saving for the extras

[ohMom]

since we are not cruising for another 470+ days (!) that's roughly 15 months; so i'm thinking to myself about breaking down the costs of some the extras and making savings envelopes for them so I'm ready to indulge in some of the treats so far I'm thinking of one for shutters ($10/month) and one for froo-froo drinks. My plan is to deposit this directly to my onboard account as a credit when we embark. what would you save for and how much?? -- all for fun of course!

Shutters was definately an expensive we weren't prepared for on our first cruise only bought two pics -- they were all so good it was sooooo hard!!!

 

[kcashner]

If your plan helps you to save $, go for it. Personally, I save by using my Disney Visa. I pay it off each month so there's no interest. I use it for everything I can (stuff that I used to pay cash for) so it is accumulating those wonderful reward dollars.

Also, think of ways to save $ on the ship and still have a great cruise. You own camera is LOTS cheaper than Shutters, and the CMs will take pics with your camera in most settings. I love the unlimited Rainforest, but I'm not much for the rest of the spa--I can get the same services cheaper at home and not use my cruise time. I take along a 12 pack of DD's favorite soda--they don't have it on the ship, and she's not tempted to buy something she likes less....etc....lots of little ways that don't impact the joy of the trip.

 

[goofygal1975]

I am doing the same thing. I have an envelope labled Disney Cruise 2005!! I've got disney dollars and reg money in there. This is all going for tips, port parking, and then fun stuff!! I may end up putting this into two...tips and port parking(which i have enough put away for) and one for my fun spending. I just stick some cash in there when i have any extra...and then i also take a little out on paydays to put in there!!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

we take extra money each week and put it the saving for the cruise. we are now working on saving for our 05 cruise. we try to put $25 or more each week in savings.

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

What has worked for me is setting up a seperate savings account for vacations. I love online banking and can easily make transactions between accounts. When we get paid I pay our Disney account right along with the bills. I budget for everything anyhow and make it part of our "bills". I always do this on payday. If I leave the money in the checking account too long I will want to use it. I have tried the envelope system of saving MANY times but I end up taking money out for non vacation stuff. When I get cash in hand I head for the bank and deposit it. I am lucky- my bank is very close to my house, is in a grocery store and has great hours. They know me well over there. I am the one making $5.00 deposits 5 times a week. Hey, it works for us! Also, because I have been saving this way I have been able to "upgrade my vacation". Instead of staying outside WDW we are able to stay at the AKL (got a GREAT postcard rate), got Cirque tickets, booked the REAS package, hubby is going parasailing & I am going jet skiing! I am a stay at home mom and have made it my job to save. It has worked out great for my family! Good luck. Any questions- just PM me anytime-I love saving money!)

 

[ohMom]

my wheels are spinning we also have a vacation fund and direct deposit $50 a month into it. I'm thinking of those extras above and beyond the normal vacation budget, but as I realized on our 4 day, can really add up in that wonderful cashless environment! I'm planning on putting back incriments less than $10, like what is just in my wallet here and lunch; change from a lunch out, etc, smaller amounts that I won't even miss but can really add up in 15 months. I think i'm going to get a little accordion coupon organizer type thing and label with a goal for the month and for what like

shutters - $4

froofroo drinks - $5

pins - $2

my girls each want a froofroo (virgin) drink slot too! they loved the smoothies and non-alcoholic drinks, something about the atmosphere

and so forth. THEN -- i'll buy disney dollars on my disney VISA (kcashner we have the same strategy) and get my reward dollars and keep the actual disney dollars in my accordion coupon file. something i'll see on my dresser everyday. I also have a cool disney characters in a taxi bank that is my 'disney bank' all my change goes in there and is counted and cashed in just prior to our trip.

 

[dizney-cruiser]

this might be silly to some, but what i do, and what works for me, is i never give any change when i pay for things, something could come to $2.01 and i will pay with $3. at the end of each day i throw all change into a jar. every few months i take the change to commerce bank and cash it in (they dont charge to count your change as some of the machines in supermarkets do). all change is simply called "disney money" in my world! believe it or not, this money is never missed and really adds up!!

 

[natdencro]

What the devil is a froofroo drink? Usually, Froofroo is a name you give a poodle dog!haha. (Not too many of those on a Disney cruise). I LOVE the different names you transatlantic pals give things! Nat

 

[gdulaney]

A froo froo drink, or as I call them a "frothy" drink, are usually those tasty, overpriced concoctions that are a "must have" on vacation.

My personal favorites are the Konk Kooler (that tropical rum drink on Castaway Cay that can give even the most novice swimmer the guts to brave the snorkle route) and the Bon Voyage (which is part Pina Colada and part Straw. Daq. swirled). YUM!


