DH wants me to cut budget by $1500??!!

[teller80]

Arrival date is 10/13. Which beach are you near? 64 midday in August??!!

I think she means it's 64 in October/November

 

[Marshmelo]

I think she means it's 64 in October/November

 

[Marshmelo]

take it from someone who spent today at the bike path that went right by the beach - when the temp at noon was 64 - you may want to extend your time in Orlando and plan it as a day trip from Orlando rather than several days there.

I think she means it's 64 in October/November

She said "spent today"

 

[NinaBella]

The beach in Oct is nice to walk on, but you are not going to want to let your son swim in the cold water. You'll end up in the heated hotel pool. I would also say make it a day trip to Ft. Desoto (your son will like the fort) and be done with it in a day. Coco beach is another nice option.

Alden Suites was a great choice. We stay a couple hotels over when we go to the beach (and we are Tampa locals).


Why pay for parking at the airport? Can you have a friend relative drop you off and pick you up?

 

[NinaBella]

Unfortunately it's a Saturday we are going.

I still don't think you need the express passes. Your son is 7 so it's not like he can get on the larger rides so the express pass is a waste of money in my opinion. The rides he can ride, the lines will not be too terribly long. If he was a teenager, I would say get the express pass because the rollercoaster lines are long. You CAN do both parks in one day without an express pass, even on a busy day.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Personally I would ditch at least 2 of the 3 BOG meals. It's so not worth it. To cut the budget for my family of 6, we limit to one TS a day, breakfast in the room and shared CS meals for lunch. BOG was a one and done for us. It was a horrible meal but is was just eh.
I would also ditch the Hyatt at the airport. See if you tack on a day to the car and a day to what ever your last hotel is and see if it's less than the cost of the Hyatt. Or find a place nearby the airport with shuttle service that is less money.
I would ditch Mama Melrose, grab counter service near the entrance to Fantasmic and wait in line. 90% of the time we do Fantsamic is without a dinner package and we've always gotten good seats. Not that there are any really bad seats but we actually have had better seats on our own without the dinner package.

Is your parking at the airport in the garage or an economy lot?

If HP can't be used in the Express pass (which thank you for that info, I didn't know it was excluded) I would ditch the express pass.

 

[stayhomemom77]

just want to say-not trying to be rude or judgmental in my comments-it's just that we've worked really hard despite some incredible financial setbacks over the last 12 years to manage to become debt free (including our mortgage) and get to the point where despite being on a yearly decreasing income (due to increasing share of health care costs w/employer) where watching every penny allows us to save over 50% of our gross income per year. again-NOT BRAGGING. it just comes down to tracking as a spousal team every penny such that if $1000 over 4 months went missing from spending or somehow appeared it would be a huge red flag that in hindsight we were somehow wasting/missed earning on average $250 a month ($3000 per year) that we could have been saving.

I can clarify...

When I said I didn't want DH to notice, I meant that I was not willing to suddenly start serving hot dogs and mac and cheese three nights a week to save grocery money. (Although my kids would have been fine with that!! LOL) I didn't want our general day to day life to change at all and start making huge cuts and sacrifices just to afford a Christmas vacation. I knew that wouldn't fly in our household, so before getting everyone's hopes up, I decided to save for three or four months to see if it was possible to fund a Disney vacation with my various bits of earning/saving before letting them know I had a vacation plan in mind.

I manage the books with regards to our financials...though we talk about everything and make decisions together, I do the banking and budgeting. DH trusts me and has no interest in the day to day tracking, so though we are on the same page, the implementation and day to day stuff is all on me!! We have zero debt (we are saving to buy a house and are renting at present) and he makes a good salary.

We each take $100 a month as "spending money" and I take $20 a week out in cash for incidentals like dollar store purchases, treats (ice cream, mcdonalds etc), field trip costs for the kids, etc. We budget $60 a week for gasoline and $150 a week for groceries. We also budget allowance money for our kids each month so they can be paid for doing their chores. Before last January, when we were under budget (which we generally were...a little bit), we either threw the excess money in the savings account or we spent it on other things (used some under budget category to help with an over budget one, went out for dinner or to the movies an extra time that month or what have you) but in January I began making a concentrated effort to come in under budget in every area, every month and to designate that money for the trip.

I did a bunch of research, and began earning money by doing surveys. Not a lot, but it started adding up.

