Things you do to afford a Disney trip...

[ditsypixie]

I sell my kids clothes that they have outgrown to our local consignment store. Since we plan at least a year out, I can usually get several seasons "sold" before I go. I get a percentage back and they do all the work for me. When I get a check back, I immediately buy a Disney gift card. And I always try to "up" the amount. By that I mean, if I get a check for $42.00... I add some to it to get to $50.00 or $75.00 if I can. I then put them in a cute envelope that I made (with Mickey's of course!!!) I putting them in the envelope! But I am weird like that!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I just put in a few days overtime or pick up a temp part time job, they are easy enough to come by. I have been saving for this years vacation separately from all our regular yearly vacations. This one I have been putting money away for 10 years for- we are taking a 2 month road trip around the US. Sixty nights in hotels!

Historically, this has always been a good time of year for me to pick up a big chunk of overtime. This year, the way our contracts are working out, looks like vacation will be upon me or even behind before before it hits the fan. Such is life LOL

 

[lauradis]

OK - this made me sad as well. DH is in the military - you NEVER know when they might get called up, sent TDY, etc... so our motto is "Live Like He Deploys Tommorow"

Yea, I wanted to open my big mouth and tell her she needed one. The catty side of me is hoping she invites me to the divorce party in Vegas

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

OK - this made me sad as well. DH is in the military - you NEVER know when they might get called up, sent TDY, etc... so our motto is "Live Like He Deploys Tommorow"

Seriously. Not to mention, if I do my job right, the kids are going eventually move out...but my husband and I are stuck with each other. So we need all the help we can get!

We haven't done anything too crazy re: saving. Most of the usual everyday budget things: plan meals at home, careful bargain shopping, etc. The Disney Visa has some nice perks, though. We went through a TA this time and she was able to apply some discounts, which was pretty cool.

 

[UncleMike101]

Well.....
I quit smoking in 2011 and that's about $2500.00 a year extra.
And last year I did some part time consulting work for a friend.
That, along with my "No smoking" money makes for a nice trip to WDW.

 

[Girlfriday17]

It really does come down to priorities doesn't it. I get the same reaction "how can you afford it?" or the one I hate "must be nice", when I know those people eat take out and have kids in hockey, horseback riding, swimming, etc and have boats, campers and ATVs. As a former banker I pay a lot of attention to the pennies (well in Canada it's nickels cause we don't have pennies anymore) and it adds up to dollars. Those dollars and saying no to things we really aren't passionate about, help us to do the things we really want. I walk my own dogs, clean my own house, learned to do many of our own repairs, eat at home, use grocery rewards and I even pick up cans and bottles when I walk the dogs. We have even bartered for home services with my husband's mechanical skills.

 

[StitchBuddy]

Since you have three kids, how about a big garage sale. We use to have one every year when my DD was little. I would get her to go through her toys and she could keep the money from them and buy a Disney Gift Card with it. Have it on a hot day and sell cold cans of soda and water. We've made as much as $50 at our garage sales off of drinks alone.

 

[Madame]

Since you have three kids, how about a big garage sale. We use to have one every year when my DD was little. I would get her to go through her toys and she could keep the money from them and buy a Disney Gift Card with it. Have it on a hot day and sell cold cans of soda and water. We've made as much as $50 at our garage sales off of drinks alone.

That is a very good idea! I'm usually too busy (or that's been my excuse!) & just bundle them into the Salvation Army clothing drop box. Now I have some motivation to do it! Even more after today. Our BBQ blew over this winter & started shooting flames out of the bottom this afternoon. My DH was all 'It's still good." BBQ, natural gas, fire where there isn't supposed to be fire = $300.

 

[Under the Library]

Somethings we started when I left my job to take care of a sick family member & decided to home school about 5 years ago. As my husband has stayed with the same company, our income has gotten better little raise by little raise. But we still try to live at the means we were 5 years ago if that makes sense. I eBay our clothes, both sell & buy. I hand wash dishes, hang clothes out to dry when it's nice. We cut cable 5 years ago & use streaming services. Luckily DH & I are relatively no frills. So it works. But please don't let me near a used bookstore!

