Need to save $3500 in 18 months, HOW

[fam4jc]

Hi. I just placed our room only quote request to DU for our anniversary trip in Dec 05/jan 06. Rack rates will be 3500 for 8 nights. 2 WL woods view, 3 Contemporary Tower, 3 AKL concierge. Of course I am hoping for good codes, but I had better plan to save the rack rate amount, just in case.

So, any great ideas for a prolonged saving program? I have the change jar thing going (doing great with that). But I'm not going to get $3500 in change in 18 months!! That is just for the rooms, still will need more for tickets, food and transportation. OMgoodness
help me, help me Can I do it?

 

[powellrj]

my best idea would be to figure out how much money you would need and divide that number by 18 and then treat it as a bill you need to pay every month.

 

[fam4jc]

That's a good idea We saved about 3000 for the trip we just got back from in about six months, but that was both of us working extra jobs. I guess I'll figure out the maximum and do what you suggested and if we get extra income that goes in to the dis fund, I can reduce the "monthly payments" by that amount.

Thanks for your help

 

[OhMari]

I worked 3rd shift from Oct. to Feb 1 at a Kohls store changing signs, or sometimes I was put on inventory. I made $150 extra a week and I usually worked 1 day a week and maybe Thursday, Friday or Saturday nite. I told them just don't make me work back to back nites, cause I couldn't really sleep during the day, cause I had my day job. I got home at 3:30 from my day job and had to be to work by 10:00 for my 3rd shift job. I never really slept, so that is why I couldn't work back to back nites.

I made $1500 in those 4 months, it would be half.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

It is only 41.66 per week or 5.95 per day to save. Cut out purchased lunches at work or trips to Mickey D's or other non necessary expenses.
It looks huge until you break it down, it then becomes more manageable.
Be aware, however, this rate you have can go up. It is not a locked in rate. I would add for inflation or the usual room increases.
Opps, that calculation was for 3000.00 not 3500.00.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Go around your house and look for anything you can sell on eBay. I had tons of clothes and shoes in my closet I never wore and sold them to make extra $$ for WDW.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by fam4jc
But I'm not going to get $3500 in change in 18 months!! That is just for the rooms, still will need more for tickets, food and transportation. Can I do it?

I beg to differ on $3500 in change. I've only been saving since May 1st of this year and I already have $295 for my Disney trip in 2006. Now granted, it's not just change that I put into my jar, but also $20 a week of my tip money and odd dollars go in also. I'm going to tell you, it doesn't hurt one bit and it's so much fun counting that money every 10-12 days and just watching it grow and I mean rapidly! Is there some way you can drop to a moderate resort to help cut down on the cost. As much as I would love to stay in the AKL, it just doesn't fit my budget right now, so that's why it's the Allstar Resorts for me and DH!

I like Gail's idea about 41.66 per week or 5.95 per day to save...that's a WONDERFUL way to look at it without putting you into panic mode. What you need to do is what I've done. You need to factor in hotel, food, tickets, transportation, and extras, so you'll know exactly what you need to save. DH and I live here in FL so we save there by not having to fly. We live 6 1/2 hours away from Disney and only have to fill up one time on the way there...it's awesome! Because we're residents, we also get great rates on hotels and tickets that save us LOADS of money! I have totalled our next trip to be about $1600. That's food, hotel, tickets, and extras (spa treatments and minature golf) ! With just the $20 a week alone, not factoring in the ones and loose change, I can save $1920 in two years. I've been saving since May 1, so from May1 2004-May 1, 2006 I can have $1920!!!!!!!!! Our trip is from May 21-May 28, 2006. So with the way I'm saving now, I will have well over $2000 for our trip in 2006!!

See how easy it all is when you just sit and figure things out and get a plan? See where you can cut back a bit too, that helps a lot. You have to be willing to do so, whether you really want to or not. Maybe do a couple of nights in a deluxe and then cut yourself back to a moderate maybe even value so you know you can save that money plus more. Hey....keep us posted and let me know how I can help.

