How has DVC changed the way you live your life in the OUTER WORLD? LOL

[edk35]

Okay I asked earlier "How has DVC changed the way you vacation?" Now has DVC ownership changed the way you "live now" compared to how you lived before? The reason I ask is this: We have friends/family that think owning a timeshare must mean we are rich and have boat loads of moola. I tell you that is not the case. We live comfortably but we are by no means rolling in major bucks. We live modestly I guess you could say. However....becoming members (and this came into play when we were deciding to become members) made me realize just how much money we blow on dumb things.... how much we overspend in certain areas of our lives, how wasteful we are with all sorts of stuff. It made me realize that I would much rather cut back on certain things, being more mindful of spending and not just basically tossing money out of the window....... in order to make this DVC purchase happen. So I am just curious if anyone else feels they made changes in order to become members.

 

[bpmorley]

I don't know about living different, but being a DVC member has made me the resident WDW expert on the PFD. I get no fewer than 3 calls a tour asking about Disney in general. It also seems like I can't go to another station without someone asking for help with a disney vacation. Not that I mind talking about Disney, but sometimes I have the exact same conversation with different people in the same day. I might start holding classes so I can give the info to everyone at once.

 

[DVC Grammy]

DVC has changed our eating habits!
With it, we manage 3-4 trips to WDW per year. Throw in the trips to our grown kids (2 in Austin and 1 in Atlanta), then add in occasional visits with friends, and we realized that we have to eat very sparingly when it's just the two of us! Otherwise, we'd be giving TweedleDee and TweedleDum very stiff competition!
There are too many "favorite" meals in WDW, and unfortunately, we don't know ANY people who don't love food, too!

 

[diz8297]

I agree that people make assumptions that you have a lot of money. And yes, I do try to cut back on other areas to be a ble to enjoy our Disney trips.

 

[SamSam]

Like you, we realized how much money we were 'wasting' in certain areas. In order to go do WDW more often and eat the way we please while we're there, we have cut back in certain areas at home. We eat out much less often, buy fewer decorating items for our house, drive our more fuel efficient car more often, many different things like that. It's amazing how much money we have saved just by eating at home more. In fact there are times when we will be looking at something to buy and we'll look at each other and say "I'd rather spend the money in Disney".

 

[edk35]

Like you, we realized how much money we were 'wasting' in certain areas. In order to go do WDW more often and eat the way we please while we're there, we have cut back in certain areas at home. We eat out much less often, buy fewer decorating items for our house, drive our more fuel efficient car more often, many different things like that. It's amazing how much money we have saved just by eating at home more. In fact there are times when we will be looking at something to buy and we'll look at each other and say "I'd rather spend the money in Disney".

Exactly. We have always eaten out a lot...the kids just came to expect it and to be perfecly honest I was still buying tons at the store. We always had a full freezer/pantry but were still eating out. So that we have worked on. Plus it really makes a meal out seem so much more special. Plus like others have said. When we are at WDW eating out all of those meals..I want that to look forward to and when you are eating out all the time at home....it sort of takes that away from Disney Dining.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We just looked at what we were spending going to OC MD for a few weekends and a week during the Summer. Found it would be cheaper to do DVC and get 2 trips in a year.
We love our travel and are always looking to be somewhere now we just watch what we spend in doing so.

We will do a trip or 2 more on our AP years and a bit less on the years we skip.

 

[edk35]

We just looked at what we were spending going to OC MD for a few weekends and a week during the Summer. Found it would be cheaper to do DVC and get 2 trips in a year.
We love our travel and are always looking to be somewhere now we just watch what we spend in doing so.

We will do a trip or 2 more on our AP years and a bit less on the years we skip.

Yes Ocean City is so expensive. We went last June for a weekend. We were there for 48 hours for a Sand Soccer tournament and when all was said and done (including boarding our dog) we had spent almost 900 bucks. The hotel was not even that great...matter of fact we didn't like it. It was on the boardwalk...so it was easy to get to the tournament. Put it this way..we will not be going back this year. That money goes a LONG WAY at WDW.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

1. There is no outer world... just a different dimension.

2. moola.... I've never seen that word spelled out... moola... I like it.

3. Without DVC... We probably would never have taken a cruise . Certainly wouldn't be here on the disboards . Wouldn't spend so much time daydreaming about were we're going next (which is HHI) and I would be 19 lbs heavier and look 7 years older.

For sure

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Yes Ocean City is so expensive. We went last June for a weekend. We were there for 48 hours for a Sand Soccer tournament and when all was said and done (including boarding our dog) we had spent almost 900 bucks. The hotel was not even that great...matter of fact we didn't like it. It was on the boardwalk...so it was easy to get to the tournament. Put it this way..we will not be going back this year. That money goes a LONG WAY at WDW.

We have freinds down right now at a soccer Tourny we were goping to do the Sand one but DD got involved with a few other keuges and it never fit in.
She didn't go down this weekend as a new coach took over that team and she was not from that area. She has 2 different teams in 2 leagues with the one in the playoff so we wouldn't have been able to go anyhow.
We spent $500 or $600 for a St.Patricks day one last year.