I got really into price matching, and was suddenly able to get our usual groceries for about 30% less every week. All that "extra" money got tossed into the vacation account.

I also got really good about avoiding food waste by repurposing leftovers and being crazy careful with my menu planning. Up until this point I had been pretty lax in this area.

If anything was left over from the gasoline budget at the end of the month, we tossed that into the savings. Sometimes it was nothing, sometimes it was a lot. We did this with every dollar that we were under budget in every category of our budget and the savings started building like crazy!!

I began saving up my spending money because I wanted a Disney trip that badly. That was $100 of the $250 a month right there!

I put all my bills and purchases on my credit card and then paid it off daily. I earned rewards for free groceries and gasoline, so when I cashed them in, the cash that week went to the vacation account.

And anything I didn't spend from my $20 each week went into the change jar...which also began building quickly.

When the kids didn't do their chores...that money went to the vacation account.

When my parents and in laws gave me money for my birthday...you know where it went!!

So, no money went missing...I just learned how to earn more and save more with my motivating new purpose in mind!

It sounds as though you have had several years to hone your frugal skills...and it's smart and impressive that you are able to save so much! But I see frugal living as a spectrum...some people are horrible at it, some are great at it and then there are lots of people in between. Our experience last year helped us slide a little closer to your end! Between investments for retirement, the kids' schooling, emergency funds and general saving...we are at about 25% of our net income being saved, and if we were to count vacations (which I don't) it would be even more.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clear up any confusion from my earlier post!

 

[robinb]

Air: $786 RT on Southwest (already paid for) fly out IND morning 10/13, back morning 10/21 direct flights
parking at our local airport $81
MCO Hyatt hotel night before flight $216

Ditch the Hyatt. There is a 3* hotel on Hotwire right now for 10/20 that is $63 ($78 with taxes and fees) at the airport with a 90% approval rating and includes breakfast and a shuttle. Savings: $206.

Car: $155 for midsize Alamo for p/u noon on 10/13, return 4pm 10/20 (I keep an eye to see if rate drops)
Beach Hotel (Alden Suites) on St. Pete beach 2 nights $284.93 (also already put down deposit)
Rental villa $800 for 5 nights (already put down a dp)
parking at theme parks: $85

Your total for your other 7 nights is $1324 including car rental and parking. That's the equivalent of $167 per night at a Disney resort. I just spent $114 per night to stay at Coronado Springs in July so $167 would have been totally doable. I also think your villa is overpriced as I've paid the same for a full week over Christmas in the same area. Heck, I once paid $412 for a full week in a condo over spring break.

I assume that you're not interested in canceling the villa because of the lost deposit, so you're stuck with it. You car rental rate is pretty good for 8 days and you can't do anything about theme park parking so those are both good. I would cancel the beach resort (I assume you can cancel) and stay around Orlando with a day trip to the beach. Clearwater beach is beautiful and about 2 hours away. So, you're looking for a place on the 18-19. Can you add to your house at a reduced rate? If the days are still available the owner may strike a deal with you to fill those days. If not, you can book at All Star Sports on Orbitz using the 15% off code "SAYYAY" for those nights for $184.81. Ditch the beach: Savings: $100.

Day trip to Clearwater beach, save on one days worth of parking: Savings $17.

3 day base park tix $835 (from my local AAA) for MK 2 full days and HS 1 day
Universal Studios 1 day 2 park tix $445 (also from AAA) (+$210 for express passes)
MNSSHP tix $231 (already purchased), doing this arrival day
I also have already purchased memory maker and the universal photo pass

I don't know what you were thinking when you pre-purchased $240 worth of photos, but that too is water under the bridge. Frankly, I think $655 for ONE day at Universal is completely insane. $445 is almost as insane. Your son is 7, not 17. He won't be able to ride any of the big rides. Seriously, WDW is a better place for him for a few more years. Ditch Universal: Savings: $655.

As you know, the more days you go to Disney, the cheaper it becomes. You can book 3 5-day tickets via Mousesaver's link to Undercover Tourist (adding 2 extra days) for $941: Additional cost: $106

Food $800 (no idea if I'm in the ballpark or not on this one)

For food:
10/13 - Trex lunch after flight lands, counter service dinner at MNSSHP
10/14 - HS: lunch at Sci Fi, dinner at Mama Melrose (Fantasmic package)
10/15 - breakfast at BOG, CS lunch, dinner at BOG
10/16 - breakfast at BOG, CS lunch and Rainforest Cafe dinner at DD
10/17 - breakfast Universal character breakfast, CS lunch and CS dinner (Monsters Cafe, Thunder Falls)
10/18 and 10/19 we will be at St. Pete Beach
10/20 - lunch at Planet Hollywood, dinner ? maybe at hotel or airport
Also would probably allow one purchased snack a day in the parks. We plan to use Brita bottles and get free ice water.

