so sad and scared

[kittymasi]

Hey all. I lurk here alot, and pretty much check in once a day, because I miss my home so much. We honeymooned at the World, and daydream constantly about going back. I had a baby girl last year, and we have been talking ever since about her first trip. We want to take her when she's five for Christmas, you know, a real dream trip. Hubby and I are really quite destitute, he works constantly and I make ends meet when I can with part time work, but... I have already started saving. WDW is expensive, and I know we won't be going in the next few years, so it gives me something to look forward to. Anyway, I have alot of debt, from student loans and credit cards and the truck... its caught up with me. I can't ignore it anymore, and all the money I have been saving for the trip is going to have to go towards getting out of this horrible hole we are in. It's the right thing to do, and I am getting a second part time job and for the next couple years, every penny is going to restore my credit. I mean, we want to buy a house someday, right? But I fear that this is the end of my dream trip. I know, it sounds petty, but if I wanted that trip, I needed to start saving NOW, and its just not going to happen. I should be concerned about my debt and my future, but all I can think of is my baby's lost trip to WDW. I'm so sad.

 

[Russian-in-Kansas]

Oh, no, I am sorry you're faced with this situation, but honestly you have 4 more years!!!! It is all doable!! There is so much you can do, I think you just need to be in a positive mindset and have a plan of attack. Perhaps not do two part time jobs, but one full time with benefits. Consolidate all loans, sell stuff you don't need, babysit kids on weekends for parents, etc...You can do it!

 

[kyhardy]

Don't despair! It can be done if you are determined. 5yrs ago DH & I found that we were $80,000 in debt from credit cards and loans! We buckled down, made a plan & STUCK TO IT. Even when we didn't feel we could afford it. We looked for every way we could think of to make extra money so we could keep our debt repayment schedule. We are now down to $32,845. Plus we have savings now. With 2 children ages 16 & 9, & all the economic changes we are so glad we took action when we did. We are by no means wealthy, just determined.

 

[Mommy2cody]

I feel your pain!! I truley do!! My husband and I have been trying to go to WDW for close to three years. It seems like everytime we start to plan, the money just runs short. We too are trying to pay off bills and get some money into savings. To give me some kind of hope, I took a large shoebox. Duct taped it totally closed. Then I wrapped it with paper and put disney stickers all over it and cut a slit on top. I put it on my dresser and every time I have change, I stick in there. (Sometimes I will sneak a dollar bill or a five in!!) I know it is going to take a while but it gives me hope. It is only for WDW. Everytime I get sad about not being able to go right now. I just look at my box and know that someday I will make it. And when we go, we will be debt free and have savings and be able to not stress about coming up with the money. -My husband thought I was crazy but he has come around. Every time we put change in we talk about what it will buy at WDW. An ice cream or mickey ears...have faith, you can make it!

 

[of2dbeach]

Ok let me tell you a little tip that we use when we need extra money. get a big jar say a large pickle jar and each time you purchace something toss the change into the jar. Thats going to be your "disney money" when the jar gets full you wrap it take it to the bank and presto.. isney dollars without the effort. We did it a few years ago and in 3 mo we had almost $300 saved up!! I also am going to try notice i said TRY to start walking ( yes im lazy ) but as a reward each time I walk I toss a dollar into the jar. If i miss a day I take one out of the jar.i figure if I wcan walk all around Dw for an entire day why cant I walk here at home ??
Dont dispair you have some time. ID rather be debt free AND go to Dw. think of the burden lifted off your shoulders when you go under the train station and onto mainstreet with your little one holding your hand.. Hold onto your dream It isnt far out of reach !! I know its hard we have 5 kids

 

[SDFgirl]

A LOT can change in five years! When I think back to my financial situation five years ago, as opposed to now...it was like night and day. We are finally in a decent place but it has taken time.

Have you ever thought about going to work full-time?

Also...one way DH and I save for Disney is by using our debit card as much as possible. When we use the debit card, we earn points through our bank, and we can redeem the points for plane tickets, cash, Disney tickets, etc. It takes a while to add up, but every little bit helps!

