How have you saved for DW?

[eventsdj]

Uggh, I picked up extra hours at work. And if you knew how much I DO NOT like extra hours, you all would be very proud.

DW is worth it!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

We put a portion of each paycheck into the Disney savings account. I am also a teacher, so I have been working this summer to make additional money, as well as tutoring during the school year. It's all worth it.

 

[girli565]

We put a portion of each paycheck into the Disney savings account. I am also a teacher, so I have been working this summer to make additional money, as well as tutoring during the school year. It's all worth it.

I did the same thing, I'm a teacher as well. I did curriculum planning over the summer and also signed up for every professional development that paid a stipend. Every little bit counts!!

I aso opened up a Capital One Money market Acct. It's made my little deposits really count!!

 

[tiggersmyguy]

In addition to the money I take out of every paycheck and put into a vacation account, I also take any change and $1 bills that I get and put those away as soon as I get them.

 

[Mousema]

I, too, put money in a Capital One direct banking account every paycheck. Between DS's college and my Dis additiction, every penny counts.

 

[Disney8704]

Im not really saving up for DH and I next trip. I paid $900 towards AAA already only because of us moving from one house on base housing to another - dity move for those military folks out there. Im getting my USAA credit card paid off and then will put the rest of the trip, food, souviners, air fare and limo transfers to and from the Orlando Airport to AKL on my credit card. Im pay $520 a month towards my credit card. Yeah - HIGH credit limit, but all but $500 is gone So in the process of paying off my trip, im paying off my credit card. Then once I get the card paid off, before I put the remainder of the amount for AAA on there, Im gonna do another credit increase. Hoping my next increase will put me around $15,000 credit limit if not more.

 

[mnasmom3]

We save our change. I never spend change. And whenever I use my debit card or write a check, I round the numbers up to the next whole dollar and we use that saved change too. I picked up a few extra hours a week at work. I've also been reviewing products for expotv.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I put a set amount into a high interest e-savings accout. Then I have the Disney Visa that we charge everything on (pay off each month) and get reward dollars. We also put all our change and $1.00 bills into a huge jar and we have it covered up so we can't tell how much is in there. We will count it a month before we go. Any birthday or Christmas money I get or any extra money like rebate checks I go and buy Disney dollars with.

 

[chris4disney]

We have my employer automatically take out $125 of my weekly paycheck and direct deposit it into a savings account that we do not use except for large purchases like WDW trips. I do not have a debit card or check book for this account so the only way to remove money from this account is to physically go into the bank. I set it up this way so that I couldn't easily access this money for a spur of the moment splurg, but it is there when we need it. And accumulating $125 per week adds up pretty fast!

We also have a Disney Visa that over the past few months we have charged everything to it, paid it off each month and got the reward dollars.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

Didn't save per say. I just buy a little at a time, which works great when you stay offsite. I bought my airline tickets a few months ago. I put a deposit down on our condo a few weeks ago. With the next paycheck, we'll pay off the condo. Next paycheck, I'll buy our tickets and then the one after that I'll pay for the rental car and we'll have enough for food/misc. with our paycheck we get right before we leave. I just use money that is left over after we pay all our bills and neccessities. Normally, I would put this money into paying off our dwindling debt (CC's and car). As soon as we get back, we go back to paying off debt and we have totally paid for a trip w/o putting it on credit. In the long run, it will only set us back about 2 months in getting rid of debt and we'll be debt free before spring next year!!

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

I am actually getting a job. Part time only, but its been over 8 years since I have worked outside of being a mom. I am getting a job to also help pay some bills around the house, but the majority of it will be going towards the next trip.

 

[Disneyof3]

This is how bad I want to go in March. We just took out kids to Niagara Falls for the weekend and they take a picture of you near the falls and they are 25 for 2 pictures, you have the backdrop of the falls and it looks like your right up to the falls. I said no and told my DH that I'm saving my money for WDW. I looked at stuff this weekend like souveniers and said no I'm saving my money for WDW. Now am I bad or what!!!! That is how I save my money. I also spend less at x-mas on my kids and my DH knowing that we will be going to WDW in the March too. The kids don't care and neither do I or my DH.

