How do you save up for your trip?

[disneyandme]

I would love to go back to WDW -- and my oldest DD6 talks about going all of the time, but I don't know how to come up with the $$ to pay for it. How does everyone else save up? (we don't go on any other trips, don't go out to eat or to movies, and have a toddler on very expensive formula-- so no cut backs there) I'd love to have some great tips. Thanks.

 

[Diznenut]

I was told several times by my husband we couldnt go becuase we are pretty horrible at saving money and theres no way we would ever be able to just go. So here's how I did (am doing) it.

I started planning in june for end of november. I picked a time, picked the hotel, and got the dining plan. Once that was settled, I booked it and put down the initial deposit of 200. Now every time we get paid, I go online and go to our trip and pay on the trip - its saving without saving. I just went ahead and budgeted it like a regular bill.

Now that the tickets/meals/hotel is paid, I took that same amount bugeted and purchased the extras - christmas party and daughters wonderland tea party. Afterwards, every pay period, I take the money for the trip and add it to a prepaid credit card. The card is left at my bank in our family safety box.

By the time we go - we'll have all the trip paid for, extras purchased, and extra souvenier/travel money all on the card and ready to go.

DH is pretty impressed - he said he doesnt miss the money since its a little at a time and he knows we'll have a wonderful vacation we normally wouldnt be able to have.

Next time - DCL cruise!!!!!

 

[k5thbeatle]

One small thing that we do that also builds excitement leading to our trip while helping somewhat with the costs is to periodically go to the Disney store here in town and buy Disney dollars. Maybe I'll just buy twenty dollars worth at times, but over several months it adds up. I will then place these in all kinds of unusal places which makes it fun to find. For example I might pack some in with my wifes lunch or place some on the windshield of her car before she leaves for work. Use your imagination as to where to place them. They make for a neat treat and if done far enough in advance can also add quite a little cash supply for your trip for spending money!

One other thing that we do that helps is that ALL of our change throughout the year goes into a small "Disney" can on our kitchen table. When the can is full it is emptied into a very large "Disney" jar under the sink. You would be amazed at how much change you might accumulate in a year (or even less) that would give you extra spending money! We use this money for just that!

 

[firemanx]

if you smoke quit smoking and by my calculations a 2 pack a day smoker(me). Planing trip for feb 12-15 which is 18 weeks out. so 2 packs a day times 4$ a pack = 8$ times 7 days a week = 56$ x 18 weeks = 1008$. So thats how im doing it, and everyday the 8$ i would of spent i put in an envelope. Thats how im doing it.

 

[Mysteria]

Make a trip fund that is like a bill you have to pay. Make it reasonable but stick to it. I also never spend my change. It all goes into a big water jug. Once it goes in it doesn't come back out until I need it for a trip. Caught DH trying to raid it the other day. He said...but I only need 50 cents...I said...Is it worth a finger cause that's the price you'll pay!

Myst

 

[dyna]

1 thing that I did not so much for disney visits but could be included for disney savings was YARD SALES. When I was preggers with DD#3 I got everything I needed and more at yard sales as DD outgrew the stuff I had my own yard sale and used that money to restock her clothing and many of her toys for that coming year.

I raised DD from birth to age 10 when she out grew kids clothes and went to adult clothing for a total of $300.00. I clothed her down to undies socks and shoes. She usually had 10 times the clothing she needed. If somthing got damaged I didn't fix it I hadn't lost nothing I threw it away.

I know I saved DH $1,000's of dollars.

When my older ones was little I more or less did the same thing got all their stuff at yard sales and when the younger one out grew it put in yard sale and used the money I made to recloth the older one. Younger one had a few things the older one didn't wear but not many.

If your still with me the money you save using coupons can add up put that money aside for disney visit. Extra change at the end of the day or week adds up.

Usually DH and I don't exchange bday or christmas gifts the money we would have spent goes to the disney fund. Money we get for christmas from others the same.

When the youngest one gets out of diapers and pull ups save that half that money towards disney visit the other half towards college education for the kids.

Easy way to cut the cost of food to save money for disney would be 1 night a week or every 2 weeks fix an extra cheap dinner. Say beans and rice or vegetable soup made from leftover veggies you store in freezer till needed. If it's not on sale don't buy it. Lot of money can be saved that way. Buy roasts and etc that you can get several meals out of. Don't be afraid to buy a whole cut up chicken knowing you won't eat all the pieces boil the pieces you won't use and make chicken noodles or chicken veggie soup.

