What do you sacrifice to go to Disney?

[DisneyFix321]

I love WDW. I wish I could afford to go twice a year. It's tough to go every other year. I'm just wondering what sacrifices do you make to save for your disney vacations? For example: no car payment, inexpensive mortgage, no dining out, etc... I'm sure some people take on a part-time job. I don't want a 2nd job, I work long enough and look forward to my weekends. What do you sacrifice?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Our lifestyle/ philosophy has kept us away from debt most of our married lives. We just don't put out money for designer clothes or fancy cars. We live pretty simply, except for when WDW vacations roll around. That has meant we have money left over for WDW vacations, as well as saving for kids' college funds and putting some away for ourselves. Considering that our jobs don't pay all that much (DW is part time), I think we have been blessed to be able to afford WDW as much as we have and be debt free.

 

[ericamanda01]

It's the little things that we do to help us save. We always bring our lunch to work, only buy one Starbucks a week, and try not to eat out more than 4 times a month. And with both of us in school and working that last one is pretty hard. Also for our birthdays and anniversary we save the money we would spend on gifts and get things at the parks. But we found that between those small things it really helps. We too can only afford to go every other year, but I think it's makes it that much more special to us. Or at least that's what my DH says when I get a disney craving and want to go every second of every day!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Both cars 140 k plus, relatively inexpensive mortgage for 2 and a half bedroom house(DDs bedroom smaller than some walkin closets). "new" couch is a hand me down from friend, "new" kitchen chairs are a hand me down from friends, TV was $1.50 at a garage sale 2 years ago.

It sounds bad but it really is a matter of what is important to each person. We do have 3 computers but i doubt i'll ever buy a piece of furniture except bed mattresses new.

Planning May trip now.

 

[thelionqueen]

I skimp on everything I can. My best piece of advice is to make a commitment to save at least $5 every single day, no matter what. How you get that $5 is up to you, but I clip coupons, now use Sunshine Rewards, pick up change found and don't spend my $1 bills. If you really commit to doing this (and add to it when you get a small windfall) you'd be surprised how quickly this adds up.

Also, we have 2 older cars (both over 100,000 miles) don't buy new furniture, and make Disney a priority. By doing this it seems we always have enough to go.

 

[Michelle2]

For us, we usually do not go on any other vacations (even small ones) during the year, unless it is an unusual year like this last one was. That usually saves us alot, especially with gas prices! And although it is hard to see everyone else taking more vacations during the summer and other school breaks, we know that our time will be coming. It's just less often.

 

[jonestavern]

our mortgage is approx half of what the banks would loan us; our furniture is scant--although we do have a few very nice things--the cars were bought used, with the exception of DH's Insight, (which typically gets over 75 mpg highway--his commute is 1 1/2 hrs, so we save there which was the 1st car in 18 yrs we bought new)--our cars are low cost, gas saving & high mileage; we don't buy expensive clothing or shoes. Since I wear my hair up, seldom see a hairdresser--I still get the mani/pedi, but only once per mo & skip here & there-no big jewelry

we do put away for DS16's college, have a 401k & pay off our credit cards(2) in full monthly. So we have only our mortgage & will pay off DH's car this summer. we do have a DVC dues payment yearly! We paid DVC in full(put it on cc & got airline tickets!) right away--so no bill there
We also go to other spots for vacations. DH & DS16 will spend 3 weeks in the UK this spring. at least 3 WDW--2 long weekends; 1 long--are planned for '06- HHI is coming up soon, & we'll spend time in Williamsburg, Savannah etc
since we pay off our cc bills in full, I put as much everyday living expenses--gas, groceries etc--to get 'free' airfare. We keep our heat at 58 in the day, 50-52 degrees at night. DS16 works at a ski resort so he skis free. we've gotten a lot of sporting equipment at yardsales
I shop sales & clip coupons, cook from scratch, mostly. DH is pretty good with sales/rebates, too. DS16 is learning
Christmas has always been low key for us--our gift to ourselves was our WDW trip & DS16 was fine w/it. I do all our gift shopping all thru the year at sales or buy from unique local craftspeople--or we make gifts ourselves--I paint, DH does woodworking & DS is learning both

Jean

 

[Pig Pen]

We are 40 something empty nesters who go to Disney at least 2x per year. I remember the days when I would be scrounging in the couch cushions for change so I could buy a quart of milk, so we have learned how to budget via the school of hard knocks.

We have no car payments, pay our credit card off in full every month, brown bag lunch, shop at Walmart and Costco. We don't buy ANYTHING unless it is on sale.

All our change goes into a big jug and we cash in about $300 per quarter and use toward Disney. All of our friends and relatives give us travel-related gifts (Jet Blue gift certificates are my new favorite gift). We bought DVC as it fits our lifestyle and plans. We go out to eat once per week, go to the movies maybe 3 or 4 times per year. We spend a lot on cable (get all the premium movie channels) but it keeps us occupied during the long cold winters!

We heat with wood/propane combination, lock in our rates in the summer and pay on the budget plan.

Any unexpected money goes directly into savings...my bonus, tax refunds, etc. DH also fudges on his checking account so there is always a couple hundred extra in there that we don't know about. Not good bookeeping practice, but works for us.

We pay ourselves first via automatic deduction so we never miss it:
1. retirement
2. savings (for future house repairs, cars, etc.)
3. bills

 

[summerrluvv]

a

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We live in a house that is less expensive than what we could have. We have that payment and a car payment. Pretty much everything else is bought when we have the money in hand. We use a credit card for convenience and rewards and pay it off each month. I don't get my nails done, hair done only when necessary, no satellite tv or movie channels, take lunch to school/work, don't go out to movies, don't even have a dishwasher (we don't really need one). I don't have to have the newest decor stuff like some of the folks and relatives I know. We have the same window treatments that were on the windows in the living room when we moved here 10 years ago!!!

