fromscratchmom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2006
- Messages
- 580
I'm glad to have seen this thread, as I'm sitting here in the middle of the night with insomnia. I am kind of a cheapskate anyway and I know that my cheapskate DH will have a hard time coping if we spend a lot on "extras", so I've been trying to plan for it. After all I want him to enjoy it and be glad that we went. And I'm hoping to convince him to take us back each year in the future or at least every other year and you can't even imagine how hard it was to convince him to go this time. It got to the point that I had started mentioning that if he really didn't want to travel at all, EVER, then maybe we should consider me and the kids going without him.
I know from reading these posts that I need to be a little more realistic and be prepared to spend at least 200 dollars. But I'm also still glad that I've been preparing in advance. I have a litte bit of money hidden away that DH doesn't know about to cover part of it. And I started talking to my kids about it awhile back to explain to them the huge amount of stuff that we might all be tempted to buy while we are there. I told them that it is a trip for fun, but that we can't just throw responsibility to the wind. So we came up with a plan that the oldest started getting more allowance and the younger two started getting the same amount and they saved 60-80% of it each week. Now they each have some savings to draw from and are mentally prepared that they can spend some of their own money but have to try to restrain themselves from asking us to buy a lot, when they run out.
Along the way, they have a few times tried to convince me that they shouldn't have to keep saving such a large percentage of their allowance, usually by saying that 20 or 30 dollars would be enough for Disney so why should they have to keep saving more. I had just about decided to tell them they were right and change the game on them to where they would still have to keep saving most of their money, but should only take a small portion of it with them. Now, I think I'll advise each of them to be glad that they've got a savings account going and to preserve that, but to also take at least 50 dollars with them on the trip.
I saw a mention on the board yesterday that someone found some really neat Disney stuff at the dollar store and got some to take along for treats, rather than spending on similar small items at the park. I thought that was pretty smart. I'm sure the same or similar items at the parks would be at least 4 dollars and maybe 12 or more. I've done the same kind of thing by buying deaply discounted clearance Disney t-shirts and hiding them away for our trip. So I might go see if the Dollar Tree near me has the same type of stuff in stock.
I feel prepared. But I've still got to face the actual trip with all of Disney's fantastic temptations! I wonder how we'll do with it? Especially the kids. Can they wait and not spend all their money on the first day, without me having to put my foot down? I might not be willing to do that. I'd rather not be the bad guy in that particular scenario, but then again, if they do spend it too quick and then realize that there is something else that they would rather have (and then decide that it means the world to them in that childlike way), will I have the will power to just let them learn the lesson rather than wanting to help make them feel better?
I know from reading these posts that I need to be a little more realistic and be prepared to spend at least 200 dollars. But I'm also still glad that I've been preparing in advance. I have a litte bit of money hidden away that DH doesn't know about to cover part of it. And I started talking to my kids about it awhile back to explain to them the huge amount of stuff that we might all be tempted to buy while we are there. I told them that it is a trip for fun, but that we can't just throw responsibility to the wind. So we came up with a plan that the oldest started getting more allowance and the younger two started getting the same amount and they saved 60-80% of it each week. Now they each have some savings to draw from and are mentally prepared that they can spend some of their own money but have to try to restrain themselves from asking us to buy a lot, when they run out.
Along the way, they have a few times tried to convince me that they shouldn't have to keep saving such a large percentage of their allowance, usually by saying that 20 or 30 dollars would be enough for Disney so why should they have to keep saving more. I had just about decided to tell them they were right and change the game on them to where they would still have to keep saving most of their money, but should only take a small portion of it with them. Now, I think I'll advise each of them to be glad that they've got a savings account going and to preserve that, but to also take at least 50 dollars with them on the trip.
I saw a mention on the board yesterday that someone found some really neat Disney stuff at the dollar store and got some to take along for treats, rather than spending on similar small items at the park. I thought that was pretty smart. I'm sure the same or similar items at the parks would be at least 4 dollars and maybe 12 or more. I've done the same kind of thing by buying deaply discounted clearance Disney t-shirts and hiding them away for our trip. So I might go see if the Dollar Tree near me has the same type of stuff in stock.
I feel prepared. But I've still got to face the actual trip with all of Disney's fantastic temptations! I wonder how we'll do with it? Especially the kids. Can they wait and not spend all their money on the first day, without me having to put my foot down? I might not be willing to do that. I'd rather not be the bad guy in that particular scenario, but then again, if they do spend it too quick and then realize that there is something else that they would rather have (and then decide that it means the world to them in that childlike way), will I have the will power to just let them learn the lesson rather than wanting to help make them feel better?
)and I was actually on the dining plan. My name is Fizz13 and I have no control over money at Disney!! 
. Sounds like Keebles would join us. Don't feel too bad I still out spent you. 
I can't let my DH see this thread if he knew people could spend a week there and only spend $200, the complaining would never end. He gets that from his DF they can spend a couple of days there and not buy one thing not even a postcard. 
) so I really plan on spending! Plus, I've lost almost 30 pounds and none of my Disney clothing fits anymore. My question is, does anyone make lists of things they want to buy? I do!
I have lanyards full of pins all over my house!
