Sealed the first envelope! (Anyone left credit cards at home on purpose?)

[tosha27]

In the past we have spent way too much money when we have gone to Disney. The reason this happens is because we forget to budget small details...a snack here, a stop at the arcade there adds up to a lot. We would plan to spend $$$$ and really end up spending $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

So this time instead of putting everything on credit cards, I am collecting cash in envelopes so I will have all of our bases covered. It is too easy to just keep charging and charging. I am actually considering leaving the credit cards at home. It is just too easy to pull them out. I am a sucker, if my kid's face is lighting up I will pay with plastic. lol

Anyway, I just sealed my first envelope!! Gas $ for the trip.

Has anyone actually taken a wad of cash or would it be better to get traveler's checks after I fill my envelopes?
We have always used credit in the past, unfortunately.

 

[artemis4]

Yay for you!

We don't use credit, so everything is the wad of cash or real dollars in the bank coming out with the debit card. We leave some in the checking account since we can ATM or debit card it and DH can bleed cash on occasion. We have no problem having cash on hand. We keep it in different sections of the wallets so no one sees what we have when we pay for something. Having cash isn't dangerous as long as you don't flash it and you keep track of your things.

We still have wonderful vacations. We know our limits, the kids understand, and we have a blast. Trips are about time spent together for our kids, not tons of souvenirs. I don't judge people who do it differently, but we wouldn't change our way. I'm socking away our gas and food money right now, hotel and tickets are already paid for.

Have a great trip!

 

[peachiepie]

That sounds like a really good idea!

 

[MermaidLife]

Awesome, more people like us!

We don't have cc's ... I have one my Aunt gave me off one of her cc accounts but it's only for emergencies and I have to ask her before I use it. People had a hard time believing we have saved for an entire year to pay for our Disneymoon - And paid in Cash! But IMO it's going to be totally worth it to not have to worry about paying down a cc afterwards.

We plan on having cash for gas and parking and tips; only carrying on us what we need each day. Everything else we will pay out of our Visa check card. We called the bank and told them we were traveling and the dates. We are still debating if we want to use cash for meals so we don't have to carry our check card at all.

 

[tosha27]

Thanks guys!

Mermaid, I was thinking about the debit situation too. We may just deposit half the cash back into the bank and use the debit some. We will be using it for our hotels. We are doing a split stay Disney/Nickelodeon.
I can see myself losing the cash. LOL
(I am the first one who will lose the debit card too so...) LOL

 

[Missy29]

We pay with cash only, we do bring a cc just in case. I have an envelope for everyday with how ever much I budget per day and if we don't spend it all it goes in the next days envelope. I know I will get cc happy on vacation so it's best to leave them at home.

 

[budcollector]

i take both a cc and some cash. the cc is an emergency fund if something should happen [airline loses suitcase,medical], the cash is for eats, sodas and whatever else.

 

[MermaidLife]

(I am the first one who will lose the debit card too so...) LOL

Hubby and I have talked about only one of us carrying our debit card that way if it gets lost we can be sure the other one is safe-and-sound.

Another thing we did -and I'm still not sure how I'm feeling about this- is at our bank on MY account our Savings & Checking are not tied together so if someone gets my card/number they can only get into our Checking BUT I can only make 6 transfers a month. Hubby's card has the accounts tied together with unlimited transfers. His idea is to put all our money (except what we need each day) into Savings and making transfers between accounts (via his card) "as needed." That way if someone takes my card they can't get most our money.

IDK if he's making it more complicated ... I know I am very worried about all the stories of card numbers being stolen.

 

[KNovacovschi]

We use a prepaid mastercard and take some cash. The cash basically for tips and smaller priced items, like snacks. With a prepaid mastercard you can only spend what is on it, so if you only have $100 then you can't go over that amount. I feel it's a bit safer that way and you can put whatever amount on it you like.

 

[Annadesu]

I have a "Disney" jar going on at my house, where all the cash is being collected. The card will be brought, but I don't intend to use it unless I get into trouble. I'm always afraid I'll lose my wallet in the parks, even though I've never done that.

 

[Figment43]

We use a prepaid mastercard and take some cash. The cash basically for tips and smaller priced items, like snacks. With a prepaid mastercard you can only spend what is on it, so if you only have $100 then you can't go over that amount. I feel it's a bit safer that way and you can put whatever amount on it you like.

I was going to suggest this. You still get the spending limit without having to carry a huge wad of cash and increasing your risk of getting robbed.

