How do you save for your Disney camping trip?

[masonsmousermom]

Just made up our spreadsheet with projected costs...

Now that I've regained consciousness I'm wondering how to actually make this vacation happen. We tend to plan our Disney vacations about 3-4 months apart, so we don't have much time to prepare. To make matters worse, we need a lot of camping items for our new pop up, and we want to purchase bikes, instead of paying ridiculous prices at FW for bikes/golf carts.

How do you save for trips?

 

[DisneyFanatik]

You would probably get alot of really great tips over on the budget board!

 

[proudmomof4]

My family saves all loose change, we have jars for the pennies, nickels, etc. the quarters come in handy for the ice machine or the laundry. We also save all one dollar bills instead of spending them and those can add up fast.

Something else that I do is when I am subtracting something from the checkbook is, I write the item in for the exact amount spent but then when I do the actual math, I round up the amount to the next multiple of 5.

For example: I spent $96.23 at Publix so I would write that amount into my register but when I actually subtract it I would subtract it as $100.00. When my statement comes from the bank, I am able to reconcile everything and see how much money I have "saved", I have been able to save up to $100 a month by doing this.

 

[farmman]

You say you need a lot of item for your new popup. what do you think you need? When I frist got my new RV I went out and bought alot of thing for the RV I thought I needed still have them and never used them. IMO just go to FW with the bare min. to see what you need there are 3 walmarts and a campers world 10 mins a way to get anything that comes up.

 

[masonsmousermom]

You say you need a lot of item for your new popup. what do you think you need? When I frist got my new RV I went out and bought alot of thing for the RV I thought I needed still have them and never used them. IMO just go to FW with the bare min. to see what you need there are 3 walmarts and a campers world 10 mins a way to get anything that comes up.

Great idea to wait till we get there on some things. But, unfortunately for us, we sold our 5th wheel...with all of the extras included! Then, a year later, we decide to buy a pop-up. Now we are starting from scratch! So, we need bed sheets, blankets, pots, pans, fan, etc. On top of that, we just bought the pop-up, so we have to invest in some new tires, and well... the license plate!

In fact, our first expense is transferring the title!

In addition, we want to purchase bikes...not just for FW- but the price of renting a bike/golf cart made our decision to do it BEFORE our Disney trip!

The actual cost of the trip is LESS than the cost of the expenses for our camper ammenities!

 

[ynottony99]

Great idea to wait till we get there on some things. But, unfortunately for us, we sold our 5th wheel...with all of the extras included! Then, a year later, we decide to buy a pop-up. Now we are starting from scratch! So, we need bed sheets, blankets, pots, pans, fan, etc. On top of that, we just bought the pop-up, so we have to invest in some new tires, and well... the license plate!

In fact, our first expense is transferring the title!

In addition, we want to purchase bikes...not just for FW- but the price of renting a bike/golf cart made our decision to do it BEFORE our Disney trip!

The actual cost of the trip is LESS than the cost of the expenses for our camper ammenities!

Maybe try checking thrift stores. Lots of great pots and pans, maybe the bikes and some of the other stuff too!!!

 

[DisCamper]

I have to ask want camper ammenities do you need? I know we always bring a hell of a lot more then we ever use. I'm with Farmman we spent alot of money on thing we never used. We bring our sheets, blankets from our suppies at home. I was in 1 of the walmart today a pots, pans, fan was less than $60.

 

[stacktester]

I usually buy a little here, a little there. I usually limit myself to $75 max a month on camper items. I just bought some fancy awning lights for $60 so that's it for a while. If you just buy something on each trip you'll soon have your needs.

 

[masonsmousermom]

I have to ask want camper ammenities do you need? I know we all was bring a hell of a lot more then we ever use. I'm with Farmman we spent alot of money on thing we never used. We bring our sheets, blankets from our suppies at home. I was in 1 of the walmart today a pots, pans, fan was less than $60.

I know, I know!

Let's see here... tires for the pop up; tax, title and license; pots, pans, blankets and pillows, 2 adult bikes, fan, microwave, wheel chocks, outdoor extension cords, coffee maker(more for heating up the water to do dishes), cooler, fire extinguisher, small grill, and then there's the little things like aluminum foil, dish rags and towels, shower caddy, etc.

 

[stillh2o]

you don't keep 90% of all you listed at your house?

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I know, I know!

