How do YOU save for Disney?

[madonniac]

I just priced a trip, with driving, we're looking about spending $3,000 for 2 adults and one child.

We really want to go yearly but I'm not sure if we can do it...unless we use our yearly tax refund.

 

[Kirby]

Every week I take the change out of my wallet and put it aside for a trip.

I have a weekly budget amount for my groceries. Any money I don't spend out of my budget gets put aside for a trip.

 

[Pakey]

Vacations are important to us. I direct deposit every payday into a savings account that is used to fund our vacations.

 

[Marionnette]

I just priced a trip, with driving, we're looking about spending $3,000 for 2 adults and one child.

We really want to go yearly but I'm not sure if we can do it...unless we use our yearly tax refund.

$60 per week in an ING account.

Every week.

For 50 weeks.

BINGO! $3000 !

Now cue the people who will tell you to join this or that online rewards program. And you may save a few dollars every week that way.

And then someone will tell you to use a rewards credit card. Which could net you a few more dollars per week based on 1% back on your purchases.

Saving change. Cut back on impulse spending. Eliminate luxuries from your budget. Use coupons when you grocery shop. It all adds up.

But if you don't put the money in savings somewhere....

...it won't make a bit of a difference towards getting you to Disney!

 

[madonniac]

And then someone will tell you to use a rewards credit card. Which could net you a few more dollars per week based on 1% back on your purchases.

Saving change. Cut back on impulse spending. Eliminate luxuries from your budget. Use coupons when you grocery shop. It all adds up.

But if you don't put the money in savings somewhere....

...it won't make a bit of a difference towards getting you to Disney!

DH wants to do DVC but I still can't see how it's worth it. I have a Disney Rewards Credit Card but I just got us out of debt. I'm looking to stay debt free. Thanks...I just saved $15 using coupons this past grocery trip. I might put that money into a VACATION savings acct.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

We use our tax refund.

 

[crazelion]

$60 per week in an ING account.

Every week.

For 50 weeks.

BINGO! $3000 !

Now cue the people who will tell you to join this or that online rewards program. And you may save a few dollars every week that way.

And then someone will tell you to use a rewards credit card. Which could net you a few more dollars per week based on 1% back on your purchases.

Saving change. Cut back on impulse spending. Eliminate luxuries from your budget. Use coupons when you grocery shop. It all adds up.

But if you don't put the money in savings somewhere....

...it won't make a bit of a difference towards getting you to Disney!

On cue I use rewards programs I am not talking about credit card reward either. Yes quickrewards.net , mypoints.com, and swagbucks.com

 

[*Seanaci*]

Every week I take the change out of my wallet and put it aside for a trip.

I have a weekly budget amount for my groceries. Any money I don't spend out of my budget gets put aside for a trip.

Good idea with the grocery budget.

DH wants to do DVC but I still can't see how it's worth it. I have a Disney Rewards Credit Card but I just got us out of debt. I'm looking to stay debt free. Thanks...I just saved $15 using coupons this past grocery trip. I might put that money into a VACATION savings acct.

We'll be out of debt (most likely) by June of next year (thank goodness). What money we are paying out now to clear the debt, will be put into a vacation fund when we are done paying off the debt.

We use our tax refund.

That's our plan (we'll be paying on our one CC when we get our refund back this year and try NOT to use it over the course of the next year and a half so the balance gets paid off...hoping that by the end of this year, we'll have the balance paid off, that way we can book our trip early next year and put our income tax refund next year aside to either pay toward the trip or the CC if it's not fully paid off this year).

On cue I use rewards programs I am not talking about credit card reward either. Yes quickrewards.net , mypoints.com, and swagbucks.com

Hmmmm...I think I have a mypoints account and swagbucks. And since I have access to my mom's computer during the day while she's at work, I could be earning rewards.

Generally, we plan on a vacation for a particular year and start putting money away (loose change, my babysitting money) as soon as we can so that we have enough to pay for the trip.

DH and I have made the decision that DS is going to be our only child. DH and I both enjoy travelling...and want to be able to take a yearly family vacation starting in a couple years. Plus, we'll be able to comfortably (from the financial stand point) take care of our son better as he grows.

 

[weluvdizne]

Every little bit adds up.
I cut my dh and kid's hair. Each time I give a haircut, I put away $15, my estimate of what it would cost including tip for a haircut out.
I made my own laundry soap. Everytime I fill my bottle from the bucket, I put away about $10. A little more than the cost of a bottle of laundry soap, but the extra is a treat to myself for my time making the soap, which was really easy.
I stick to a grocery budget. Whatever I have left at the end of the week, I put away for Disney.
I use coupons, and when I pay with my debit card, I get cash back equal to my coupon savings, and put that aside for Disney.
I sell things on e-bay. You can use your Paypal account to buy a gift card from Disney Store.com.
Work to get your utility bills lowered, and put that savings away.
Combine driving trips and save the extra gas money.
Any money I get back in the form of rebates gets set aside for Disney.