Cancel every single one of those breakfasts. You have a full kitchen for most of the time goodness sakes! A breakfast at BOG will set you back $55 each. Ditch BOG Breakfasts: Savings: $110.
The Fantasmic! package is not worth it. You can find a perfectly nice seats without it. Ditch Mama Melrose Fantasmic! Package: Savings: $95
Choose TRex or Rainforest Cafe but not both as they are the same experience. You can get a Landry's $50 gift card from Raise.com for $38.00. Savings: $12.

Keep Sci Fi (it's fun!) & BOG dinner. CS meals without drinks or dessert are about $11 per adult and $6 per child so you should budget about $28-$30 per CS meal.

Total savings by ditching the Hyatt, the beach resort, Universal, BOG breakfasts, Fantasmic! package and getting a Landry's voucher: $1195. Additional costs for 3 extra WDW days: $106. TOTAL SAVINGS: $1,089

That's not your $1500 since you have prepaid way to many things (your photopasses and your party would have made up the difference) but it's still a lot!

ETA: If you want 6 days worth of WDW tickets they are $982 through UT or $41 more total for the extra day. You may also be able to "price bridge" the tickets once you are there for about $32 but I don't think that the $9 savings would be worth it.

 

[Alexle2007]

Frankly, I think $655 for ONE day at Universal is completely insane. $445 is almost as insane. Your son is 7, not 17. He won't be able to ride any of the big rides. Seriously, WDW is a better place for him for a few more years. Ditch Universal: Savings: $655.

While pricey, I think your son will have a great time at Universal. We took DS8 for the first time when he was 6 and he LOVED it. He would much prefer to go to Universal than Disney in fact. While he couldn't ride The Hulk, he could get on most of the other rides. He loved MIB, Despicable Me, both of the HP rides, taking the HP train between the parks, Jurassic Park, the water play area in Dr. Seussland, etc. If your son is adventurous, he will definitely like Universal.

 

[Eastern]

While pricey, I think your son will have a great time at Universal. We took DS8 for the first time when he was 6 and he LOVED it. He would much prefer to go to Universal than Disney in fact. While he couldn't ride The Hulk, he could get on most of the other rides. He loved MIB, Despicable Me, both of the HP rides, taking the HP train between the parks, Jurassic Park, the water play area in Dr. Seussland, etc. If your son is adventurous, he will definitely like Universal.

But will he love it $655 worth? Not too sure about that.

 

[Marshmelo]

While pricey, I think your son will have a great time at Universal. We took DS8 for the first time when he was 6 and he LOVED it. He would much prefer to go to Universal than Disney in fact. While he couldn't ride The Hulk, he could get on most of the other rides. He loved MIB, Despicable Me, both of the HP rides, taking the HP train between the parks, Jurassic Park, the water play area in Dr. Seussland, etc. If your son is adventurous, he will definitely like Universal.

Yes, he is adventurous and loves HP, Minions, Jurassic Park, Transformers, Spider Man and I know he will love Terminator, Mummy, Men in Black and ET. Plus I love those things too! We even have a character breakfast reservation. The only thing he won't be tall enough to ride is Hulk. He will be a month away from turning 8 when we go and he is tall for his age anyway. I am happy with the choice to go there. Thank you for your post...everyone who was saying to skip it, it was crazy, had me second guessing my decision!

 

[Marshmelo]

But will he love it $655 worth? Not too sure about that.

Maybe not on his own, but I and probably DH will certainly make up for it!

 

[Eastern]

Maybe not on his own, but I and probably DH will certainly make up for it!

It's easy to spend money; it's harder to save money.

I'm sure everyone will have a great time but if you want to cut a substantial amount from your budget, you have to make hard choices. You can do it, but it doesn't seem like you want to do it!

 

[3boymthr]

Arrival date is 10/13. Which beach are you near? 64 midday in August??!!

