How to make $900 so I can go to Disney at Easter?

[zakatak]

Hi again!

I am being obsessive again. I figured out that I could go to Disney at Easter with my kids (and the help of my Uncle) for under $900. That is driving down from NY, 5 nights splitting POR, we have APs, $50/day for food (pb&j for lunch, poptarts for brekkie), cooler for drinks in room, etc...

Now, keeping in mind that we are going back as a family in July (this trip would be WITHOUT dh), my dh is ready to have me committed. So... with that in mind... how can I raise $900 by March? I am already saving for the other Disney trip and we are stretched pretty tight right now.

Just the thought of two weeks in my house with these kids (6, 4 and 2) makes me dream of Disney...

Thanks for any and all ideas! Please feel free to committ me if necessary.

Hugs,
Karen

 

[jfulcer]

You could go to the local blood center and donate plasma. You'd get like $25 a week.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Once spring rolls around (and it will, just not soon enough), how about a garage or yard sale? It probably won't bring you $900, but you might be able to raise a couple of hundred!

 

[Pembo]

If you figure out a way, let me know. Then I could go too!

 

[JESW]

I was going to say yard sale, too! Do you have any re-sale stores in your area? I sell DD's clothes (the better stuff) as soon as she outgrows them. Some places even take toys.

good luck!

Jill

 

[JohnTBap]

I'm tutoring kids at work for extra $$ but DH says it has to go into the new car fund. So, if you work outside of the home, maybe there is extra work there?

 

[Saffron]

Oh my gosh JTB. I read that you were torturing kids at work. I couldn't imagine what the heck you were doing! LOL!!

There is a Budget Board here on the DIS, a Disney Tips Board and a Rewards Boards where they teach you how to earn Disney Dollars, I think. I have to go check that board out myself. LOL!

Other than that, look for rebates on things you buy. Some sights on the web have rebate coupons and the stores themselves have rebate coupons. Put all of that money away for your trip.

 

[Snow White]

You could cook all meals at home and clip coupons, and then put the money you would have spent eating out in a jar to save a little, we also have a change jar, any change we get from getting cokes, gas,etc goes into the change jar, you would be surprised how quickly that adds up...if you put ALL the change in there, have you checked the budget and rewards boards here...they usually have some really good ideas too...good luck....let us know if you come up with some really good ideas!

 

[mickeyfan1]

If you write down every penny you spend for one month....At the end of the first week, see what is the easiest thing tho not spend money on, what ever that is, take that amount of money the next week and drop it in the vacation fund jar. Do the same thing each week. You need a month, because then you have a very good idea of what you are spending that may be just wasted. This is of course in addition to all the other great ideas.

 

[snoopy]

With kids that young, you should be able to put together a great yard sale. Unless of course you are planning to have more children. If not, get rid of all their baby stuff. We had one last year and netted a huge profit. Just a tip though, all of the baby furniture and nicer clothes should go to a consignment shop, you'll make more money that way.

 

[Erika Sanderson]

The change saving idea is a really easy one to use...and you'd be very surprised after just a few months.

We've saved in two month increments before and we easily round up $300+ in nickels, dimes and quarters. Just remember to save ALL your change and to not rob your fund for ANYTHING...

Good luck.

 

[danacara]

To save $900 by the last week of March, you'd need to put away $75/week for each of the next 12 weeks. That is a far less scary number than the $900. See if you can get $10/week by couponing food and eating what's already in your pantry. See if you can get another $10/week by listing old clothes/yard-sale type stuff on Ebay. See if you can get $5/week by skipping hair cuts/color until after your trip. Now, tighten your budget and see if you can squeeze out $50/week from whatever other luxuries you have (downgrade from plus gas to regular, cash out gift cards that you got over the holidays, don't buy lunch at work). You take those steps, you'll have your $900 by March 31. Though I am by far not the best blood-from-a-stone budget squeezer on the DIS, I can hold my own from time to time. Good luck!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Well, if you are already saving for a July trip and are stretched pretty tight -- the $900 might be a bit difficult.

But maybe you could save enough money to pay for some activities for the kids during Spring Break, then you could get a bit of a break.

Our local Park District offers some great Spring Break programs for kids. Crafts, Sports Programs, dance, swimming, etc. My kids really enjoy them and it is nice to get them out of the house for a couple of hours everyday.

 

[LuvTigger]

If you have a lot of books (or CD's, DVD's, etc.) lying around the house, you could sell them on Amazon. I read the idea in a post here a long time ago, and decided to do it because I have TONS of books, and I've sold quite a few in just few months.