 

[Miz Diz]

See if your bank has a program like Bank of America's Keep the Change or get a credit card that gives cashback and charge everything.

I have 2 credit cards that give me 1% back. I charge everything on them and pay the bill off every month. One of my cards is the Disney Visa and I use it more than the other one. I have $550 accumulated right now. You could let that accumulate for a few years and it would be a big help.

 

[sueh]

A LOT can change in five years! When I think back to my financial situation five years ago, as opposed to now...it was like night and day. We are finally in a decent place but it has taken time.

Have you ever thought about going to work full-time?

Alot can change!
I am a single mom of 2 girls and 5 years ago I was up to my eyeballs in debt. I wasn't sure how in the world I was going to make it to the next day. I couldn't even afford diapers for my baby. But I too made a plan and it did take some time but I got through it. I paid off most of my debt and I am now in a better place. I do have bad days when I feel overwhelmed but I look back and think about how far I have come. In July I will going on our 1st Family trip to Disney. I can't wait.
After this trip I have another plan that I will start saving for a house of my own.

Good Luck!

 

[timzagain]

Don't despair! Think of the good things that are going on in your life (like a wonderful husband and a beuatiful little girl - some people have neither!) And while you're smiling at that, keep plodding away at your money issues. You might not be able to save hundreds of dollars right now, but set aside some even if it's only $5. I've been trying to drum into my kids' heads - "Never spend every last cent you own - save some!" Little savings can add up too, and hopefully when things improve for you (I'm praying for you that they will!), you'll be able to save even more.

If you haven't already done so, please consider checking out some websites on frugal living (my faves are the Dollar Stretcher at stretcher.com and Frugal Living at about.com). There is a lot of good free information on how to make the most of limited resources. They've both got active discussion boards where you'll find tips as well as support for your efforts.

Hang in there, kittymasi! It will get better.

 

[Happy_Mom]

You'll get there!

 

[StratMan]

It sounds like you're making some wise choices about addressing your debt. I think that's great and I applaud you for it. When you take a responsible approach like that, things have an uncanny way of working out. Even though it might not seem like it, getting your finances in order is the getting you closer to a Disney vacation, not further away.

Stick with it and hang in there. WDW will still be there when the time is right for you and it will be a dream vacation for your girl whether she's 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11....you get the idea.

 

[RMulieri]

Hey all. I lurk here alot, and pretty much check in once a day, because I miss my home so much. We honeymooned at the World, and daydream constantly about going back. I had a baby girl last year, and we have been talking ever since about her first trip. We want to take her when she's five for Christmas, you know, a real dream trip. Hubby and I are really quite destitute, he works constantly and I make ends meet when I can with part time work, but... I have already started saving. WDW is expensive, and I know we won't be going in the next few years, so it gives me something to look forward to. Anyway, I have alot of debt, from student loans and credit cards and the truck... its caught up with me. I can't ignore it anymore, and all the money I have been saving for the trip is going to have to go towards getting out of this horrible hole we are in. It's the right thing to do, and I am getting a second part time job and for the next couple years, every penny is going to restore my credit. I mean, we want to buy a house someday, right? But I fear that this is the end of my dream trip. I know, it sounds petty, but if I wanted that trip, I needed to start saving NOW, and its just not going to happen. I should be concerned about my debt and my future, but all I can think of is my baby's lost trip to WDW. I'm so sad.

Alot can happen in 4 years.I was where you were about 8 years ago.I owed over 30,000 in credit card debt alone, plus both our student loans, and car payments etc.Fast forward 4 years later ...I worked hard, Dh worked hard.Our debt is gone.We did go without for quite awhile and it was extremely hard and discouraging. We were finally able to get a mortgage and then take a Disney trip.this year will be my daughters first time( she is 4) .You never know where the road could lead you.My bil and Sil were always better off then us, and ran into some rough times a few years back.They just had their first trip and their dds are 13 and 6.Just do what you have to do and dream about your trip.Each step out of debt is a step closer to Disney.,

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

get a big jar say a large pickle jar and each time you purchace something toss the change into the jar. Thats going to be your "disney money" when the jar gets full you wrap it take it to the bank and presto

We do this too. But you don't even have to wrap your coins anymore. If you go to Chevy Chase Bank (not sure if they're nationwide) even if you don't have an account there, you can go to their lobby and use their coin counting machine. It gives you a receipt that you take to the teller, in exchange for bills. LOVE it! And it doesn't cost a thing, unlike Coinstar.