Best to you and have fun planning!

Blessings,

Denise

 

[fam4jc]

Hi Gail, Denise Gail, it's always great to hear from you. You are right about breaking it down, that helps me to feel more in control.

Denise, I agree that I might have to cut back from the delux stays, but I don't want to if we don't have to. This will be our 10th anniversary. Not in and of itself a reason to spend gobs of money, but we've been through alot together. Our first child was born sick, financial woes, etc. Anyway, we have NEVER done anything for our anniversary except a movie. We figure we are making up for the other nine anniversaries we couldn't do much for.

Actually Port Orleans is on my list and so is cb. So if I don't have a substantial amount saved let's say within four months, I'll have to adjust our reservations. I know this. We are just shooting for the stars.

I counted my change bank. Been saving only a week. There is 41 dollars in there I had cash left over from the trip and loads of change that I put in the bank. So really it is excess from our last disney savings bank.

It sounds like you have your savings plan down Denise. Good stewardship is soooo important. This wouldn't be a big issue for us if we were out of debt. Getting there, slowly but surely. only ten more months, then we'll be debt free - God willing

Take Care. And I'll talk to you both soon.
Shellie

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Hey Shellie!!

Listen, I understand about wanting to reach for the stars! DH and I celebrated our 10th in Disney and we will be celebrating our 15th there in two years. For me, reaching for the stars is going to Disney! I know many who have never been and feel they will never get there, so I don't know how blessed I am to be able to go til I hear those stories.

About being debt free...I'm with ya there! Two years ago, DH and I were nearly $3000+ in debt and now in just 6 months, we will be debt free once again! No more credit card bills, no more cell phone bills, no more hospital bills, just no more debt!! I turned my stuff over to a debt consolidator and they have been a blessing helping me pay off bills I couldn't do on my own. They just take $170 a month out of my checking account and VOILA....bills paid!!

I do hope your first child is doing better and blessings to you no matter what. DH and I don't go all out for anniversaries either. Last year we did New Orleans for 3 days and this year we did breakfast, the movies and dinner right here at home. However, when we do have something big planned, I tend not to spend much beforehand. I know our vow renewal is coming up in 2006 the same time as our Disney "honeymoon" so that's where I want the money go, so I tend not to overdo it on anniversaries to come. Next year will be a laid back year also as Disney will only be a year away at that time.

Thanks for recognizing my plan...I have to have it or the trip will NEVER happen. The cool thing is...I also have an extra $300+ in my checking account that's there for unexpected things, so if something does pop up, I don't have to touch the Disney money....at all!

You just get those numbers down on paper and play with them every now and again. Move things around, see how it all looks and get that money into that jar and get to saving!

Keep me posted!

Denise

 

[cooldisneymom]

I had a yard sale yesterday to add to the Disney Fund and netted $450.00!!!!

 

[Taja]

As others have said, carry your lunch and eat home when ever possible. Put the difference in your WDW savings each time (not later--you'll forget!). It's healthier and you'll save money. But allow for an occasional treat!

Minimize driving to the extent possible. I already did that several years ago, but if you can combine and eliminate excess trips to the store, you'll save money at the store and in vehicle expense. Calculate the vehicle expense at .35 per mile (rounding up IRS business expense guideline) or an amount you choose, and tuck the savings into your WDW fund. I rarely make a separate trip to the store--it's usually a stop on the way to or from work, twice a week, max! You learn to plan more efficiently!

The biggest difference is dining in rather than dining out, but if you think about how you do things and where you spend money unnecessarily, you can save an extra $20 or $30 a month. Not a lot, but it's a couple of counter service meals or one moderate restaurant meal at WDW!