We live a pretty good life and have most of what we want but I am very willing to give up somethings to get my trips (not just to WDW but other places too) We joke that I will look at something in a store and DH will say "you could get us all Dole Whips for what that costs"

 

[pjlla]

Nothing really unusual here. Two cars, both over 5 yrs old, both bought with cash. Took a mortgage in 1994 of less than the bank would have allowed, knowing that I would become a SAHM in the near future. I spend VERY LITTLE on myself personally (no manicures or pedicures, rare haircuts, no haircolor, simple non-designer clothes, mostly from Target, Walmart, and Old Navy). Most of the kids clothes are hand-me-downs from cousins and friends. We do eat out more than we should (because I hate to cook), but I try to use coupons when we do, and sometimes DD and I share a meal.

We don't have a lot of fancy furniture (I have yet to own a real bedroom set). We have two credit cards that are paid off (occasionally I will carry a small amount to the next month). We usually just use our debit card.

I really try to watch what I spend at the grocery store, but I am not fanatical about it. I use very few coupons, as I find that most of them are for items I don't buy (I buy lots of store brands and few processed/prepared items).

As far as hobbies, the kids have the most expensive hobbies. DD swims on a team (lots of $$ there!) and both kids ski/snowboard in the winter (pricey, but worth it in my opinion...... winter is long here in NH). Other than that they play on town Rec. teams that are less than $35/season (soccer and basketball). I do scrapbook, but I try to buy most of my supplies with coupons or on sale.

We have satellite TV (long story) that we love, but we don't have the TOP package for # of channels and we have no movie channels. We have a cable modem for our computer, but I can justify that since DH occasionally works at home.

I keep a separate passbook savings account just for our vacation money. I have money put into it automatically each month, even if we don't currently have a trip planned.

We go to WDW usually during value season (traditionally January). We shop for low airfares with SWA. We stay off-site, which is okay with us (don't need to start a debate over it). IMHO, $59.99/night for a one bedroom suite is worth the "sacrifice" of staying off site. And from that location is has NEVER taken us more than 18 minutes to go from hotel parking lot to theme park parking lot.

I started substitute teaching last year and EVERY PENNY of that money went into our trip account last year (we went to DL). This year, as our tentative trip was cancelled (supposed to leave yesterday ........) I have been putting the money I earn half into the vacation account and half into DD's college account.

Anyhow, just how we do things.................P

 

[SetzKitten]

We don't turn on the heat. It's about 56 in the house this morning. We also have piece of junk cars. As long as they get us to work and back, that's good enough for us. We don't buy a lot of "stuff" (cds, clothes, collectibles). We economize wherever and whenever we can, with the exception of our Disney vacations (although we do stay at the moderates, which I love.)

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

This thread reminds me of a Paul Gallico book i read many years ago, Mre.'Arris goes to Paris.
It was the story of a cleaning lady who dreams of a couture Ball gown. She scrimps and saves and her dream comes true.

We spend our money according to our priorities, not any one elses. Have read of people drowning in debt because when they bought a new house they had to redecorate and bought the minivan etc. they thought they had too because "everyone else did."

 

[Kteacher]

We do all the typical things: pack our lunches for work every day, bring coffee from home, don't eat out or order take-out very often ( less than once a month ). I started investing monthly in a mutual fund when my kids were very little. I'm using that money to pay for their college bills now that they are grown. I work a second job that I've had for almost 12 years- my seniority lets me pick and choose my hours, and I make enough money there to help finance some pretty decent trips .

 

[AmazingGrace]

Financially, we've just overall tightened our belts. We were going to go at the end of january. But with katrina hitting we had to move. We still were going to go, but then we talked to Josh's counselor at the new school. She told us that josh's grades would suffer considerably if he missed a five day period of school on top of what he missed with Katrina. So, we cancelled/postponed the trip right there and then. To me, Disney suddenly worth all the angst is would cause later. We'll keep tightening our belts and go next year on a school break.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I don't color my hair anymore, my car has 120,000 miles on it and I plan to put on a lot more, we don't go "out" much, I look for amazing deals, most of our furniture was used or we have had it forever, I don't do manicures or pedicures unless I'm going on vacation (and it's only $32 total where I go). My dh's non-suit clothes are older than the hills (but in good condition), we go to the library instead of buying books, the little things add up!

 

[Saphire]

It is funny because we were just talking with our daughter last night about the cost of lunch take-out and a daily coffee. We got out a calculator and figured that many people spend 7% of their yearly income on these small but expensive treats. If you make an average weeks pay, that is a trip to Disney each year! We do very little lunch or dinner take-out. Mostly, we work extra hours beyond our regular hours and earmark it for vacation.

 

[antmaril]

My husband and I have been married almost 32 years. We live in the same modest home we built 28 years ago. Our mortgage payment is very small. We have no debt, other than the small mortgage. We go on very nice vacations, at least two a year. Our son is a freshman in a private college and that is paid for.

Living within our means over the years has worked out very well for us. We live quite nicely and sleep like logs. I highly recommend it.

 

[ericamanda01]

Oh one more thing I thought about, cable tv. We used to have everything, we looked at it as our entertainment. But I recently looked at how much we spent and it was way overpriced. By cutting down to basic with no movie channels we will save over $600 this year.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Almost every year Dh has the chance to work several months either with a TON of overtime or out of town where he gets paid nearly twice what he'd normally make. He sacrifices time with me to make the money to send me. Because of my illness I'm not able to work more than about 10 hours a week but I push myself to do that much at least. This September he's going with me for the first time. Sometimes sacrifice just isn't enough and so I don't get to go every year but that's life huh?