 

[tosha27]

Great ideas!! Love the prepaid mastercard.

Whoever said they were thinking of unlinking their savings from checking, we did the same thing when we had our savings and checking at the same bank. I did not want someone to be able to access my savings through the ATM.

I am probably going to bring my cards incase of emergency but they will stay in the safe otherwise I will give in to some cute little thing my daughter wants. lol

 

[JessiMommy]

In the past we have spent way too much money when we have gone to Disney. The reason this happens is because we forget to budget small details...a snack here, a stop at the arcade there adds up to a lot. We would plan to spend $$$$ and really end up spending $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

So this time instead of putting everything on credit cards, I am collecting cash in envelopes so I will have all of our bases covered. It is too easy to just keep charging and charging. I am actually considering leaving the credit cards at home. It is just too easy to pull them out. I am a sucker, if my kid's face is lighting up I will pay with plastic. lol

Anyway, I just sealed my first envelope!! Gas $ for the trip.

Has anyone actually taken a wad of cash or would it be better to get traveler's checks after I fill my envelopes?
We have always used credit in the past, unfortunately.

Omg! I love this idea! We are also saving cash between now & our November trip. I love the idea of working on one envelope at a time and sealing them up when they are full. Yea, another way for me to count down time until we are closer! Thanks!

 

[MichelleRenee76]

Yay for you!


We still have wonderful vacations. We know our limits, the kids understand, and we have a blast. Trips are about time spent together for our kids, not tons of souvenirs. I don't judge people who do it differently, but we wouldn't change our way. I'm socking away our gas and food money right now, hotel and tickets are already paid for.

Have a great trip!

You sound much like me.. when we do something our kids dont get to have trinkets. When we went to see a show live on stage - our kids dont get the blinkey lights, balloons, etc.

Having said this - are their any must haves I should know about. We are staying off site at Bonnet Creek, are planning 4 character meals (huge splurge - two of these courtesy of the in laws), and have a grocery list in place. I have disney gift card with 500.00 on it and I am trying to figure out if that is ok or too much or not enough.

 

[Groomer Gal]

I'm doing envelopes too. I have Mousekeeping done. TS tips (guesstimating) done. Bell Services (another guesstimate) done. BBB $ done. And right now, I'm working on MVMCP $.

Our flights are booked and paid for. Our photo pass...preordered and paid for.

We started a totally sep bank account just for Disney and it does NOT get mixed in with our regular banking/savings. We are on a budget of what the trip itself is costing us and we put so much away a month until it's paid. (including spending $)

We want to go and have a BLAST! And not cry about the HUGE CC bill that would come if we didn't pay all cash for everything.

We will bring a CC for emergencies ONLY..... When my DH and I were younger we got ourselves I to soooooo much debt on CC's. (us and about 70% of this country) it took us forever to get out of it.....not a mistake we plan in repeating.
Lesson learned.

 

[JVP1]

Wow, I am very impressed with all these budgeting ideas!

 

[wish_upon_a_star35]

I paid for our trip with cash. I put down a large deposit and then made a few payments to finish off the remainder.

I bought Disney GC's at my local grocery store to get the gas points and I will buy a prepaid visa. I will make sure that I have about $150 in cash. Mainly in ones and fives for tips and for minor purchases.

I have the gift cards in envelopes with the days marked on the outside. I have budgeted a certain amount to spend for each day. I decided on how much we would need after I made our ADR's and finished my itinerary!

 

[butterfly71076]

I have a "Disney" jar going on at my house, where all the cash is being collected. The card will be brought, but I don't intend to use it unless I get into trouble. I'm always afraid I'll lose my wallet in the parks, even though I've never done that.

I have a Disney jar too! We put all our change and varies bills in. The day before we leave, I will cash in all the change. Whatever is in the jar, that is our souvenir money, not that we buy much. DS has his own Disney jar and whatever he has, we let him spend on whatever he wants, trying to guide him in to not buying junk!

 

[cah5525]

We use separate envelopes for each expense for an upcoming trip. It is such a good idea because you forget about all those added expenses. AND...it feels so good when one envelope is filled and sealed...what an accomplishment, and to know you are that much closer! No CCs in our lives, either! Gift cards for the kids,cash in the wallet for gas and the debit card for "just in case"

 

[luvthemouse71]

I take a combo of Disney gift cards, cash and my debit card. I leave the credit card at home. Just too much temptation, lol.