Some of my money saving tips and advice that's worked for me About This Page:

[songbird]

Disney Visa is what I use for everything! Got my DH to sign up when they were offering 50 free points, thinking of having my adult DD to sign up, too! We saved more that way than any other way we tried. Be determined, and plan ahead!

[SHEANA1226]

I have a few tips to add as well. I round up to the nearest dollar when I write a check or use my debit card. I also deduct an extra dollar for every check that I wrete. It adds up fast.

[ilovedisney0_0]

I like to read this thread every once in awhile to get myself motivated for saving. I read it over again about a month ago, and decided to try the coupon idea mentioned above. Every time I go grocery shopping, I put whatever money I have saved in coupons and store savings directly into my savings account. So far, I have saved $54 in 3 weeks, just from grocery store money! Whoo hoo! Amy

[gwugirl03]

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I have a few tips to add as well. I round up to the nearest dollar when I write a check or use my debit card. I also deduct an extra dollar for every check that I wrete. It adds up fast.

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I do the same thing. I am always pleasantly surprised!!

[disneygramma]

Such good ideas from this post! Wow I am getting some new ideas. I always save coins and roll and turn in just before going to WDW. DGD also has a little Disney savings going since January, so she is doing good. Think I will take the above info and begin to use those coupons I usually give away, and save the "savings" amounts from the coupons....great idea, thanks, also will have a big yard sale this Sept. to clean out and make dough for spending too! Keep the tips coming guys.

[Tinksmyid]

I have long fantasized about taking those " You've Saved $27 This Shopping Trip" receipts and writing myself a check for those saved dollars... I'd be at Disney in no time! Unfortunately that's just not the position I am in, so Change Jar it is! But I have to say, converting the money into Disney Dollars is a FANTASTIC IDEA!!!!!!!!!! WOW! Because you can only spend them You Know Where! (Although I wonder if Disney would let you send them $1000 Disney Dollars to pay for your accommodations? Hahaha...) Great idea - and yes, it is nice to know I am not the only scrimp-and-saver out there... it'd be nice to get a trip or two every year but even every few years is a challenge for us. Just makes the getting there more sweet!

[disneyxscollectr]

I started two new ways of saving "change" at home this month.

I pay my jar for doing laundry and cleaning the house.
When I do the laundry, since I have a washer and dryer at home, I put $1.50 in a jar everytime I use them for every load. So if I do 3 loads, I put $4.50 in the jar. I use it as an incentive to do the laundry [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]. I go looking for laundry sometimes [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img].

When I clean the house, any change I find in the sofa, or on the floor goes into the jar as well. This one isn't too profitable, not much change found [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img], but 50 cents is 50 cents closer to Disney![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

Plus any change I come home with goes in the jar automatically... a tip I got from this messageboard.

Don't know if these were already said before because I only read a few messages.

Maria

[ilovedisney0_0]

Hey, I like the idea of paying yourself to do the laundry! I haven't used a laundry facility in forever because I have my own, but I like that idea. I will have to start doing that, too! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thanx.gif[/img]

Amy

[mom23k9s]

Direct deposit works best for me. I have a set amount transferred every two weeks into a savings account at a credit union across town. Since it's automatic, I don't even notice and the CU is so far away, It really has to be an emergency to dip into the account.

A lot of people using the boards have the Disney Visa. We have a Costco AmEx card that we use for EVERYTHING, even fast food. Then we pay it off at the end of the month. So far this year, we have a reward of $150 to use at Costco. You can do this with the Disney Visa or any other card with rewards. We just like the Costco card because the rewards are a little better and we shop at Costco so much.

[Kelly66]

My DH has this great red 'barrel' bank plugged with a cork for spare change! My daughter has a tootsie roll bank. Then we all sit down and roll change while watching Disney Movies!

[scottjs]

What a useful topic!! I am certainly not rich but when you are saveing for something you love(Such as Disney) it is easier!!

I am saveing $150.00 per pay check(Roughtly 20%)

I have three weeks vacation pay comeing in February!

I stopped going to check cashing places and started a regular checking account. I have been so bad about saveing that I just went and cashed my pay check and paid whatever needed to be paid. Now I put it in the bank and take it out!! That saves about $20.00 a check.

I stopped buying Newspapers! (Ok if theres a major interesting story I buy one--other wise I just scrounge them!)

I buy powdered Gatoraid instead of bottles!! (Saves about $190.00 a year)

Etc etc etc!!!

These are just a few things I am doing. My wife and I are haveing fun with some of this stuff!!!

[Janice_Jones]

One way that I have found to be very effective in getting money into the savings account is to have all of the reimbursements from my employers flexible spening account direct deposited into my savings account. If you have children in daycare this adds up quickly!

[GGMom]

Since we have a very tight budget anyway, a new baby, and just NEED to go to WDW in 07, I had to get a little drastic...

• Cut all of the extras off of the phone line we barely use - saves about $25 a month!
• Shopped our auto insurance - saved $70 a month for the same coverage.
• Trying to cook more, only eating out 1 or 2 meals a week, then we use a coupon
• Using coupon mom's site to make my grocery lists - only whats on sale, and have a coupon for - saving 40-50% total on groceries. Trying to stock up when something is on sale.
• Using mypoints to earn gift cards for dining on our trip. Averaging about 1 $25 gift card a month.
• Working on a gift closet - buying ahead when things are super cheap so there aren't the last minute expenses for a birthday gift
• Went with a Discover earning 5% cashback, going to pay the balance each month and see what we can build in rewards for running everyday things through

Other than how we are saving for the trip, I am just hoping to stretch those hard-saved dollars as far as they will go. Loving all the ideas on this board!!

[PamelaK]

Since this is my first vacation with my daughter, I just bit the bullet and paid for the whole package with my tax refund. (Yes, I have other bills I could have used the money on, but the last couple ofyears have been tough on us and we NEEDED a vacation.)

So then she and I sat down and figured out how much we want to spend on souvenirs and other things not covered by the package. That is what we are working on saving.

I am buying a few things now....like I just bought a starter set of pins on eBay to do trading with and a new set of much needed luggage on huge sale at Kohl's. I also plan to buy a Pal Mickey on ebay soon. ANd I am stocking up on the little travel size soaps and shampoos that my dad brings back from the hotels when he travels.

So far we have purchased two Disney Gift cards to start saving souvenir money on and my DD has even told me to keep her allowance and apply it to her Disney GC.

I currently have a credit union account that my paycheck is direct deposited to each month and it is such a hassle to get money out that it automatically makes me cut back on the impulse spending so I am able to save more.

I also have the change jar thing going. I haven't counted it lately since it isn't full yet. I just make just that it is not one of the see through kind, because if I can see the money in it then I will spend the money.

[ashbee]

That is a great idea you have. We have a big glass water jug we put change in and a tin for dollar bills. My husband god bless him will not spend dollars so we have a tin that fill up really quick. That is how we pay for our trip. Since, January I have been saving and counting and so far we can pay for a hotel at a deluxe resort and for our meals. So, I have no doubt by the time we go in September we won't have to pay for anything extra because our disney fund will be plenty.