Do You Watch What You Spend At WDW?

[DisneyDotty]

I like to prepay as much as possible--that's why I'm loving the MYW plus dining--so that once I'm at WDW I can relax and not get hung up on costs! I think it's part of the Disney magic that I'm paying $300plus per night for a room at the CR without even batting an eye--I'd never ever pay that much anywhere else in the the world! Disney just kinda sucks me in, and I don't think cost until I see the VISA bill! Then it's and !

 

[qtwns]

Yep, we watch what we spend fly out of our wallet all over WDW! I feel like everytime I encounter a CM I should ask them if I've given them their obligatory $20 yet. But I have gotten a lot of good ideas here. I like the spreadsheet idea and the saving your change idea. Thanks!

 

[missypie]

I've been using these boards to pinch every penny I can...AP rate for room; ticketmania (with mousesavers discount!) for the rest of the tickets; great rental car tips from the transportation boards; DDE card; 3 plane tickets with frequent flyer miles. I did all of that so we could stay at a deluxe, have our own car and eat one table service meal a day.

I personally will buy only one or two souviniers, and very few snacks. But the kids are a different story. I will let them know that I will buy them one or two "nice things" (sweatshirt or something like that) during the course of the trip, and probably one snack a day, then they have to spend "their" money on everything else. They'll each have $10 a day...a total of $100 for the whole trip.

This worked very well for us at Disneyland. DS (then 12) spent most of his money on extra churros and ice cream. DD (then 10) spent every cent on souviniers. DD (then 7) came home with money. It's kind of heart breaking to see them realize that things are expensive, but you can't call a child deprived when they're given $100 to blow however they see fit.

 

[shamrock30]

We don't have a set budget, but we do watch what we spend. DH and I only buy one or two small souveniers at Disney, and we aren't that big on eating out. Our requirements for a hotel room is that it be very clean and reasonably comfortable. I'd rather save the money and vacation more often. We usually also make a trip to Canada and one to Europe each year.

 

[Ziggie]

I've really enjoyed reading the replies here

One thing we never do is take credit cards with us. We'll move a certain amount of money into an ATM account and then just use that.

A tip for those souvenir seekers... be sure to try off-site stores. K-Mart off Turkey Lake Road has many for you to choose from

 

[bigbabyblues]

We spend only what we have budgeted, and no more. Last year we had $140/day for food, and that was no problem, and what was left over is what we used for souveniers. No part of vacation goes on a credit card for us!

 

[eeyore0062]

Yeah, I watch what I spend at WDW.... I watch that money go right out of my wallet and into the hands of the merchants, servers, bartenders, front desk castmembers, etc, etc, etc.........

 

[bubba's mom]

.......but I pinched every penny to get there (air, hotel, car, tickets, etc...).....I'm spending!!! Ya gotta splurge somewhere

 

[lsutigger2]

Dh and I "budget" loosely! We usually pay for some things ahead of time - Segway tour at Epcot, DDE card, etc. I work extra and we save all of that money to use on our trips. So we usually do/buy/eat what we like. We do charge, but the $$ (cash) to pay the bill is left at home. We have fun. I do say that I've tried as I've gotten older to really select things I will really enjoy and use - dish towels and stuff. This trip we're going to buy stuff for our first grand niece and a for a niece that is getting married! Love having a special mission!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I don't like carrying alot of cash or travelers checks. I keep the money in the savings account at home and pay off the credit card (hopefully all of it) when I get back. I have no problem splurging on my DD or DH but when it comes to me I can't stand to buy myself expensive things. I guess too many years of doing the budget has had its effect!!
However, if you get me near a scrapbooking store - all bets are off!!! I've already stocked up for this trip and haven't even taken a single picture yet.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I have no problem splurging on my DD or DH but when it comes to me I can't stand to buy myself expensive things. I guess too many years of doing the budget has had its effect!!

I hear ya! I used to shop at nice department stores for myself, but that was before kids. Now it drives DH crazy--he'll buy me a Coach purse, for example, and I'll take it back because I tell him I can buy a lot of socks and underwear at WalMart for the price of that purse! But then again, I did make all the plans for this Disney trip, and I did choose to stay at the CR tower this time--so maybe I'm splurging on myself in better ways as I get older! Ah well--we can't take our money with us--might as well spend it now!

 

[JonJehrio]

No way!

 

[bubba's mom]

I have no problem splurging on my DD or DH but when it comes to me I can't stand to buy myself expensive things. I guess too many years of doing the budget has had its effect!!
However, if you get me near a scrapbooking store - all bets are off!!! I've already stocked up for this trip and haven't even taken a single picture yet.

me too!! I feel the same--have to force myself to buy something nice for myself (this year will be new pj shirt).....and the scrappin' stuff....oh, let's not go there!!

 

[bugsy]

with wdw, as with any vacation we take, I have already estimated our actual
costs, after airfare, resort, fixed transporation. I know what things will be "on
an average", but taking our previous vaca tion spending history into account, I know how
to estimate what we usually spend. So no, I do not hyper-monitor, I do watch, what we are spending, but at the end of the day, more than anything,
I want DH and I to have a wonderful vacation, and if, and we usually do go over budget, so be it.....vacation time to us is so precious, I
want whatever perfection our wallet can bear!!!

 

[newholidayx2]

I tend to overbudget - we come home w/money that gets rolled over to the next WDW vacation

 

[rmontgo892]

What budget??? I also convinced myself shopping in the outlets would *save* me money...yea right!

My parents had a budget when they took my brother and I to WDW but the budget was a realistic amount and we never felt like we missed out on anything!

I swear everytime we go I do NOT need another *Mickey* anything...ask me if that works! Can anyone say "room service" this upcoming trip?

 

[rmontgo892]

Do I Watch What I Spend At WDW?
Yep, every penny as it's usually me signing for whatever.
Do I keep track of it?
Nope, not until I get home and go

This cracked me up...this is me to a "T"....

 

[Marc A.]

My DW and I watched what we spent the last time we went (03). This May however, we are using up alot of our mileage for the hotel and park tics. so we will definitely feel more carefree. Why not, you know you're spending money but it's for something you really enjoy and care about, it's not like you can go that often.
I'm just happy there exists such a wonderful place to enjoy.

 

[Madi100]

I have no problem splurging on my DD or DH but when it comes to me I can't stand to buy myself expensive things. I guess too many years of doing the budget has had its effect!!
However, if you get me near a scrapbooking store - all bets are off!!! I've already stocked up for this trip and haven't even taken a single picture yet.

I agree completely with you on that one!!! I buy a sweatshirt and a scrapbook when I go. Otherwise, I don't buy myself anything. BUT, I spend on my kids and my husband. Last time I really wanted a watch for myself. I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on it. But, I had no problem spending $30 on a blanket for my DD that she really didn't need. DH ended up buying me the watch for my birthday. But, I couldn't buy it myself.

 

[TSWJan78]

We budget but it is funny how a $25 Shirt, $80.00 Pj's or a $40.00 dinner do not seem expensive in DW. I think it is so drilled in out head that it is expensive there that when you get there money you would never spend for something at home seems cheap. We budget but keep it loose. We try to have everything paid for before we go except meals and souvenirs and we try to keep the kids to 1-2 gifts per day.. then they are not coming home with a bunch of junk that will get lost in there rooms but it is vacation.... we don't stress out about it!!