Earning $ for Disney..... Ideas Wanted

[Mom2Ben02]

I had gone to one of these years ago w/ my mom. I just looked in the yellow pages under "research centers". I go to Bryles Research in Frankfort, IL - I know there is more than one location, but not sure if they are national or not.

 

[vhoffman]

We recently did a complete overhaul of our budget. Not only to save money for Disney, but for other things as well. We looked at every expenditure, from mortgage to little fees on credit cards. Well, its amazing how we were wasting money. Just refinancing our mortgage alone saved us about $330 per month! We changed to MCI for long distance. Its a flat regardless of how much you call, and I do make a lot of long distance calls. However, don't believe the commercials. They say that its $49 per month for local and long distance. when you add on the taxes, etc., its more like $70 per month. Still a far cry from the $200 a month plus I was spending on the phone bill. Little things do add up, such as little $3 and $5 fees on credit cards. My children and DH now brown bag it 4 days a week, saving one day to "eat out." We joined Sam's Club, and I figure we save about $50 per week on food and related items. Altogether, we/ve slashed about $700 per month from our budget without any sacrifices. Of course, all that money isn't going for Disney. We're funding our kids college, rainy day fund, etc. But one does need fun in ones life, too, and that's money put to good use.

 

[starwood]

I put all of my vacation money in the ING account. I get 2% interest while it's sitting there waiting to be used.

I use the Disney Rewards Visa for everything. I have $100 accummulated so far.

I've been selling all the old books and VHS's in the house on half.com.

I do all the reward programs and survey sites I can find and put all my spare change in the bank.

 

[beansmom]

I do the things mentioned above as well and I have few other tricks. I sell snacks at work...cookies, candy, chips. I have a captive audience and it pays. I get a minimum of 34% return on my investment...the banks can't touch that! Of course, I will have to modify some for the first of the year dieters (celery sticks, cheese for the low carbers) but will still make money.

The other thing I do is craft. I scrapbook for others (wedding albums, baby books, vacation)...it lets me indulge my hobbies and make money. I also make wreaths, one of a kind christmas cards and christmas ornaments and will be venturing into candles with custom photos as well as Valentine ornaments and handmade cards. I am organizing a craft fair for the fall at work with some co-workers.

We cut down eating out and pinch our pennies. I do mypoints and clip coupons and bank the money.

 

[Babymoon]

I am planning a trip for August 2004. I have no idea how we're going to pay for it but I'm determined to do it.

I'm going to really work at Ebay...going to auctions and re-selling stuff. I think if I apply myself, I can make some good money at this. I'm also going to move all my inventory from Half.com to Amazon and see if it sells better there. I've had a long dry spell with half.com.

I sell Tastefully Simple and will put 90% of my commission into my ING account to go toward Disney.

I'm pretty driven when I have a goal! Get outta my way! I'm have my eyes on the prize!!!!

 

[SCDizFan]

Switch your credit card to a miles card and your debit card. I make as many purchases as possible with my check card and get USAirways frequent flyer miles.

I also have a very large (25 gallon maybe?) container that I glued the lid on for a money jar. Granted, it is for a trip to Italy but it's still the same idea and I can't take the top off.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Here are some things we're doing, not only for Disney but also because we want to get out of debt and be able to buy a house within 4 years :

Save change. At the end of each month, take the change to the grocery store change counter machine, and get a voucher for groceries, or cash back, which we use for our weekly parking expenses. We usually wind up with about $35 dollars worth of change, which is enough to pay for our parking for a month, or feed us for a week.

Return cans and bottles.

Cut back on eating take out & snacks.

Realize the dog does not need every toy/snack/doggie item that we see. in fact, buying his food from the grocery store instead of a pet supply store has cut back a lot on our frivalous puppy spending.

Start putting $50 a paycheck towards a special Disney fund.

Make a really good budget list.

Utilize work benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and transportation reimbursment.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by kilee
You could try some online survey sites. I only frequent one and that is www.greenfieldonline.com

Isigned up for this but all of the surveys they have told me they were either full, or I didn't qualify. Is that common?

 

[toystoryduo]

Wow! More great ideas..... Thanks everybody!!

Babymoon~
What is Tastefully Simple??

 

[Cindy B]

You name it I have done it.

I worked at a YMCA, got a free memebership, and could take my kids to work with me...

I also waitressed two nights a week at a small restaurant...

I have also overhauled our budgets, and redone a lot of things.

I babysat, I nannied, and other things.

DH has done things too... set up websites for people, done some PC repair, powerwashed a house (long time ago, but it was a good job!), even did other things.

Right now we are strictly selling on Ebay.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Tastefully Simple is a "home party" with dips and pantry goods - good stuff!

I do Homemade Gourmet - another similar company - although not very often! No time!

