How does everyone pay for their trips??

[Tara619]

DH is a teacher and HS Football and HS Wrestling coach. We see his pay for coaching as bonus, so that pays for our vacations and house renovations and most recently my LASIK surgery.

 

[portocall]

I set up a vacation account at a separate bank last year when DH suggested a trip w/o kids to celebrate our 10th anniversary... we wen't to Vegas. Once we got back, I started planning our first official family vacation to Disney. Since I never see it, I don't miss it. That paid for the trip

Secondly, I put us on a strict budget as far as "extras" are concerned because we started to get a little out of hand with that area so now on the last day of the month, I pull out $160 cash out of the ATM- when it is gone, that is it for the month and as an added bonus- anything I don't spend goes into an envelope for Disney spending money. I really think twice about trips to McDonalds, soda's from the gas station now.

And last- I told my children that all they are getting from mom and dad is the trip and the meals. If they wanted to buy anything, they are going to have to earn the money so I implemented "Mickey Dollars". Each payday, I put the cash in their individual envelopes (rounded up, but they don't know that yet) and update the totals on our whiteboard. They don't get paid to do their daily chores, but do for the extra's so I have had a ton of help lately, especially when one has pulled ahead. I have let them know of the different things they might want to buy, along with the cost, so they can decide when they are satisfied. They will get the cash when we arrive at WDW, and if they choose, they can save it and spend it outside of Disney, but not until the trip is over. This helps because it saves me from having to buy three things from everywhere one wants to shop, just for the sake of being fair.

Saving for this trip has gone so well, it looks like the rest of our trips are going to be a breeze.

 

[smiths02]

double post

 

[smiths02]

I am a grad student married to law enforcement (so one average income, but we have to pay for daycare...ouch!).

Anyhow, I have been saving basically since DH was 1 (before that we saved for medical bills and our trip to CA-Disneyland, but I am from there). I knew that this year, DS would turn 3 (I wanted to go before I had to pay for him ); I also knew that I would be finishing school this May. (Guess I was ahead of the Celebration theme!) The in-laws are also going, but they are only paying their half. But we are staying in one room (4 adults plus a 2 year old).

We live on a very tight budget that I make every month ahead of time. So anytime we got extra money, I saved some (a few years of some tax return money...if I picked up some part time job money, a year-end bonus one year at DH's work [about $200, gotta love working for the govt], etc.). We also saved any money that DS got for b-days or holidays. I have a separate account with his name on it that earns "good" interest for this reason. I let relatives spoil him at Christmas/b-day and we would only get him a toy or two and put money in the account. Luckily, he isn't old enough to care about gifts. I hope to train him that we do family vacations instead of a bunch of junky toys. DH and I haven't bought each other a gift in years. It is funny, even DS knows that if he gets a card in the mail with money...he has to hand it over to mommy to take to the bank. (He also has a Mickey Mouse piggy bank)

Then, after saving for 2 years or so, with my ILs going, and seeing my tax return, and the 4/3 deal....we are able to stay 6 nights (couldn't find the 7th night! agh! ) at AKL with the basic dining plan. We also don't have to factor in flying as we can drive pretty easily (live in GA). I made a budget with tips, photo pass cd, souvenirs, gasoline, etc. For the 5 of us, for 6 nights, Deluxe resort, wtih dining plan...I had to budget $4700...so our share is $2350.

Now before all the deals, and before I was sure that the in-laws were going. I looked at a room for DH, me, and DS (again 2 so free) at Pop for 4 nights, with dining and park tickets for $1435 or something like that. Even with gas, tips, souvenirs...we could have kept our trip under $1800 and our tax return this year alone was more than that.

I think that you will find that most people who go all the time stay value (or offsite or are more careful about cooking/bringing their own food), have DVC, have 2 incomes (or one really good one), or don't mind credit card debt (like most Americans). It is also a matter of priorities. It probably would have been more responsible of me to save for my retirement or DS college!

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I save throughout the year and use part of my tax refund to pay for my trips. It's hard but it can be done with a little belt tightening. I'm a single parent so I know it can be done.

 

[Kellytn]

Both DH and I work. This will be the first trip for our girls 3 and almost 5 at the time of our trip. DH gets alot of side work during the year so pretty much everything he makes from that this year is going to the trip. We know we will be spoiling them this time. He's already said he doesn't plan on saying no for anything on this trip.

Kelly

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Last summer I babysat 2 kids 2 days per week. This was in addition to my regulars. (I'm a daycare provider) Since these were extra, I put the money away until I saved enough to buy 7 day park hoppers for my family of 4. I also had enough to buy universal tickets.

We charge everything on credit cards with rewards, and pay it off at the end of each month. This wouldn't be worth it if we paid interest, but since we dont we earn around $300.00 each year on the disney visa, $300.00 on a gas, and grocery card, and about $200.00 on discover by using the extra 5% categories during the year. All that money goes to food and extras on vacation.

I usually have a set amount of spending cash each week that rarely gets used, so I will put aside the extra each week until I have enough to pay the lodging.

 

[dancin'girl]

We go every three years. It is our major vacation. On the off years we stay close to home and visit the beach, museums, the local amusement parks. We don't spend much. Then when the Disney year rolls around we splurge and stay Deluxe! Every time we go, I wish we could go more often. Some day maybe that wish will come true!

