Help me find more ways to save

[MommyApo]

Hi, I am looking for ways to help save for our hopefully Disney World trip in Oct 2014. We have not been able to make it to DW in over 6 years as our family has been expanding and with the rising costs of airfare. Since there is 5 of us and we have to fly its going to cost a pretty penny. I am hoping to be directed towards some great survey sites, get some great tips and advice on how to help add to our savings. I am a stay at home mom and a full time college student and just would love to help add to our savings anyway I can.

Thank you all so much and cannot wait to hear your great ideas

 

[ujdsmd]

1) Disney often has free dining during Oct. so keep an eye out. You can easily save a thousand dollars if you are going to stay 4 or more days
2) What are the ages of your children. If one is under 3yrs. there is no charge for the park ticket and you can all stay in one room.
3) Decide where you want to eat. You may book dining reservations for your entire trip 180 days prior to checkin.
4) Don't buy any ticket add-ons like parkhopper or water parks and more. This move will save from 200 to 300.

 

[cndij]

Do you coupon? I had always dabbled at it, but when I lost my job 4 years ago, it became my part-time job. Between couponing, maximizing sales and stockpiling items I know we will use, it is still almost like the income of a part time job. Now if I could get as disciplined about eating out as I was when I wasn't working, we would be saving big time now.

 

[dminnie]

Remember a few years ago when Starbucks was getting more and more popular. All the money experts told everyone to cut out that daily latte and they could save money. Well, I never drank latte anyways. But...you can look at your spending and figure out what you spend money on that really isn't necessary. For me, it's take out food. I help prevent us spending so much on it by freezing some meals in advance. Then, when I don't feel like cooking or we're pretty busy, I pull out a homecooked meal from the freezer.

Some people suggest couponing. I personally don't think that saves you much...unless the coupons are for things you would normally buy anyways. You can save a lot more by getting store brands and stocking up on items when they are on sale. You can save a lot buy simply not buying as many clothes and doing laundry a bit more often.

Not sure what your credit card spending is like...but if you pay your bills in full every month and have good credit, you may want to consider a rewards card. Southwest airlines has a special sign up bonus where you get 50,000 points after you spend your first $2,000. For us, that was enough to get 3 RT tickets for free (I think SW adverstises it as 2 free RT tickets, so not sure if everyone could stretch it to 3 tickets). There is a $99 yearly fee that is charged during the first month on it. Getting the $2000 wasn't too hard since we had a car repair bill, medical expenses and we charged our groceries. I would strongly NOT recommend this route if you don't pay your CC bills in FULL every month. The interest on rewards cards can be pretty high.

 

[mrsklamc]

I don't know your budget but for most people the easiest two are ditch cable and don't eat out. You can save a lot by staying offsite and cooking simple meals if you are willing but not everyone is.

 

[sunkissed4]

I save hundreds of dollars a month with coupons! If you can give up your love for a specific brand and only shop sales you'll be shocked at the money you'll save. Stock up on toiletries and food when there's a great sale so you won't have to pay full price when you run out.

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, soap, and shampoo are usually free or always under a $1 with coupons and sales. And while it is not always the same brand, it's always name brand because it'll be cheaper than store brand!

Check out a couponing match-up website and they do the hard work for you.

If you have time when the kids are sleeping send some emails to companies about their products. I received several free product coupons from companies. King's Hawiian was very generous and sent me a coupon for a free product then another package with more coupons and a pack of rolls!

I'm a stay at home mom too, but I'm able to get my shopping list together very quickly. Oh and I'm not a crazy shopper with rooms full of products, I swear!

 

[OhMari]

I know you said you are a stay-at-home mom and go to school, but could you work one or two days during the week or weekend during the christmas Season? I did this once at Kohl's. I worked 3rd shift from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. I would work Friday nite, Saturday nite and maybe Sunday night.
It killed me the next day, because I could not sleep till later that night, but then I slept like a rock. I made $75 for each day I worked. It added up fast. After Christmas they asked me to stay on, and I declined.

 

[scdak]

I have been successful with the survey site Quickrewards.net, the money is earned in many ways, you can do it as little or as much as you have the time to do it, the pay out can be in cash to paypal or in gift cards and Disney is one of them! I earn money for online shopping thru them, in fact I will be getting a pay out from Children's place for jeans I ordered today. Not sure of your kids ages but Childrens Place and Old Navy have most of their denim jeans on sale for $10 , so I am stocking up for school

 

[lauradis]

Best way to save money is don't buy stuff you really don't need.

