Does this make me cheap?

[SandrA9810]

In Dec stuff goes on sale, mostly dated items. Last Jan there were a ton of things on sale, up to like 40%, plushes, ornaments, shirts, hats... nearly everything. So who knows how things will turn out this holiday season. You might just get lucky.

But things like autograph books, pins, lanyards... those never go on sale.

 

[PixiePlanner]

DH thought I was a genius for buying all that stuff ahead of time. DD & DS were surprised when "someone" left them each a note with instructions on where to find a surprise (ex. t-shirt in the closet) each day. I felt better knowing I had saved us money. There were very few "I wants" (if any) as a result of my prepurchasing daily surprises.

I know DS has worn that $3.99 t-shirt once a week, every week, since he received it. Money well spent.

 

[Kies99]

From a guy's point of view:

We did this. We picked up stuff all year long on good sales/discounts. We brought them with us and then every morning as we were heading out the door for the parks, one of us (meaning my wife and I) would "forget" something in the room and would then sneak something out for each of our girls and leave it on the bed.

When we got back from a day at the parks, the item was convienently waiting for them.

Worked great!

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't think of myself as being frugal, but I certainly bought lanyards and autograph books before we left on ebay. However, there is NO way I will spend $ on those backpacks and stuffed animals - both items have already taken over my home, and I try to find ways to get rid of them!

 

[wdwfan16]

It is a great idea. Maybe your DH wants to buy a few actual items from there for the kids.

 

[nunzia]

Because someone seems to think so.

We are going to Disney the week after New Years. I was online looking at various merchandise trying to get a rough idea of what to budget for souvenirs.

Well I came across a few websites that had some Disney stuff for discounts. I JUMPED on it. I got each of my DD's and my aunt the following

autograph book with pen

lanyard with FP holder

Drawstring back pack

Wallet

I plan on giving them those for Christmas so they can take them with us to Disney.

I also went on Disney's outlet website and got some stuffed animals that were on clearance and am planning on bringing them down there and giving them to the kids instead of buying something from the stores.

I thought I was being frugal and crafty, but I've been accused(by my husband who can't balance the checkbook!) of being stingy.

Your thoughts?

I think it makes you smart
And do you care to share the websites with Disney discounted merchandise?
I have used Laughing Place, but have been very disappointed. High mark ups, poor communication and poor service.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

"Cheap", "tightwad", "miserly", "pennypinching", "stingy", "tight".

Take your pick. I've heard them all used by meanspirited people who don't appreciate the measures taken by those who don't spend more than they need to on an item.

Personally, I don't think that someone who tries to get the most for their money is cheap. I think that you're being frugal. Of course, if you had not intended to buy those things anyway, I might be tempted to call you impulsive. But since you went online and were actively seeking those items, I'll save that monicker for myself the next time I open a "great bargain" thread and make a purchase because it's a deal that's too good to pass up.

Tell your DH that if he doesn't appreciate your moneysaving efforts, then he doesn't have to enjoy the Mickey bars that you get to buy because there's extra cash in your pocket from being a thrifty shopper.

 

[Sandy321]

Hey, we aren't all on the budget board for nothin'!

I did the same thing when we went to Disney this January - brought large stuffed Mickey and Minnie for DS and DD, bought some other souvies too. All were on sale for super-cheap and the Disney Store here, and I packed them down to FL with us so the Disney Fairy could gift them kids some stuff. The kids also got Disney Dollars to spend as well, but already having some cool gifts made the "I Wants" much fewer and further between, I think.

we always say its from Tinkerbelle!! and now that DD is 12 - well, that darling child went with her dad to DTD and spent her money and what do you know? Tinkerbelle left ME a gift!! (bath salts!! )

so I'm with everyone here - I always keep my eyes peeled for something to gift every day as a surprise -

You may not be into pins, but think about it - you can get a grab bag at mousepinsonline.com for $2 a pin (I think $25 - which seems like a lot of pins, but at the parks they are $7 a piece or 4 pins - this lot you trade the CM's pins, so you can interact with the CMs - and if you see a pin you like in the store, keep your eyes on the CM's lanyards!! We buy the $25 one because they have CM pins that we love to keep!! Some of those pins are hard to trade!!