 

[tinkermom23]

Last summer DH and I worked every Saturday morning cleaning cabins at a local lake resort. It wasn't easy and sometimes while I was scrubbing some others persons' mess, I kept saying, "next year I'll be dining at CRT with my daughter." It meant sacraficing our Saturday mornings, but it will be worth it! It paid for our plane tickets and part of the dining plan.
We saved every bit of spare money in a Disney Can and told DS that when it was full, we'd go to WDW. He even threw his change in sometimes!
I also skimp on other spending. If I see a pair of shoes I really want, I say to myself, "Do I want this more than Disney World?" The answer was always no.
And, we didn't get a new van last year like we "needed", so we were able to save by not having a car payment. (although most of that $$ got absorbed somewhere else.)
When we seen the 4/3 deal and figured out how much $ we will save since the twins are 2 yrs (free) and DS is 9 yrs (child) we really needed to go this year to save the most bucks!
Some friends have commented about us going with the economy and me still being a SAHM, but hey, if you really want it, you'll find a way!

 

[wall*e2008]

Easy - Working, savings and not getting all of my wants when I want them.

 

[tinkermom23]

Easy - Working, savings and not getting all of my wants when I want them.

Very well said!

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

SAHM, Homeschooling Mom of 2 here.

Fortunately, we have our home paid off, and our cars paid off. We only have monthly bills. We are using our tax refund for this trip last year and this year again. This time we are taking the inlaws, which doesnt leave me the most thrilled cause I needed the new camera lens pretty badly. and this just means I cant.

If it werent for tax refund, I would be putting lil bits aside every month. If I were to do that, it would take 4 years. At the amount I feel comfy putting aside.

This is the last time we are going to disney for awhile.

After this year, I will be putting the new deck on my home, and re-doing my craft room all nice. Then we will be saving for Ireland...maybe.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I book for the next year as soon as the rates for the next year comes out and I put the minimum $200.00 deposit down and then take the balance and divide it up into the amount of months I have until final payment is due and make payments on it as if it were a bill, I just work it into our budget and it works great for us. At first, DH couldn't understand why I was booking so far in advance, now he's happy I do!!!

That is exactly what I do too! I phone down there once a month and apply usually $100 to my bill until it is gone. It works out great paying it little by little and then going knowing it is paid for! I also buy my tickets before I book, one a month as well (family of 6) so that I spread it out over 2 years, I feel that it is not hard to do come up with the money because it is spread out over 2 years (we go for usually 9-10 nights and stay in the cabins)

Hope this helps
Mousy

 

[derrickmom]

TAX RETURN!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!

 

[starann]

I work full time as does DH, but we have 3 kids (one is my neice who we are raising and we get no child support for her).

I used ot be able to work OT at the hospital (I am a homecare nurse) but with the economy, the hospital stopped OT.....

BUT we paid for a trip for 7 with tax return, stimulus check (we actully stimulated the economy by going to WDW), Fantasia $$ (I am rep and do home parties), and saving here and there.

I did a yard sale, sold my old gold and such for spending $.

It will be another 2 to 3 years until we go back....but we will start saving soon. I need a new car (mine had 189,000 miles on it and needs work, so really I need a new car)

 

[trennr]

I would save a little each month. We shuffle a little into a savings account...and pray we don't have to touch it.

Been in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007. Seem to always miss those election years.

Back in the late 90's we made a few trips on "the card." But that was really stupid, and would not recommend doing that...EVER. Trust me it's like weight...easy to put on...hard to get it off.

 

[bjscheel]

Our first trip was paid about half by eBay profits, half by just socking money away now and then. Our second trip was wholly eBay profits (wanted to see if I could do it!). Third trip was eBay, saving up, other things like bonuses, etc. I work almost full time now and we have had enough money to easily put some away.

All the change DH leaves on the kitchen table goes into the souvinear fund for the kids.

I have two ING accounts. One for Disney/other stuff, and one for savings I don't touch. I transfer money into there and transfer it out when I have to pay for a vacation related item. I just pay Disney their $200, then close to the 45 day mark I pay Disney online with my Disney Visa. I get Disney Rewards Points, and 6 months interest free to keep my money earning interest at ING. I have enough money saved up by trip time, but I pay the minimum or so until it's time for the interest to start. Just paid off our November trip the other day.

Next priority is kitchen remodel and summer camp, and paying off the vehicles, so it might be awhile till the Disney wheels are rolling again.

 

[disneynewbee]

We have 4 kids and I'm a SAHM. We use our tax return to fund our trips along with any money dh gets from doing side work in construction.

 

[miasmom93]

This years trip was paid for by: Tax refund
Change jar - $285
sold some gold for cash - $70
Ebates refund this quarter - $434
Vacation club taken out of my pay - $1000
me dh dd (15) ds (11)
Can't wait for Star Wars Weekends!

 

[conachan14]

I was going to use our tax money....but I happened to win $5300 at the casino. I don't go very often cuz I usually end up losing. My husband is in Iraq and he got me a $200 GC to the spa there and the casino had offered a free night stay to all of their players club members and I was lucky enough to snag one. So It was my anniversary month so I got $12 of free play for being married for 12 years and I won it on that. Needless to stay I was ecstatic. We have only been to disney once in 2003 and we skimped on everything. No souvenirs, bringing our own food, ect. It will be so nice to do it right this time.