Take all credit card, bank cards out of your wallet.

Sit down with last couple of bank statements and all the evil bills. Then call every one, car insurance to cable and see how low they will go. Delete all bills your family can live without..

Be brutally truthful with your self about spending and saving.

My hubby is better saver so I give him all money that we should save for vacation, larger purchases. He puts it into saving account that I have no access to lol it works for us.

 

[verleniahall]

as for survey sites; i do swagbucks and i earn a decent amount of paypal cards; i have earned about 50 in the past couple months!

 

[bettyann29]

I am getting back into swagbucks and really liking it again..

One thing I recently did was get rid of my cable.. I went and bought digital receivers.. I was paying $125 a month for cable and now we have Netflix for $8 a month and I don't miss it at all!

 

[tzeitel]

As far as reward sites go -

I do Swagbucks - you can get Target cards and use those to buy Disney cards. They also offer Southwest cards.

From MyPoints I get Landry's cards. Landry's is Rainforest Café, TRex and Yak & Yeti (inside AK). They also have Target cards.

From eMiles I get Southwest miles (they do have other airlines).

The new reward site I am obsessing over is actually Southwest Rewards. I do not have their credit card but I shop through them and also enrolled in their dining program. You add your credit or bank cards and when you use them at certain restaurants you get miles.

 

[honeybunches]

I do several survey sites (Opinion Outpost and Pinecone Research are my favorites). Also, you could rack up points on sites like RecycleBank, Pampers, and Kelloggs Family Rewards. Then use your points to get Christmas gifts, bday gifts, etc. Take the cash you would have spent and put it toward your vacation. For example --- on RecycleBank you can get an All You Magazine subscription for 400 points. You can earn that easily in just 20 minutes or so. That's a $20 subscription, very nice gift that many moms would love to have (it's full of coupons). Take the $20 and put it in your trip savings! Even if you don't use Pampers, there are lots of point codes that are floating around all the time that you can get for free.

 

[MommyApo]

Thank you guys, some really great ideas! I would love to get a part time job but with my hubby's work schedule, its not consistent at all and he can work anytime and his days off change every 3 months, and with my kids crazy schedule its proving to be difficult. We already don't have cable and we will have one car paid off in 4 more months, ! Hopefully that can become Disney fund money.

 

[CaffeinatedMama]

I'm a single mom and this is my second year in a row I'm pulling off Disney World. Here is what I did, most people have already suggested these though. Cancel everything that is not a need. Any subscriptions you have to things that can be canceled, cancel them. I didn't cut tv completely but I did go down to basic. I've given up manis and pedis (not that I'm much of that kinda girl but the 2 a year I might have done before I stopped). I slashed eating out, started taking lunches to work, unplug electrical items you're not using, every holiday or birthday my daughter has asked for Disney gift cards for her spending money (she's buying her own MNSSHP ticket and she's 8), I stopped buying junk at the grocery store and stuck with sale items and stopped going to the theater to see movies and instead did iTune rentals as a splurge when there was something we were waiting to see. I sat down with my daughter and had a talk with her about saving and deciding each time she had a want did she want that item more, or a week at WDW. Every time the answer was WDW. I have a jar that I wrote Princess Savings Plan on the outside of and every week I made a cash deposit into it for spending money. Then I set up a savings acct just for Disney and every payday put at least 5% in. I also used the Mint app, it's very cool and keeps you in a savings plan and shows you where your money is going. I also used a good portion of my tax return. I also honestly can't tell you the last time I bought new clothes for myself because I'd rather make memories than impress the other moms or my co-workers with my hot new boots.

When you sit down and get cut throat you'll find there's a lot you can do without that isn't that painful to cut. I've paid for last years trip and my trip for next month in cash.

Southwest always seems to have an awesome sale every year in the May/June time frame as well. I also pull my kid out of school to go during low season and free dining (HUGE money saver). Yeah, I'm that mom.

I have taken one year to save for each trip and the bonus along the way is that my kid has learned valuable savings lessons. She scolds me if I forget to turn out a light now. It's been a great learning lesson for her that I think may stick for a lifetime, it's taught her responsibility and its been our own little family project.

Sure, we can only afford to stay at a value but when you've worked hard all year to pull it off together as a family project, and do it in all cash so you're not left with vacation debt, that value resort feels like a deluxe.

