What are you giving up for Disney

[rebeccalancaster]

Im just curious as to what other people are choosing not to do, and using that money for Disney instead?

I was planning on taking my kids to the circus this weekend, and my daughter, who knows we are going, and my husband both said NO - lets use that money for Disney!! My family loves the circus, so that didnt occur to me So I have now taken the money that we would have paid for tickets, plus money that we would have used for the snow cones, souveniers, etc and put in aside in our Disney Jar - $250.00 closer to Disney!!

 

[2kidsForMe]

We are passing on Celtics playoff tix, waaaa! But, the money we save will pay for 4 days at AKV, so it's a fair tradeoff

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not giving anything up per se. I'm just trying to do as much "for free" as possible. You know, free airfare from FF miles, using leftover tickets and racking up the rewards dollars with my Visa card. The stuff that we are giving up is pretty much so that we can pay for the kids' college tuition and living expenses at school. Not nearly as motivating as saving for a Disney trip.

 

[acc82]

eating out. taking the money we would normally spend eating out and putting that into the vacation fund. (got the idea from couponing to disney).

Watching movies out without a coupon is a no no also. we have netflix. we can watch those at home in a more comfortable setting.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm giving up some things, but we're not canceling other family traditions for it. The kids wouldn't be on board for that and neither would I; making the little memories is just as important as making the big ones. As much as we love Disney, we also love the circus and the Renaissance Festival and the zoo and our annual winter indoor waterpark weekend, and I'm not willing to cut out those things to get back to Disney sooner.

We've given up take out or heat-and-serve meals even when we don't feel like cooking, stopping to eat when we're out running errands, hitting the drive thru for coffee in the mornings, things like that. We're seeing plays/musicals at a local college rather than going downtown for professional productions, and taking advantage of free or discounted ticket offers for other places we go each year (got 25% off our circus tickets, BOGO for the science center, etc).

By far our biggest savings are in places that don't really impact our lifestyle, like skipping that not-worth-the-price stop at Applebees or selling some of the clutter that none of us will ever miss or not buying things "just because" when they aren't really needed.

 

[crazelion]

I pretty much give up eating out unless I have gift card to eat out with.

Instead of buying soda I am drinking lemonade more.

Guess what I don't miss at all. I have trim my budget down s lot. I did to stop flow money when I lost my job last summer.

I am much happier. But I will not give up family traditions at all.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Interesting question....I've been budgeting for Disney trips for so long now that it doesn't feel like we are giving anything up. We have a budget and we track all our pennies. I also have a set amount I put toward our 'vacation' every month. If we happen to spend less than our budget (or get extra money - like holidays, birthdays, sell cattle), we put that money into our savings account.

Funny thing is that 8 years ago, I had all this money saved up to go to Disney and our plans got interupted with another baby (happily interupted!). Ever since then, I've had that money and it is my Disney money. But everytime we plan a vacation, I use money out of our budget rather than dig into that fund. Fine with me! It means I always have one more disney vacation I can afford

 

[mrssmith06]

Well we normally go on a family beach vacation every summer so we are doing Disney instead! I think the kids will be OK with that though!!!
The money we used to book Disney could have went towards bills or home improvements but we are fine putting some of that on hold to be able to take the kids on this trip! Also, trying to cut back on my normal spending so we can save more money to use there! (Less eating out, not buying non-necessary things, using coupons, etc)

 

[rebeccalancaster]

I guess I dont look at it as sacrificing a "tradition", my kids have just been "over-circused" i guess, They honestly dont seem to care. I think maybe it was me that enjoyed this more than them

 

[All American]

Shopping and Shows in Vegas next week.

My husband has a conference at Mandalay Bay, so my daughters and I are tagging along. His parents are coming up from California since it's their anniversary that week.

We'll hang out while he's doing conference stuff, and while I plan on hitting the outlets, I told him I'd rather save extra spending money for our trip in June. I know that you can see The Lion King (Broadway version) at Mandalay Bay, but since we've already seen it why not wait to see The Festival of The Lion King, which we haven't seen, in June?

As for gambling, I don't do it, so I know I won't loose money in that regard.

 

[CouponCon]

Giving up pop...Healthier too! I do love my Dr. Pepper...Unfortunately I drank too much...Drinking water and I am down to 1 Dr. Pepper a day...Next week I am going down to the half can a day.

 

[jldixon62]

My 5 dollar a day Starbucks habit. Now I just make my own Starbucks regular coffee. No eating out more than once a week and all those extra's I usually do with the grandkids. I just say would you rather do that than go to Disney and they always choose Disney.

We used to go to Disney on Ice twice a year, the circus, water parks etc. None of that if we do Disney.

 

[Jaden'smommy]

not doing my hair at the salon as much and not eating lunch outside. im saving 150 a month goes straight to disney.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

A second vehicle. Maybe LOL

Our old car died just before Christmas. I am currently in a job that may end in October. I told dh let's wait until then before putting in any $ to a second vehicle.

I have a 15 min. walk to work. The kids and I walk together a bit then split to school/work. I walk home again for lunch and at the end of the day. I've lost about 15 lbs doing this. I find I enjoy my alone walking time. If I don't get my walk in, I'm crabby!

I told dh with the cost of gas, insurance, repairs and a loan, I would rather walk, lose weight, and go to disney yearly instead of having 2 vehicles.

 

[Diegosmom]

wow I wish I could walk to work that would be great.

 

[iheartdisney]

Shopping and Shows in Vegas next week.

My husband has a conference at Mandalay Bay, so my daughters and I are tagging along. His parents are coming up from California since it's their anniversary that week.

We'll hang out while he's doing conference stuff, and while I plan on hitting the outlets, I told him I'd rather save extra spending money for our trip in June. I know that you can see The Lion King (Broadway version) at Mandalay Bay, but since we've already seen it why not wait to see The Festival of The Lion King, which we haven't seen, in June?

As for gambling, I don't do it, so I know I won't loose money in that regard.

Don't forget to hit the Disney Character Warehouse outlet while you are in Vegas!

For our WDW world trip, I am giving up...Disneyland.
Our APs expire at the end of this month, so I am not renewing them until the kids' fall break. That is $100 a month in AP payments, plus $100+ in spending and meals there once a month. Plus I'll really be jonesin' for some Disney if i have to go 3 months without! But it is going to KILL me not to be there when Star Tours 2.0 opens in June. What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!

 

[disneysnowflake]

We made a set dollar amount for gasoline. I'm trying to condense trips to save on gas. Anything left over goes into our vacation fund. It's not a lot since gas keeps going up, but every $5 I save is $5 for something fun at Disney!!

I would get rid of our cable tv if my husband would agree to it. I can watch just about everything online. Husband just doesn't get that.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

trying not to eat out as much.

 

[brobrosmom]

eating out. taking the money we would normally spend eating out and putting that into the vacation fund. (got the idea from couponing to disney).

Watching movies out without a coupon is a no no also. we have netflix. we can watch those at home in a more comfortable setting.

I follow couponing to disney too! I love the idea of taking your grocery money to the store in cash and whatever money you have leftover putting it in the Disney fund. My last grocery trip I only spent $265 out of my $300 budget. I budger $100 per week and go every 3 weeks.

 

[brobrosmom]

We've really cut down on eating out and we think twice about our "wants" when we are at a store.

When I started really examining where we were spending money I couldn't believe how much we were spending on eating out. That right there has saved me around $300 or more a month.