcorder, but that's out. Need to get DH his luggage, buy 4 adult VKL vouchers and 3 adult Breakfast Feature vouchers. We leave 8/13 so I only have 6 pay periods before then plus my bonus check. I think we'll be ok though, I just wanted to have a little more breathing room.

 

[jessiangel]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who worries about vacation money. I spend time each week budgeting and rebudgeting to make sure I have everything covered. I have been blessed this year with a boss who is extremely busy so I have been able to work OT every weekend since I started planning in December and then nothing comes out of house money.

I started a vacation account at my bank and all OT goes into that account. Unfortunately things do come up (sick dogs, broken water heater, etc.) so some money has come out of that account so now DH and I are working more OT than ever. (Don't see each other much). But it will be worth it, since it will be our first time saying onsite (POFQ)! Only 32 days to go!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I'm really worried too. We're going in August with lots of first timers, 15 other people to be exact! We have our resort, AP's, and some meals paid for (7 Q&C vouchers and 2 VKL), and our Magical Fireworks Voyage is also paid. So, All we need is spending money, water park tickets, and the other meals that I don't have vouchers for. Sounds like I have a lot paid in advance, but once I pay for the meals that aren't covered, water park tickets, etc. I only have about $200 saved so far for souveniers!! I'm stressing!!! I know I still have a couple of months, but I still have to pay regular bills too!

 

[tetrimble]

I'm a little concerned about my vacation fund because I'm not really sure how much we'll need. However, I think that my idea of what I need and what I'll actually spend will be very different.

We're going for 5 nights and staying at WDW, so the package has been paid for weeks ago. I've already paid for airfare and just need to get a rental. I've purchased 12 Q&C vouchers, but think that will cover more than just 4 meals for 2 adults, 2 children.

For souvenirs, I'll probably hit an outlet so we can pick up a few inexpensive t-shirts. I'd also like to pick up two cheap trading pin sets (figuring that will help the children stay occupied while waiting for parades and will help keep up out of the shops), and probably hit Al's Toy Barn and let the kids fill up boxes with Mr. Potato head parts.

I figure we'll eat pop tarts, fruit, or something similar in the rooms, so we only need to buy two meals. We might even consider having a "late" breakfast/"early" lunch to sustain the children for a majority of the day.

Otherwise, I'm not going to stress too much. I won't use my credit cards and try to keep the mentality that if I don't want to pay cash for it, I don't need it.

 

[Kristina]

Also worried! All I know is that we are going, that's it! We already have airline tickets, plus the hotel is paid for up to the point it would cost if we get an AP discount. Of course I am estimating the rate due to last years discount for the same time period. I've been dreaming of this trip for at least two years, so it's kind of cool to be able to say that our airline tix are all paid for and even most of the hotel . Yet we still have so much more to save! Now we have made a reservation for the new package and need to send off 200 dolllars more pronto, and it will go on my Citibank Visa which is no fun at all. So I need to pay that off first thing, yeah get that package paid off. Then change back to room only if we get the AP discount, oops then we will need AP's!

I've got alot of time to save still, but now my job has gone all wobbly! Looks like I will be doing the freelance dance come August 22 . Things should still work out I feel since there is lots of work out there and the good part about my bad news is that I get my paid vacation in money instead of time which is 5 weeks where I live. I only really need two! Hopefully that will help us somewhat!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I just know that DH and I are VERY blessed when it comes to saving for Disney. I work two jobs, one of which is waiting tables and that job is for extra money as my new job, the Zoo pays the bills.
Our trip isn't for two years, so I've got plenty of time to save and to plan for a few extras because the money wasn't there before.

I have everything down on paper on what DH and I will need and I'm working on saving for each thing, one thing at a time. Right now, I've got my one night's deposit saved for when I book with Dreams Unlimited. However, I can make ressies til this time next year and by that time, I will DEFINITELY have the room paid for and the tickets.

I'm excited. Haven't been to Disney since May of 2001, and that's why planning this trip and going is so important. DH goes for me...period, so I want to make sure we have the best time ever, coz I know it will be awhile before we make it back again.

I'm just happy the Father has blessed me over the last year to be able to save for something when I really want it and the discipline to not touch the money unless absolutely necessary. If not necessary, then I replace the money....DOUBLE! I want to go to Disney in 2006, and we will! So I just put the money in my savings jar every week, no if, ands, or buts about it.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by missydisney
WE always prepay hotel and tickets. But I've been unemployed since last July. My 21 year old is paying for this trip. He dosen't make much money so it is all going for this. We are going to try to eat cheap and pray that gas is not TOOO high.
Melissa

Are there not more important priorities than Disney trips -- namely eating in a healthy manner and saving money? I can't understand making even 1 Disney trip while being unemployed, let alone having made 5 Disney trips with another few planned in the very near future.

 

[beansmom]

I certainly hope that all of these people who are not sure if they can pay for a vacation either don't have children or have savings set aside for their children's college! I can't imagine planning a trip, not knowing if you could afford to pay for it!!

