How much does that cost?

[littlezar]

Like everyone else, it depends who's asking and how they ask!

As far as trips go, I usually just say "We all have our priorities!" unless someone is truly asking for advice on someplace we've been.

 

[tvguy]

I drive a 26 year old car.
I don't have a smart phone.
My TV is 4x3 and has a tube and I have a roof top antenna.
I shop at Walmart.
I buy my gas at the cash only gas station that is 20 cents a gallon cheaper.
I don't eat at restaurants where the entrees are more than $20.
I am typing this on my desktop computer.

Oddly, people never ask me how I pay for my vacations.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I drive a 26 year old car.
I don't have a smart phone.
My TV is 4x3 and has a tube and I have a roof top antenna.
I shop at Walmart.
I buy my gas at the cash only gas station that is 20 cents a gallon cheaper.
I don't eat at restaurants where the entrees are more than $20.
I am typing this on my desktop computer.

Oddly, people never ask me how I pay for my vacations.

Because they already KNOW that you're a tightwad

 

[MinnieForMe]

Most people who say something, do it because they know I'm frugal and want to know how they can afford it. I tell them about this board, mousesavers, how to save a dime here and there in Disney and what airline is generally cheapest in our area. I have also helped a few friends find houses to rent on VBRO and helped them check airfare prices. For many people, a first trip to Disney is overwhelming, nevermind, trying to make it budget.

Like others have said, I'm honest with how much we spend. However, I have reminded a few snotty people that we live in a modest house so that we can travel and give our kid's experiences.

 

[Girlfriday17]

If someone is interested in taking a trip of their own, I tell them tips & tricks and send them to the DisBoards. If they're just nosey or rude, I tell them, "Oh we robbed a bank!"

That's so funny; but I work in a bank.

I guess the crux of it is that I'm not rude, but find even asking the question rude, although not from someone who has a genuine interest. It's those who ask who seem to want to knock you down. I love the answers to stifle the nosy, critical ones.

 

[tvguy]

Because they already KNOW that you're a tightwad

I come by it naturally, got it from my parents. Although my mom always thought I was a little reckless with my money. She wore the "Where's My Senior Discount" Tee shirt proudly.

She refused to go to restaurants that charged more than $10 for an entrée. Actually, she was the queen of the financial seminars that threw in a free lunch or dinner for listening to the sales pitch.

 

[disney1990]

I agree that there are a lot of people with other priorities - going out to eat often, alcohol, smoking, etc. Their vices = our trip to Disney World.

I'm not offended, I tell it like it is.

 

[Sagginit]

i once got asked this at work a while ago. i thought Disney was cheap compared to other vacations myself or friends went on (i go off season, free dining - which yes saves me & my mum money, hunt for cheap airfare etc). my coworker was like omg thats a lot! i just tell people things like oh i got a deal on free dining and leave it at that.

 

[akcire]

I drive a 26 year old car. I don't have a smart phone. My TV is 4x3 and has a tube and I have a roof top antenna. I shop at Walmart. I buy my gas at the cash only gas station that is 20 cents a gallon cheaper. I don't eat at restaurants where the entrees are more than $20. I am typing this on my desktop computer. Oddly, people never ask me how I pay for my vacations.

I'm surprised they don't ask how you part with a dollar to go on vacation.

I'm a cheapo too, had a co-worker once ask if spending money on vacations hurt. Just because I frequently walked or rode a bike to work to save on gas and brown bagged my lunch. I always drove in inclement weather.

 

[Gigi22]

The best answer is, "How much did your [fill in the blank] cost?" Dish it right back at them.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I come by it naturally, got it from my parents. Although my mom always thought I was a little reckless with my money. She wore the "Where's My Senior Discount" Tee shirt proudly.

She refused to go to restaurants that charged more than $10 for an entrée. Actually, she was the queen of the financial seminars that threw in a free lunch or dinner for listening to the sales pitch.

My sister and BIL used to eat "supper" 4 nights a week at happy hour in college; they'd both get ice water My roommate and I perfected the 27 cent meal

 

[tvguy]

I'm surprised they don't ask how you part with a dollar to go on vacation.

I'm a cheapo too, had a co-worker once ask if spending money on vacations hurt. Just because I frequently walked or rode a bike to work to save on gas and brown bagged my lunch. I always drove in inclement weather.

Oh, they know where my money doesn't go, and know it's because I want it for vacations.

Perceptions are interesting. I'm considered a cruise-a-holic among my coworkers because I have been on 10 cruise in the last 34 years. Yet over on the Cruise Forum here, there are people that have been on 50 to 100 DISNEY Cruises, and Disney has only been cruising for just over 15 years.
I want to know where THOSE people get their money.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I generally don't have a problem ever answering how much something costs. I do agree with the others that the comments about our going to Disney frequently, therefore we must be "rich" are annoying. They are generally coming from friends who have season tickets for the Ravens (big bucks every year, not to mention all the tailgating costs), or go to the beach every year and rent a house for the week at $2,000+. In regards to Disney, I tell everyone it's so much cheaper than spending a week at the beaches around here! The only downside is driving 14 hours or paying for airfare.

 

[disney1990]

I generally don't have a problem ever answering how much something costs. I do agree with the others that the comments about our going to Disney frequently, therefore we must be "rich" are annoying. They are generally coming from friends who have season tickets for the Ravens (big bucks every year, not to mention all the tailgating costs), or go to the beach every year and rent a house for the week at $2,000+. In regards to Disney, I tell everyone it's so much cheaper than spending a week at the beaches around here! The only downside is driving 14 hours or paying for airfare.

Yep, I get that, "we must be rich". DH is on SS and I work part-time. I would hardly call us rich; but we go to Disney every year.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I get that question too, and all I say is "surprisingly affordable, and if you ever want to go and take your family I'm 100% in to help you get the same deals I get." Usually that gets them talking about the trip instead of the cost!

 

[tinkarooni]

I'm not really worried about if my answer to a rude question is rude or not.

 

[JillianMarie]

I have no problem talking about it. But, I find the aversion to discussing money to be generally weird. I have friends who assume we make way more than we do because we travel a lot (Disney and elsewhere) but they don't see my couponing and food budget stretching or the DAYS of work I do to make sure I get a good deal on a flight or my encyclopedic knowledge of every loyalty point system known to man. I put a lot of time and energy into getting a good deal because travel is important to us. It's a bummer that friends lament never being able to go anywhere because they just don't know how to make the finances work. I'm more than happy to share what I know and how we do it.

 

[eliza61]

Yep, I get that, "we must be rich". DH is on SS and I work part-time. I would hardly call us rich; but we go to Disney every year.

It's funny cause I never get the "we must be rich" line. most of our friends are pretty similar to us so they take vacations annually with their kids.

More often I get the "you're going to disney AGAIN?" statement.

which always tickles me because they will go on a cruise every year and where I live people flock to the Jersey shore like salmon returning to spawn every summer and think nothing of it.

 

[crazymomof4]

For the past few visits we've gone during Free Dining. When I tell people (who have never been to WDW and think it's too expensive) what it works out to per person, per day with the resort room, park tix AND food all included, they are shocked.
LOL then I tell them to go to the Budget Board on DIS if they want to find great tips!

 

[southlakejr]

My response when asked how I afford X is usually "the same way anybody affords anything- by creating a budget and making it a priority".

We visited DLR every other month or so for a period of two years. Each weekend was around 300 dollars or so, between gas (hybrid for the win!), hotel, and food/spending money. Most people forget that Disney is very cheap once you have paid for the tickets through an AP. Not to mention AP discounts.