One weekend a month stay home don't spend any money don't leave the house. But don't spend more the next weekend cause you didn't spend any the last weekend either tho.

Plan disney visits at off peak times when the room is cheaper. Consider buying a tent and airbed and camping at Fort Wilderness rather than actually gettin a room.

When you do visit disney even if in room take breakfast from home cereal etc that is a big savings and plan on another meal a day in room many foods can be taken if you plan ahead that does not need refridgerated. I've ate many many peanut butter sandwiches in the room just to be able to go to disney.

Good Luck with your saving hope you get to visit disney soon!

 

[JrsyDebs]

I work part-time at a retail store at which I am paid commission in addition to my hourly wage. Each month, I put half of my commission check into the vacation account.

Also, any extra monies my husband gets from his job (like bonus or incentive commisssion money) goes into the vacation account as well.

For those paid weekly, those months with five paydays (like this month, for instance!) are a welcome opportunity for extra money to put toward vacation.

I am usually not good about saving money, but when I got bit by the Disney bug, I knew when there's a will, there's a way to save for a WDW vacation!

 

[HaleyB]

if you smoke quit smoking and by my calculations a 2 pack a day smoker(me). Planing trip for feb 12-15 which is 18 weeks out. so 2 packs a day times 4$ a pack = 8$ times 7 days a week = 56$ x 18 weeks = 1008$. So thats how im doing it, and everyday the 8$ i would of spent i put in an envelope. Thats how im doing it.

Good for you!!!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm saving to go back and I started by opening an ING account...the interest in good, but the main reason I did it is because the account is on-line and I don't have easy access to it so it isn't tempting and I can't just take money out on a whim and promise I'll put it back knowing I never will. Whenever I know I'll have a extra $$$ I put it in my ING account and I put it in BEFORE I have the chance to use it for something else!

I also save ALL my change! You'd be amazed how this adds up. Once I cleaned out my purse and found $27.00 in change in the bottom! and that was without even trying! Now I never give cashiers correct change. If my total at at store is $5.45, I give her $6 and keep the 55 cents for the change jar, if the total is $10.05, I give her $11 and put the 95 cents in the change jar. It might not pay for your trip, but it's great for extra spending money. (Also I only put silver in the change jar...I keep a few pennies, so if the total is $1.26, I can pay with $2.01 so I get 75 cents for the jar)

I also have given up some little things. Like I only go to Starbucks about once a week now, I used to go 3-4 times a week! I put the extra money in my ING account. I wish I could just put it in an envelope like the cigarette money, but I know I'd rob that envelope at some point!

I've also switched to buying store brands of SOME things. I used to be BIG on buying only namebrands, but Wal-Greens naproxin is the SAME as Aleve and 1/2 the price. Same with stuff like baby powder, hand-cleaner (like Purel) and a bunch of other stuff. Sometimes I still go with the name brand because sometimes it IS better, but I do pretty good comparing name brand items with store brands and figuring out which have the exact same ingredients as the pricier name brand.

Another thing I've done is become a regular at the library and Half Price Bookstore. I read ALOT and I also buy alot of books for my nieces and nephews. I used to live at Borders and Barnes and Noble, but now I check out the library and Half Price Books first. I've also found alot of great gifts at Half Price books, they have computer software and games, DVD's, CD's, new address books, photo albums, stationary, journal books and sometimes toys.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope it helps!
You can do it!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I always save my tax refund and any bonuses or OT money I get at work. I usually do this up until November and then OT and bonuses are Christmas money. This works out well for us, and also usually try to pay as much of the trip off as possible as soon as I get a $100 or so saved up so I don't spend it on something else.

 

[JPN4265]

First find a large water jug, one with a small opening so you can't get into it very easy. Then don't spend $1.00 bills or your change. When you buy anything, and I mean anything do not spend your $1.00 bills or change. Every day, take that money and put it in the jug. If you want to buy a cup of coffee or a coke, and it comes up to .97, use the $5, $10, or $20 dollar bill, not the $1 or your change. If you only have $1's or change, then don't buy anything. It may be hard at first, but I promise you, it will become addictive. We have already saved close to $2,000 for our December trip. I promise you this will work. Get your kids involved. And when your at disney, don't spend the $1's. This will give you a great start for your next trip.

 

[kennezgirl]

We did the same idea of saving change. We used one of those popcorn tins that come out around Christmas time. It was wrapped in brown paper and decorated with images of Disney.
I also have sold lots of stuff on eBay. It's easy to do and brings quite a bit more money than most yardsales.

