How does everyone pay for their trips??

[Allboysandme]

We're getting a big tax refund this year. I told dh that too much was being taken out of his check, but his hr person said it wasn't. Yeah, right. Between his bonus and refund we should be able to pay off most of the debt from his layoff a couple of years ago, but we've been through so much the past two years that we deserve a vacation. We were so frugal before and I wish we had lived a little more because you may never get the chance again. We have the chance now so, we're going to Disney World! We're also using reward miles for a free plane ticket. Next year we should be able to have all the airfare, hotel, and car rental paid since he travels so much. We'll only have to buy food and tickets. I don't think I would go again so soon if this isn't the case.

 

[Newstarr]

We are a homeschooling family also and this is my 4 kids first flight also. We asked that everyone give our kids cash for christmas and birthdays. We use this money to pay for their portion of the vacation. Last year we did San Diego (we drove) and this year we are doing Disney, I had earned a RT ticket by getting the SW credit card to pay for me so the only flight we are paying for is my husbands. When ever family says they want to give toys I just show them my kids rooms.

 

[Grendalynn]

I have enjoyed reading the posts on this thread. DH asked what I was up to and told him I was on the Disney Boards - having asked what was happening on here today, I mentioned what others do to save for Disney. We are in similar boats as many others on here. We pinch pennies, have a change jar, sells things on ebay, cut out a lot of extras, ask for Disney Dollars for the boys for gifts, christmas and birthdays, we count on our tax return as fun money and other such things. We also try to travel in off seasons or non-peak times. We do the Disney thing every 2-3 years. We vacation in between, but its on a far less expensive budget.

Also we will be making less money this year because DH closed down his business and went back to work for someone else. So this thread is coming in at a very good time for us. Not that our quality of life has changed, but that our budget is a bit tighter and our spending habits are a lot stricter! WE stayed at WL last year, and since DS2 was "free" then, the next time around he will not be, nor will DS9 count as a "child", so we will consider buying DVC points or stay at a moderate.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My paycheck covers our house payment. Whatever is left goes into a savings account and we use that for our trips. We plan (resort type, etc) based on how much we'll have saved. We only spend whatever we have saved, or less; no part of a vacation goes on the cc for us.

 

[SGTex]

We will pay for our full trip w/ tax refund/bonus $. My DH is a sales engineer, so he makes commission checks off of his sales associates. We don't count on any of his commission checks, so that's all "extra" $ for us that we use for home improvement projects (currently finishing our basement), fun stuff and vacations. We're really lucky that this has been a great year for him, so we're doing our yearly Wisconsin Dells vacation w/ friends and then Disney was a bonus. we thought we were going to have to wait until next year, but we're going to go this year instead!

I am a SAHM, but I work a little from home, so that will help to pay for it also. I'll probably pay for the dining plan, all other food & snacks and then souviners and extras. We are also staying at a moderate resort to save a few pennies.

 

[Broadway Duchess]

We start saving for the next trip almost as soon as we come home from the previous one. For the most part, we book early and pay monthly for our room, and only if necessary will we charge the airfare (we pay that off immediately, though). Spending money comes from the change jar, and the Disney savings account (direct deposit).

Once, and I'll never do this again, we charged everything, just trying to get it out of the way, and keep the yearly streak going. We planned to pay it off in three months, but that didn't work out, and we wound up taking almost a year after I lost my job. Since then, it's either paid for in full, or we can't go.

 

[moxiecola]

We also have a "Disney Jug" which is one from a water cooler. Last trip there was about $2000 in there (we only put silver in it). We also use some tax return money.