How do you save for your Disney trip?

[acf_1991]

I'll start. My little brother and I got an empty two liter coke bottle and started putting all change and singles in there. We started recycling and in order for us to get as much $ as possible from recycling we found coupons from the penny saver.
What does everyone else do? I'd love some tips on how to save up for the magic.

 

[ryem's mom]

I also save all of our loose change. Here in Michigan we have a bottle deposit on pop and beer cans and bottles. I cash these slips in and add this to my change. I also have been packing mine and my husband's lunches everyday for work.

I also plan on having a yard sale this summer. My husband loves to sell things on ebay. The only problem with this is he likes to buy also.

Good luck on your saving!

 

[3mickeymom]

I read last year that a husband and wife had a contest to see who could FIND the most money. They picked up every loose penny they saw. At the end of the year, the husband won with about $40. He did admit to finding some lost bills so I am sure that helped. But every penny counts.

 

[jennyf2]

Change, garage sales, & on-line surveys. All quickly add up!! Not enough to pay for the entire trip but every little bit helps

 

[disney_me]

We have a Disney " fun" fund change jar! All loose change goes in that jar. Including "found" money in the washer!

 

[amylynne01]

Online surveys, rebates, selling things, loose change, can deposits, any found money that we weren't planning on, and any money left over from our weekly cash allowance. It's an incentive NOT to spend that money!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Now is a good time to help people in the neighborhood by cleaning gutters, washing windows, and odd jobs.

 

[AckermanPartyof6]

Change, garage sales, & on-line surveys. All quickly add up!! Not enough to pay for the entire trip but every little bit helps

Hi Jennyf2,

What's is an online survey? Sounds interesting.

TIA

 

[Jazzy'sMom23]

We also have a "Disney change fund" this includes all change. We store it in a old cleaning container. Last year when we started we saved for a month or two and we have over $100 we used at Disney for fun things. This year we started right after our last trip in November and we are going again at the end of October.

Also we are members of DVC so that helps cut down some of the cost.

 

[Karenann*]

Change! Another change saver... I read the idea on this board a couple years ago and thought it couldn't"t add up to much. I tried it anyway and have saved change since Jan 2010. We are going in 6 weeks and can't wait to cash in our change. My bank will convert it for free to dollars. We had saved $75 in 6 months but haven't counted it since summer last year. It really adds up in time even with very little being added daily. Plus you don't really miss the change in a budget.

I also have a grocery budget and try to be under at least enough each month to buy a Disney gift card with the leftover. My grocery has 25, 45, 50 and up. So occasionally I can add one of these to my stash. I almost have enough for a charachter meal for my family of 6.

The only spending money we take is our Disney change. We call it our churro money!

 

[sydneysmom]

we have $ 135 direct deposited into our Disney acct on ING once a month. it's amazing how fast it adds up. I also save up the Disney Dream dollars from Chase and I've started putting away money left from the "food shopping envelope" and "gas envelope". ( you can imagine, there's not much left over in the gas envelope at the end of the month)

but a few dollars here and there will add up !!

 

[angierae]

1. I cut back on my entertainment budget and some other ways I was 'wasting' money and started putting $90 every other week into an ING account I can't get to without waiting a week so that keeps me out of it.

2. We started throwing change (and the occasional dollar, or even $5) into it. In March we ended up with $20 in there, in April we're sitting at $15 so far and I haven't counted it recently.

3. I started doing online surveys and cash out to a $25 Disney gift card every 6-8 weeks. It'd be faster but I don't do it every day because sometimes I'm busy.

4. All money saved by coupons goes directly into the savings fund.

5. All money from bottle and can deposits goes directly into the savings fund, although that's scaled back a lot because we started drinking less pop as part of our savings when it came to grocery shopping.

6. When I got $50 from my MIL for my birthday I put it directly into the Disney Fund.

7. Twice a year I get an "extra" check in a month. I take out the money for the week and put probably 80% of that extra check into the Disney fund.

8. I get two bonuses a year and those go directly into the Disney Fund.

 

[barbeml]

Vacation Account: When I changed jobs 6 years ago, it was for a lot more $$, so I opened a separate vacation account and funded it with the difference in pay until it hit a certain level. I draw from it when I need to, but mostly it is "future vacation security," LOL.

Big Plastic Crayon bank: All of our change, singles, "found money" goes in there. It really adds up, and we deposit in the bank before each trip.

Rewards Programs, rebates, etc: I always use my Disney VISA (pay in full each month) and shop through MyPoints to maximize rewards. MyPoints and survey payments all go to PayPal, which I cash out for vacation fund.

Disney Gift Cards: DH and I don't exchange gifts for Valentines, Anniversary or Birthdays: instead I purchase a $100 Disney gift card online from Disney Store via MyPoints using Disney VISA...you get the picture. We love the convenience of swiping the gift cards at the Food & Wine Festival, counter service, shops, etc.

