What money saving tips do you think are a bit extreme?

[SLK1]

There are some extremely wealthy people out there who are extremely wealthy because of things like scrimping at Disney World!! Good for them. I am lazy and don't like to hassle with the extra lugging around!

 

[DISNEY1975]

You know Disney1975 on my recent trip I had to carry around sandwiches and juices for the children. I truly understand where people come from. It makes me sad but we had extra money for souvenirs and extra food if we needed it

Your kids are lucky. You obvously did anything possible to make your kids happy.

I went to Disney years ago and didnt even stay on Disney property (gasp). We stayed at a Holiday Inn. It had a small kitchenette and a 7/11 next door. I bought cereal and milk for breakfast each morning (double gasp). The hotel had a deal that kids ate free, so we ate most of our dinners back at the hotel. My kids were so happy just to be in FL going to Disney and swimming at the pool. I dont think I cheated them out of anything not buying them each thier own burger in the parks. If I did have to buy everyone meals in the parks, I probably could not have afforded to go. I have always stuck to a budget and do not take from other places for vacations.

Many years later, after climbing the corporate ladder a bit, we cant now stay at Deluxes..with Deluxe Dining even. It really makes me sad that people think others are being cheap or cheating by being creative with their money. And honestly, its none of their business. Like one poster said..stop looking at just eat your taco!

Im glad I got the chance to bring my kids to Disney when they were young, even if they did have to eat cereal.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Disney does seem to be phasing out the double burgers, so the OP's example may not be around much longer. Pecos Bill, for one, no longer serves double burgers.

Cosmic Ray's no longer serves double cheese burgers either. For that extra 1.5oz of hamburger you will now pay $8.29 instead of $6.59 for a 1/4 lb burger. I'd carry around thebun just to avoid those horrible buns they now serve. The top was very soft but the bottom was hard as a rock.

 

[Suellen]

We get creative too. We just don't walk into a place and make a salad off the topping bar. That IMHO is wrong! Also carrying the bun seems a BIT extreme to me as you can get an extra bun for $1.00.

We eat breakfast in the room. We carry our own waters.

But I do draw the line at taking something you did not pay for. Sorry that is not being creative anymore.

JMHO ~ and I wouldn't be pointing it out to anyone either ~ I just wouldn't do it.

 

[flicx]

Your kids are lucky. You obvously did anything possible to make your kids happy.

I went to Disney years ago and didnt even stay on Disney property (gasp). We stayed at a Holiday Inn. It had a small kitchenette and a 7/11 next door. I bought cereal and milk for breakfast each morning (double gasp). The hotel had a deal that kids ate free, so we ate most of our dinners back at the hotel. My kids were so happy just to be in FL going to Disney and swimming at the pool. I dont think I cheated them out of anything not buying them each thier own burger in the parks. If I did have to buy everyone meals in the parks, I probably could not have afforded to go. I have always stuck to a budget and do not take from other places for vacations.

Many years later, after climbing the corporate ladder a bit, we cant now stay at Deluxes..with Deluxe Dining even. It really makes me sad that people think others are being cheap or cheating by being creative with their money. And honestly, its none of their business. Like one poster said..stop looking at just eat your taco!

Im glad I got the chance to bring my kids to Disney when they were young, even if they did have to eat cereal.

We too stayed offsite quite a few times at I drive and at my friends grandmas and other places.Done the 7/11 breakfast thing too.Generally it was donuts and milk for the adults though. These things allowed us to take our son when he was younger ,without them we would have never gone.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Not necessarily Disney specific, but it drives me nuts when I hear people brag about going to restaurants and getting "free lemonade" by ordering water, and asking for a bowl of lemon wedges and using the little packets of sugar! Nothing wrong with just ordering water---and drinking the "just water"!

 

[Nature Mom]

I suppose I will be one of the far-fetched ones because I will be bringing in water and snacks every day, glow sticks and other trinkets for MNSSHP but we are also cooking daily at our campsite every day and only eating lunch at a few of the specific places our family has agreed upon. Growing up my single dad of 2 DDs could not afford WDW, and as an adult, life happens (college, marriage, children, cancer) as well as a DH who believes it is contemptuously outlandish to spend that kind of money at a 'theme park' when we could go to Belize for diving, skiing in CO or fly-fishing in Spain, etc. I may be frugal, but I enjoy having money for other things (like wands at WWOHP! and a day at Discovery Cove and then an adult trip to Vegas the next month! ), and most of all I enjoy that there won't be a bill at the end of the month for interest on stupid purchases that will be tossed in the bottom of the closet before the bill comes and worse, food! I will be happy to know that on the ride home from our trip, everything will be fully paid for, no surprises, no looming bills because I planned ahead. It is 'my' money paying for this trip, and I am making sure I stretch it to the max! So, in short order, I may be that person who brings chicken salad pita wraps in to the park that I made at our site, or heck, I may just bring the bun and eat off the condiment table (NOT! lol).

