How do you save money for Disney?

[eacatwork]

Here's how I've been saving:

1. Change jars (one for silver coins, one for pennies). Like a PP said, ALL change goes into the jars. When it looks like I might have enough, I sit down and count it at night while watching TV.

2. Rebates. I shop at Weis Markets from time to time and they do a great one-check rebate program. I shop the rebates (with coupons, of course!) and get back between $5 and 10 each time a new program comes out. When any rebate checks come, they get cashed and go right into the Disney envelope I have.

3. Disney envelope. I get $50 per month "mad" money (to be spent however I choose) and I've been putting $25 away each month. It has cut down on my impluse purchases...only having half of what I normally have to spend each month...and has made me start putting things on my birthday list (July) or Easter basket wish list (no candy...I don't need it!).

4. Sunshine Rewards (google it). I've been a member for just about a month and I just requested my first $25 Disney gift card! I'm so stoked about that. If I just do the daily survey between now and when I leave (at $0.60 per day), I can earn another $100 or so in gift cards...not to mention the rewards from shopping through SR.

5. Jury Duty & odd jobs. I went to jury duty last month. I got $9 for the day and another $5.10 in mileage. That $14.10 goes in the Disney envelope. From time to time, I'll do a research study at Penn State or pick up an odd job making phone calls for Penn State Outreach/Continuing Ed and I'll put that money in the Disney envelope too.

 

[Redwitch]

I opened a "found money" savings account. My thoughts, once money is gone, it is gone -- if it returns it is "found money.' This includes tax refunds, rebates on purchases, expense checks, etc. I also deposit any money recieved as a gift. (My grandmother usually gives cash at holidays!) This is a seperate savings account, not even at the same bank I use for my usual checking and savings.

I recently started a change jar - growing slowly as I usually charge items to get the cash back bonus on my Discover. I pay this off monthly so no interest.

 

[TENIA66]

change savings, i don't spend 1 dollar bills or lower, save them. pays for most all vacation

 

[tinks4]

We have 2 change jars one for me and one for the kids ( hey they have to save too)

I put away $10 to $20 each week from my paycheck

I put any coupon savings away I figure that I was going to spend the money anyways if I didn't have the coupon so it is found money that could go towards vacation

I do sunshine rewards and have gotten $100 in gift cards

I just signed up for quickrewards

 

[SCQ86]

For my flights, I had unused air miles that I turned to e-certificates ($75 off)...I had enough in my account for two and my son had enough for two. So we were able to buy our tickets for myself, my son and my two foster children for less than $500. Prepaid my hotel and passes with my yearly bonus and sending my state return on the last day of tax season....that is spending money for food and my souvenirs.

As for the kids, I'm giving them $100 each for spending money...for either souvenirs and snacks. My kids always want an ice cream and pop and chips because they see the other kids have it, but if it comes out of their spending money, I'm sure they will think twice.

 

[bettyann29]

I do alot of the same things as others..

I save my change.. I coupon and put that money saved into my disney savings.. all rebates go into there also.. I do Pinecone Research and make at least $10 a month and that goes in also.. I put back $20 a check (every 2 weeks) and that goes towards vacations.. I am starting this week to get $10 Disney dollars each week to put back.. I get the kids a few disney dollars here and there and they get those for Christmas, birthdays, easter, etc.. I do Mypoints and turn points in for Rain Forest Cafe giftcards so we eat there while at WDW..

 

[andrychowski]

You folks sound so good at saving money. Can you suggest a particular grocery store that has the best prices?

 

[Kimmumum]

I forgot who said it but "once it is gone it is gone". I follow this rule. For example, we had to buy $40 worth of candy for my 2 DS's football teams and 2 baseball teams. Once you sell the candy you keep the money because you have already paid the team their money. I put this $80/sport in the Disney fund because I already spent it. Also, my 1DS had to give a $75 deposit on his Track uniform (I guess the kids on the team destroyed the uniforms last year so if they are not turned in good condition they will cash the deposit check otherwise you get your check back). I am counting on his uniform being in perfect condition and putting that money in the Disney fund also.

 

[CJDJ]

Can you offer some legit sites?

Thanks

Carol[

QUOTE=tiff211;17548112]Wait......you can use GC from the Disney store at the parks???[/QUOTE]

 

[jessica52877]

I do mypoints and ebates. I usually use the money I receive back or gift cards for something I need for vacation.

Take my own stroller! BIG SAVINGS here! DS is 4 now, 3 when i decided our little stroller wasn't going to cut it anymore for disney, he wa getting too heavy but still a stroller kid. I weighted out the pros and cons of renting (besides the fact they look so uncomfortable). Anyways, ended up buying the nicest stroller we have had yet. LOVE it and in he long run spend $200, saved atleast $200 by not renting. We also want a stroller for DTD and hotel.

I do lots of free samples and rebates too. I don't really have a vacation fund, all money goes together, but by spending less on groceries and health and beauty items it leaves us more money for vacations.

Budget friendly hotels! We tend to stay at Pop. I just love it and so does DS4. I feel it is best for him (fountains, fire works and kiddie pool). We have stayed at moderates and they are nice BUT i am more then happy to stay at a value.

With this in mind we bought a 4 cup coffee pot to take with us. DH loves coffee, more convenient, better tasting and therefore don't tend to buy the cups as often. I am a big water drinker and was always filling mine with water wasting money, DS doesn't drink soda either.So it was a waste of money more or less.

Breakfast in the room. Cereal, poptarts or oatmeal, mainly for son. DH just likes coffee and give me a chocolate milk and I am good to go until early lunch.

Lunch at TS instead of dinner, cheaper! Even if we are on free dining we still do it this way, fills you up so much that usually at night a small meal or snack is sufficient.