__________________
Taja

 

[wasabi girl]

I'm going in Nov 05 and I'm on a savings plan too. We plan to stay at the Poly or CR tower for 7-8 nights with the dream maker plus gold plan (for our family of golfing foodies it is a good deal). I placed a giant piggy bank in the entry way labeled "Disney Vacation Fund" . Each of us (we are a family of four, with two older teens) puts change, tip money, etc in the jar. Then every week or so I deposit it into a special bank account (for travel). I've calculated the amount needed into weekly amounts and written savings goals on the side(of the disney vacation fund bank). We are all forgoing little things...coffee shop coffee, movies (in the theater), eating fast food on the run, shopping, and so on. To keep us all motivated to save we watch the Disney Vacation Planning video, travel channel specials about the parks and resorts.

So far, so good.

Good luck to you. It is worth saving for and having yard sales or whatever it takes. You will have a fabulous time!

 

[disneyatl]

We too had 18 months to save for our trip next month. We did several things mentioned by all the above. We sold things on ebay, automatically took out money from our check each week and deposited into our savings account, any checks from rebates or insurance checks we deposited into our account, saved change, cut back on meals. Another thing I did was purchased a disney store gift card every couple of months to pay for my park tickets. I thought it was quite easy considering I had so long to save.

Good Luck!

 

[robinb]

You're going to be there over NYE? If you really want to save money, plan on checking in no later than Christmas Day. According to Mousesaver's (thanks Mary!) historical code trends chart (http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#codetrends) the last check-in date for using codes in December has usually been 12/25, although it was extended to 12/26 last year. If your planned check-in is after 12/25, then you are pretty much stuck with the ultra-high Holiday rates.

Good luck saving!

 

[crisi]

Best wishes on your goal...

$3500 in eighteen months (and more, once you start paying for park tickets and food) is very ambititous for most budgets. Which isn't to say it isn't doable.

Review all your spending and see where you can cut. Prepaid cell phones are often cheaper if you don't use your minutes on your plan. That latte - unneeded - as well as the whole family going to a movie with popcorn and sodas (a matinee without food will do fine - or rent it when it comes out on DVD). The $40 haircut replaced by $15 at Cost Cutters. Use coupons, Sam's Club, whatever you can to save money.

Of course, if you are already doing all this to get rid of your debt quickly and address your financial woes, you may not have much to cut that is really practical unless you want to move into your parents basement and eat rice and beans.

Everything that is saved needs to be stashed (this is really the idea behind a change jar, you stash it so you won't spend it). Arrange with your bank to have regular automatic withdrawls into your vacation account - if you don't see it, you are less likely to spend it.

The other option is look for ways to generate additonal income. A second (or first) job. Garage sales, eBay. Dog sitting, mowing lawns. Whatever you can do. Its generally easier to save it than make it - making it ususually takes your time and you generally loose something in taxes.

Best wishes.

Do remember that its the marriage that's important, not how you celebrate your anniversary. We never celebrate ours at all (we got married in the Spring sometime.....yeah, that's right). And, while if what you want is a Deluxe hotel stay there is nothing wrong with that, don't put yourself in a position of regretting it later. We've enjoyed our Deluxe stays, but if it were a choice between Port Orleans and being able to go out to dinner a few times in the next eighteen months or WL, I'd take PO and less austerity over the next year.

 

[HenDuck]

Hi There.

I am in the same boat. Got to save something like $4,000 in the next 19 months for a trip to Disney in 12/05. I do a couple of things:

1. figure out a “high” and “low” budget. If we are able to save more, we get to do more splurge type things. Otherwise, I have the “low” budget to shoot for so I know what is the minimum I need to make the trip happen.

2. I figure out how much I need to save per month and then commit myself to doing it. This is actually all part of my larger budget which accounts for short, medium and long term savings goals.

3. I also save change and dollar bills, do ebay and garage sales too. But those things are for the extras, like character meals, car service, etc. Our family garage sale money goes to the joint expenses like the rental car and gas.

