spending cash

[Mouse Man]

Honestly we have a 5 gallon water jug and we place every day change into it. Any extra money we get we place into it and lastly I try every other pay check to put in $20 in silver dollars. The DWF does the same thing. We usually get around $1800 to $2200 dollars a year. Now for the dog to be boarded we have our anual garage sale and all the money goes to the Dog's boarding. Now the month that we leave we make the rest of the dog bill for boarding like a bill and just pay out cash. When we go to WDW for an 8 to 10 day stay we genally have $2000. This money does cover our two weeks in FLA stay and we always bring back home about two to three hundred that we put away for Christmas. Now to obtain the money that we achieve in the jug, it has to be done daily and you have to add additional monies like we do. My wife use to laugh at me for this until one year I asked her o do the same thing. The week before we left for Disney we took it to the bank and counted out all the paper money and then used the Banks free coin star and we had $2000 in hand. My wife just looked at me in amazement. Now she is really into feeding the Mickey Fund as well. So we pay our bills go out on a pretty regular weekend trip for Dinner and still mange to put what we call our road trip/vacation spending money together. I always mange to save a little on my own two months before we leave for Disney for gas and overnight hotel stay to and from South Jersey to FLA and back. So can it be done? YES. You just have to be in this state of mind and it truly works. Now without the DWF working on this like I do we would have a whole lot less.

 

[CaptainJackNO]

It is crazy how it adds up! If your on the dining plan and you are eating at buffets or Table service you still have tips-
*Tips for us for 7 nights average about $110.00 (10%-20%).
*Then If they ask if you want to purchase your family photo at a TS and you love it, about $35.00
*The you have a couple cocktails- beer or wine, tinkerbell cup for the little one $ 50.00 (maybe)...we do stop at Publix on the way to the hotel for drinks and snacks
*Then you have souvenirs (I try to buy some stuff on clearance at our Disney store outlet before I go:animwink
* I have a 4 year old Disney enthusiast ( you try to cap this off)
* I love Disney merchandise D)
* If you want to rent a Sea Raycer $50.00
* mini golf maybe
*B.B. Boutique $50.00
* Balloon $10.00
* My husband plays golf $100.00

Needless to say I have been saving from here and there I am going down with at least $700.00 - last time we checked out we had $474.92 in extra charges!

WDW Company are EXPERTS at what I like to call "legal pickpocketing" LOL:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Missymoe4]

Ebay has been my godsend. I've sold a lot of stuff I simply didn't need and/or even knew I had until I cleaned. It's actually quite embarassing to talk about all the extra junk I had.

Also, I realize a lot of people don't have this opportunity, but I work extra hours. I work for a high school and I am involved with the sport/extracurricular department and work sporting events all year long. My stipend money goes directly into a Disney account, and this year has bought me a 10 day stay at the Contemporary. Although the extra hours (working 12-15 hour days) was a killer some days, what kept me going was planning and saving for my big trip.

Anyhow, sometimes picking up little odd end jobs work out well. From tutoring (which I also do) to having a garage sale or two, along with ebay can really held in saving money. Also, if you can, ACT is a good outlet for some money. Again, my school district is always seeking ACT proctors and/or readers for our SPED students--the money can add up very fast if you seek out the opportunities.

My advice: try anything to make money for Disney.

 

[Figments Friend]

We try not to spend foolishly when we are in the park. IMO the expensive sit down restaurants are not worth the price, we stay in the value resorts, and don't spend much on souvenirs...this equates to a manageable bill and the abilty to go more often.

Good advice. I also do this, and go yearly..sometimes twice a year.
I find that when i take 'first timers' they go absolutely NUTS in the purchases department ( mostly souveniers) and come home to a huge CC bill. I have visited often enough to have somewhat 'outgrown' that urge to spend madly on stuff once On Property, but will admit that my one weak spot is those dang PINS!


I always purchase with cash. I take a lump sum and split it up when traveling...some in my wallet, a little in my pocket, some cleverly hidden in my carryon...etc. You should never travel with ALL your funds in one spot. That way, if someone steals your bag, or you leave your wallet somewhere by accident, it will not be 'game over' for your vacation. Breaking up your funds and placing them in different places also helps control the 'spending spree urge' when one SEES all that money together. I know some people who know they are holding $400 in their hand feel a sudden urge to 'spend it all'! My Mom was like this big time....and i suppose their are others too. So if you find yourself feeling the urge, heed my advice and break up your funds. You will be amazed how much LESS money you spend when you cannot SEE it all at once and be regularly 'reminded' of it all.

Cash is great. It really helps you to keep yourself 'under control'. Any kind of plastic is just TROUBLE at WDW...the temptations are too much for most Guests. I will travel with a card of plastic when on a trip, but it is very rarely used to purchase non-transport/lodging purchases. It is more of a emergency back up if something happens, flight gets cancelled, hurrican hits..etc. Using cash helps keep the budget in check.

I usually allow $75 to $100 per day...depending on what it planned for meals and the like. I find i usually don't use the full amount, and i very often come home with money to put away for the next visit.

I miss those Disney Dollars...they were a cool way to 'invest' in a future visit!

 

[forevermickey]

I've done just about everything that's been mentioned - change jar, automatic payroll deduction into a vacation club at the Credit Union, garage sales. Any "found" money like expense checks, or rebate money also goes into the vacation club. Our grocery store now has Disney gift cards so I try to pick up a $25 one each week when I do the shopping.

As far as how much I spend, it depends on when I go. My last 4 trips were in December so I spent a lot more than I normally would because I did a lot of Christmas shopping. And last year, I took my niece & nephew on their first and probably only trip to the World, so I went kind of crazy buying stuff for them, like the little twirly light up things, and the glowing ice cubes, and pins by the boatload! Aside from that, when it's just me and DD21, I budget about $100 a day for tips, drinks, and sundries.

Hope this helps!

LOVE the idea of buying the $25.00 gift card per week at the grocery store! Great idea!

 

[Mikester71]

I have a payroll deduction of $100 a week that goes into a savings account that my wife and I have dubbed, "The Emergency Go to Disney Fund". When that fund has enough to pay for EVERYTHING, we go.

My wife does this through her work also. We do $150 each pay (every two weeks) and call it our "WDW Trip Account". We have been going every 2nd March and we always have enough to pay for a 10 day trip for the four of us at Pop Century with Magic Your Way packages and about $3000 spending money for our trip. Can't wait til next March to go again!!!! :sohappy: