How to Make Quick Money for Trip??

[MaddyVita]

Hi all, this is my first post. First, let me say I'm addicted to this board already! So much great info! I really appreciate you!

Second, I need some advice!

We decided on the spur of the moment (first mistake!) about a month ago to go to Orlando - friend called with a great deal on a week's stay at a resort down there - the week for $375 + tax I think. No tours, etc. Happened to have the money in the bank so said - Sure! We have NEVER had a vacation in 12 years - I mean a week-long, stay at a condo or hotel type of vacation. Hubby's been working extremely hard and could really use a break and we wanted to really do something special for our three kids - 11, 6, 4. Plus, we have family and friends down there we haven't seen in several years and have access to discounted park tickets. (tickets pretty much already taken care of) NEXT TRIP, WE WILL PLAN AHEAD AND SAVE IN ADVANCE!!!

Problem is, unexpected expenses have come up and now we have $25 in the bank - and don't get paid til the day AFTER we leave (driving down!) (Have enough money on CC to pay for gas on the way down if need be) I need to make money QUICK - I know, kinda late! We leave one week from today. I'm sick to my stomach - and berating myself for not doing anything to make money before this. But what I need now is ACTION - not dwelling over my shortcomings.

Any ideas on how to make money QUICK! I have some stuff on ebay but even if it sells it won't bring in much of anything. Had a yard sale but didn't make much.

I know I need to address this issue of "paycheck to paycheck" - but for this moment I need to just get us through this week and get us down to Orlando.

Any suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance!

BTW - just for the sake of sharing. we'll be going to MK one day and Studios one day, Universal one day and IOA one day.


~ Maddy

 

[dtsaos]

I was thinking yard sale, but see you've already done it. I can't think of anything else to do so last minute except for maybe pawning (at a pawn shop) electronics that you don't want anymore etc. I would suggest cutting out 1 or 2 of the parks if money's so tight and doing something else that's free instead. I wouldn't cancel for the kid's sake if you can pull it off. Good Luck!!!

 

[mom23boys]

Do you have direct deposit, maybe you could access your through a MAC or Debit card. If not, have a garage sale, tommorow a little late notice but if you need money quick go through everything you have and sell it.

I would not cancel your trip, but I am not flaming you, I have been there but you really do need to have some kind of savings put aside. Especially with three kids, things always come up.

 

[MaddyVita]

Believe me, I KNOW we need to do something to put money away. I just need to figure out a way to do it .... and DO IT!

We do have Direct Deposit and will be OK once we're in Orlando - it's just between now and then! I wanted to get the kids sneakers and get them broken in, get the mist-fans, rain ponchos, caps, food and snacks for the trip, etc. (I just read about all these great tips this week on this board!)

BTW - what is "flaming"?

Thanks,

Maddy

 

[poohluvrs]

Dont know what your neighborhoods like, but could your kids set up a lemonade stand or something to make some spending $$ for themselves?

 

[stars75238]

We had a place here that buys DVD's and Movies - somewhere between $.50 and $1.00 each - really look at the movies you own but really don't watch anymore!

How about 1/2 priced books? Again, not much cash, but something is better than nothing.

Fast garage sale is again, something.

Anything you could put on EBay with a Buy it now that might have a good chance of selling quickly?


My understanding is your paychecks will be deposited shortly after you leave?

Good luck - I agree, don't cancel if you can help it - sometimes memories like this (how your struggled to make the trip) can be the best!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[dtsaos]

Tip: I would post this on the Budget Forum, there are some people on there with AMAZING ideas!

 

[MaddyVita]

Thanks for all the great suggestions folks! Please know that I am definitely NOT canceling this trip. I just couldn't do that to the kids - and we'll be OK financially after we get there.

We moved in February and tried to "fling" as much as possible at that time - so we really didn't have much stuff for the yard sale that we did have recently. But I think I'll go through everything again and have a spur-of-the-moment one tomorrow and Sat. a.m. After that we won't be available due to previous commitments.

We did the lemonade stand at the last yard sale - didn't really make much but the kids had fun! We can do that again - maybe ice tea this time since I have LOTS of tea bags already! We can then offer sweetened and non-sweetened. Thanks!

Pawning is out as I don't have anything worth pawning! Thanks for the suggestion though!

I never thought about selling the books to a reseller! I called around and found one place that buys used hardcover non-fiction books. I know I have those still packed and will go through them today and take them in when the owner is in tomorrow. Thanks for that tip!

I remember hearing about a place that bought used DVD's and games but can't think of it now - does anybody know??

About posting on the Budget Board - I actually thought I WAS when I posted originally!! Once I realized I made a mistake I tried to cancel this one and post over there. I didn't figure out how to cancel this one - thank goodness!! but I did go ahead and post it over there anyway.

You guys are the BEST - thanks for all the tips!

 

[Trish Bessette]

What about applying for a small signature loan through your bank? For the very minimum that you would need?

I am not one to do this but if your only taking say $1,000 it won't take long to pay off one you get back?

Just a thought. Good luck and have a safe trip!

 

[stars75238]

I think the place near us is called Movie Trading Company or something like that.... try looking under "Movie Trading" on yahoo.