 

[cat83]

I don't think you're cheap....I'm hoping you can share the sites with us!

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Well, let's see - I found lanyards at Michael's for $1 (although DSs is not Disney - I am a little bothered by that ) - adding a FP holder myself that I "borrowed" from work.

I am making autograph books, shirts and epcot passporters. And Santa is bringing alll disney stuff - including the rolling suitcases I found 60% off.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Well, let's see - I found lanyards at Michael's for $1 (although DSs is not Disney - I am a little bothered by that ) - adding a FP holder myself that I "borrowed" from work.

I am making autograph books, shirts and epcot passporters. And Santa is bringing alll disney stuff - including the rolling suitcases I found 60% off.

 

[postage stamp]

http://www.disneysmilesstore.com/shop/

That's the store where I got the backpacks, wallets, etc. They don't have a HUGE selection, but it's still cheaper than getting the stuff at the parks. With the autograph books, basically you are getting the pen for free. The stuff came really fast and is really nice quality too.

The plushes I just went to the Disney Store outlet and got a few from there.

 

[tinkarooni]

I hadn't thought of recycling the stuff! We don't have any ears yet, and I don't think we will be pin people, but if we are I'll remember that for sure!

Funny, I didn't think we were pin people either....than one day our wait at Mama Melroses was so long the manager came over and let each of my kids pick a pin off of his lanyard and apologized. (That was very nice, we hadn't complained about the wait at all) Of course the kids didn't have any pins or lanyards or anything.....they didn't even really know about the pin collecting, well this manager sat down and told them all about it and got them started. Next stop, the big pin store under the hat in MGM, $50.00 later we were well on our way to pin collecting.

FWIW we totally recycle everything for the next trip. I keep stuff in a drawer and take it out for the next trip. We even surprised the kids with a trip once and I snuck into their rooms and got their lanyards, light up things and autograph books to pack when they were at school.

So , no OP I do not think you are cheap, I think you're rather smart.

 

[JackJack08]

Not cheap even a little bit! I call it smart!
Last year I went to the dollar store and got my little cousins souvies there. They have no clue where they come from and really don't care!! They got a giant pencil, some hair clips and note/coloring books all for $5 each!

I still spend enough in park though, so I don't feel bad about it at all!

 

[Justsyd2]

I think that your husband may just be looking at it a little differently. I know that for my husband buying things while we're on vacation makes it that much more special.

On our first trip to WDW this past June we discussed buying things in advance, but didn't want to take that away from the trip so when we got there we purchased an autograph book (they're only $5.95 plus a couple of dollars for the pen) and an Epcot Passport (which he thoroughly enjoyed) plus he was thrilled to buy me a Pick-a Pearl in Japan, a fan, and a lot of candy.

To him, it meant so much more to be able to get there and pick things out rather than doing so ahead of time -- it made the vacation more special for him -- so I keep that in mind when we travel, and I try to be frugal in other areas so that I don't take that away from him.

 

[mickimousemama]

Well.... dont tell your husband BUT "I" have an entire Disney TOTE in my closet filled with stuff that I am picking up for extra Pixie dust while we are there. Why on earth would you not want to get it for cheaper prices???
I'm probably a bit extreme... OK I KNOW I am, but I will have little baskets for each of my kids and there will be something inside of each of their baskets each morning, with things like invites to the park we are going to, maybe some personalized treats, t-shirts etc....

 

[live4christp1]

I don't think your cheap. Just a smart shopper. If I see the Disney store has tshirts on sale for a great price I buy the kids a couple each to save until the trip. Then they have new Disney shirts without the price tag from the park. Have also bought the light up spinning toys that they sale at night before the parade at the Disney store as well and sometimes can find a good deal on pins there. Always looking to buy pins at a low price so they can trade them and not worry about all that $$$$ invested in them.

