A Disney Trip 10 Years in the Making. PTR 10/14 - 23/2011 - Page 6 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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To a new day, we go on.
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Agree - come on Spring!!! The cherry blossoms are blooming here in DC, but we had SNOW yesterday morning (thankfully just a dusting) and it is COLD again!!
Agree - come on Spring!!! The cherry blossoms are blooming here in DC, but we had SNOW yesterday morning (thankfully just a dusting) and it is COLD again!!
200 days?!?! Time to do a dance!! :thew ave:
I've always wanted to go to DC for the Cherry blossoms - is it crowded?
Quote:
Originally Posted by goofysdtr
Coming from someone who has no countdown currently, you bet 200 is a milestone! Marnie's right! It'll be here before you know it.
for you but for me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Makes it hard to feel the days pass when winter hangs around so long. My countdown is longer than yours, so I hope yours comes along quickly!
I hope so too - I'm SOOO ready for the nice weather again
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Each day closer is a milestone!
I like your train of thought
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Days are ticking down!
I'm ready for spring to come, too!
Amen to that
Quote:
Originally Posted by shanmac
I take any milestone I can get when it's Disney related! So wooo hooo for 200!!!
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One of the biggest things about almost any trip (for me anyway) is the cost. Not having a large amount of disposable income means I need extra time to save up for a trip. I would love to take a vacation every year but usually it is every other year and for this trip it has been 5 years since my last visit to WDW.
As I noted before I have been planning this trip for a number of years. I’m very lucky to get a tax refund every year or have been anyway. So every year I’m able to take a portion of my refund to save it for vacation. Usually enough to make a dent in my savings budget but not enough that I have no refund left for other things. I was able to skim off about $1000 every year.
For the first 3 year’s of Evan’s life I was able to place his weekly daycare costs onto a credit card. What was awesome about that was I could pay it off monthly, getting no interest fees but I was able to get the rewards points. No mystery as to which card I used - duh, Disney Visa. Besides that card I had another Disney Visa that I used from my last trip and was earning points on that one al well. So between the 2 visa cards I was able to earn over $1000.00 in rewards dollars.
My other earnings potential was what I like to call my “free pays”. They are the 2 times a year when I get 3 pays in a month rather than just 2 pays. Since my monthly home budget is based on just two pays a month these “free pays” I use for savings and other special things. So I was able to save about $1000 over the past 5 years.
My next way of saving was just my regular pay check. As I noted earlier I don’t have that much expendable income but I did budget just $10 per month, a measly $5 per pay. It doesn’t sound like much but that is $120 per year, for 5 years for a total of $600. Not too shabby.
Lastly, I save loose change. I usually try to pay for things with cash – dollar bills - and then save the change into a jar; I call it my Disney jar. I know how original right? Once a year I dump the change and it is usually about $100. That money goes into my vacation account. So over the past 5 years I’ve collected almost $500 that way. I also like to think of it as free money as I never miss it and once it is all accumulated it is a substantial amount.
The problem I’m having with the change right now is …
One, every time I dump my change I put 1-penny, 1-nickle, 1-dime and 1-quarter into Evan’s piggy bank. And two, I’m now collecting a stack of 2 quarters and a penny into an M&M’s mini container incase he wants to do the pressed penny machines. Because there are 5 other kids coming I’m hoping to save a container for each of them as well. So that is really cutting into my change savings.
Actually, once I get my tax refund check this year I will have all my money saved. My budget is subject to change depending on how much shopping I do before hand and what special packages I give the dogs while they are in the kennel. It is amazing that the single biggest ticket item for me is the kennel. Over all the entire trip costs more but the kennel alone, costs the most.
I have already purchased tickets with my rewards card and just ordered a new rewards card. Last year Evan changed daycares and the new place doesn’t take credit cards so that Disney Visa isn’t used any more. This weekend I called to get all those points moved over to a rewards card. The other visa is still in use and I’ll probably call for the points in late summer.
My mom is gifting to us the airfare – Mom - so I know have an extra $600 back into my budget. Which I may now put toward Christmas – who knows I may not.
I have created a budget with a separate line item for hotel, car rental, food, spending, tips and extras (like the pirate/MNSSHP). Our food is pretty much out of pocket and that is where I’ll have a lot of leeway. My spending money is usually way over budget because it is solely for souvenirs. I'm giving myself $100 a day and Evan $10 per day. This does not include meals/snacks or anything else, just souvenirs. The nice thing about this is most of the people I would buy something for and bring back home, aka nieces and nephews, are coming with us on the trip. They will purchase their own stuff. I may bring back something for Evan’s class or something small like a marker/pen for each child, but I’ll wait and see.
Honestly, I have no intention of spending $100 per day. I think will probably spend $300-$500 total so hopefully I’ll come home with some money which is good as I’ll be getting into Christmas mode by the time we get back.
That’s it. Really nothing special just my little tips and tricks as to how I saved the money – over a long period of time – for this trip.
I think I’ll have to continue using the same techniques once I come home to begin saving for a new car as mine is 6 years old. I’m hoping it will last at lest 4 more years so I may be able to save a few thousand dollars by then. Keeping my fingers crossed. It is in good shape but has 110,000 miles and I know it won’t last forever.
I have to admit I am amazed that I never tapped into this savings account. I wanted to, many times, especially when I moved 2 years ago and when my dog had surgery 3 years ago. But I knew how hard it would be for me to catch back up/replace it. So glad I have it all now. I would rather scrimp and save during the 5 years leading up to the vacation and then really be able to enjoy myself there. I like knowing I have more than enough saved and not be worried about every soda or ice cream you buy and having it throw off your entire budget. That is just not what I want to do – vacations are to be fun and enjoyed.
Coming up next A little more introductions of all my traveling companions
And maybe some photos of past trips – if I get around to finding them
Great job saving up! I do the change thing also and it's amazing how fast that adds up. I'm hoping to pay for my food budget on my next trip with piggy-bank savings. I also use the Disney Visa for almost everything and pay it off each month. The rewards are usually enough to buy tickets and souvenirs. We're getting a big snowstorm Friday (another April Fools day storm!). I think it's passing through NJ also?
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You asked if it's crowded in DC for the cherry blossoms? It can be a NIGHTMARE! But if you go EARLY in the morning (like 7 am early) it is fabulous and SO beautiful!
The thing about the cherry blossoms, though, is that you can't really plan a trip around them, as you never know when they might bloom. It can be anytime from early March to late April. And then the "peak" time varies with the weather - they can look glorious for a week, or a day. But since you're in NJ, if you started watching, you could drive down (or take Amtrak) for a day to see them in all their majesty. Yesterday was the start of "peak" bloom, and it's only supposed to last 3 days this year, I think.
Great job saving Holly! Just think too - soon Evan will start school, so I'm assuming daycare costs will go way down. You could use what money you're used to spending on that into savings. I can't wait for our daycare bill to go down!
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Holly: 
I also like to think of it as free money as I never miss it and once it is all accumulated it is a substantial amount.
Mom - so I know have an extra $600 back into my budget. Which I may now put toward Christmas – who knows I may not.
They will purchase their own stuff. I may bring back something for Evan’s class or something small like a marker/pen for each child, but I’ll wait and see.
mode by the time we get back.
It is in good shape but has 110,000 miles and I know it won’t last forever.
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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