I need major hints on how to save!!! please help

[julluvsdisney]

Hi:
You mentioned flying out of Boston. Southwest is flying out of Boston soon if not now. Make sure to check the prices out for all three Southwest sites: Providence, RI (not far at all), Manchester and Logan. We have found flights from Providence to be much cheaper than Manchester. January is very nice in Disney. It's so quiet but the weather can be iffy.

Have a great trip!

oh thats right good idea!!!

 

[julluvsdisney]

Hi:
You mentioned flying out of Boston. Southwest is flying out of Boston soon if not now. Make sure to check the prices out for all three Southwest sites: Providence, RI (not far at all), Manchester and Logan. We have found flights from Providence to be much cheaper than Manchester. January is very nice in Disney. It's so quiet but the weather can be iffy.

Have a great trip!

so I just got fantastic price $168 round trip! Insane! I paid 240 last time in may soo thats just crazy!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Save you change and put in a big jar. You will be amazed how it will add up.

This is how DH and I first started saving about 20 years ago--at the end of every day, we dug out all our change and put it in a jar.

After a while, we also put a buck in the jar (folding money) every night, in addition to the change.

Then we started getting a little wild and seeing if we could put in a twenty dollar bill once a week.

Having the money there right in front of us really got us into saving mode. Even though we were basically living paycheck to paycheck, it showed us we COULD save money. This is how we got started scraping together a down payment for our house. It really works! Good luck with whatever you decide to do--having a big goal for your money (like buying a house or going on vacation) really changes the way you look at spending money.

 

[DisTwix]

so I just got fantastic price $168 round trip! Insane! I paid 240 last time in may soo thats just crazy!

That IS an awesome price! The great thing about Southwest too, is you can keep checking the fare (I actually check nearly daily), and you can get the cheaper fare by rebooking right on the website - there is NO fee to do it, and the money goes into an account to use on your next flight. It's the bomb.


We went end of Jan/first week of Feb this year, and I can tell you it WAS PACKED. And it was COLD. We wore long pants, two shirts (usually a thermal + t-shirt over it) and a fleece/sweatshirt. COLD. You truly never know what the weather will be that time of the year.

I keep an annual pass, so for us, it was cheaper to do the Moderate with the discount - our rooms were $84 a night (POFQ - so cheap) - than anything with a Dining Plan. I generally eat kid's meals at the park (plenty of food and considerably cheaper) and I have made a vow to NEVER buy water there again (good Sigg water bottle with flavor packets).

Even with the cold and the strangely packed parks, we had a blast.

 

[PaulaSue]

Love the tips!

Our last trip was a combined family X-mas present and the girls b-day "parties" rolled into one. We had just moved, needed nothing (trying to keep the clutter down) and needed a vacation from the move. Plus with the move they didn't really know anyone yet to invite to a party and friends were too far away to make the party worth while.

I had let the girls each choose a park plus a special meal that they wanted to go for their "b-day" present day. Really made the week extra special memories.

 

[dislvr74]

First, we set up a separate savings account just for Disney trips. We put money in that account from various things:

1. We called all of our regular "billers" - cable, cell phone, insurance, etc and got on cheaper plans. We saved ourselves $100/month. That money goes directly into the account.

2. I do shopping at Rite Aid where I shop the sales and use coupons to get the items for free. The way their system works is they send you a check at the end of the month. So, I'll spend a little out of pocket each month ( maybe $20) and get a check back for anywhere from $25 - $50 (approximately). That money goes into that account. It averages about $35/month.

3. Any refunds we receive or other money we are reimbursed for anything after we've already paid for the item. For example, we bought a new fridge in January. We were reimbursed for the delivery in March for $65. But, we'd already paid for it and worked it into our budget, so it was found money. We added it to the Disney account. This year we budgeted about $200 for this kind of found cash.

4. Dh is an Episcopal priest. He receives "tips" for performing weddings. Again, it's found money. Straight into the Disney account. This year he has 10 weddings. He receives anywhere from $50 - $500/wedding. Average is around $150.

5. I decided to give up coloring my hair and getting it cut for a while. Every 8 weeks when I would've had it done, I add that money to the account. Same with the kids haircuts - I do them and add that money to the account. So, that's about $50/month. (Dh won't let me cut his yet!)

6. We set a budget for gas/electric/water bills for the house. Anytime we're below that budget, I put the excess into the Disney account. This has gotten the kids involved by turning off lights, using less water, etc, etc, etc. They also don't complain when I keep the heat low in winter and AC high in summer!

I use a similar system and was able to pay off a $7,000 credit card in 5 months and since January I have saved enough to pay for our December trip. I still put $3.00 in my little savings envelope every day to represent the money I used to spend on coffee even though I haven't purchased anything at Starbucks in over a year! I also set aside money when I don't go to Target, spend less than my grocery budget, etc. For me the key is taking that extra money and putting it into my Disney account immediately. If I leave it in the checking account I will always find something to spend it on.

As far a budget trip planning, Jan is one of the least expensive times to go. It is early, but you should start looking at airfare. I watched the prices for awhile and was able to grab a really cheap (for our area) ticket for my solo trip in January to run the 1/2 marathon. I requested the vacation DVD and signed up on the Disney website. Once I planned (but did not book) a trip through the website-I "saved it for later"-I started getting pin numbers. I got one for 40% off our December trip and I am hoping for one of those room only deals in January. Just sign up for everything Disney related and have your DH sign up as well. You never know when you might get something!

 

[omghidanielle]

I still put $3.00 in my little savings envelope every day to represent the money I used to spend on coffee even though I haven't purchased anything at Starbucks in over a year!

I considered doing this same thing, only calling it the 'If I smoked cigarettes...' fund, but with the way I've been paying bills down, I'd have nothing left after day 2!

 

[mom_2_K'Lynn]

I am not sure how old you son is, but my DD is 5 and when we told her if she would save money we could go to disney world, she become super savey!! We bought her one of those jars that counts the money as you put it in and she would scrounge everywhere for coins and even ask grandparents and whoever if they had any coins and put them in there. In 6 months she saved $207 and thats not including birthday money or anything that is only what she found or got from someone as extra money!! Really give your son an incentive and believe me he will find ways to get money!!!

 

[VBAndrea]

My first big savings for our trip was to have a yard sale and sell whatever else I could on Craig's List. Granted, I had saved all of our baby items and my kids are now 5 and 7 (was hoping to have more children but old eggs got the best of me) so I had a lot to sell, but it really worked. I have $500 saved from two yard sales and selling an old couch and love seat on Craig's List. Still need to get around to selling a few other items on Craig's List for a little more spending money.

One other thing to try is calling Disney reservations and inquire about prices and deals. I called hoping to get a military discount on a less expensive Disney resort and ended up booking a Savannah View at AKL b/c the price was right. Doesn't hurt to call and ask.

 

[santa's surpriz]

If you have not done it already register for the birthday promotion online. I got a 40% off PIN via email for the dates around our birthdays.

 

[dyna]

It also helps me if I keep browned hamburger frozen in freezer an the boneless skinless chicken breasts I cook an cut up an freeze as well.... great for those nights you in a hurry or just to tired to cook.

I freeze both on a cookie sheet then put it in a baggie so it doesn't freeze in a big clump an I can pull out what I need great for tacos sloppy joes casseroles etc

I do the same with veggies onions, celery, peppers etc makes throwing a meal together go so much faster usually just chop the raw veggies freeze on cookie sheet then put in baggie so they not frozen in 1 big clump.