 

[tink20]

If you really are serious about going, then here is an idea. Open a "Disney" savings account, have $15 or $20 a week automatically put in the account from your check or your husband's. Money that you'll never miss. Do not touch this money for anything, just forget it's there. In four years you should have about $3,000 or a little more saved. Don't ever stop dreaming!

 

[1DISNEYLVR]

I also had a dream of taking my DD to Disney World. She was two at the time and I was a single mom barely able to keep a roof over our heads. I started saving change in a jar. This was our Disney fund. There were times I had to take that money to keep our heat of electricity going. I felt pretty down about it. It took a long time but finally in 1998 when she was 10 years old we went on our dream trip to Disney. We had the time of our lives She's 19 now & I have since married and had two more children. We own a home and have now taken 7 more trips to Disney. I'm hooked Don't give up hope. You don't know what is around the next corner.

 

[bartleby1]

I didn't read the rest of the responses because I need to go get lunch for my kiddos, but, you have to remember that once you are not paying credit card interest, you will have extra money to save and spend. Interest eats up all of your extra/fun money when you are in debt. Concentrate on getting your debts down so the amount you waste in interest will no longer be holding you back. I don't know all of your financial situation, but by paying down the debt and cutting back wherever else you can, it may be possible to still do your trip. Also, you may be able to take your daugther to disney on a budget trip. Our first two trips with the kids, we stayed offsite at a hotel that we bid on through priceline. This is going back about 6 or 7 years, but we stayed in a three star hotel near disney for $38 a night. Our kids didn't know the difference since they had never stayed onsite and we all had a great time. While it wasn't our "dream trip" of staying onsite, it was still a "dream trip" for the kids.

Good luck!

 

[allison443]

You have gotten very good and kind advice from the posters on this thread. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but if you are that upset about possibly having to miss/postpone your disney trip, DO NOT read too much on the disboards! The budget board is great, lots of budget tips, cheap grocery tips, meal ideas, etc. BUT if you read some of the other boards it seems like "everyone" is going to WDW all the time! Of course, because this is the disboards and the focus is disney. All I'm saying, if that is going to make you more sad, perhaps avoid the trip planning boards for a while.

I'm sure you see that giving your daughter financially secure parents and a financially secure life is much more important than giving her a trip to Disney at a certain age. Even the most die-hard Disney fans would have to agree with that!

 

[Lisa_M]

I'm sorry your in this position, but you are doing the right thing. Even if you have to push the trip back a year or two, it will still be great when you go. My parents took me and my sister to WDW for the first time at 7 (me) and 5 (her). My sister doesn't even remember the trip and I only remember sitting on curb for the electric parade.

I know it's hard to be where you are, as my family is in the same sort of predicament. Take care of what you need to for your family now. WDW will always be there.

 

[Lisa_M]

You have gotten very good and kind advice from the posters on this thread. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but if you are that upset about possibly having to miss/postpone your disney trip, DO NOT read too much on the disboards! The budget board is great, lots of budget tips, cheap grocery tips, meal ideas, etc. BUT if you read some of the other boards it seems like "everyone" is going to WDW all the time! Of course, because this is the disboards and the focus is disney. All I'm saying, if that is going to make you more sad, perhaps avoid the trip planning boards for a while.

I agree! I rarely leave the budget board. It's the best of both worlds, a little disney with a lot of money saving advice.

 

[thebabyconnection]

I surviveduntil 28 before going to WDW, and I'm not a deprived soul! Relax, dont' stress! It will happen!