We will go down but it will be at the end of the season for just a weekend or maybe a small quick Spring trip.Going to Vero in Aug for a few days and even with Airfair it's cheaper then OC as we are useing our points.

 

[LivinADream]

We just sent in our down payment on Friday and yes we also looked hard and deep at our spending habits and our $ we spend on vacation. By no means are we rich but like was posted some people percive that due to what you may have. People ask how can you afford all that my answer is I like a drink now and again but I'm not going to sit at a bar 6 nights every week @ $20 a night. $120.00 a week, 480 a month you know what I mean!! It all comes down to what you want and what are you going to do to make your dreams come true!!

 

[starbox]

I have a very high-stress job: dept. head at a very large, very inner-city high school. DVC has made it possible to have a vacation planned for every break. It is so wonderful always having something to look forward to. Pre-DVC, I actually stressed about where to go on vacation. Now, the mix of beach and WDW options works perfectly.

I also agree about spending money awareness - I am much more aware of not spending "stupid money" on stuff we don't need and, instead, saving for more fun "extras" on vacation & an add-on

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have a very high-stress job: dept. head at a very large, very inner-city high school. DVC has made it possible to have a vacation planned for every break. It is so wonderful always having something to look forward to. Pre-DVC, I actually stressed about where to go on vacation. Now, the mix of beach and WDW options works perfectly.

I also agree about spending money awareness - I am much more aware of not spending "stupid money" on stuff we don't need and, instead, saving for more fun "extras" on vacation & an add-on

At least you thought about vacation! Before DVC, DH didn't take vacation. He also has a high-stress job with lots of hours, but the joke (not-so-funny) around the end of the year was always "So-how many days are you giving back to the company this year?" (he can't carry over vacation-use it or lose it). Now everything seems so much happier and more relaxed, and I'll bet everyone says DH is a better worker and a better boss. He just keeps that DVC luggage tag on his laptop computer at work and he's a happy camper (most days). And we find it easier when we encounter the comments of "You're going to WDW AGAIN?!" If we say, "Well, we have a timeshare there, " people tend to nod with understanding-don't know what they're thinking, but at least they act like it's OK.

 

[MrsNick]

I spend much more time on the DIS than BD (before DVC).

 

[BroganMc]

Wow, a lot of Marylanders in this thread.

Funny that you mention OC. We have a condo down there, had it since the 70's so it's a major realestate investment now. But since we entered the world of timeshares (Marriott and DVC) we get there maybe a couple weekends a year. Mostly we've turned the place over to my siblings with their young kids (all swimmers and beach fanatics) and school vacation schedules.

Kinda comes full circle since my parents bought the OC condo for us as kids. Now the grandkids get to grow up there and have the memories.

But our timeshares have allowed us to have more adventurous vacations. We've used Marriott points to finance cross-country hotel stays, trips downtown for the 4th of the July, Miami, Caribbean cruises, etc. And we've used our weeks to do a month a year in Orlando, a week in Williamsburg, HiltonHead, etc.

It's gotten so that my dad lives for his trips inbetween semi-retirement and work. And we both have become the resident experts on travel. I keep saying I should quit my web job and become a travel agent instead.

I never was one to eat out a lot. We've been coupon/bargainhunter shoppers all my life. I'll splurge every couple weeks on something, but never more than $40 out. Consequently, we buy very little groceries on or trips and eat out instead. We're always bringing back leftovers anyway.

 

[Juliet25]

Sort of! I'd really like to replace my '99 Ford Escort with a more family friendly car, but I can't justify a car payment when we're still paying off the DVC loan. So I just figure that instead of a fancy car, I get a nice vacation.

It's a trade-off, depending on your priorities. I'd rather cruise around in my "sporty" two-door and go to Disney twice a year instead of buying the Volvo I'd much rather drive.

 

[mwmuntz]

I'm in the process of buying in to DVC right now, and I just had this same conversation with my wife - how are we going to afford this? One thing is to start bringing in lunch to work. I work in Midtown Manhattan, and I spend $8-10+/day in lunch. I figure that by just bringing in lunch, I will save at least $150 per month. Also, cut back on the Starbucks at $2 a pop. 1 less coffee a day will save $40/month. Instead of buying a bottle of water for $1.29 in the city, I'll buy a case of 35 bottles for $7 at BJs or Costco (so I can save up to pay $2.50 at Disney!). There are so many little things that we can cut down on that will save us big bucks in the long run.

 

[bwvBound]

Okay I asked earlier "How has DVC changed the way you vacation?" Now has DVC ownership changed the way you "live now" compared to how you lived before?

I spend more time here on Disboards than before owning DVC.

 

[Starr W.]

I spend more time here on Disboards than before owning DVC.

Isn't that the truth. . Also spend a lot of time checking airline rates.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Life is what happens between trips to WDW.