Have you ever........

[Ready to go in Ok]

I decided earlier this year that we needed a trip to WDW. My DH, who is an accountant, and who has never been to WDW, was not quite as enthusiastic about the trip as me. Especially when I gave him the grand total for the trip! He just kept talking about something called bills and budgets......but that was boring and contradictory to my goal, so I tuned out. So! To appease his sense of monetary responsibility, I made a deal with him that I could pay for a large portion of our trip by quitting smoking (lots of moolah saved that way, and better for my health) , making coffee in the AM at home rather than stopping by Starbucks , and brown bagging lunch.

Luckily, he got a bonus at work, and so we had "free" money that paid for the vacation. But I am still going to stick to my deal.......next week..yeah, next week.

So, has anyone else made changes to budget for WDW?

Stephanie

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We limit going out to eat--big savings. When we are tempted to go out to eat, we put the $$ in the disney fund instead.

I also work OT. Seems like a lot of OT is available at my job right now, or I'm just working more??

I also put other hobbies on hold I.E. longaberger. No baskets since October.

 

[ckoncurat]

With 5 kids, we have started saving fast food meals for vacations or special occasions. This saves us about $30 a pop. Everytime one of our kids complains about not going to McDonalds more often, we ask them "would you rather have a happy meal or go to disney?"

 

[scorp111]

We quit taking vacations anywhere else...

Seriously, I have done the AM coffee thing for the last month...every little bit helps....

But if I am going to save for this trip... I need to stay out of the Disney Store...

 

[Muushka]

I decided earlier this year that we needed a trip to WDW. My DH, who is an accountant, and who has never been to WDW, was not quite as enthusiastic about the trip as me. Especially when I gave him the grand total for the trip! He just kept talking about something called bills and budgets......but that was boring and contradictory to my goal, so I tuned out. So! To appease his sense of monetary responsibility, I made a deal with him that I could pay for a large portion of our trip by quitting smoking (lots of moolah saved that way, and better for my health) , making coffee in the AM at home rather than stopping by Starbucks , and brown bagging lunch.

Luckily, he got a bonus at work, and so we had "free" money that paid for the vacation. But I am still going to stick to my deal.......next week..yeah, next week.

So, has anyone else made changes to budget for WDW?

Stephanie

:

Too funny Stephanie! Good luck with your goals .

 

[Lindamary123]

I also put other hobbies on hold I.E. longaberger. No baskets since October.

Same here, my friend who sells longaberger just gave me new books and I will not be tempted!

 

[pjlla]

Yup... we go without lots of "extras" in order to save for WDW... but like I said in a previous post, it is all a matter of priorities. I don't go to the hair dresser more than once a year... saving $$ for WDW is more of a priority for me. But my SIL goes religiously every 4-6 weeks for trims, highlights, coloring, you-name-it. That is more of a priority for her than saving for a trip.

I have a friend who spends several hundred dollars on gifts for each child on their birthday (she has 4 kids). I probably spend around $50 (not including the party). Obviously spending the money on gifts is more of a PRIORITY for her than it is for me.

I buy store brands, eat beans and oatmeal, stop at the bread store, wear older clothes, have yard sales, never buy coffee out (can't say the same for DH), cut my kids hair, etc.... all things I do to save money for WDW... because it is a PRIORITY for me. I try not to judge others for THEIR priorities and how they spend their money. I hope they do the same toward me.

Sometimes even people close to you don't understand your priorities. For example... for Christmas when several family members asked me what I wanted for Christmas I said "cash for our trip or Disney Dollars" (we are trying hard to save for DL this summer and WDW next January). Well... despite saying it several times I didn't get either. Along with several very nice gifts that I really like (scrapbooking supplies) I got a nice-but-not-needed bathrobe from SIL (who got me a robe last year!), a pretty but not needed jacket from DM, and a pretty, but not needed necklace from DH (who somehow didn't know I already had a pretty cross pendant that I wear very regularly!! ). While I am trying hard not to look a gift horse in the mouth I don't understand why these people made it hard for themselves, finding a gift, wrapping it, etc... when all they had to do was put some $$ in an envelope and mark it "vacation money" and put my name on it!

Sorry..... got way off on a tangent just then. But anyhow, it is amazing the ways you can find to save $$ for WDW if it is a PRIORITY for you!......P

 

[talicskai]

We quit taking vacations anywhere else...

Seriously, I have done the AM coffee thing for the last month...every little bit helps....

But if I am going to save for this trip... I need to stay out of the Disney Store...

Tell me about it! I was just at LimeRidge Mall yesterday and the darn place has another sale on! I was just in Florida two weeks ago but still managed to buy pajamas and other essentials! I haven't told hubby yet! I just feel this warmth run through my body when I enter that store!

 

[Gymbomom]

The eating out challege inspired me, my hubby has been VERY impressed in the last week how I have sticked with my goals of not eating out and cooking at home.
We have FOUR trips planned in one year Jan '06 - Dec "06, This is a Disney year for me and I am willing to do ANYTHING to make it happen.
Good Luck with your goals.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Sometimes even people close to you don't understand your priorities. For example... for Christmas when several family members asked me what I wanted for Christmas I said "cash for our trip or Disney Dollars." Well... despite saying it several times I didn't get either... While I am trying hard not to look a gift horse in the mouth I don't understand why these people made it hard for themselves, finding a gift, wrapping it, etc... when all they had to do was put some $$ in an envelope and mark it "vacation money" and put my name on it!