One thing I forgot to mention (probably out of exhaustion!) is to find a craft or talent that is unique! I am paying for this trip solely with money I earned one weekend selling candles! I have built up a VERY good business, bigger than we ever dreamed! I sacrificed a lot to do it - my hubby was a single parent many nights, and there is a severe lack of sleep going on here! - but I think it was worth it!

 

[bettyann29]

I agree with Catwho... I would love to get that extra money in my check, but I would be too tempted to just spend it... I personally love getting that big refund every year... Last year it paid for me and my boyfriend and all children, total of 7 for a cruise to Cozumel and Calica for 5 days.... If I got that money each check I would just find something to justify spending it on.. I cant wait to see what Im gonna do with it this year..

 

[HaleyB]

There are many ways to work part time and earn extra cash if you have the time, I am a SAHM so I have a little time... I am a crossing gaurd for our Elementary school. I share the job with another lady, she works the early morning shift (yuck) and I do afternoons. I only end up staying at the school about 15 minutes more than I used to picking up my kids, and I get $200 a month. I also scrapbook for others, everyone has a talent that others will pay for, you just have to find it. I used to earn about $200 a month on ebay, but I burned out. Will go back to that soon. Last of all I cut the fat from our budget. I go to Starbucks once a month instead of once a week, I do not pay late fees on videos or library books, and I cut back on all the toys (clutter) we used to buy our kids.

 

[vhoffman]

Here's a great part-time job for SAHM's--substitute teaching. The requirements vary from state to state, but usually you're not required to have a teaching background or certificate. I'm in Texas, and the requirements here vary by district, but usually its a bachelor's degree in any subject. Of course, if one has a teaching certificate the pay is better, but its not bad for a part-time job. Its about $70 per day for a bachelor's, no certificate, which I am. In many districts you can also choose to work half days, which fits better with my kids school schedule. You get to work when you want, you don't have to commit to any particular schedule. The only drawback is you have very short notice--they call you the day of, oftentimes about 6 am, and so you have to be prepared to work on short notice. Of course, you can always decline the days assignment, there's no obligation. I've earned as much as $600 in a month with no long-term committment. Check with your local school district for details. One caveat--IMHO, its best NOT to work at the school your child attends. It could lead to some sticky situations.

 

[toystoryduo]

I am a SAHM and did the substitute teaching thing for awhile. (I do have my teaching certificate.) The money was pretty good except for bringing home "school germs" that made my baby sick. When I did do substitute teaching, I took long term assignments that I knew about in advance. That way, I could plan for a babysitter.

My DH sells Prepaid Legal memberships and earns money for Disney that way. If anyone is interested, PM me and I will send you some info.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Let's keep them coming!! Have a great weekend!!!

 

[dolphincrazy]

If you haven't already open a ING Direct account you have to be referred but, you get $25 and $10 for everyone you refer up to 25 people it's a great way to get a headstart on saving for your Disney trip or whatever. If you need a referral email or PM me.
Maryann

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Maryann,
I just signed up this morning for an ING account. What a great deal!!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by bettyann29
I agree with Catwho... I would love to get that extra money in my check, but I would be too tempted to just spend it... I personally love getting that big refund every year... Last year it paid for me and my boyfriend and all children, total of 7 for a cruise to Cozumel and Calica for 5 days.... If I got that money each check I would just find something to justify spending it on.. I cant wait to see what Im gonna do with it this year..

I love getting the refund check every year too.

 

[MosMom]

We saved over $100/month by switching to Vonage for our phone service. Our telephone jacks go into (you need a piece of equipment that is provided free by Vonage) our high speed internet connection and we pay $35/month for local & long distance (unlimited...even to Canada) and that includes call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, etc. We no longer have a local company or LD company, it is all with Vonage. We have had it for months now and I will never go back to being overcharged. I love it! They have a referral program as well where the each person signing up gets a free month. My brother referred me and we both got a free month, then we referred a friend of Chris' at work and we both got a free month. Great customer service as well! It is a breath of fresh air and a huge savings.

 

[vhoffman]

How do you contact them--Vonage? I couldn't find a website. Do they have a toll free number? For us that would be a savings of $50 a month--and I thought I was doing good with MCI. MCI's plan--The Neighborhood--is a flat rate for local and long distance. It $9 per month, NOT including taxes and surcharges. Well, we've never had a bill under $75 and last month was $86. That's a lot of taxes and surcharges. But it still beat our old plan where we'd get monthly bills of $200 or more. How is Vonage with the taxes and surcharge bit? With MCI its just a rate hike in disguise. Also, your long distance calls aren't really "free". You're not charged per phone call, but taxes are assessed on the value of the long distance call, which they figure at 25 cents a minute. So the tax comes out to about 3 cents a minute. It took me a while to catch on to this, but I couldn't figure out why our $49 plan was almost twice as much. Also, MCI promised us 12 Rapid Rewards credits with SWA. We've yet to see half of them. Every month I have to waste about 1/2 hour or more trying to get my credits straight. Conclusion--don't go for MCI for the "perks" which you never get--and the overbilling, which you do get.