 

[wdw4lif]

• DH quit smoking almost 3 years ago, and me, almost 2. So that's helped IMMENSELY!
• The kids go through their rooms 2-3 times every year to sell things, and then they keep the money for it. This year, they'll save up for their own things at WDW (we'll give them each an allowance to spend while they're there as well).
• I'm a couponer as well, so that helps us get more in our weekly "Disney Jug".
• Putting our change in jars - DH does it daily. I do it about once a week from the bottom of my purse

 

[Magic Band Defender]

We don't have cable and don't miss it.

 

[Under the Library]

Also, any money I find doing laundry, I consider my tip for washing your dirty duds. So I started putting my tips in a container by the washer & taking them to the coin machine at the credit union. Whatever amount I deposit goes into the Disney savings account.

 

[wdw4lif]

We don't have cable and don't miss it.

Oooo we did that too! Completely forgot, that's how much we miss it! We got rid of our Dish & we have hulu plus & netflix. We pay $16 per month as opposed to $140 per month and are completely happy! We have an antenna & we bought a chrome cast for $30 a year ago. Smartest decision we made!

We also got rid of our land line so our phone/internet bill went from $125 a month down to about $40 per month. Love it!

 

[lauradis]

Seriously. Not to mention, if I do my job right, the kids are going eventually move out...but my husband and I are stuck with each other. So we need all the help we can get!

We haven't done anything too crazy re: saving. Most of the usual everyday budget things: plan meals at home, careful bargain shopping, etc. The Disney Visa has some nice perks, though. We went through a TA this time and she was able to apply some discounts, which was pretty cool.

I told one of my coworkers that is baby crazy (1st and new baby), her husband want to go away for weekend, she didn't want to leave the almost 8 month old baby with her mother, totally understand. that her husband came before baby and she needed to run away sometimes, so he will stay after the baby is grown.

 

[verleniahall]

I have a small jelly jar - any change i find while out and about (like a penny on the ground, etc...) will go into that jar. I call it "found money"

 

[Magic Band Defender]

Oooo we did that too! Completely forgot, that's how much we miss it! We got rid of our Dish & we have hulu plus & netflix. We pay $16 per month as opposed to $140 per month and are completely happy! We have an antenna & we bought a chrome cast for $30 a year ago. Smartest decision we made!

We also got rid of our land line so our phone/internet bill went from $125 a month down to about $40 per month. Love it!

We don't have a landline either, forgot about that one! It's probably been 10 years now, since we moved up from dial up internet.

 

[disneychrista]

We don't have a landline either, forgot about that one! It's probably been 10 years now, since we moved up from dial up internet.

Here is the kicker for me on "saving" money by not having a land line. Cell phones costs as much or more than the land line, so I don't see the savings here. Now my employer is now paying for my cell phone so, I do see a $50/month savings from that.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

Here is the kicker for me on "saving" money by not having a land line. Cell phones costs as much or more than the land line, so I don't see the savings here. Now my employer is now paying for my cell phone so, I do see a $50/month savings from that.

Many people (my parents) still have both, maybe out of habit? Only telemarketers call my folks home phone, everyone who knows them just calls their cells.

 

[DizMe]

Many people (my parents) still have both, maybe out of habit? Only telemarketers call my folks home phone, everyone who knows them just calls their cells.

I have both. Cell service is sketchy where I live, unfortunately, and I need a reliable phone at home. I also much prefer to talk on a landline. I just don't find cell phones very comfortable for talking to my family (very likely to run into 45 min-an hour calls). I actually wish I could ditch my cell phone! That thing costs me a bloody fortune.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

All of my girl friends always get manicures and pedicures (like weekly). I always pass and just paint my nails at home myself. I know it's a luxury, but in my mind that's a lot of money that I'd rather use for Disney.