Like somebody else said, you have to actually put the money aside or it won't be put away for Disney.

 

[redboxcar]

Every pay day I buy myself a $20 gift card from the Disney store. It's not a big enough amount that I miss it from my paycheck, in fact I hardly notice it's missing.

Since my boyfriend knows that it's my goal to save for our trip, he also buys me one from his paycheck. That's $80/month between the two of us. =)

Slow but steady. Doesn't break the bank.

 

[ChisJo]

Vacations are incredibly important to us. We have several ways that we save, not just for Disney, but for all of our vacations. I have a savings account that direct deposits bi-weekly $200 from my account. My husband also saves into his own account as well. We put all of our change into a piggy bank, and when we are ready to go, we empty it and use that for spending money.

We have a rewards visa that allows us to get our flights for free.

We get our parks passes from rewards programs too. I do mypoints.com, but honestly, I have been doing it for over 10 years, and have only gotten about $50 worth of GC's, but I guess something is better than nothing.

We don't stay on property...we find it is way too expensive, even in the budget resorts. We rent time shares (from my parents club) or private properties (from vrbo.com) that have the facilities to cook in, thereby saving us money on breakfasts, and sometimes suppers. My upcoming trip, for 9 nights, we are spending $550 total on accommodations. That will be split 3 ways (between my sis, mom, and me). Where we are staying has a shuttle to the parks, so we won't have to worry about parking.

We budget very little for food when we travel because quite frankly, we would rather spend our money elsewhere. We buy gift certificates from restaurant.com before we go, and this covers the two of us for when we are there. You can sometimes get $2 gift certificates, and only spend $10 extra dollars in the restaurant, and that saves huge.

I also put the money that I don't use for budgeting groceries every month into my savings account. I budget $500/month. Last month, I spent $427, so thats another $73 towards my vacation. I also use coupons, and the money that I save there helps with savings for trips. I'm also incredibly cognizant of the money that I do spend. I don't splurge very often, and I don't buy anything that isn't on sale. I find that if I have something to look forward to, I don't spend money foolishly.

We take one big trip every year (be it Disney, Europe, etc), and every summer we go to British Columbia for 2 weeks. This year, we are going on 3 vacations, and they are totally paid for already. We won't go on any trip if it isn't paid for in cash.

 

[BillSears]

Vacations are important to us. I direct deposit every payday into a savings account that is used to fund our vacations.

Me too. Mine goes directly into the bank before I get to touch it. It's great knowing everything is paid for and all I have to do is withdraw the money.

 

[tinkmom2]

I've been planning this trip in October for 2 years. Part one is DCL. I made a down payment and have been trying to pay $50 per month. Taxes are here so I will be using that to pay down my ship portion. WDW I just booked in November. That too I have been making payments on. I have to get my cost adjusted though once free dining comes out. I subscribe to all the airlines newsletters so I can keep an eye on prices. Also I call Disney to see if they have any pin codes or special offers for us. I plan, plan, plan. But we've been there going on 5 times now so I pretty much know the routine.

We stay at the Value Resorts. Our favorite being PoP. We are never in our room much anyway and love the theming. It's a great money saver too! Plus the new Value Resort opens in 2012.

When I get paid I go directly to the DCL or Disney sites and make a payment. That way I know it's being taken care of. I also made out a plan with the calendar counting all the days til my final payment days and figuring out when we get paid. I know we get paid 3 times in June and October. Both those "extra" checks are going straight towards the trip.

With my bank I have the Chase debit rewards. I use it for everything and use my points towards hotel in FL. if we stay in the Hyatt at MCO. I have a grocery budget of $100/week. We are not starving by any means.

I can't even tell you how long it's been since I've had a haircut lol! I like to grow it long for winter. I know how to color my own hair. My DH is bald but I use our own trimmer to cut his hair. I recently highlighted my DD's hair. (I've been coloring my own hair since I was 16) I also started cutting my youngests bangs.

Groupon is awesome! I can't even tell you how much money I have saved there!

I very rarely buy things if they aren't on sale or BOGO. We rarely eat out. Although I do I have some groupons and restaurant.com certicicates I need to use lol

 

[MomRN]

We stay in values right now... more trips for the $$$. For 4 of us, a week in October will cost about $1800- plus flights. So it will be about $3000 with flights. That is base tickets, no dining plan... because..fingers crossed, I'm hoping for a deal.

