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[PJLUVSDISNEY]

I've been following this thread for awhile and I think it is sad how many people judge other people on what they choose to do with their money. It does not affect me what they do with their money, and I am certainly not going to laugh at them.

I, of course, being one of those silly people that would be thrilled with a 40% discount on the Poly next year (I will settle for a AAA discount). We love the Poly and plan on staying there next year. Is it more expensive? Of course. But, I am cheap everywhere else and always have the vacation paid off before we go. The hotel we stay at is important to us and I would certainly hope that no one would be laughing at us for our decisions. But, when I am relaxing at the pool or beach with my husband and watching my kids play, it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. We are happy.

Well said............Bravo

 

[MrsNick]

How a real person spends the money they have earn is none of your business. If you don't pay the morgage for them or pay the bills, then let them spend the money the way they want to.

Pretty much.

I only got through six pages of this thread, so I don't know if anyone else has said it. DH and I are not "real" people. We're "artificial" people. Sound ridiculous? It should. Just the way the title of the thread sounds. (And that's also why I won't be sharing anything about how I manage my finances or my personal vacations on it).

 

[disneysteve]

A few of you have commented that how others spend their money is not your concern. If folks want to rack up credit card debt to go to Disney, let them do it. I'm reposting something I posted to the CHARGE! thread earlier today because I think it applies here, too.

"As for why some of us care how others spend their money...

This is something EVERYONE should care about. If you think it doesn't affect you, you are wrong. Just look at the current economic mess brought on largely by the subprime mortgages. I'm sure plenty of people have thought if others want to buy houses they can't afford, that's their problem. Well, guess what. It's your problem too. All of those people who chose to live beyond their means have had a major negative impact on the overall economy, affecting investment performance, property values, retail prices, etc. The same goes for credit card usage. As default rates rise, so do interest rates, fees and approval criteria. It gets harder and more costly for those with good credit and responsible spending habits to do business. So the actions of others affect all of us."

 

[nowellsl]

the place we stay is actually closer to the parks than some of the Disney hotels. I timed it a couple of years ago and it took 4 minutes to drive from Animal Kingdom to our condo and about 7 minutes from MGM.

Would you mind sharing the name of this place - and were to find good deals?!!! We usually stay value - because I just like saving money. A trip to Disney for us is cheaper than going to the beach or just about anywhere else I can think of. Of course it helps to live in FL and have seasonal passes. Shoot, that's why they have the different cost levels, different strokes for different folks! I'm amazed that someone would pay >$60k for a mercedes when you can pay 1/2 that for a prious (my dream car)!

 

[disneysteve]

Would you mind sharing the name of this place - and were to find good deals?!!!

I'm amazed that someone would pay >$60k for a mercedes when you can pay 1/2 that for a prious (my dream car)!

The place I was referring to was Orbit One Vacation Villas. We've stayed there 3 of the past 4 years through SkyAuction.

I agree with you about the 60K car, though I wouldn't spend half that either.

 

[nowellsl]

The place I was referring to was Orbit One Vacation Villas. We've stayed there 3 of the past 4 years through SkyAuction.

I agree with you about the 60K car, though I wouldn't spend half that either.

Thanks for the name. I wouldn't pay $30K either, but I would love to be able to afford a nice used one

 

[disneyjunkie]

A few of you have commented that how others spend their money is not your concern. If folks want to rack up credit card debt to go to Disney, let them do it. I'm reposting something I posted to the CHARGE! thread earlier today because I think it applies here, too.

"As for why some of us care how others spend their money...

This is something EVERYONE should care about. If you think it doesn't affect you, you are wrong. Just look at the current economic mess brought on largely by the subprime mortgages. I'm sure plenty of people have thought if others want to buy houses they can't afford, that's their problem. Well, guess what. It's your problem too. All of those people who chose to live beyond their means have had a major negative impact on the overall economy, affecting investment performance, property values, retail prices, etc. The same goes for credit card usage. As default rates rise, so do interest rates, fees and approval criteria. It gets harder and more costly for those with good credit and responsible spending habits to do business. So the actions of others affect all of us."

The same can be said for the various swaps that some of us object to. The actions of a few can affect all of us. Yet, we're not allowed to object/complain about them.

If we have to keep our opinions about the swaps to ourselves, shouldn't we keep our opinions about how others spend/budget/ in their day to day lives to ourselves as well?