Charge the plane tix, WDW room & charges, etc. on Disney VISA to earn for the next trip!

 

[JENOS]

$150 gets direct deposited weekly into DW credit union account that we use for any vacation. We don’t go on a big vacation every year (last year was a couple days at the Dells and a long weekend in Door county WI)

I adjust my budget based on the reduced income and never miss the money

 

[angelat]

I do some online surveys...like others have said, it's not a lot, but it's something.
We also have two savings accounts. DH is bad with saving so I keep mine separate.

We have a WDW popcorn bucket at home that we put change in. All
"laundry money" goes in there. I empty my wallet into there often and DH puts change in there when he has it. I keep a small jar at work as well and all my change I might get from buying water or lunch goes in there and then transferred to home when it's full. Just today while I was discussing it with some of my co-workers, 3 people offered up their penny piles to me! I also pick up anything I might see on the ground. It adds up!

 

[4forWDW]

1. I cut back on my entertainment budget and some other ways I was 'wasting' money and started putting $90 every other week into an ING account I can't get to without waiting a week so that keeps me out of it.

2. We started throwing change (and the occasional dollar, or even $5) into it. In March we ended up with $20 in there, in April we're sitting at $15 so far and I haven't counted it recently.

3. I started doing online surveys and cash out to a $25 Disney gift card every 6-8 weeks. It'd be faster but I don't do it every day because sometimes I'm busy.

4. All money saved by coupons goes directly into the savings fund.

5. All money from bottle and can deposits goes directly into the savings fund, although that's scaled back a lot because we started drinking less pop as part of our savings when it came to grocery shopping.

6. When I got $50 from my MIL for my birthday I put it directly into the Disney Fund.

7. Twice a year I get an "extra" check in a month. I take out the money for the week and put probably 80% of that extra check into the Disney fund.

8. I get two bonuses a year and those go directly into the Disney Fund.

Hi Angierae,
Which survey site(s) do you do to make the $25 every 6-8 weeks? It seems I don't have too much luck with the surveys.
TIA,
Amy

 

[angierae]

Hi Angierae,
Which survey site(s) do you do to make the $25 every 6-8 weeks? It seems I don't have too much luck with the surveys.
TIA,
Amy

QuickRewards, but I've found you have to jump on the surveys as soon as they're emailed to you, or else they fill up. I usually log in around 8am and spend 15-20 minutes (or less, if I get one quickly) trying to make at least a dollar. If I'm playing on the laptop watching tv and get an email in the evening, I'll try again.

I could try harder, but I don't usually bother. My original goal was to get at least $1 every day, but it ended up being too much work.

 

[4forWDW]

Angierae,
Thanks for the info.
I am a member of QR. I guess the problem is I'm not checking until later in the day. I'll try earlier and see if that helps.
Thanks again,
Amy

 

[jlm]

I'm another for saving change! I also have direct withdrawal to an ING account. I don't do much weekly...but it adds up! I also try and use coupons, limit our eating out and try and be aware of what I'm spending. I don't take the money I save and put it away. But, it helps our bottom line...so I can save a bit! It takes us about 2 years to save for Disney...but we stay deluxe, use the dinning plan and are a family of 5. I once put it on a credit card...never again! I was so worried about the bill I didn't enjoy our vacation!!
Jen

 

[jjsmom]

This is my favorite topic!!! We are def not rich and people ask a lot how we've been able to afford so many trips. Here goes:

-We don't eat out in our hometown all the time. It costs our family about $20 just to eat at McDonalds. I'd rather spend that money at WDW. We do go out for special occasions.
-We save all change in a jar, usually saving about $200/year. I've heard others save much more.
-I dog sit for a lady down the road who has to make frequent out of town trips.
-I am NOT a slave to fashion, and in fact, I hate shopping malls. My job does not require fancy/good dress (I have a cleaning service), so that helps. I have very good luck at thrift stores. Good, sturdy, sensible shoes are another story. I HAVE to have these for my job and for Disney.
-My meals prepared at home are very basic and not fancy. I cook a lot from scratch. I have an extensive vintage cookbook collection that features basic ingredients. We eat very well and have the waist lines to show it.
-We have a vehicle that is paid for.
-We do not have credit card debt.
-I am a believer in Restaurant.com and Mypoints.com. If you'd like more information on those websites, I'll be happy to fill you in.
-Disney trips are planned well in advance and we do our math. Is it cheaper to fly or drive? Are there codes on DIS that we can use (best coup was in 2001; Allstars for $49/night regular season)? Are there any DP specials? Etc.
-When our daughter was young, we would tell relatives that we had a disney trip planned. She would receive her own money and gift cards as gifts.
-I second the motion for odd jobs! I just took on another job for a stay at home mom who usually cleans her own house, but needed extra help with windows.