Let's see here... tires for the pop up; tax, title and license; pots, pans, blankets and pillows, 2 adult bikes, fan, microwave, wheel chocks, outdoor extension cords, coffee maker(more for heating up the water to do dishes), cooler, fire extinguisher, small grill, and then there's the little things like aluminum foil, dish rags and towels, shower caddy, etc.

I know what you mean, the tax, title, and license are a MUST, so those come first. Maybe just do the bikes and fire extiguisher for this trip. You could bring your extension cords, coffee maker, fan, microwave, dishes and towels from home unless you catch a really good deal on some of those things before you leave. You might try a used appliance store to pick up a coffee maker, microwave and fan. FYI, Sam's club had some great Coleman coolers on wheels, average size, for $17.96 when I was there about 2 weeks ago. Check Walmart for your dishes, I got a great deal in their clearance section on dishes for the mh, I think I paid $4 dollars for sevice for 4. Maybe just go with plastic ware this trip but don't forget to bring knives, serving spoons, spatulas, etc. from home. The grill would be a "must have" for my family but you could just use the one at the site this time. I'm a big fan of the dollar store for stuff like cleaning supplies, wash clothes and dish towels. Frankly, if they get really gross and I don't feel like spending the time on vacation to clean them, I just toss them.

 

[stacktester]

mom, mom, mom,

You can't get a used coffee maker lol. I could use some used things but you never know if somebody always cleaned the grinds out and stuff and it might be moldy inside. I would buy that Coleman kind that is a perculator because if you're ever using the pop up at a primative site you can still perk some coffee. I see those at Wal-Mart and not too pricey. I buy paper plates. Real paper because it will rot. I hate styrafoam ware and refuse to buy it. I am not a tree hugger but I hate to see stuff thrown away that will take 100 years to rot. I even put our plastic cups in recycle bin. Good luck finding your items.

 

[jchaps6]

Camping is something we have not tried at disney yet,, we will definitely have to try that once!

 

[terri01p]

Great idea to wait till we get there on some things. But, unfortunately for us, we sold our 5th wheel...with all of the extras included! Then, a year later, we decide to buy a pop-up. Now we are starting from scratch! So, we need bed sheets, blankets, pots, pans, fan, etc. On top of that, we just bought the pop-up, so we have to invest in some new tires, and well... the license plate!

In fact, our first expense is transferring the title!

In addition, we want to purchase bikes...not just for FW- but the price of renting a bike/golf cart made our decision to do it BEFORE our Disney trip!

The actual cost of the trip is LESS than the cost of the expenses for our camper ammenities!

You should live where we do, we are ate up with taxes , whenever we first bought our ( new to us ) tt and went to get our tag, we had to pay a one time road tax to the tune of 400.00, you should have seen us we like to have lost it right there in the DMV office, it took us quit a while to recoupe from that . The way we save for WDW is, we put back alittle bit of money each week for disney, this week I could only do 20.00 but it does add up, the trick is once you put it back don't touch it no matter what. Also, I have to agree with everyone else, just buy what you really need for your pop up and wait until you take it out for the first time and know what you really need. I bought covers for the doors so the sun won't shine in every morning...sink dish holder...wall clock...key holder...things I didn't know I needed until we camped for the first time. Whenever we first got the tt I bought all kinds of unneeded crap, 20.00 a piece for 3 over stuffed throw pillows to pretty up the tt , yea those came out after the first trip, big waste of much needed space. 25.00 for flowers for bathroom sink area, why , those came out too. You'll know better what you need whenever you take your pop up out.

 

[CottontailCurl]

One of the best things about camping is how much it can save you in vacation costs. I agree with everyone who says you shouldn't get too much extra stuff and concentrate on the important things so you don't defeat the cost savings of camping. Some places might still have some Christmas items on clearance and you could find your bikes there. When we were at Target a couple weeks ago it seemed like a alot of their camping things were on clearance and many of their bikes. If you have a Target nearby, checkout their clearance areas which tend to be at the end of aisles (although the camping clearance was of the stuff in their usual locations). Here's what Disney.com has in their clearance area for sheets (although they tend to start out expensive) http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp...talogId=10003&Nu=p_productID&categoryId=13843.
Definitely borrow from the house for most of your kitchen items for this trip and then buy stuff as you go along after.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I have an extra set of wheel chocks and blankets if you are interested. We started with a pop-up, traded it in on a trailer, and now we are in a class a, so we have lots of extra stuff. Let me know. That stuff is expensive. We had to cut way back after our boy was born.