Saving your way to Disney........

[beansmom]

We save change but it doesn't add up to much since we check card everything. I have a small 'snack' selling business at work and it's made over $300 since February.

We also have a couple of 'free' checks a year, getting paid bi-weekly. I also have a savings account through my company and if necessary, I will withdraw some of that to make this trip. The few hundred dollars I take out won't do anything as far as retirement goes but will buy priceless memories with my daughter and hubby.

My dad always wanted to go to Epcot but died the fall before his first scheduled trip. I made up my mind years ago that I wouldn't wish my life away then wake up too late.

I do tuck away $1 bills, too. I buy DD with the 'snack' money.

We eat out less often...I actually put myself on a scrapbooking budget (gasp!) and we are doing a very small Christmas because the Disney trip will be our gift to ourselves. DD is down with that. I haven't ebayed in a while.

I'm going to try my hand at doing some arts/crafts type things this fall (decorated wreaths, etc) and see how that goes. I am also making a scrapbook for a friend's daughter's wedding for pay! Wow! THat's exciting.

If I can't for some reason go this year, then I;ll have a jump start on next year.

 

[crisi]

We do the found money thing as well. Expense checks. Bonus checks. Rebate checks (although I don't bother with little ones). The checks from my dependant care spending account ($5k a year). Dividends from stocks.

We also have money taken out of our checking account every month and transferred to a savings account.

This isn't all for Disney, BTW. We use it for all sorts of stuff. Cars (so there is never a car loan), Christmas. Other vacations. Months where we overspend. Basically, anything too big to fit in our regular budget.

 

[PatriciaH]

First I make sure our IRA's, emergency fund and retirement fund are all taken care of. We are on our own as far as retirement-our jobs cover nothing. When I can breathe easy about that I start the "fun" savings We have no children, no debt and no mortgage so travel is a big priority for DH and I. I am a travel agent so I get good deals. Nothing beat that $20.03 rate at the Marriott Downtown Disney though! So that is where we are staying our first 6 nights this August. Some things I do to bulk up savings are:

-Save change (it really adds up)
-E-bay
-Half.com
-We opened a pet-sitting business part time (I strongley suggest insurance and membership with Pet Sitters International for anyone thinking of this.) We love it and people love the fact that they feel safe leaving their pets with us!
-Consulting for friends (typing, tabulating surveys, marketing, etc..) Do you have any friend that will outsource work to you? It can be cheaper for their companies in the long run.