4. For this next trip, when I am 6 months, 4 months and 2 months away from the trip, I plan on doing a “spend nothing week” each month and see how much extra I can throw into the Disney vacation fund.

Oh yeah, as for our wedding anniversary, we think splurging is taking the day off together, watching a movie in a real movie theater, and using one of our gift certificates to a restauraunt for dinner. Just being together on that special day is enough for us right now.

Good luck (to all of us)!

 

[fam4jc]

Thanks to Everyone

Robinb - Yes, NYE, but our anniversary is Dec 30th! What was I thinking when I set that date!! Actually it was truly a beautiful wedding... We debated going earlier in December, during the value season, but voted for the two REAL expensive days, then value season kicks in again on the 1st of jan.

Henduck - great ideas! My mom talks about the "no spend" week each month. She and my dad used to do that when we were all small and my dad was getting his advanced degrees. She said it used to save her 40 or 50 dollars a month!

Crisi - stashing it away is the ONLY way I can save it! Out of site, out of mind.

I agree that I can't make our lives misserable over the next 18 months so we can stay delux the whole trip. That wouldn't be good stewardship or good parenting! I want to be realistic and use this savings plan (once I have it completely formulated) to teach my girls about money / goals / prioritizing, etc.

The no debt this is finally within reach and if feels sooooo good


Denise - Way to go! six months away. That's great! It's worth every sacrifice to get out from under that burden! And what a lesson we teach our children when they see the reality of the struggle to get debt free.

To everyone - you all are full of wonderful ideas. I'll keep you all posted on my progress. I've got to go empty the change out of the bottom of my purse and check pockets to do laundry and dump it all into the WDW change bank!

Shellie

 

[Lindamary123]

We're saving for May 05 too.

I booked the Polynesian at rack rate for 9 nights. This is a special trip for us too, we are celebrating my son and daughter's high school and college graduation and my husband's birthday.

I had to pay the extra adult charge per night too so... at rack rate I'm paying $422 per night. Ouch! I think we will get AP's (since we are going for 10 days) so hopefully we will get a discount on the room. I have $750 paid in already and I am going to try to pay $200 a month for the room. I have $400 a month taken out of my check per month, so that will pay for food and fun after I pay for tickets.

I'm not sure whether we are driving or flying yet so I have to plan on about $1000 if we fly.

I have a long way to go...........

 

[madelyn]

Another option if you don't have to stay in those Deluxe properties is to stay at the Dolphin/Swan and/or rent points through a DVC member to stay at a DVC property (although a DVC ressie could be tough to get during Christmas). The Dolphin/Swan can have some very good discounted rates through teacher/govt/nurse discounts and AAA and Entertainment member, although I don't know if your time is a black out period. I returned from a split stay at Old Key West and the Dolphin last week. The Dolphin had a 50% off AAA rate of $147.50. I enjoyed our stay at these properties just as much as our stays at the GF and BC, although there are some differences. And being able to eat-in at the DVC properties can save in your food budget.

 

[fam4jc]

Madelyn - We loved the Dolphin! we got the same rate b/c my dh is a cop.

Well, we've made the deposit today on our trip. I changed the dates to all value and booked it as a package for now. The cm, Betsy was OUTSTANDING! I told her what we wanted, she was a long time Disney CM and she just figured out the best way to hold the rooms for now... waiting on those codes! She knew all the "lingo" and even told me that they just recieved a memo about additional AAA codes, but not for next year. She said that any codes that come out will be out before the 45 day window on packages so my best bet was to book the package and WAIT, and wait, and wait, and pay, and pay, and pay! She also said that odds were that there would be discounts available. Yippeee! She was wonderful! Even with suggestions about different things to do in the parks and at the resorts. Incredible!

Okay, so today I put another 18$ in my Dis Bank. The 21st was my bday so I got a little cash from mil and my dh's granny (a great lady) and I put some of it into the wdw fund. I'm up to $59! only $4000 more to go.

Anyone know how to put the counter on my signature?
Thanks