Anyway, we booked in advance and pay on it every couple of weeks $100-$200. Also put back $50-$100 for plane tickets. If it's already taken out, it's not there to spend. Plus we are cutting way back on birthdays this year.

 

[jennyf2]

I do on-line surveys, save change, & my sister & I have 2 summer garage sales. I also put a little away every paycheck in my Christmas/Vacation savings account. If needed I will take from my tax refund

 

[mom2t]

I do yard sales twice a year and privately sell my son's clothes to 2 individuals with younger children then consign what is left. I also cosign things out of my closet to a high-end ladies consignment shop. All monies go to vacations.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

*savings account with auto transfers of $2 every time I use my debit/credit card.

*$50/month automatically goes in too.

* joined a coupon train on this board and we saved over $1980 in January (many train riders together!)

*shop at Savers (goodwill-like) only for clothes

*try to beat my grocery bill and save the difference (December spent $900, January $640)

*troll around on the budget board rather than leaving the house and spending $$$$

 

[TiggerStac]

I also put the money that I don't use for budgeting groceries every month into my savings account. I budget $500/month. Last month, I spent $427, so thats another $73 towards my vacation. I also use coupons, and the money that I save there helps with savings for trips. I'm also incredibly cognizant of the money that I do spend. I don't splurge very often, and I don't buy anything that isn't on sale. I find that if I have something to look forward to, I don't spend money foolishly.

I never thought of this. I just figured out, I'm prob close to the same amount per month. I'm going to do this. I just added up and had 499.90 for last month, so .10 went ot savings Hey every bit counts. I had one shopping trip at a more expensive store just cuz I was there and had to get it done and didn't want to travel to another one. my bad, but it was my mood that day.

Anyways, I use coupons, I add up what I save in coupons and transfer that to my vacation account. I have $25 every 2 weeks automatically transferred there. I normally would put $100 per pay check (2 weeks) in there, but we just booked DCL, and I'm trying to do $500/month.

I am a part of a coupon train...love it.

 

[tlh0726]

We save change, charge everything that we possibly can to our disney visa and then pay it off in full each month, for dh and my birthdays and anniversary we put in what we would have spent on each other in the account unless there is something that one of us really needs.

We also stay value resort, pack snacks, have never done the dining plan or a character meal, we also do not go overboard on souvenirs and have brought things along from home to surprise the kids.

What works for us doesn't work for others.

Look for deals and take advantage of them

March 2009 - buy 4 got 3 free deal with $300 gift card - went the week of youngest DS birthday so he was free. used the gift card to buy meals in the park. most expensive trip thus far because we didn't know if any better

April 2010 - had enough disney reward points to pay for our campsite. Bought tickets from Undercover Tourist then ugraded to APs. Saved about $125 on the 4 tickets and reward points covered the upgrade cost. Also (thanks to the Creative Disign board) made 9 days worth of matching tshirts - we will be using the shirts for our 3rd trip this april

Oct 2010 - room covered by reward points, no cost for park tickets with APs, reward points covered our MNSSHP tickets, 4 roundtrip airline tickets with a flight credit $376, rental car for 10 days $205, plus food. (both DH and I took advantage of the 200 points for getting another visa card an easy 400 )

April 2011 - AP rate on room and over half to be paid for by reward points, no cost for tickets still using APs, driving instead of flying (saving about $750 over flying and rental car)

 

[Jennifer in MI]

I save by not spending. I don't shop. I throw away the catalogues that come. I've unsubscribed from all store mailing lists. I don't care if they're having a 50% off sale. If I didn't know about it, I save 100%!! Things we need, I put on a list and look for sales for that specific item.

We've gone through ALL our expenses and seen how we can cut. We've gone to an extreme though because we're planning two big vacations this year. We keep our heat VERY low and wear sweatshirts. We've encouraged everyone to wear their clothes more than once or twice even to save on laundry. We hang dry our laundry. I make our detergent. We take short showers. We buy mostly used clothes (I spent less than $200 on our entire family last year - not including running shoes). I shop at CVS/Rite Aid and get free toiletries (and stocking stuffers!). I cut the kids' hair. We don't belong to a gym - we all exercise here at home.

Then, I actually take my estimated savings and stick it into a savings account each month.

Other things are mentioned - reward credit cards (we'll get about $1000/year on that), Swagbucks (I got $100 in Amazon gift cards last year!), etc.

Look over your expenses. How can you cut? Cable? Phones? (Dh and I have cell phones, but a fairly minimal plan that allows texting.) Insurance? Electric? Gas? Water? Etc.

Saving money is a hobby of mine!!!