 

[cmac609]

Because someone seems to think so.

We are going to Disney the week after New Years. I was online looking at various merchandise trying to get a rough idea of what to budget for souvenirs.

Well I came across a few websites that had some Disney stuff for discounts. I JUMPED on it. I got each of my DD's and my aunt the following

autograph book with pen

lanyard with FP holder

Drawstring back pack

Wallet

I plan on giving them those for Christmas so they can take them with us to Disney.

I also went on Disney's outlet website and got some stuffed animals that were on clearance and am planning on bringing them down there and giving them to the kids instead of buying something from the stores.

I thought I was being frugal and crafty, but I've been accused(by my husband who can't balance the checkbook!) of being stingy.

Your thoughts?

I understand both of your opinions. First of all, I "reuse" some stuff too but only the fans (when we go in the summer time) and of course the pins they take with them every year however this year, we did get them new lanyards each this year because the other was full and we wanted to separate the pins from the ones we want to keep compared to the ones we want to trade next time.. We also reuse our ponchos every year (dollar store ones) however we were missing one and it was raining alot so we bought 2 kids and 1 adult at disney and will reuse them only for disney along with the mickey lighted necklaces at Christmas time.

However, we don't reuse autograph books. We really like them to have one each time. That is only our opinion though. I have bought t-shirts before time for them to wear down there but I always buy at least 1 shirt each when down there.

Now, that being said, my husband will not wear anything from the disney store or outlet. It has to be completed directly from Disney parks only. I really dont know why but that is how he is.

BTW, last year we did buy alot of Christmas gifts and decorations because they went on sale the 2nd day we were there for 40% off and also mugs, shirts, etc. It was definitely something you could't pass up on.

Enjoy.

 

[MineMail]

I do the same thing. Honestly, you're doubly-smart because you're saving money and time. My kids take forever to pick out souvenirs, especially when they're tired.

Like you, I still buy a few things at the parks themselves, but they're things you can't buy elsewhere, like embroidered mouse ear hats, Mickey-shaped earrings or Haunted Mansion pins. I also save things from trip to trip - my waterproof bag, croakies, and ponchos get used for every amusement park. We have light-up "crystal" necklaces ala "Disney's Atlantis" that are ancient, but they're in the bag. When the kids were little, if a dark ride scared them, they'd just press the button to see the light and get distracted. Now, the kids jokingly make a fuss about getting them out before we enter the Haunted Mansion, lol. They like it when other people waiting notice and comment about their necklaces. (Attention-seekers, aren't they?) I think they also remember how that little light kept them from being too scared. (Note to self: never let oldest DD take a newbie through the HM. sigh She's so mean!)

I picked up Disney t-shirts for my kids at the Kissimmee Walmart a few months ago. I wasn't really doing it to be stingy, they were really cute shirts for the summer - fitted for girls, with printing that matched their personalities: one was a little bit punk, another had butterflies. I told them honestly that I didn't buy them IN WDW, but I thought the shirts were perfect for them. They're too old for Disney Princesses or Fairies, so this fit the bill. They wear those shirts at least every other week!

I always forget about the light-up stuff. I really like seeing all the glowing, spinning, lights at the parks - it's so festive. We rarely buy those trinkets because they're so expensive. That's a good suggestion to pack them away because they're so easily broken and they're expensive. I always buy inexpensive glow necklaces from the dollar store and then forget to take them with us, too.

 

[eaj1228]

It is my opinion that "cheap" people don't go to WDW. A WDW trip is expensive (but totally worth it) for most people and takes budgeting and careful planning. If I was a "cheap" person I wouldn't go to WDW period. Picking up some treats before you go isn't "cheap" it is simply smart.

I for one enjoy finding special things to give my nieces that are Disney themed but not theme park priced. I got my nieces some tees, dresses, and jewerly on Disney Store.com and at walmart. Finding good deals make it a little bit easier to pass the time before the trip and it is easier on the pocketbook. I also spoil the rotten when we are in the parks too.