Family on TIGHT budget, HELP!

[Marionnette]

So, thanks for the mocking. Just when I start to feel comfortable on the DIS, someone always reminds me that while these message boards might be about the happiest place on earth, they, themselves, are not.

I don't think that the PP was mocking you. They were pointing out that it's not a good idea to pack perishables in your checked luggage. Your flight might only take 3 hours, but from the time that the food is placed in your luggage until the moment when you have recovered your luggage and unpacked, it is actually more like several hours. And that's several hours of sitting in conditions that can be much hotter than you would expect. While you may have had success with transporting some things, all it takes is a delayed flight or lost luggage for your bag and its contents to end up reeking from spoiled food that you packed.

 

[JanaDee]

OP may have received a paid off home in the divorce settlement and also have generous child support from the ex. Or, she could be scraping by to pay rent & have a deadbeat dad who doesn't pay. So, really difficult to say definitively, even if common sense says it's not likely doable without an improvement in income.

She makes no mention of a husband (ex or otherwise) in the OP.

 

[havaneselover]

If her net is $350/week, she is grossing closer to $25K (approx. 21% in federal taxes -income tax, medicare, social security - and another 4%-5% in local and state taxes - per capita taxes, state income tax and state unemployment insurance).

Sorry but someone grossing $25k is netting more than $18.2k. No federal taxes, credits to offset payroll taxes, etc.

 

[JanaDee]

Sorry but someone grossing $25k is netting more than $18.2k. No federal taxes, credits to offset payroll taxes, etc.

Don't forget daycare assistance.

 

[Marionnette]

Sorry but someone grossing $25k is netting more than $18.2k. No federal taxes, credits to offset payroll taxes, etc.

They may be getting more in assistance, but the weekly paycheck is taxed just the same as anyone else. It's not until she files her tax return that those credits come into play, which is why I said that she could even take a her tax refund (which would be more than she actually paid in Federal Income Tax) and use it to pay for a Disney trip.

 

[kymom99]

They may be getting more in assistance, but the weekly paycheck is taxed just the same as anyone else. It's not until she files her tax return that those credits come into play, which is why I said that she could even take a her tax refund (which would be more than she actually paid in Federal Income Tax) and use it to pay for a Disney trip.

I had thought this very same thing. Her income tax refund could very easily fund a Disney trip. Many people with low income receive more in their refunds than they actually pay in.

 

[NancyIL]

I had thought this very same thing. Her income tax refund could very easily fund a Disney trip. Many people with low income receive more in their refunds than they actually pay in.

That's a contentious topic right there!

 

[crisi]

That's a contentious topic right there!

As is the idea that you'd use the tax credit to take your kids to Disney.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

She makes no mention of a husband (ex or otherwise) in the OP.

I know, which is why we can only guess. $18k is not a lot of money anywhere (gross or net), by there are a myriad of possibilities on expenses and other possible sources of income. We just don't know.

 

[MichaelaF]

If you are a three day drive from WDW, would DL be a better fit for your family?

This is exactly what I was going to ask.

We've done both DL and WDW in the last year. DL is a lot easier to do cheaper, and in less time.

I would do 3 days, staying offsite (which is cheaper, but still within walking distance, unlike WDW), eat offsite where you can. We got a room for $83 after taxes, within walking distance (we were across the street from DCA) and free breakfast. We went for 2 days and filled up on the free breakfast. I also think DL is a little easier to manage by yourself with 2 or more kids, especially if they are smaller.

If anything, you can maybe do DL now while they are smaller, and then do a bigger WDW trip later when you may be in a better financial situation.

Also, one thing we do is ask for Disney gift cards for any birthdays or Christmas. We keep those in a little Disney gift box and save them up. I would definitely encourage you not to go into debt or take out credit cards to pay for it, in your particular situation.

 

[kymom99]

That's a contentious topic right there!

Okay, is this better? Maybe she gets a decent tax refund that allows her to pay money towards her bills and put some aside for her kids and their needs. That would allow her to save her income towards vacation.

All I am saying is she may have other sources of funds for her family to live off of.

 

[NancyIL]

The only info we have about the OP's financial situation is this:

I am a single mom and only make 350 a week with tons of bills to pay for!

The suggestions for earning extra cash are helpful. I would tell the OP that once she has gotten the "tons of bills" under control and saved several thousand dollars that aren't needed for day-to-day living expenses - to then use the tips mentioned here for planning a budget trip to WDW.

While it's true that her "kids are young only once" - that doesn't mean their lives will be ruined if they don't get to Disney World until they are much older! Making memories with one's family can happen anywhere at any time, and not just during Disney vacations.

 

[crisi]

It isn't bad for the OP to have some idea in mind of how cheap a vacation can be done - that way she has some numbers in mind as she gets her bills under control. Goals are good.

I suspect she isn't even here reading this though, I think she got discouraged because I suspect she really meant $350 a week and started to realize that it was going to be more than $2k to get 2 kids and herself to Disney.

 

[abmitch01]

if I was only going to be able to afford to go once, I would wait til my youngest was 7 or 8 and could go on all the rides, have an easier time with all the walking and be old enough to really remember the trip. It's hard to wait when you really want to go, though, I get that.

and if my kids were below say 7th or 8th grade, I would go in May when it's cheaper and less crowded. I was surprised that in the younger years teachers understood about taking the kids out of school for vacation. They gave us all the work.

 

[crisi]

if I was only going to be able to afford to go once, I would wait til my youngest was 7 or 8 and could go on all the rides, have an easier time with all the walking and be old enough to really remember the trip. It's hard to wait when you really want to go, though, I get that.

and if my kids were below say 7th or 8th grade, I would go in May when it's cheaper and less crowded. I was surprised that in the younger years teachers understood about taking the kids out of school for vacation. They gave us all the work.

My family went once - I was a senior in high school (the oldest) and the baby was in sixth grade. It was still pretty magical.

But there is something to be said for a single trip being a trip when everyone is old enough to commando the trip - you can get their at opening and go-go-go until closing without worrying about naps. If you can only take one trip, you want to maximize the amount of time you spend in the parks - and minimize the amount of time you spend in the hotel room or at the pool.

 

[of2dbeach]

I would go in Jan or Feb it.is much.cooler here and our slow.season.Hotels are discounted.and provide peeks such as food.vouchers.We.bring our own food with us and eat a big breakfast before we go.to the parks.Either find a hotel that offers breakfast or we bring packs of.mini muffins and eat in the van on.the way over.

 

[22my]

My family has a very limited budget but we are still able to stay in a hotel a couple of nights a year and it doesn't cost anything but a little of my time. I participate in one of the on-line surveys. Not sure if I am allowed to mention names, but if you personal message me I can tell you. I earn points and can use them for Hilton Honors points. They add up pretty quick. If you did this, and stayed at like the Hampton Inn in Lake Buena Vista, that would take care of hotel and breakfast each day. I believe they have a tram service to the parks, so you would save gas as well.

 

[mrsklamc]

Honestly, I think ya'll have provided nine pages of sustenance for one who lives under a bridge.

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, thinking that myself.

Honestly, I think ya'll have provided nine pages of sustenance for one who lives under a bridge.

 

[Melany502]

If you have good credit look into the Southwest CC and SPG card. You can gets your flights and hotel for free with the sign up bonuses. Also check out swagbucks and perk tv. I make $200 a month between the two of them and that is my disney money. I also try to coupon to save money.