How about CD's ? Sometimes the used book store will also buy used CD's?

Good Luck

 

[penchris]

Rethink your strategy....maybe you don't need to buy misters, etc. That stuff can add up quick. If you have friends and relatives in the area (or even where you are)...try borrowing some of the trip specific items on your list.

Other ideas... See if a neighborhood car wash is possible. Hit up the grandparents, and offer plenty of photos in return. Anyone in the family play an instrument?...put out the hat.

Hang in there. Hope you find tons of magic and pixie dust on your trip.

 

[Alice's Mom]

If you have a lot of your kids clothes saved and in good condition you can take them to a consignment shop.

Hope your able to get what you need, have a blast at WDW!

 

[gr8ful4Him]

I wanted to get the kids sneakers and get them broken in, get the mist-fans, rain ponchos, caps, food and snacks for the trip, etc. (I just read about all these great tips this week on this board!)
Maddy

If you have enough room on the CC for gas, maybe there's enough to get the essentials before you go also?
As far as new sneakers...if they have ones (sneakers/sandals) that are comfortable and will make it through the week, don't change that now...save that for back to school
The mist-fans run $5-6 at Walmart, but $16-17 at Disney
Ponchos you can get alot cheaper before the park too.
I recommend taking a cooler with you in the vehicle if you have room....saved us lots of $$ and we didn't have to stop every time someone got thirsty! Snacks were good to have too for the same reason.
BTW, we stopped in Georgia, right before the FL border and got gas for $1.97/gallon in the beginning of July...I didn't notice the rest of GA being that cheap, but was VERY thankful for the break in the price!
I wish I could tell you a quick way to make some $$, but really only have $$ saving ideas for the travel. I think everyone's covered my fundraising ideas!

 

[Zoesmama03]

Do you have any baby things stored away??? IF so head to a baby resale shop they will usually give pretty decent $ on stuff. I got $50 for 2 swings a pack and play and a snow suit my dd never got to use.

Check your closets see whats there. Having any extra furniture maybe a consignment shop will buy them. You'll get less than consigning but you need quick.

Video games. with 3 kids I'm sure you have a bunch of them they don't sell for much but you can get a little bit for them at pawn shops or whatnot.

Pawn your electronics but then you gotta worry if you will get them back out with money when you return.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Also you could get a payday loan and write them a check out of the money coming right after you leave. But be VERY VERY careful with those they are often hard to get out of if you don't pay it off right away. It usually cost about $60 in fees for a $400-500 loan.

Some banks I'm told will give you pay advance if you call. My car loan company told me that once. Unfortunately I had overdrawn too much and they wouldn't do it for me. If $25 is what you have now and you already paid bills you'll have to come up with it. If you haven't paid something like car payments call them and tell them you would like to deferr a payment. They usually have no problem doing this once or twice a year and usually offer it up around the holidays. Just some other thoughts to think of.

 

[MrsMcNally]

Do you own home?? Try a home equity line of credit, maybe. Make cheap meals this week, Veggie soup, Spagetti, Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup. I live for cheap meals, Kool-aid I feed my family on about 50.00 a week, so I am the queen of cheap food. I shop at Aldi alot. Some things are not the best quality but you can usually tell what is good and not. I am a homemaker until the fall so I have to literally pinch every penny. And my hubby works 7 days a week. Bless him!! I shop at Family Dollar for all of my household items too. And I shop on Old Navy.com for clothes. They are cheap, name brand and shipping is only 5.00 no matter what you order. Just a few of my $$ saving tips.

 

[Jen117]

Do your yard sale again. Most newspapers have cheap ad rates for them and get the signs out. The more people know you are having one, the more people come. And don't do them on a weekend that there is something big going on. We are planning on a garage sale in August and ebay to get some extra Disney cash.

 

[MaddyVita]

Thanks again everyone for all your great posts! I was ablet to come up with about $30 selling some stuff and my DH is doing an extra job tomorrow to make $125. That, coupled with the fact that I can go to Wal-Mart the day before/day of the trip and write a check will get us through and get us down there! We definitely need to get shoes for the kids - the boys have outgrown there's WAY too fast, and my DD's are looking VERY ragged! I may only get a couple of the fans too.

The best surprise though that will REALLY make the vacation special for the kids, is that my darling mother surprised me (not knowing about our financial woes at the moment!) and called to say she was sending a check for us to use on our first family vacation! She said she's always taking my sister's kids on trips but has never taken mine, and doesn't know when she would, so she'd like to do this instead. (DSis's kids are much older than my kids) That was surely a Godsend!

Thanks so much for all your posts everybody - I really appreciate ALL of them! So many great tips!

I'll let you know how the trip goes when we get back. We're leaving Thursday and will actually be going to the parks the middle of next week.


Thanks again!

Maddy

 

[2buzzboys]

Just to help you save -most of the items you wants like fans , ponchos,caps snacks for park ,etc can be found at dollar tree. I live in central florida and all these items are at my local dollar tree.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I've been lurking on these boards for awhile and have been following your thread. I just want to tell you that I hope you and your family have a wonderful time. Even though things may be tight for awhile, sometimes you just have to say "what the heck" and just go with it. I'm sure your kids will cherish every moment of the trip! Have fun!