Forgotten costs?

[Danemom]

I was inspired by the surprising cost of pet sitters on that thread!

What are some things that a first timer or someone on a tight budget might forget to budget in?
How about:
Pet Sitters
Gas and higher gas prices where you might be traveling
Toll Roads
Anybody else have some to add?

Autumn

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Tips for baggage, and housekeeping

Parking at the airport. (we leave ours in the glove compartment, so that we don't get tempted It is not such a big deal to have the right change, but I always leave it there.

Money to pay the kid next door, to take your trash to the curb, and bring back the empties, or the money to buy him a small souvenir.

 

[peg2001]

Ummm. . .dare I say carpet cleaning for when you get back and discover that your cats were not happy while you were gone?

Peggy

 

[Jenn]

Tips always get me. We often travel with a large group (usually 12 of us), so the skycap, valet, bellstaff, etc. all deserve a little something for handling our crew and all that luggage. Some members of our family "forget" about tipping, so it seems like I'm handing off $5 here, $10 there every time I turn around.

 

[mickeysaver]

Originally posted by peg2001
Ummm. . .dare I say carpet cleaning for when you get back and discover that your cats were not happy while you were gone?

Peggy

LMFAO! We worry about having to do this very thing everytime we travel. Luckily, our 3 kitties all seem to behave really well for us. Thank God, our kitties are now able to potty outside. No more litter box for us! We leave them enough food for many more days than we are gone, we also leave them plenty of water. Just in case something happens to the water, and I know this sounds gross, we leave the lid up on the toilet in the downstairs half bath that gets cleaned more than it ever gets used. If we left the lid up all the time, we would never have to water the cats again. lol I have no idea why animals like to drink from a toilet. Anyway, we also pick up all the dog toys and make the house into a doggy free kitty fun zone with fresh catnip toys and hidden treat releasing balls. I don't think the cats miss us that much. They seem to be a bit more vocal and clingy the first day we are home, but otherwise they seem to adapt well to their time away from us. Mickey

 

[mickeysaver]

Don't forget to check all your daily prescription meds to make sure you have enough while you are gone, if not, you might have to come up with the co-pay before you travel or possibly be forced to pay out of pocket there.

Along the same lines, don't forget to have money set aside for a trip to the urgent care or ER. This applies more for people traveling with kids, but it never hurts to plan ahead.

Don't forget to budget for car maintence if you are driving. I find that an oil change with a new air filter thrown in are a good idea to have done before we travel. Also consider a radiator flush and fill if you are traveling a long distance or in the intense heat of summer. Always check your tires before you leave too!

Don't forget to factor in the price of film and development into the budget. We had 16 rolls of film that I got for dirt cheap on eBay and it cost us almost $130 to develop.

Don't forget the added grocery expense for travel foods and fluids.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Mickey

 

[CdnMom2]

As prepared as we thought we were didn't we have the batteries on both my diabetic daughter's blood glucose metres (1 & a spare) die AND her fancy new ketone testing one. AND we found out my month-old camera (dropped my old faithful one just before we left) went thru batteries like crazy and required something other than the zillion AA's we'd brought with us for game boys, FRS radios, etc.

Would have saved money (paying in U.S. $ and not on special is no fun for us!) and time finding that Radio Shack, drug store that did carry them...

 

[C.Ann]

TAXES on EVERYTHING!!! It can REALLY add up to quite a bit of money!!

 

[Cinders]

Its a small one but laundry. Even if you dont plan on doing any on your trip take some stain remover or detergent for those emegency cleanups. I couldnt handle letting chocolate from a Mickey bar stay on younger DS's outfit, when he was little, stay there until we got home. And if you're driving and you have a husband that just has to have a clean vehicle add in a couple car washes too.

 

[Snow Brite]

all those things you take for granted in your medicene cabinet:

Bandaids
Antibacterial Wipes
Tylenol
Midol
Sudafed
Suntan Lotion

These costs can be helped by packing these items so you don't have to pay twice as much as normal at the hotel gift shop.

And then the things you forget to pack that have to be purchased:
ALL of my DH's underwear (really! LOL!)
More than one swimsuit so that you can go swimming twice in one day without putting on a wet suit
Beach Towels for the water parks
Reading material
Toothbrush and toothpaste (left it out to use the morning we left)
Hairbrush (same)

Again, with careful, thoughtful packing (and not forgetting to remind your DH to pack underwear) you can cut these costs. But trust me you WILL forget to pack something you need. Desperately. And will have to buy it at the hotel gift shop. But that is how I got my great Mickey sweatshirt one chillier than expected evening and I LOVE it! LOL!

Can you tell I have become an amazing overpacker?

Jennifer

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by peg2001
Ummm. . .dare I say carpet cleaning for when you get back and discover that your cats were not happy while you were gone?

Peggy

I hear ya! I'm still trying to get rid of the cat pee odor (in the carpet) that we came home to after a trip to NC in NOVEMBER! Trying to do it myself. I've tried "Out Stain and Odor Remover". Didn't work! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[PugLover]

Last year I started adding a category of "trip preparation costs" to our vacation fund. This allocated amount is used for new clothing purchases prior to the trip (especially helpful when traveling to a different climate than where you live). My Nana took her two kids on a trip to Maine last Christmas, they live in Louisiana! She had to shell out hundreds of dollars for parkas, boots, gloves, hats and other warm weather clothing they normally have no need for.

I like to get a trim/glossing treatment, pedicure and manicure before I leave for vacation. Not necessary of course but something I do buget for.

If you work an hourly/non-salary job without vacation pay in your benefits package dont forget to adjust your household budget as you will have an entire week of lost pay.

Also.... keeping with the pet sitter thread: have you provided the care giver of your pet with the means to pay for emergency vet care? I always leave my Mom (our petsitter) a blank check (signed) to use for the vet. I call our vet and let them know we will be out of town, let them know my Mom will be using a authorized check and she has full range to do what she seems appropriate in the event an emergency does occur. Luckily this has never happend but a good idea to plan for. I budget 250.00 for this. Upon returning home the 250.00 is put back into our annual pet care fund.

These additional suggestions are not just Disney related, just travel related. Others have listed great suggestions also.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by crazymomof4
I hear ya! I'm still trying to get rid of the cat pee odor (in the carpet) that we came home to after a trip to NC in NOVEMBER! Trying to do it myself. I've tried "Out Stain and Odor Remover". Didn't work! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We've had good results from "Stainaway" from Drs. Foster and Smith, but it may be the same thing as your product.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=12&pCatId=578

It uses enzymes to break down the odors.

Peggy

 

[crazymomof4]

Thanks, Peggy.

I will give the site a look.

crazymomof4