Small ways we're SAVING for our Disney trip...

[adoptivemomx2]

We are trying to do whatever we can to save for our Disney trip. We are putting chunks of money away every month, but here are some SMALL things we are doing...and they add up!

1. Saving change. All change gets put in a big jar. We will take it to the bank the week before our trip. This will pay for extras and incidentals.

2. Rebate checks. All rebate checks go to our Disney Savings Account (DSA) instead of regular checking where it would get lost and absorbed into everyday spending.

3. Couponing. I used to do extreme couponing and was like the ladies you see on the talk shows who get $60 worth of groceries for $1.50. I slowed way down when I started my etsy shop, but I'm going to start up again. All savings will go into our DSA.

4. Selling things online. We're in the process if selling things we don't want/need on a local online garage sale page. All proceeds will go into the DSA.

5. Slowing WAY down on eating out. We still eat out on occasion, but we have cut way down. I would much rather be eating at Disney! All money saved goes straight to the DSA.

6. Allowing our children to earn extra money. This isn't exactly saving money, but it will save us in the long run. We are allowing our children to earn up to $1.00 per day for behaving well, showing respect, and doing their chores. It is for a limited time, so there is a now-or-never kind of urgency to it. They could earn up to about $200 which is to be saved exclusively for the Disney trip. This means they will have about $20 per day to spend on souvenirs, snacks, or whatever else they want. Or they can save it for something after the trip. We're hoping this cuts wayyyyy down on the "gimmies."

7. Switching phone service. We switched from Verizon to Straight Talk (which runs on the Verizon network) and save about $100 a month. You guessed it: that money goes straight to our DSA.

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. What kinds of things are you doing to save for Disney?

 

[rileyreese]

Along the same lines of saving change I am putting all money I have under a $5 bill in there do if I had $43.65 at the end of the day I would put $3.65 in there penny bank! IF there is any money left from the food budget at the end of the week it goes there too!

 

[Heluvsme]

Those are great ideas!

We *try* to not end up with a tax refund each year (or have to pay for that matter)... we aren't fond of giving the government an interest free loan.... but when we do get a refund, regardless of the amount, it goes into our Disney fund.

I budget a certain amount for gas each week for my dh and myself... when I don't reach that limit, for example when I'm good about combining trips, etc, then the "excess" goes towards Disney.

If our trip is planned around my or my dh's birthday, we tell each other the trip is plenty and to NOT buy presents. Our kids are different, but we're adults and pass that phase really anyways, I'd rather spend the money towards a family vacation at Disney!

We skip a lot of entertainment charges... movies are out---too expensive and we wait for the DVD--- concerts are out, etc. We keep our eye on the prize and save all we can towards Disney, but while we're in Disney, we fully enjoy it and try to not be as frugal, not that we go crazy, but we enjoy nice meals out, we take in extras at DTD, etc. It's worth it to pinch throughout the year and then splurge at Disney!!

 

[dhardawa]

1. I have a set amount I want in my checking account when payday comes. If I go under that, nothing goes to savings. If I'm above that, I put the difference in savings.

2. Both my kids get child support. I put that money in their accounts and don't touch it unless it is something for them. Because of this, they end up with a big chunk of money that usually ends up going to things they don't really need like overpriced electronics, big birthday gifts, etc. I decided to take a percentage of that money each week/month and move it to the vacation fund. They are, after all, going on the vacation. It doesn't hurt to use a little of their child support to pay for part of it.

3. I also put any unexpected money into the savings so things like rebate checks, Ebates checks, etc. Also, say I buy a $20 sweater and end up returning it. I'll put that $20 in savings because I have already deducted it from my budget when I bought it.

4. Selling outgrown clothes. Max especially has a ton of outgrown clothes that I can sell. That money goes to savings.

5. Getting rid of things I don't need on Craigslist.

 

[dhardawa]

I think I may try a change jar too. I had one, but couldn't keep my daughter out of it. If I tell her it is a Disney savings jar, that might make a difference! If not, I'll keep it at work and deposit all the change every month.

 

[Marionnette]

Check out the "1 Year to Save" thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2812308

Lots of out-of-the-box ideas, plus some that have already been mentioned here. It's interesting to see how everyone comes up with ways to fund their trips.

 

[goofyredraider]

1. Change jar - We do this for every bit of change we come in contact with - none of it gets spent - the kids know it is Disney savings. We easily save a few hundred this way.

2. $1 method. All $1 bills get saved. This adds up quickly.

3. save ebates/rebates

4. Save DH's cash spiffs he gets on Saturdays.

5. Sell items on craigslist, outgrown clothes to OUAC, and possibly have a yard sale.

6. I know not everyone can do this, but we save DH's national guard weekend drill pay monthly. We started doing this after our trip last year, and it has paid a large chunk of our trip this year. I should have started doing this YEARS ago.

7. Use bonus GCs earned at Target towards the purchase of Disney GCs.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

5. Slowing WAY down on eating out. We still eat out on occasion, but we have cut way down. I would much rather be eating at Disney! All money saved goes straight to the DSA.

We've taken that a step further by limiting how much we spend on those rare occasions we do eat out. We split entrees at nicer places and at fast food places order strictly off the value menu. There, we split 1 drink & 1 order of fries for the whole family (or no drink at all if we get it to go). If we get a pizza, we skip the local joint we love with its $19 pizza and either go for the $10 anyway you want it at Pizza Hut or the $5 Little Ceasar's. We do occasionally treat ourselves to not only a meal out, but also to "whatever we want". But, when you know you can feed the whole family for $5, that one occasion where you spend $50 is a real eye-opener