We buy 10 day non expiring and use them over 3-4 trips. We plan down days, there is so much to do NOT at the parks. We usually go for a long weekend, but the past two octobers have gone for 9 days, 2 down days isn't enough still! We like to relax! So that helps out in the money situation too.

DS doesn't ask for anything and we don't buy it! I don't buy souveniers either. Plenty of similar stuff at disneyshopping for a fraction of the cost! Plus I hit garage sales sometimes and you should see the "new" disney stuff I can find. Kind of like they were at disney, just had to have it, got home to never touch it again!

Sorry, think I started a book!

 

[Rantybaby]

Wait......you can use GC from the Disney store at the parks???

tiff211

Yes, there are 2 Gift Cards. Just make sure its for the parks.

 

[WillCAD]

tiff211

Yes, there are 2 Gift Cards. Just make sure its for the parks.

As far as I know, Disney has discontinued all of its previous gift cards that were only good at one location.

The current Disney Gift Card (disneygiftcard.com) is good at Disneyland, WDW, the Disney Store, and DisneyShopping.com. You can buy them the Disney Store, DisneyGiftCard.com, or at most of the shops and stores at Disneyland and WDW. You can add money to them or reload them at the Disney Store or the shops and stores at Disneyland and WDW. You can NOT add money or reload them online, but you can check your balance online.

Disney Stores (at least the one in my area) only have one design of the card. But if you buy it from DisneyGiftCard.com, you will be redirected to a page from the Disneyland web page and you can select from multiple designs. Buying online restricts you to a set amount - $25, $50, or $100 - but you can take the card to a Disney Store later and add money to it whenever you want, just like a WalMart gift card.

 

[bettyann29]

As far as I know, Disney has discontinued all of its previous gift cards that were only good at one location.

The current Disney Gift Card (disneygiftcard.com) is good at Disneyland, WDW, the Disney Store, and DisneyShopping.com. You can buy them the Disney Store, DisneyGiftCard.com, or at most of the shops and stores at Disneyland and WDW. You can add money to them or reload them at the Disney Store or the shops and stores at Disneyland and WDW. You can NOT add money or reload them online, but you can check your balance online.

Disney Stores (at least the one in my area) only have one design of the card. But if you buy it from DisneyGiftCard.com, you will be redirected to a page from the Disneyland web page and you can select from multiple designs. Buying online restricts you to a set amount - $25, $50, or $100 - but you can take the card to a Disney Store later and add money to it whenever you want, just like a WalMart gift card.

so you're saying that I can go each week and put $20 on the card? rather than having multiple cards?

 

[MomofKatie]

so you're saying that I can go each week and put $20 on the card? rather than having multiple cards?

Yes- they will add to the one you have. You won't have to carry a big stack of GCs to WDW.

The other nice thing about the Disney GC- as you use it, on every reciept, it will show your remaining balance on the card. Great for keeping track of the budget!

 

[Rustysmom]

To make money for the trip, I ebay and do the GPT sites. I usually make a couple hundred a month doing them.

To save money on the trip, well, I'm not sure because we haven't gone in a long time. I bought a Brita bottle so I don't have to buy water, and we're on the dining plan so most meals will be already paid for (and I'm hoping free if they have the free dining). I'm giving the kids Disney Dollars for souveneirs and when they're gone, they're gone. That's all I can think of right now.

 

[BCFD 88]

I sell alot of stuff on ebay and on craigs list. And I save money out of my check each week. We also cut down on eating out so much and put that money towards Disney also

 

[LorieR]

Yes- they will add to the one you have. You won't have to carry a big stack of GCs to WDW.

Do you happen to know if they will consolidate multiple cards into one? I have Gift Cards from doing QuickRewards and SunshineRewards and I also have a bunch when DisneyShopping was offering 10% back on purchases through QR and I purchased about $700 in gift cards (made $70 on those at QR, which I cashed out on another special - $69 for a $75 gift card!!!) As a result of this, I have about 9 Gift Cards in amounts ranging from $25 to $300 and would like to consolidate some! (Unfortunately, Disneyshopping will no longer give discounts on GCs )

 

[MomofKatie]

Do you happen to know if they will consolidate multiple cards into one? I have Gift Cards from doing QuickRewards and SunshineRewards and I also have a bunch when DisneyShopping was offering 10% back on purchases through QR and I purchased about $700 in gift cards (made $70 on those at QR, which I cashed out on another special - $69 for a $75 gift card!!!) As a result of this, I have about 9 Gift Cards in amounts ranging from $25 to $300 and would like to consolidate some! (Unfortunately, Disneyshopping will no longer give discounts on GCs )

Unfortuntely, that I don't know. I'd call the Disney store and ask. Sounds like you got a great deal!

 

[*MickeyFan*]

I Love all these ideas! I will be using them through out the year for sure! What we decided to do, because we are horrible at saving money is we took a gatorade bottle wrapped it up in black tape, cut a slit in the top and we have just been throwing money in there. If we can get into the jar we know we would be taking money out for this or that So blacking it out works for us! DH said he would like to have one of these all the time... I think that's a great idea! I also like the idea of money being pulled out of every check before we even see it. I wonder if all banks do this. We are apart of a Credit Union. Keep the ideas coming!!! jen

36 days until our drive to Disney!!

 

[neatokimmo]

I participate in the CVS and Walgreens freebie deals on bath items. It really adds up.

I also cash out credit card points for gas cards. We drove to Miami last month for $144 in gas..all from free Exxon cards. You can go to www.accountonline.com and see the cards that come with free points. They are Citi cards, if you don't want to carry a balance you have the option of paying daily on the cards.

Kim (<--Citi employee with a ton of points!)