rosiep
<font color=deeppink>I don't drink, I try to conve
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2006
- Messages
- 9,343
Hi folks....just wanted to share: This is the first time I have saved for and paid off a trip in it's entirety BEFORE going. I even have $1500 spending money for food and incidentals. 
A little back story: I have been going to Disney for years using a credit card to finance it. Most of the time I had half the balance paid before going but spent the remainder of the year paying it off.
Last year, the company I worked for for 13 years closed it's doors. Scared and uncertain about the future I cancelled the Disney cruise I had planned for my 50th birthday...I was bummed but it was the responsible thing to do. I was lucky enough to get a new job fairly quickly but I was overwhelmed and under qualified. The woman training me was rather unkind saying things like " this isn't brain surgery" and " I showed you that yesterday".. felt like an idiot and went home in tears every day. My family insisted I quit, and to save our sanities I did. This meant no job, no unemployment and on top of that I felt like an utter failure. I was so unhappy and depressed
Luckily, we found we could live within my husband's paycheck, but obviously a Disney trip was still out of the question.
And so, I had to have a goal, a happy focus - I started by clipping coupons and "paying" myself $20 after every grocery shopping trip. I decorated a jar and put it in plain sight. For Christmas, my family bought me Disney gift cards and it all went into my "Happy Place Jar".
Meanwhile, I brushed up on some training and redirected my job search to something I loved: Childcare. After 3 months I found a family and have been blissfully nannying for a beautiful 18 month old little girl. I am working hard but I love every minute of it. People tell me I am glowing.
Since we were surviving on one paycheck my amazing hubby said I could use all of my earnings for a Disney extravaganza for my 50th birthday. Hubby doesn't love Disney and has only taken 2 trips with me- which makes his generosity that much more impressive!
Before I knew it I had $1500 dollars saved and I used it to rent DVC points at Boardwalk and put a down payment on a stay at POP.
I continued to save and now have everything covered including airfare and food. It has been very gratifying to watch the bank account grow and to know that I will not come home to face debt ( at least not from a vacation!)
My trip looks like this: My daughter Tara (26) who is my best Disney bud and I are going Sept 3rd to Sept. 7, staying at the POP on free dining upgraded to deluxe. We bought 8 day base tickets. On the 7th we transfer to the Boardwalk Villas until we return home on the 14th. I have never had a vacation for that long. We have planned many signature meals and two whole days off for relaxing at the resort.
I know this is a long self indulgent post, but I am really so pleased that I managed to turn a low point in my life into something that feels really great. Maybe it'll encourage someone that life can bring unexpected wonderfulness from despair.
Next savings: Our 30th Anniversary in 2014...Hawaii!!! That's for hubby and I, DD will have to suck it
A little back story: I have been going to Disney for years using a credit card to finance it. Most of the time I had half the balance paid before going but spent the remainder of the year paying it off.
Last year, the company I worked for for 13 years closed it's doors. Scared and uncertain about the future I cancelled the Disney cruise I had planned for my 50th birthday...I was bummed but it was the responsible thing to do. I was lucky enough to get a new job fairly quickly but I was overwhelmed and under qualified. The woman training me was rather unkind saying things like " this isn't brain surgery" and " I showed you that yesterday".. felt like an idiot and went home in tears every day. My family insisted I quit, and to save our sanities I did. This meant no job, no unemployment and on top of that I felt like an utter failure. I was so unhappy and depressed
Luckily, we found we could live within my husband's paycheck, but obviously a Disney trip was still out of the question.
And so, I had to have a goal, a happy focus - I started by clipping coupons and "paying" myself $20 after every grocery shopping trip. I decorated a jar and put it in plain sight. For Christmas, my family bought me Disney gift cards and it all went into my "Happy Place Jar".
Meanwhile, I brushed up on some training and redirected my job search to something I loved: Childcare. After 3 months I found a family and have been blissfully nannying for a beautiful 18 month old little girl. I am working hard but I love every minute of it. People tell me I am glowing.
Since we were surviving on one paycheck my amazing hubby said I could use all of my earnings for a Disney extravaganza for my 50th birthday. Hubby doesn't love Disney and has only taken 2 trips with me- which makes his generosity that much more impressive!
Before I knew it I had $1500 dollars saved and I used it to rent DVC points at Boardwalk and put a down payment on a stay at POP.
I continued to save and now have everything covered including airfare and food. It has been very gratifying to watch the bank account grow and to know that I will not come home to face debt ( at least not from a vacation!)
My trip looks like this: My daughter Tara (26) who is my best Disney bud and I are going Sept 3rd to Sept. 7, staying at the POP on free dining upgraded to deluxe. We bought 8 day base tickets. On the 7th we transfer to the Boardwalk Villas until we return home on the 14th. I have never had a vacation for that long. We have planned many signature meals and two whole days off for relaxing at the resort.
I know this is a long self indulgent post, but I am really so pleased that I managed to turn a low point in my life into something that feels really great. Maybe it'll encourage someone that life can bring unexpected wonderfulness from despair.
Next savings: Our 30th Anniversary in 2014...Hawaii!!! That's for hubby and I, DD will have to suck it
My dh & I did a Dave Ramsey class (not sure if you are familiar with him) and since then we carry no debt other than our mortgage. It has been about 7 years since we made that our rule. It isn't always easy and takes sacrifice but it is absolutely always worth it.
Great job on getting out of the hole.