 

[Pkltm]

I'm a single mom and this is my second year in a row I'm pulling off Disney World. Here is what I did, most people have already suggested these though. Cancel everything that is not a need. Any subscriptions you have to things that can be canceled, cancel them. I didn't cut tv completely but I did go down to basic. I've given up manis and pedis (not that I'm much of that kinda girl but the 2 a year I might have done before I stopped). I slashed eating out, started taking lunches to work, unplug electrical items you're not using, every holiday or birthday my daughter has asked for Disney gift cards for her spending money (she's buying her own MNSSHP ticket and she's 8), I stopped buying junk at the grocery store and stuck with sale items and stopped going to the theater to see movies and instead did iTune rentals as a splurge when there was something we were waiting to see. I sat down with my daughter and had a talk with her about saving and deciding each time she had a want did she want that item more, or a week at WDW. Every time the answer was WDW. I have a jar that I wrote Princess Savings Plan on the outside of and every week I made a cash deposit into it for spending money. Then I set up a savings acct just for Disney and every payday put at least 5% in. I also used the Mint app, it's very cool and keeps you in a savings plan and shows you where your money is going. I also used a good portion of my tax return. I also honestly can't tell you the last time I bought new clothes for myself because I'd rather make memories than impress the other moms or my co-workers with my hot new boots.

When you sit down and get cut throat you'll find there's a lot you can do without that isn't that painful to cut. I've paid for last years trip and my trip for next month in cash.

Southwest always seems to have an awesome sale every year in the May/June time frame as well. I also pull my kid out of school to go during low season and free dining (HUGE money saver). Yeah, I'm that mom.

I have taken one year to save for each trip and the bonus along the way is that my kid has learned valuable savings lessons. She scolds me if I forget to turn out a light now. It's been a great learning lesson for her that I think may stick for a lifetime, it's taught her responsibility and its been our own little family project.

Sure, we can only afford to stay at a value but when you've worked hard all year to pull it off together as a family project, and do it in all cash so you're not left with vacation debt, that value resort feels like a deluxe.

This is all awesome! I am "that mom" too! Free dining is worth it! It sounds to me that you are doing a great job and the memories you are making with you daughter will last forever!

 

[crisi]

I'm assuming you've already done the obvious:


Don't heat or cool the house more than necessary, a few degrees makes a big difference in bills.

Same with the water heater - it doesn't need to come out of the faucet boiling
Get some insurance quotes - you may save money switching car and home insurance

Stay out of the stores - if you aren't in there, there are a ton of things you never even realize you need

Review your grocery budget. Move to meals that are frugal - my mother could feed five of us on a pound of hamburger (and I do the same with the four of us) without an issue. Last night we had eggs in creamed spinach - it was a container of frozen spinach, a little butter, some half and half and four eggs - over toast - around $1 a serving. (and my kids said we could add it to the rotation - it was good).

Go through your house and figure out what you buy and don't use - everyone has something - makeup, household cleaners, salad dressing - now you know.

Go through your house a garage sale/e-bay/donate for the tax write off all the crap you don't need.

Review your household cleaners - there are a lot of cleaners that are cheaper and more effective if you make them at home (home made laundry detergent, vinegar, baking soda, bleach, using slivers of soap as the base for a delicates wash).

If you get expensive haircuts - get your trims at a cheap place and go to your expensive stylist once every three trips. A good cut is worth more money for a lot of people, but trimming it up should be something that pretty much anyone who cuts hair can handle. Same thing with nails - if you have them maintained at a salon, you can do them at home in between. Kids that aren't in school can have Mom cut their hair at home - Target sells hair scissors (and frankly, you can probably keep cutting any girl who wants to wear long hair for eternity).

 

[fdchief]

Hi, I am looking for ways to help save for our hopefully Disney World trip in Oct 2014. We have not been able to make it to DW in over 6 years as our family has been expanding and with the rising costs of airfare. Since there is 5 of us and we have to fly its going to cost a pretty penny. I am hoping to be directed towards some great survey sites, get some great tips and advice on how to help add to our savings. I am a stay at home mom and a full time college student and just would love to help add to our savings anyway I can.

Thank you all so much and cannot wait to hear your great ideas

Let's look at the obvious:

1) heat and air conditioning - you control the temperature, therefore you control the cost.

2) Supermarket discount cards and grocery coupons are great ways to save money, however, if you don't put the amount of the savings listed on the bottom of your receipt into the bank, you'll just spend it elsewhere - trust me.

3) Cutting back on dining out - if you don't want to sacrifice that too much, then look in the papers for special pricing and discounts - you can also check a restaurant's web site for online coupons (they sometimes give nice discount coupons to people who sign up for notifications); however, again, you must bank the savings or you will find you don't have the money you want for the trip.