Our savings plan for the cruise? First and foremost...EVERYTHING that can go on the Disney Visa...does!! Then I pay it off every month. Those Disney dollars add up and can be deposited right into your onboard account.

Second...I devote about 30minutes a day to the "rewards" boards... freebie sites, CreationsRewards, etc. I've got $50 in Disney dollars from CreationsRewards alone!! I use the other rewards sites for Darden gift cards (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze), so that we can eat in Orlando for free (or almost free). I also try to use some of the rewards sites for gasoline gift cards, since we drive down.

Hope this helps!!
Ginny

PS--- come on over and check out the Rewards board!! It's fun and everybody is very nice!!

 

[mmouse37]

Poodles would be more like Fi Fi than Froo Froo!!!! LOL

Any fancy drink (most likely with a garnish of fruit or an umbrella) could be called Froo Froo drink!!!

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

dizney cruiser....do you need to have an account at Commerce or can anyone walk in with their change...my teens are constantly going to the Coin Star machine at our grocery store and it drives me nuts that they are losing money on the deal (of course they don't see it).

Hubby and I roll coins and bring them to our bank but we always get the rolled eye look when we come in, plus if you bring in over a certain amount the bank charges you to deposit the rolled coin!!!

MJ

 

[webray]

We are doing a version of this...lol.

At the end of the week..we empty all the cash from our wallets into an envelope. Saving it for shipboard money, port taxi money, trinket money, etc. We have all size bills, I keep them bundled so they are easy to count.

We also empty all the change into our piggy bank..and will turn that in for cash before we go.

I like to estimate how much we will need on the ship and then put that..plus a bit extra on account. Makes it so easy to have everything taken care of before hand.

 

[kcatoir]

My friends all call me a "tight wad".....but I am the one taking my family on DCL cruises!!!! So HA on them

I work partime and have my bank take $100 from my direct deposit every payday and put it in my "vacation" account. I never even see that money so don't miss it.

I also have a mason jar in my laundry room cubboard (hidden behind the cleaning products......DH never goes there ) all the loose change I find around the house or in the laundry goes there. We will count it all up Sept 05 for fun money.

I also use frequent flyer visa to buy EVERYTHING....I have accumilated enouph miles for 4 plane tickets (thats our whole family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I love to save money, Why pay full price when you can get the same thing 1/2 off????? We can enjoy our vacation soo much better when we don't have to stress over how much money its costing.

KC

 

[Tera]

Those are some great ideas! Besides the putting money in a savings acct every payday and saving change, we've asked our families to give us Disney Dollars as Xmas and Birthday gifts for us and the girls (my DH & I are in January and DD is in February). We usually get cash or a gift certificate anyway, so this way, it goes into our envelope and we have extra $$ for our trip

 

[RKB]

I did envelopes - here were some of my categories:
Cruise, hotel, plane, Dolphin excursion, Stingray Excursion, taxi fares, spending money, tips plus loose dollars for room service, quarters for laundry, Dress clothes, Travel Ins, Dolphin video, Stingray DVD, Souveniers, other excursions (Trolley in Key West, etc...).

 

[ohMom]

thanks for all the great tips! and category suggestions!! i'm definately going to hit the rewards board -- i do mypoints but that is all.

 

[puffkin]

What the devil is a froofroo drink? Usually, Froofroo is a name you give a poodle dog!haha. (Not too many of those on a Disney cruise). I LOVE the different names you transatlantic pals give things!

My DH calls a froofroo drink anything alcoholic that is fruity and frozen. Usually comes with the fruit garnish and umbrella. A rum and coke would be a "drink" while a pina colada would be a "froofroo drink".

As for the envelope saving tip, I have one suggestion. I wouldn't put cash in the envelopes. I would cash the cash in for Disney Dollars frequently. It is so easy to raid the envelopes when there is cash in there during those times when you just need a little extra money (I know, I have been there!). At least with Disney Dollars, you can't really spend them any where else except the Disney Store.

 

[ohMom]

puffkin -- i totally agree about disney dollars -- i plan to buy them on my disney visa and earn rewards and then not have the cash on hand. i have no disney store nearby though!! closest one is over an hour away. can i buy disney dollars on disneystore.com?

 

[gdulaney]

Molli -
Don't quote me on this, 'cause I've not tried it myself...but after driving 45 minutes to our nearest Disney store, the Store Mgr said that you could take the Bank One Disney Dreams Reward card (or whatever special name the rewards card carries) and have the folks @ customer service (on the ship) transfer the balance to your shipboard account. I may try it...but just in case, I went ahead and got the majority of my balance in Disney dollars.

Ginny

 

[mum of two pirates]

O.K. so my wheels are turning, If i buy Disney Dollars with the Disney visa, can i pay my travel agent with them sense they are paying disney? just thought i'd ask, I'll have to check out the rewards board also first time i've heard of it.

Mum of two