 

[TLC371]

We save our change year round, we have one of those coin sorter things that we can roll the coins up each time one of the little tubes are full (Does that make sense, I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to describe it). Anyway, we save all our change, right now we have about $250 in there and a month to go before we leave. We drive from VA to FL and that will usually pay for our gas. We have another container that we put $1 bills in whenever we can. We've got about $60 in there right now. Income tax returns go into savings and that will go towards our trips too, and I get paid weekly so the months with extra weeks, I'll put a good chunk of my pay for the extra week into savings.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We also do the change jar. We had a trip in July and now I am planning a trip in....it sounds SOOO long....but in 2008. We go to the beach in between years. And the following year, we are taking a "breather" from the busy vacations.

Anyway...I babysit while my kids are at school. I put $30.00 back every week from my babysitting money. I figured with that, by the time we go, we will have almost $5000.00. That is not including my Disney Visa Disney $. I put all of my utilities, groceries, etc., on that. And it is not including my jar change. I am opening a savings account just for my Disney vacation. A already have $350.00 saved since the middle of July. We MAY be able to go in 2007 instead....But it is actually fun to save for the Disney trip. Satisfaction....

 

[CamColt]

Tax Refund

 

[goodeats]

We have a separate savings account and my companies' direct deposit allows us to pick a dollar amount to send to the separate account. We put $75 from each paycheck and never touch it. It's amazing how fast it grows!

Also, if you get paid bi-weekly (every two weeks) there are two months that you get three paychecks. Theoretically you can put those entire paychecks into savings.

Good luck!

 

[k5thbeatle]

Not to sound like a broken record (remember records?) but as others have mentioned we try to plan our trip as far out as possible (ok, I admit that sometimes we are spurred on by the pixie dust and make a spontaneous-snap-decision get-me-there-NOW kind of trip ).

When we do plan them like this, just as others have mentioned, we treat it just like a monthly bill and faithfully pay it each month. Of course doing this I cannot stress enough the importance of doing some homework. How much do you want to spend? How much will it be if I stay here or how much is it to do this or that? Use this board and get a few of the books out there and gain as much knowledge as you can regarding costs. It goes a long way to helping plan a successful trip.

Good luck!

 

[fanofdisney]

One other thing that we do that helps is that ALL of our change throughout the year goes into a small "Disney" can on our kitchen table. When the can is full it is emptied into a very large "Disney" jar under the sink. You would be amazed at how much change you might accumulate in a year (or even less) that would give you extra spending money! We use this money for just that!

That is so true- I have a friend who never pays anything with change. If he owes $3.01, he gives $4 instead of the penney, etc. That will get you a lot of change.

 

[disneynutcase]

We go every three years. I work weekends at a local ski area. The money that I make goes right into the disney fund. I also have $25.00 go into an account at a bank that I don't go to very often so I'm not so tempted to dip into it.

Jean

 

[Camping Griswalds]

if you smoke quit smoking and by my calculations a 2 pack a day smoker(me). Planing trip for feb 12-15 which is 18 weeks out. so 2 packs a day times 4$ a pack = 8$ times 7 days a week = 56$ x 18 weeks = 1008$. So thats how im doing it, and everyday the 8$ i would of spent i put in an envelope. Thats how im doing it.

Good for you!!! I always fing it easier to do something if I have inspiration. I hope the Disney inspiration and quitting smoking works!!!

We do the change thing. Amazing how quickly it fills up. We also toss 1.00 and the occasional 5.00 bills in there too. It's one of those plastic 5 gallon water jug/office water jugs. It's about 1/2 full. I'm guessing 300-400 total. I told my kids that if its enough to pay for Seaworld and Universal/IOA we'd use it towards that. "cause they want to go there as well as Disney, but Momma is only saving for Disney.

I also have booked through Dreams Unlimited, and I think I'm going to try to sent them a night or 2 nights lodging per pay. Once I send it, it's gone in my mind.

We also do heavy coupons and use the "card" at each grocery store. Yesterday went to Food Lion and MVP savings were 39.00. So tomorrow when we fo to the bank, we put in 39.00. I didn't use coupons yesterday, because in a rush, but refused to buy things that I knew I had a coupon for at home. Last trip to Superfresh between the card savings and coupons,(which they double up to 1.00 here) we saved 67.00. Believe me it adds up when you hav e a family of 5 and a teenager and 9 yo whom play 2 sports each and EAT.

Good LUCK