 

[Joie]

We just don't walk into a place and make a salad off the topping bar. That IMHO is wrong!

But I do draw the line at taking something you did not pay for. Sorry that is not being creative anymore.

JMHO ~ and I wouldn't be pointing it out to anyone either ~ I just wouldn't do it.

How do you know they didn't pay? Don't assume people are doing something wrong when you don't know.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I may be that person who brings chicken salad pita wraps in to the park that I made at our site,

That sounds delicious! And a whole lot better than a $8 rubber burger on some gross new bun they are apparently now serving!

Have a great time on your trip!

 

[Suellen]

and most of all I enjoy that there won't be a bill at the end of the month for interest on stupid purchases that will be tossed in the bottom of the closet before the bill comes and worse,

We pay cash for everything... in fact don't have Credit cards at all. So we don't get any surprises either.

I would also IMAGINE that if they paid for the salad from the condiment bar ~ Disney would provide them with a container to put it in. I doubt they would say grab a napkin or one of those puny ketchup cups and make the salad you paid for. At least if they did that to me I would not be happy.

 

[KellyNY]

I am a bit jelaous of all the people who can actually save money on a food somehow. I just came back and spend a lot. Yes, before a trip, I planed to use double burger trick( to buy a second bun, not to bring in), I planed to share some meals and when we got there we could not agree on what we wanted to eat. Spend a lot.

 

[Suellen]

I am a bit jelaous of all the people who can actually save money on a food somehow. I just came back and spend a lot. Yes, before a trip, I planed to use double burger trick( to buy a second bun, not to bring in), I planed to share some meals and when we got there we could not agree on what we wanted to eat. Spend a lot.

LOL! My sharing partner is three... so she doesn't get much say.

I can see how this would be a problem depending how old your kids are. We really just tell the girls what they are going to have if we are splitting. Like on the way to Wolfgang Pucks we'll say "Lets go have some salad with chicken and Pizza!" That way they are getting excited on the way over.

Two meals feeds four people and we have saved two meals for later use.

I think there really are all kinds of fun ways to save and do it fairly without walking the line between being frugal and well... not just being frugal.

 

[luvthemouse71]

LOL, I agree OP! I'm all for saving money but some people are just cheap..I have relatives that have oodles of money, but will do just about anything(including things that may be ethically shady) to save a few dollars. Or they shop at these low rent grocery stores and buy stale food, then wonder why no one wants to eat it.

I shop sales and live pretty reasonably at home..but to me, vacation is not the time to squeeze every dime until it screams. And I'm pretty sure having a grill in your hotel room could be potentially hazardous. That to me is extreme and foolish, to be blunt.

 

[Nature Mom]

DISNEY1975 That sounds delicious! And a whole lot better than a $8 rubber burger on some gross new bun they are apparently now serving!

Have a great time on your trip!

Oh gosh yes! And my DD has allergies, and while I know WDW does a great job with allergies, I would just like to do it myself.

And thank you so much, we are so excited! I have been on some very nice vacations but I can honestly say I don't think I have ever been more giddy before a vacation trip. (Honestly, I guess I am getting a part of my childhood with this trip I never had.)

We pay cash for everything... in fact don't have Credit cards at all. So we don't get any surprises either.

I was planning on saying the exact same thing (although we do have one emergency card) but worried I was getting too off topic. LOL We have friends that are our age that have almost 50k in credit card debt alone. I cannot fathom that, it makes me think that they will still be paying it long after I am sitting in my nice plush condo with all the other seniors who refused to go down the credit card rabbit hole, too. We buy what we want when we can afford it (as in surplus or found money) and it has served us well.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Oh gosh yes! And my DD has allergies, and while I know WDW does a great job with allergies, I would just like to do it myself.

And thank you so much, we are so excited! I have been on some very nice vacations but I can honestly say I don't think I have ever been more giddy before a vacation trip. (Honestly, I guess I am getting a part of my childhood with this trip I never had.)



I was planning on saying the exact same thing (although we do have one emergency card) but worried I was getting too off topic. LOL We have friends that are our age that have almost 50k in credit card debt alone. I cannot fathom that, it makes me think that they will still be paying it long after I am sitting in my nice plush condo with all the other seniors who refused to go down the credit card rabbit hole, too. We buy what we want when we can afford it (as in surplus or found money) and it has served us well.

I love the fact that my trip is paid in full before I even get there...we have the Dining Plan too, so all I have to pay for now are tips and souvenirs.

 

[TaylorsDad]

Its Disney and for some people maybe a once in a lifetime trip for which they had to really save and plan. Perhaps this is the only way their family will get to experience the "Magic" the rest of us take for granted. Most if not all of the things listed here are things I don't think I would ever do, but I will not judge others who may not have been quite as fortunate and indeed have to admire some of the creativity mentioned.

