How do you pay for your cruise?

[DeblovesPoohbear]

We are planning on taking our first DC and was wondering the best way to pay it off, I know it's gonna cost a pretty penny

Usually, when I am saving for a vacation, I use alot of our tax return money
But I also open up a vacation club account at my bank, and put money in there every week.

Just curious how some of you save or pay off your trips

 

[Anal Annie]

I usually have a vacation stash....and use our tax refund....and plan way far out for a long, long time.... This summer we did a combo of booking 16 months out, used our DVC points, money stashed in the sock drawer and our tax refund....

I sort of have a perpetual cruise fund. I set aside whatever I can and periodically deposit it into it's own bank account. We just re-booked onboard in order to get the 10% discount & OBC but we will push the ressie out further once future itineraries are announced so that we have more time to save.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I pay off a bit each month, when the exchange rate is good, in fact I have paid off 2009's cruise now, as the dollar is getting stronger against the £ and I could loose far more than interest on that exchange rate change.

 

[2-4me]

Tax refund pays for cruise. I have a monthly budgeted amount thats used to buy outfits or other needs/wants for the cruise. Some of my christmas club account funds are used as spending $$. Also used as spending $$ is onboard credit earned due to paying for cruise with CC and Disney Rewards earned.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Tax refunds are a help but we set aside our travel expense checks from work each month. We also book at least one year out and book on board when possible. Money is getting tight and we have home repairs that we need to have done so not sure what the future holds at this time.

I also like to make payments to Disney rather than hold onto the money. makes it less likely that I will spend it on something less important like replacing the deck on the back of our house.

 

[Finally08]

Well if I didn't pay so much in taxes I could have cruised 4 or 5 times. Bah, self employment stinks sometimes!

I paid mine on time I suppose. I booked it with a little down that I had, then saved like mad while I could and paid the balance.
I don't have a steady enough income to have a regular savings, so instead when I see a decent windfall coming I started thinking about Disney.

 

[patsal]

My regular vacation stash combined with working as many hours as I can doing home instruction ($25 per hour and taking classes for credit at $35.00 per hour). I also use the Disney Visa to pay it off with no interest--I put on the deposit and pay that off in two payments, then the next $3000 paid in 6 payments, the next $3000 paid in 6 payments, the balance paid in 4-6 payments then cruise and pay off all I have spent on the cruise and excursions with my vacation stash. My vacation stash is comprised of the money I used to pay in daycare still deposited into a savings account--that $625 per month adds up to quite the stash.

 

[mousemom11]

Well if I didn't pay so much in taxes I could have cruised 4 or 5 times. Bah, self employment stinks sometimes!

I paid mine on time I suppose. I booked it with a little down that I had, then saved like mad while I could and paid the balance.
I don't have a steady enough income to have a regular savings, so instead when I see a decent windfall coming I started thinking about Disney.

I'm right there with you. I'm a CPA so my income is very seasonal. During tax season, I immediately put all extra cash into a savings account. This becomes our vacation money, and I'd rather endure a root canal without anesthesia than take any out to pay for anything other than our Disney vacations.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

We hold onto the money in an account until the last minute..... We place the money into an account that has no linking to our other accounts and does not have an ATM card, we refused it and let it sit there and collect $. We also plan way out.... We only cruise every 12-18 months. People sometimes think that is so far, but as long as it is booked, we have the excitment of getting ready. I also count on people having lots of whoopie about a year prior to my cruise so that my job stability is there, each time I drag my bottom into work, I think I am just making vacation money when it gets to about three months prior to the cruise.

 

[KatRob]

I have a very small part-time job (4 hr/week) and just stick the entire check in a special bank account each month. I manage to pay off cruises, Christmas, school fees, etc. from that check. I also plan cruises at least 17 months ahead so the money isn't that hard to save.

 

[Tigger's Sidekick]

I have been trying to get other people to pay for my cruises for years No one has agreed. I thought about a collection basket at work but thought I would just get requests for souvenirs.

 

[PoppyGirl]

1. I got a job.
2. I put nearly my entire paycheck into savings each month
3. We earn interest on our savings account.
4. We paid the deposit with our Disney Visa which gives 6 months to pay it off with 0% interest.
5. Meanwhile, my deposit money is in my savings account earning interest for 6 months.
6. When it's time to pay the remainder, I'll pay it with the Disney Visa again and give myself 6 more months to earn interest on all my paychecks in savings while paying 0% on my cruise.
7. As soon as our stimulus check came I snatched it and put it in savings!

 

[wdwprincess03]

I put the money aside in a CD and then earn a bit on it before we have to pay. This year I put my tax return towards it plus a little wedding money. Next trip I'll probably just set up an account that automatically transfers so much over a month. We'll also use the points we've gotten from my one credit card. If you shop at cetain places you get anywhere from 1-7 extra points and they add up! For all the extras, I've been taking surveys online. In 6 months I've gotten about $100! By the time we sail I'll have enough for tips and a few drinks!

 

[amyy]

Well, I have never saved for a cruise but now have one Dec '09 to pay off. I think it will help having it book so far out as we see the goal.
*change (my boyfriend saved for a few years and had over $2,000 which is helping pay for our land trip in a couple days)
*I found a great mechanic instead of going to the dealer and I have saved $500 in the past few months
*pay attention to my credit card. I returned an item and instead the store charged me again. Went in today and they refunded be about $120
*I have a health reimbursement account at work and put aside the paychecks once I submit items
*put the change and other money in an account with no links to other accounts or ATM card
*my boyfriend really doesn't need/want much and is happy when I put money in the trip fund for Christmas, birthday etc
*this year I may start a Christmas club
*only charge on the Disney Visa with 0% itnerest to get points. Pay off balance before interest kicks in
*I do a little bit of contract work in the summer
*tax refund

Gee-you would think with all these ways to save I would have more then I do

 

[wideeyedwonder]

For the past few years, whenever our income level went up, all (OK, most) of it went into savings...kept the same standard of living instead of living large, so we could both save long term and afford nice vacations.

 

[castlegazer]

That's is a golden rule to live by!

For the past few years, whenever our income level went up, all (OK, most) of it went into savings...kept the same standard of living instead of living large, so we could both save long term and afford nice vacations.

vacation account that all of my reimbursement checks go into - I also do the day care account at work, don't know the exact name of it, but it where you put your money in pre-tax up to $5K and then request reimbursement for day care costs throughout the year. I use that as a savings plan - seems to work but it's getting kinda close this year with increased airfare costs, winter approaching, etc...

 

[karibritt01]

I stick cash in my desk drawer, then send in payments of $750-$1000. We have paid for 2 trips to WDW, and paid off our cruise that way. I am now saving spending money.

For all the extras, I've been taking surveys online.

I do that, too. I haven't saved as much, maybe $60. I also am subscribed to mypoints.com. I get points for looking at advertisers websites, and for shopping online. I have $50 gift card to Rain Forest Cafe and $50 gas card to help with our trip so far. I hoping to get another $25 gas card before we go. Anybody want to sign up, PM me and I'll send you a link.

 

[slk]

Tax refund checks mainly but, my DH does a lot of side jobs so when he gets
money from that, that money gets stashed away for vacations