I think you oughta mind yer own business. This is a board for the discussion of trips to Disney.

If I want financial planning advice, I'll call Merrill Lynch.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by beansmom
I think you oughta mind yer own business. This is a board for the discussion of trips to Disney.

If I want financial planning advice, I'll call Merrill Lynch.

The last I checked this was a board for the discussion of budgeting for trips to Disney -- part of budgeting is setting financial priorities. This is not a board designed to enable and support those who cannot afford some of the the basics of life (i.e. nutritious food, emergency savings, adequate housing, education for their children) waste their money on several trips to Disney each year.
Part of budgeting is saying "I can't afford to go to Disney right now."

 

[Miniefan]

While yes, this is a board for the discussion of all things disney, I don't think that this particular thread has anything to do with finances perse, we are all merely just discussing our worries about our vacation budgets. I would truly like to believe that everyones priorities are in the right place in life, and that planning a vaction goes after all the other basic and the most important things to provide for, but I know that not everyone thinks alike and maybe to some a vacation is pretty darn important. However, making that determination is none of my or anyone else's business and I can't stand it when people on this board take things entirely too seriously. Not everyone in this world can have the financial planning they should and lots of people are hard workers that live paycheck to paycheck and just manage to save enough for their well deserved vacations, none of that makes them any less deserving of the WDW experience than anyone else. And if you feel that trips to WDW are a waste of money then maybe you should take your money elsewhere. I may not have some huge nest egg, but I do save every day, week, month, year. My kids, husband, and I are not millionaires but we don't hurt for anything. What anyone does with their $$$ is none of any of our business, and that's all I have to say about that!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by Miniefan
And if you feel that trips to WDW are a waste of money then maybe you should take your money elsewhere. I may not have some huge nest egg, but I do save every day, week, month, year. My kids, husband, and I are not millionaires but we don't hurt for anything. What anyone does with their $$$ is none of any of our business, and that's all I have to say about that!

I don't think that going to WDW is a waste of money -- you'll notice my own countdown clock in my sig -- however I do believe that multiple trips to WDW, DL, and DCL in a year when one is unemployed or scraping by from paycheque to paycheque is a complete misdirection of funds. Is that my business? Actually, yes. It's my job to tell people when their life's priorities are misdirected. You can check out my profile if you're actually interested in what I do for a living. Is that taking things too seriously? Perhaps -- but sound financial management is serious business.
Sometimes part of budgetting is realizing that we can't afford that Disney Experience this year or we can't afford another Disney Experience this year.

 

[beansmom]

Ya know, I feel that, frankly, as long as others don't ask me to pay for their kids to go to college, or help with their bills, what they do with their money is fine with me.

And vice versa.

 

[Miniefan]

I am not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers out there, believe me if I were unemployed taking a trip would be the furthest thing from my mind. I just believe that people are going to do whatever they want regardless of what you or I think they should do. People usually don't want to hear advice, or be asked questions about their financial stability or lack thereof. I'm sure that lots of people out there are not prepared financially in life but it's kind of still there own business. You can give sound advice about everything people should do in life, be it financially, physically, spirituallyetc, but it is ultimately up to them to use it. Given your profession I am sure that you know this already. What I'm saying is talking about this is almost like beating a dead horse, pointless, the bottom line is people are going to do whatever makes them happy, you just have to hope that some of the info they hear reaches them and they understand it's importance.

 

[CarolynNC]

I'm always worried about the money I spend on vacation (WDW or otherwise). It doesn't matter if I have a huge amount in savings or if I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. It's just my nature. It's nice to be able to post here, get a little sympathy, exchange ideas, and come away feeling calmer. It helps me look at what I'm budgeting and sometimes I discover I really don't need to stay on sight this trip or I don't need to visit the water parks. I might also discover how much it means to me to buy that souvenir I've been wanting even if it is expensive.

I don't see anything wrong with posting an opinion about what we (global we) believe should be a family's financial priorities. We could all use a reminder once in a while and I believe it's helpful to hear differing opinions. I do however believe such postings should be done without singling out specific people and their posts.

I hope you all have a magical Disney trip (even if you can't afford it ).

Carolyn

 

[Aisling]

MissyDisney,

I hope you have a wonderful time at WDW. You know what's best for you and your family, and no one can tell you otherwise, Lutheran minister or not.

I have a feeling that you're not spending your last dime on this trip, you're not forfeiting your home because of this trip, and you won't starve because of this trip.

You said you prepay, so as far as my extremely humble opinion goes, you know what you're doing.

We'll be there the same time as you, and we're going to all have a ball!

 

[BethR]

PLEASE everyone!!! Let's keep this friendly. There is no reason for this thread (or any other, for that matter) to become nasty.

I urge everyone to think about the impact of their written words (we cannot judge inflection or body language in a forum like this.)

I would hate for this thread to have to be closed - or even worse - moved to the debate board.

Thank you!