Need ideas for rasing $300 for our trip to WDW

[DawnM]

Can you get a paper route for only a select period of time? Or are you committing to long term?

Sell things on ebay/craigslist.

Do you have a regular budget? What is your grocery budget? Can you cut back?

Don't eat out.
No extra spending.

Dawn

 

[mdsoccermom]

What about a food budget? You say the cost of eating at FW is the same as at home - $0 - but that food has to come from somewhere. It's not free. You are cutting it very close with your expenses. Have you thought about any money for incidentals or emergencies?

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

Not trying to be snarky but have you thought about not going. Maybe putting the trip off a bit? Honestly that doesn't sound worth it to me. You had to sell gold to pay bills is it really the right time to go to Disney? What about FUN! What about EMERGENCIES! This does not sound like a well thought out plan.

 

[kirstenb1]

Not trying to be snarky but have you thought about not going. Maybe putting the trip off a bit? Honestly that doesn't sound worth it to me. You had to sell gold to pay bills is it really the right time to go to Disney? What about FUN! What about EMERGENCIES! This does not sound like a well thought out plan.

I would tend to agree, but the OP says they have GAD passes. I think they have to use them/lose them by a certain date? I'm thinking that's whats driving the sense of urgency.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

^ Is GAD the Give A Day free ticket? I'm thinking that's what it stands for. Honestly, i would just call it a "lost" though it's really not a lost because you helped someone out for a day. Unless the only reason she did it was for the ticket. I know a lot of people did it for that reason but the 1st reason should be the fact that you are helping someone who is underprivileged.

 

[MomofSixinSC]

Yes, we have GAD vouchers which have to be redeeemed by Dec. 15th? Or maybe 31st? Anyhow, the cheapest time to go is during November, before thanksgiving. That is how we decided when to go. Also, later in the year will be colder and we will be tent camping. If we can not come up with the money, we won't go, but the children are looking forward to it and have been since they did their GAD project (clean-up at a local school) back in Feb. It would be really hard to tell them at this point that we can't go, which is why I am trying to find ways to make the money.

Think I will go list some items on E-bay.

 

[fabmic]

I would be very concerned that you have not been able to save any money from February until now. Couldn't the 13 and 14 year olds babysit after school?

Your best opportunity was the summer months but they are now gone. It seems your are running everything very lean already so the only way is to increase your income.

 

[amylynne01]

The op only has a little over sixty days to earn the money. Even if she could earn $300 in that time frame she would not be able to cash out and have it in hand by her vacation time. Most of those sites have redemption times that take six to eight weeks for the reward to arrive.

Not necessarily. Some sites offer redemption via paypal which takes 5-7 business days. Some offer only Amazon gcs, and some offer paper checks. I have had checks from Opinion Outpost within a week if I request it by a Wednesday. Lightspeed, MySurvey, and Mindfield offer paypal. I have only gotten Amazon gcs from Valued Opinions, but I think they may offer Visa gcs, which will take 6-8 weeks.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Just how much would you pay for that? This sounds truly do-able for me.

I don't know what the rates are in your area. Ask around to all your friends and see what they think.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

Yes, we have GAD vouchers which have to be redeeemed by Dec. 15th? Or maybe 31st? Anyhow, the cheapest time to go is during November, before thanksgiving. That is how we decided when to go. Also, later in the year will be colder and we will be tent camping. If we can not come up with the money, we won't go, but the children are looking forward to it and have been since they did their GAD project (clean-up at a local school) back in Feb. It would be really hard to tell them at this point that we can't go, which is why I am trying to find ways to make the money.

Think I will go list some items on E-bay.

YOU ARE SELLING YOUR STUFF TO GO ON A VACATION YOU CANNOT AFFORD OMG seriously think about that. Your kids may be disappointed for not going but how embarrassed/disappointed will they be when you take them to DTD and can't afford to get them anything. It's NOT worth it! They should be proud that they helped a local school out. It may be hard to tell them you can't go but clearly they understand that you aren't rolling in the $$$. Can you work mom hours at retail? Don't live beyond your means. This vacation is BEYOND your means.

 

[Tink-aholic]

[/B]

YOU ARE SELLING YOUR STUFF TO GO ON A VACATION YOU CANNOT AFFORD OMG seriously think about that. Your kids may be disappointed for not going but how embarrassed/disappointed will they be when you take them to DTD and can't afford to get them anything. It's NOT worth it! They should be proud that they helped a local school out. It may be hard to tell them you can't go but clearly they understand that you aren't rolling in the $$$. Can you work mom hours at retail? Don't live beyond your means. This vacation is BEYOND your means.

I wouldn't assume that she isn't working already during those hours. If they are living this lean and have to sell things to come up with $300, then she is most likely working already. It just wouldn't make sense to live so close to the edge if she is a perfectly healthy adult capable of working. Choosing to be a SAHP if the spouse makes more than enough is a choice. That doesn't appear to be the case here if all she can save since February is $15. However, maybe a job change or a second job might make it a bit easier on both of you.