I've given up on my family about this. I can't even fall back on the idea that "it's the thought that counts," because the gifts aren't even thoughtful! For our first trip to WDW (meant to be the only one for many years), the kids got about $10 Disney dollars for Christmas, but the usual junk - including tons of unnecessary candy - for all other holidays; I received no Disney dollars at all, but instead got a desk calendar that I didn't ask for or need, some really ugly jewelry that ended up in the garage sale, and even a box of soup mix with 2 bowls (WUWT???!). Now that we go regularly, it seems as though family would have a built-in, easy gift for all of us, but they'd rather throw their money away on things we don't even want. Arrgh.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Yes, we give up the eating out and anytime we have $20 we go buy a $20 disney dollar. This way what we save today I won't be tempted into spending tomorrow (trust me, this is necessary, I'm a shopaholic!).

Now, if DH would give up smoking we'd be good to go already!

GymboMom- I bet I know where you're spending - same as me!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I've given up on my family about this. I can't even fall back on the idea that "it's the thought that counts," because the gifts aren't even thoughtful! For our first trip to WDW (meant to be the only one for many years), the kids got about $10 Disney dollars for Christmas, but the usual junk - including tons of unnecessary candy - for all other holidays; I received no Disney dollars at all, but instead got a desk calendar that I didn't ask for or need, some really ugly jewelry that ended up in the garage sale, and even a box of soup mix with 2 bowls (WUWT???!). Now that we go regularly, it seems as though family would have a built-in, easy gift for all of us, but they'd rather throw their money away on things we don't even want. Arrgh.

I'm soooo with you on this!!!!
My husband and I go through this with family. We give them lots of ideas to help them also but we usually get the usual stuff we don't need or use.
These are some of the ideas that we talk about but no one seems to want to listen:
-Disney Dollars
-gift cert to rainforest Cafe
-Camera supplies ( film, memory card etc...)
- Even gift cert for restaurants around our area so we could still go out for dinner but not use the money we are saving for disney
-Gift baskets of trial size items that you use on vacation
-Disney t-shirt or other vacation clothes type items
- Just money for our trip

 

[Taja]

We don't really exchange gifts much these days, as we're all adults. But I usually receive strange gifts, as well!

My decor is electic with clean, contemporary lines. Everyone gives me very country or traditional stuff for a house that already is decorated. Are they trying to change my lifestyle or are they regifting?

My body doesn't fit manufacturer's standards, but many people insist of giving me clothing. I really detest alterations! Ladies ready-to-wear is not designed to be altered. I much prefer designing and making my own clothing in fabrics that suit my lifestyle rather than trying to adapt my life to someone else's idea of what I should wear.

What can I say? Family and friends: we love you anyway!

 

[LauraAnn630]

I am not good at cutting back. Soooo, I am working my butt off!!
I am also making our DS'S save any money they get for vacation.
They havent complained at all!! They know they will want a lot of stuff
at DW and they will be able to buy it!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Not just for WDW.

It's really a matter of priority. We like our vacations so we go without dining out, buying lots of cds and dvds etc. , buying new clothing, etc.

We live frugally in our day to day lives and going to WDW when we want is usually not a problem. The biggest issue we usually face is getting the week we want off from work.

 

[lucyjuce27]

When we go to the 'World we are saving money by staying offsite and trying not to eat in the parks. we are probably going to have fast food most nights, occasionly going to the sizzler. We would rather save the money and go to all the parks or buy a few extra souvenirs.
~~Lucy~~

 

[Leota]

I have radically altered my grocery budget & dining out budget in order to save for WDW. I have also backed WAY off on the clothing purchases. I really have everything I need anyways, buying new stuff was just for a little temporary high. I'd rather get that high form a WDW trip.
I have also cut back on little things like movie rentals, new CD's etc.... My budget is really down to the bear minimum. I don't mind it at all becuase I have 3 WDW trips in the works this year as motivation.
I already make coffee at home & quit smoking 2 years ago. I pack my lunch because it's cheaper & I eat healthier that way anyways.

So, yes, aboslutely we make lifestyle changes to accomodate our WDW habit. I took a couple years off from Disney due to some health issues - not only was I miserable from missing my favorite vacation, but I wound up buying alot of crap to try to make up for it. I think I wasted more money on uneccessary purchases than I would have spent on a trip each of those years.

 

[dixipixi]

Well, one good thing about living out in the country...No Malls Close By!!! We save a lot of money just by staying home. No one ever feels like driving 25 miles to go to McD's...so I'm lucky there. I only go to the mall about once every 3 or 4 months and then we are shopping for specific items so I really stick to my budget.

We are also very lucky because my family does understand our Disney obsession and they are happy to give as gifts things we can use for our trips. This year, for example, my in laws gave us money at Christmas. I used it to pay for our stay at the YC this June. My parents bought everyone a 10 day MYW pass for their birthdays. So, (fingers crossed) maybe I'll be lucky enough to get two trips this year!!!

 

[psupple]

I have my paycheck direct deposited every other week. The credit union I bank with requires you to direct deposit to a "savings" account, and then you tell them how much you want transferred into your checking account.

I've been at my job for 5 1/2 years, and I've never changed the amount that goes into checking, even though I've received raises over the years. We continue to live off of the money in the checking account and try not to touch the savings except for vacations.

I think it's a good way to save since you are accustomed to having the same amount to live off of from week to week, allowing your savings to build for Disney!

 

[cabobber]

These are good tips... now I have a question: Does anyone know of a website that helps with healthy/inexpensive meal planning?

I'm on board with limiting restaurant expenses and I enjoy cooking for my family. However, I'm running low on creative and low-cost recipes. I also do my best to fix double batches when I'm cooking so I can freeze a meal for later.

Thanks for any tips.