 

[rinbea]

We are going to POR in April 2008 and have some time to save before we go. There will be 4 of us, DH & 2 DS. The boys each have a piggy bank they Disney decorated and each week they have the choice of putting all or some of their allowance in it. However, we encourage them to put all of it in. The oldest gets $10 per week and the youngest gets $5 per week. Whatever the boys save is what they can spend on whatever they want once we get to disney. They are excited about saving their money and constantly shake & look in the banks to see how much they have.

We also have another piggy bank - the mom/dad piggy bank (the boys also decorated it with Mickey & Disney designs). We hope to have enough in it to take care of our extra cash needs while at Disney. I started it out with a $100 and I've been putting loose change and extra dollars in it. I'll also put in any extra rebate or refund checks that happen to show up in the mail or any money made from selling things on Ebay, yard sales, etc. Basically, whatever I can get my hands on is what will go in it.

These piggy banks will be totaled up right before we go to Disney. Whatever is in their banks is what they can freely spend on “junk”, toys or whatever while they are at Disney. If they want something… they will have to buy it with their money. But the rule is – You can buy whatever your heart desires … but when YOUR money is gone… then no more spending.

We had enough frequent flyer miles to purchase all of our airline tickets. However, 2 of us are going on one airline and the other two on a different airline. Luckily, our flights arrive Orlando within 30 minutes of each other.

We booked our package (hotel, dining plan & tickets) on the Disney Visa card and will be frantically trying to pay that off before we go. And last but not least... I've entered every constest around that includes a Disney type prize. Who knows... I might win! (Although, I've never won anything in my life.)
 
The only problem is when the unexpected expense pops up! Such as our stove went out and we had to buy another one. Oh and don't forget... christmas is coming up!

Anyway... that's our plan!

 

[workinmomof2]

Car will be paid off in November. Will start using that money to start saving for the trip next October. Will also use tax refund check if need to. We haven't been on vacation in years so we are really looking forward to the trip. Also planning early and getting all types of great tips from this forum.

 

[lgncd]

take out of check for Disney Fund and any extra change, singles goes to fund dh gets alot of summer ot.

 

[Tanya90210]

I have been doing OT like a madwoman to save, makes it easier than taking out of the regular budget and gives me a good reason to do the OT in the first place

 

[stitchlover]

I make a list of known expenses 7-8 months before we go...picture packages, refill mugs, mousekeeping, tips (thanks DDP!) and figure out how much money I am going to need for each one. Then on the 15th of each month I go to the Disney Store at the mall and get enough Disney Dollars to cover one of the known expense amounts. Then I put it in an envelope, the little white ones they give you are great, mark what it is for and put it away. I usually end up with $500-$600 in known expenses already covered before we even get on the plane. So that is probably $100 a month being put aside for that type stuff.
I know it sounds strange but it works for me!
What we do for DD is we tell Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles to give her a few Disney Dollars at Christmas, on her birthday, etc. This way she has her own spending money. It makes her much more aware of what she is spending her money on and she usually ends up with between $150-$200 to spend on stuff. The only thing we (mom and dad) pay for is pin stuff (the lanyard, pins and the big thing that clips on at the bottom) and autograph books. But everything is from her spending money and it really cuts down on the I wants.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

This might sound strange but I really enjoy thinking of new ways to save for our Disney trips. I wish I could save for other things we need like I do for Disney.

 

[goaliewife]

We had a change bucket going for quite a long time, but then our house was robbed about a year ago and of course the money bucket is gone. So we started over and will use that. We have paid on the airline tickets and the MMW tickets, so hopefully the credit cards will be paid off and we can use them. Plus, no spending on anything extra for a while now, so there will be extra in the account in October.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

DF and I do not spend change, it goes in the disney fund jar. Any money that is found in packets before laundry gors in the disney fund jar. Already filled 3 jars.