 

[susieQzee]

I didn't feel one ounce of guilt when we walked into a store on property and saw candy in bins for sale at $13.00 per pound. My daughter and I chuckled to ourselves, walked outside, and pulled from our backpack the Ziploc of jellybeans that we brought from home (and paid 99 cents per pound for). You do what you gotta do, people. Judge not, lest ye be judged! Our sweet treat got lots of longing glances as we nibbled while in line throughout the parks.

We also signed up for a free fridge swap at Pop and brought a bag of cereal (because it's cheaper than a box) in our luggage. We bought half gallons of milk, as needed, from the Food Court. I figure over the two weeks we were there, we must have saved about $150 in breakfast costs alone.

Just wondering: Do people scrutinize others for taking too many condiment packets who end up not using them? They get thrown away, even if they're unopened, for sanitary reasons. How about napkins? If people leave unused napkins on the table you sit down at, do you use them or throw them away? I know I toss them! It seems silly to me to worry about other people's habits, especially while you're on vacation. Maybe it's just me, but focusing on my own enjoyment, rather than how others should go to Disney jail because they share a burger with another person in their party, is beyond me.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I didn't feel one ounce of guilt when we walked into a store on property and saw candy in bins for sale at $13.00 per pound. My daughter and I chuckled to ourselves, walked outside, and pulled from our backpack the Ziploc of jellybeans that we brought from home (and paid 99 cents per pound for). You do what you gotta do, people. Judge not, lest ye be judged! Our sweet treat got lots of longing glances as we nibbled while in line throughout the parks.

We also signed up for a free fridge swap at Pop and brought a bag of cereal (because it's cheaper than a box) in our luggage. We bought half gallons of milk, as needed, from the Food Court. I figure over the two weeks we were there, we must have saved about $150 in breakfast costs alone.

Just wondering: Do people scrutinize others for taking too many condiment packets who end up not using them? They get thrown away, even if they're unopened, for sanitary reasons. How about napkins? If people leave unused napkins on the table you sit down at, do you use them or throw them away? I know I toss them! It seems silly to me to worry about other people's habits, especially while you're on vacation. Maybe it's just me, but focusing on my own enjoyment, rather than how others should go to Disney jail because they share a burger with another person in their party, is beyond me.

But, bringing your own jellybeans is within the realm of reason. Using burger toppings to make a salad is cheap and wrong. I think what the OP means is that some people get off on penny pinching, to the point where it is ridiculous. Those people deserve to be mocked, especially those who are abusing the system.

Someone who truly is hurting financially and is just trying to cut costs here and there is fine.

 

[rie'smom]

Your kids are lucky. You obvously did anything possible to make your kids happy.

I went to Disney years ago and didnt even stay on Disney property (gasp). We stayed at a Holiday Inn. It had a small kitchenette and a 7/11 next door. I bought cereal and milk for breakfast each morning (double gasp). The hotel had a deal that kids ate free, so we ate most of our dinners back at the hotel. My kids were so happy just to be in FL going to Disney and swimming at the pool. I dont think I cheated them out of anything not buying them each thier own burger in the parks. If I did have to buy everyone meals in the parks, I probably could not have afforded to go. I have always stuck to a budget and do not take from other places for vacations.

Many years later, after climbing the corporate ladder a bit, we cant now stay at Deluxes..with Deluxe Dining even. It really makes me sad that people think others are being cheap or cheating by being creative with their money. And honestly, its none of their business. Like one poster said..stop looking at just eat your taco!

Im glad I got the chance to bring my kids to Disney when they were young, even if they did have to eat cereal.

The first time I took my son in 1979, his grandmother gave me m oney to stay at the Contemporary. It cost $90! That was a fortune to me but it was her money. As we got closer to Disney World, I saw signs for he Days Inn for $19.99 and free breakfast. That's where we stayed. With the extra $$$ he got a ton of souvenirs and we stopped on the way home at shell shops.

As an aside, on the way down, we pulled off the interstate in Tallahassee for the night at a discount motel. The beds had coin slots- yep vibrating beds I gave him a quarter when he asked for one because I couldn't explain to a 4 year old why he couldn't play on the bed.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

As an aside, on the way down, we pulled off the interstate in Tallahassee for the night at a discount motel. The beds had coin slots- yep vibrating beds I gave him a quarter when he asked for one because I couldn't explain to a 4 year old why he couldn't play on the bed.

OMG, I remember those vibrating beds! My family always went on big car trip vacations; with four kids, six airfares was out of the budget. We mostly stayed at Howard Johnson motels (remember those?), but we also stayed at Quality Courts and whatever else we found in the AAA guide book. Quarters for the vibrating beds were rewards for not driving our parents batty during those long hours in the car.