Why is ok to comment on one group but not the other?

 

[disneysteve]

The same can be said for the various swaps that some of us object to. The actions of a few can affect all of us. Yet, we're not allowed to object/complain about them.

I don't know what the swaps are that you're referring to. Enlighten me.

 

[Mgoblue44]

I think the key is to plan at least 9-10 months ahead of time, pay for it piece by piece, (ie- airfare, then hotel& tix, then dining, etc) and make sure it's paid off before u go. I alot $3,500 per trip which is about 3% of our yearly salary, I don't think that is all bad.

 

[disneysteve]

I think the key is to plan at least 9-10 months ahead of time, pay for it piece by piece, (ie- airfare, then hotel& tix, then dining, etc) and make sure it's paid off before u go. I alot $3,500 per trip which is about 3% of our yearly salary, I don't think that is all bad.

But you earn $116,000/year. That doesn't make you (or me) the average American. Median income is less than $50,000. A $3,500 trip would be 7% of income on a 50K income which isn't as easy to accomplish. Of course, $3,500 is also a rather pricey trip (unless you have a big family). We spend about $2,000 for the 3 of us.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

But you earn $116,000/year. That doesn't make you (or me) the average American. Median income is less than $50,000. A $3,500 trip would be 7% of income on a 50K income which isn't as easy to accomplish. Of course, $3,500 is also a rather pricey trip (unless you have a big family). We spend about $2,000 for the 3 of us.

Let's not confuse median with average. They are not the same thing. Only one of our trips have I spent over $3500, and that was our first. After that it got to be a game for me how inexpensive I could make the trip.

I am the queen of cheap thrills!

 

[DisnyMama]

I wish that I had found the DisBoard and two other sites in particular before DS who was 10 at the time took our very first WDW trip. I went through a travel agent I found in the yellow pages and...BIG MISTAKE! Other than the fact that he new nothing about WDW I have since learned that I could have saved some $$$ planning it differently.

One thing I get from family and friends is the typical attitude and remarks such as "must be nice!" I tell them that our trips don't cost any more than their vacations to Las Vegas or Colorado by the time they get done paying for them.

 

[stemikger]

I think it all comes down to balance. I am a very good saver. I pay extra towards my mortgage, I max out my 401K and I save for an emergency. However, IMHO a 10 day vacation every year is a must. Priceless memories are made and to me it is worth the $4,000 I spend every year to go to Disney. There are three of us and we love the value resort Pop Century. The trip usually costs us about $2,800 with air fare included and then the rest is for spending.

Life is short and there is a balance you need to establish so at the end of the journey you don't die with a boat load of money and no sweet memories. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone, so enjoy each day as if it was your last becasue one day it will be.

 

[Belladonna]

I am a hairdresser.

I just decided on wednesday that I want to go back to Disney this September, so I've decided to put all of my tip money to that. So far I have $300 in my stash. I just push myself to work harder at work when I have a set goal . Sadly, it has snowed here in NJ today, and I highly doubt anyone will be coming into the salon today :*(

I agree with Mgoblue44. It seems easier on me if I pay for one thing at a time.. Which is what I did last year, but this year I'm thinking about booking everything with a travel agent or AAA. So I guess that means I"ll need to cough up all of the money at once. lol!

 

[hhartill]

I am a hairdresser.

I just decided on wednesday that I want to go back to Disney this September, so I've decided to put all of my tip money to that. So far I have $300 in my stash. I just push myself to work harder at work when I have a set goal . Sadly, it has snowed here in NJ today, and I highly doubt anyone will be coming into the salon today :*(

I agree with Mgoblue44. It seems easier on me if I pay for one thing at a time.. Which is what I did last year, but this year I'm thinking about booking everything with a travel agent or AAA. So I guess that means I"ll need to cough up all of the money at once. lol![/QUOTE]

I don't know about AAA but when I booked for the last 2 years with Liberty travel I was able to book the vacation to save my room spots with a small depostit, $100, when you book air you have to pay for all of it, then I was able to pay for the balance 30 days before the trip. This allowed me to keep some $$ in an ing account earning some interest (ie spending cash).

I just booked yesterday with the Disney 800# we put a small deposit down and we can shop for air and pay the balance by Oct 22.

I am a server so a portion of my "pick up" shifts goes to my Disney funds. Great job with $300 so far!