Yup! 64 in August . We were in Buzzards Bay on Cape Cod. The morning had been rainy. When the clouds cleared in late afternoon the temps were in the mid 70s and yep 64 at the beach with a strong breeze carrying the cold off the water feels frigid. I'm one of those people who follow the weather trends and I'd say you'd probably be okay then.

 

[robinb]

It's easy to spend money; it's harder to save money.

I'm sure everyone will have a great time but if you want to cut a substantial amount from your budget, you have to make hard choices. You can do it, but it doesn't seem like you want to do it!

I admit I'm perplexed. The OP wants to save money but she rejects cancelling one thing that would save 43% of her goal. I just don't get it. It seems like such a 'no brainer' to me. Then again, I have never spent $655 for a single day of entertainment and I have been to WDW dozens of times and have travelled all around the world.

 

[flateacher]

I admit I'm perplexed. The OP wants to save money but she rejects cancelling one thing that would save 43% of her goal. I just don't get it. It seems like such a 'no brainer' to me. Then again, I have never spent $655 for a single day of entertainment and I have been to WDW dozens of times and have travelled all around the world.

I think she was looking for ways to save and keep the vacation the same. Kind of wondering if she missed anything... Also to be able to tell her husband - that the way they have the vacation set up - that there is no where to trim the budget without altering their plans. Not judging - just observing as I have lurked and watched this unfold. There are some amazing suggestions on this thread - but it would change the plans/dining/parks etc. some of which is already paid for and some of which they just are not willing to compromise on (again not judging - just my observation).

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I think she was looking for ways to save and keep the vacation the same. Kind of wondering if she missed anything... Also to be able to tell her husband - that the way they have the vacation set up - that there is no where to trim the budget without altering their plans. Not judging - just observing as I have lurked and watched this unfold. There are some amazing suggestions on this thread - but it would change the plans/dining/parks etc. some of which is already paid for and some of which they just are not willing to compromise on (again not judging - just my observation).

I think this is pretty much it. The OP came back and said that she and her husband decided not to cut the budget at the expense of convenience. It sounded to me like they ended up being ok with it.

There have been many times where I myself have looked for ways to cut and then decided not to because I wasn't willing to sacrifice the convenience.

It's not like the OP has come back continuing to moan about how she can't afford her vacation. She's said thanks for the ideas, took a few suggestions for small cuts and seems happy.

 

[robinb]

I think she was looking for ways to save and keep the vacation the same. Kind of wondering if she missed anything... Also to be able to tell her husband - that the way they have the vacation set up - that there is no where to trim the budget without altering their plans. Not judging - just observing as I have lurked and watched this unfold. There are some amazing suggestions on this thread - but it would change the plans/dining/parks etc. some of which is already paid for and some of which they just are not willing to compromise on (again not judging - just my observation).

I think this is pretty much it. The OP came back and said that she and her husband decided not to cut the budget at the expense of convenience. It sounded to me like they ended up being ok with it.

There have been many times where I myself have looked for ways to cut and then decided not to because I wasn't willing to sacrifice the convenience.

It's not like the OP has come back continuing to moan about how she can't afford her vacation. She's said thanks for the ideas, took a few suggestions for small cuts and seems happy.

I must have missed that post that said her OP was good with spending the $1500 after all. Sorry I wasted my time trying to help her.

 

[Marshmelo]

I think she was looking for ways to save and keep the vacation the same. Kind of wondering if she missed anything... Also to be able to tell her husband - that the way they have the vacation set up - that there is no where to trim the budget without altering their plans. Not judging - just observing as I have lurked and watched this unfold. There are some amazing suggestions on this thread - but it would change the plans/dining/parks etc. some of which is already paid for and some of which they just are not willing to compromise on (again not judging - just my observation).

Bingo!!! I'm glad someone gets it!

 

[Marshmelo]

I think this is pretty much it. The OP came back and said that she and her husband decided not to cut the budget at the expense of convenience. It sounded to me like they ended up being ok with it.

There have been many times where I myself have looked for ways to cut and then decided not to because I wasn't willing to sacrifice the convenience.

It's not like the OP has come back continuing to moan about how she can't afford her vacation. She's said thanks for the ideas, took a few suggestions for small cuts and seems happy.

Yes! I have said several times how grateful I am for all the suggestions. Some of the smaller tips I plan to use, while others I will definitely use when planning the next trip. I said from the beginning post that I knew there was probably no way to save that much and that I was just looking for some suggestions and/or something I may have totally missed. I'm sorry if anyone feels like they "wasted their time."