4) Call your cable/phone company and let them know you are being wooed by their competitor; see what kind of discounts or price reductions you can get from them, for whatever time period, and bank those savings as well.

For your Disney trip savings:

Constantly stay in touch with Disney reservations to see when they have really great discount deals and promotions like free Disney Dining.

Constantly monitor this site and similar sites to find Disney Vacation Club members, like me, who have vacation points for rent. They generally sell online for about $12-15 a point, so, based on the number of points needed for your accommodations there is the chance you can get more for less than reserving just a hotel room(s) on property. You could get a 2 bedroom villa, which has multiple bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, living room, terrace or balcony.

Depending on the ages of your kids and the number of adults, you could even do a 1 bedroom, since there are sleep sofas and such in the Villa. This would save you money on points to rent. Here's a tip: look for those members with points that will expire by the end of the month you want to travel, as they are more likely to give you a better price simply because they would rather get something over nothing.

Look for those renting for $8-10 per point. Then compare the price of the full Villa against the price of your hotel room(s). Disney Dining Plan might even be available. If not, bring in breakfast foods and eat in; make lunches to take to the park and either treat yourself to dinner out or go back and have dinner in. Local supermarkets have a delivery service if you place your order online. There's a fee for the delivery, but it will still save you money in the long run.

Another great feature is that the Vacation Villas have washer/dryers in each unit. This means you can pack half as many clothes for the week because on, say Wednesday night, you can wash and dry everything to wear the second half of the week. This could reduce the amount of luggage you need, thereby reducing airline charges for baggage.

Plan your park visits carefully. If you find that you won't necessarily be in Animal Kingdom for most of the day and then, say go to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT or something else - or just don't expect you will be splitting days at parks, then skip the Park Hopper feature, as that will save you considerable money.

When you get your reservation confirmed, whether for a hotel room through Disney reservations or in a Vacation Club Villa from one of these sites, book Magical Express. This is FREE transportation to and from the airport to your on property accommodations and, even better, you can do airport luggage check in.

What's great about this service is that when you land in Orlando, you simply go to the baggage area and check in at the Magical Express Kiosk, get on the bus to your resort and then have fun - Disney will retrieve your bags and deliver them right to your room or Villa. In reverse, you can check your bags on departure day and then go to a park or shopping or whatever, depending on your flight time, until it is time to catch the Magical Express to the airport. Again, Disney will handle your bags from property to the airport.

Magical Express also saves you the cost of a rental car that will mostly sit idle in the resort parking lot if you are only doing Disney Parks.

Watch for coupons that WDW offers, giving discounts on meals simply because you are willing to eat lunch or dinner outside the normal times for such meals. They get less crowds at one time on line and you get a few extra dollars in your pocket.

 

[Deffenm]

I created a coin jar for the family. We decorated it with Disney stickers and put sign on it saying Disney World Trip 2014. We all put any change we find in the jar. My DD is like a ninja she always finds change on the ground. I make a budget for groceries each week - $150, and whatever I don't spend goes into the jar. It may not seem like much but it adds up over the year and the kids get to feel like they are contributing to the trip.

We also have a garage sale every year and whatever money we make goes into the Disney fund.

I participate in mypoints, sunshine rewards, and pinecone. I also collect codes for cokerewards, disney movie rewards, my bank gives points as well. I use the rewards I earn to off-set paying for something out of our account and then put that money into the fund or get gift cards that I can use at Disney.

If the kids want to go out to eat or to the movies I ask them if they really want to go or save that money for Disney. They always say Disney. I then end up making what they wanted to eat at home (burgers, pizza, wings), and try to find free red box code and we watch movie at home.

You should check out the Disney Themed Movie Nights thread on the Family Board here. It is a great way to "countdown" towards your trip and keeps everyone aimed at the same goal. Plus they are a blast to have. Of course I don't spend much money on them as that money is for Disney.

 

[BarbO]

Due to a recent death of a family member I had to cut expenses in my house. It can be done!

I had a cable combo...telephone, cable and internet for $170 and Netflix for $17. Canceled cable and bought a $30 indoor antenna and kept Netflix. I get local stations on major networks and other local shows and I watch netflix at night and I cut my bill over $100 a month. I really don't miss the other tv stuff and I can get national news on the computer.

Also I started only plugging electrical items in when I use them and make sure its all turned off at night and bill is already down $60 a month

I've also started couponing, but only for items I always purchase.

Every little bit helps...good luck!