Personally, I would donate the GAD vouchers (probably get a tax write off) and save the money you would have spent for when Murphy comes knocking.

Good luck.

 

[jenseib]

It really does sound like this is beyond your means. Have you been saving since Feb? I'm assuming that since you sad your car might not be reliable, that perhaps, your DH has a car that is? Can you ask family for christmas/birthday money early?

Here are some suggestions.
Have freinds and family save cans and recycle them. You won't get much, but it still will be something.
How is your credit? there is a link posted on the budget board to get a Disney Visa, and you get a $100 gift card after the first purchase. Your purchase could just be gum, and you could pay it off immediately online.
I also do GPT sites (get paid to). I have made several hundred this past year doing them off and on.
If you are interested, send me a PM and I'll tell you how to do them correctly, so you actually get credit (or a better chance at it). It's not fast money, but it's something.
I knwo some towns also pay money for recycled plastic bottles.

Just be sure your children do know that this is extremely budgeted, and souviegners wil lnot be bought. I might even skip DTD, as it is mostly shops, and other ways to spend money.

 

[jenseib]

I wouldn't assume that she isn't working already during those hours. If they are living this lean and have to sell things to come up with $300, then she is most likely working already. It just wouldn't make sense to live so close to the edge if she is a perfectly healthy adult capable of working. Choosing to be a SAHP if the spouse makes more than enough is a choice. That doesn't appear to be the case here if all she can save since February is $15. However, maybe a job change or a second job might make it a bit easier on both of you.

Personally, I would donate the GAD vouchers (probably get a tax write off) and save the money you would have spent for when Murphy comes knocking.

Good luck.

I don't think she works, because I think she homeschools.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

It really does sound like this is beyond your means. Have you been saving since Feb? I'm assuming that since you sad your car might not be reliable, that perhaps, your DH has a car that is? Can you ask family for christmas/birthday money early?

Here are some suggestions.
Have freinds and family save cans and recycle them. You won't get much, but it still will be something.
How is your credit? there is a link posted on the budget board to get a Disney Visa, and you get a $100 gift card after the first purchase. Your purchase could just be gum, and you could pay it off immediately online.
I also do GPT sites (get paid to). I have made several hundred this past year doing them off and on.
If you are interested, send me a PM and I'll tell you how to do them correctly, so you actually get credit (or a better chance at it). It's not fast money, but it's something.
I knwo some towns also pay money for recycled plastic bottles.

Just be sure your children do know that this is extremely budgeted, and souvenirs wil lnot be bought. I might even skip DTD, as it is mostly shops, and other ways to spend money.

OP had to sell gold to pay bills. Suggesting she get a CC IMO is a bad idea and not very good advice.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

^ If so, maybe this realization that she can't afford something she would love to do because she doesn't want the kids to go to Public School will put things into priority. This kills me, if it's true! She would rather have to sell positions and camp in a tent with 6 people rather than send kids to school and find a part time job that might allow them to enjoy some nice things. Public Schools are not that bad and you can ALWAYS school choice!

 

[jenseib]

OP had to sell gold to pay bills. Suggesting she get a CC IMO is a bad idea and not very good advice.

Thats very true. She could always cancel it right away too. All just suggestions being thrown off the top of my head. not saying all are good.

 

[locolala]

I would agree with just not going on the trip. If you can't come up with 300 dollars by November, then there's something going on that needs to be fixed. What happens if your car breaks down on the way down, or someone gets sick and has to go to the hospital? If you had to sell gold to pay bills, then a trip to WDW isn't something that's worth spending money on. Think about what you want to teach your kids, and go from there.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

Thats very true. She could always cancel it right away too. All just suggestions being thrown off the top of my head. not saying all are good.

Everyone's trying to help. If she said we have money for everything BUT emergencies than I would think the CC a good idea. This is a very sad story. I hope she does the right thing for herself and her family.

OP what is your husbands take on this?

 

[MomofSixinSC]

I already said I wouldn't go if we can't afford it. no need to get snarky. I , the items I am selling on e-bay are things bought to be sold there at a later date, like Disney Crocs bought at Big Lots for $10 and sold for more. I'm not selling all our possesions.

 

[Marionnette]

^ If so, maybe this realization that she can't afford something she would love to do because she doesn't want the kids to go to Public School will put things into priority. This kills me, if it's true! She would rather have to sell positions and camp in a tent with 6 people rather than send kids to school and find a part time job that might allow them to enjoy some nice things. Public Schools are not that bad and you can ALWAYS school choice!

A - Some people enjoy tent camping. I know alot of people who consider it to be a very nice vacation experience. Dont discount it just b/c its not your cup of tea. B - Many people who home school do it for very personal and deep religious reasons. Its not your place to judge that choice. The op already said that she will not be making the trip if they dont have the money. Nuff said.