Budget board sure has changed

[JessB320]

Originally Posted by scheddj

My faves were the ones explaining how to make grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, etc., using the irons in hotel rooms! Gross.

Would you like extra starch on your grilled cheese?!?!? Ewwwww

[Colleen27]

Originally Posted by SamSam

The knit scrubbers sounds great (I'm a knitter), I'll have to see if I can find a pattern. I also like the idea of making your own reusable grocery bags, as you said the ones you buy aren't very durable and usually not washable.

I'm not sure if my mom used a pattern for the scrubbers or if she did where it came from. It started out as a gag gift - DH doesn't want a dishwasher when we remodel the kitchen so she put a handmade scrubber in his Christmas stocking a couple years ago, and we ended up liking it so well that we ended up asking her to make more.

This is my favorite super-simple bag pattern: http://www.moredesignplease.com/more...-tote-bag.html Because it uses t-shirts I can hit Goodwill to find cool designs, Disney or otherwise, to turn into bags and they're tougher than the cheapie store-bought ones for about the same cost.

[dreamalittledream]

Originally Posted by ceecee

I've been reading these boards for yrs and don't remember that! I must confess reading these threads have cost me $$$ buying all the great deals that I have to have and didn't know I needed!!!
My best ever deal was the Mickey TV from Sears that cost like $25, DD is still using it!

We have that tv too! LOL

[valee]

I started reading the budget forum thinking it would cover getting Disney items at reduced cost or saving money during Disney vacations. There are a few such postings, but most of the content is on general cost cutting, budget tips, and couponing advice. I wind up going to Mousesavers or a similar website to get Disney specific info.
I wish the dis boards had a General Budget Forum, and a separate Disney Budget Forum.

[Miss Ang]

Originally Posted by lilmrsellis

If I'm scrounging up old soap and wiping my behind on washcloths I don't have the cash for a phone or Internet, let alone even thinking of planning a Disney trip. Please Budget Board friends, if those days ever come, tell me to spend my cash on something more worthwhile.

[JB2K]

Originally Posted by valee

I wish the dis boards had a General Budget Forum, and a separate Disney Budget Forum.

A similar question was posed to the BB (as a "sticky") by the board administrators -- unfortuntely, we never heard anything further...

[beaucoup]

I have never purchased most of the things mentioned in thread titles on this board. I call it the Spending Board. It is sure not what I think of when I think of a Budget Board. I see very little actual financial info or tips here. Its all about shopping, sales & discount codes. Not info I need.

I'm not about extreme measures to be able to save up for a trip. We have a budget we have followed for years. We know how to live within our income. We know that saving money in the bank & retirement is more important than material things & trips. When he had debt & a mortgage, we knew that paying those items off first was our priority. We are very pleased with all that we have accomplished at our age, what we have saved, and the trips around the USA we have taken. We enjoy our hobbies also.

And on 1 income - military salary - we sure are not racking in the big bucks like a lot of people on the DIS.

[fuzzy164]

Originally Posted by scheddj

My faves were the ones explaining how to make grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, etc., using the irons in hotel rooms! Gross.

The other one was making tomato soup with catsup packages and the in room coffee maker to go with the grilled cheese....

[mrsbornkuntry]

Originally Posted by valee

I started reading the budget forum thinking it would cover getting Disney items at reduced cost or saving money during Disney vacations. There are a few such postings, but most of the content is on general cost cutting, budget tips, and couponing advice. I wind up going to Mousesavers or a similar website to get Disney specific info.
I wish the dis boards had a General Budget Forum, and a separate Disney Budget Forum.

The fact of the matter is there just aren't that many new ways to save, that would be a pretty inactive board. If you have specific questions about ways to save, like on meals for example, ask and you will get plenty of tips. Or you could use the search because those topics have been covered repeatedly and there's just not any new info to add.

[davedmaine]

Originally Posted by valee

I started reading the budget forum thinking it would cover getting Disney items at reduced cost or saving money during Disney vacations. There are a few such postings, but most of the content is on general cost cutting, budget tips, and couponing advice. I wind up going to Mousesavers or a similar website to get Disney specific info.
I wish the dis boards had a General Budget Forum, and a separate Disney Budget Forum.

It's the same, isn't it? Saving money, I mean? How is saving for Disney different than saving for anything else? Whatever money you save, apply it to Disney.. Now you can keep using this board..

[pooh4evr]

Originally Posted by scheddj

My faves were the ones explaining how to make grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, etc., using the irons in hotel rooms! Gross.

Agree! We need a good eatin' a can o' corn on Main Street thread every now and again!

[crisi]

Originally Posted by mrsbornkuntry

The fact of the matter is there just aren't that many new ways to save, that would be a pretty inactive board. If you have specific questions about ways to save, like on meals for example, ask and you will get plenty of tips. Or you could use the search because those topics have been covered repeatedly and there's just not any new info to add.

And the ways there are to save have almost completely gone by the wayside - or are more effectively covered on other boards.

Want to save on airfare? - the transportation board is a better spot. Want an offsite hotel? - there is a board for that.

And we've gotten too judgmental. We've gotten to the point where if someone suggests splitting meals it must be because their family will have their house foreclosed on and face bankruptcy if they spend the full cost of the meal. But, you really don't need that many calories Not everyone needs to do a Disney trip with three character meals and Bibbity Bobbity Boutique - and I think we need to be a little more tolerant of the shoestring budget - it doesn't mean that they are living beyond their means, they could simply be trying to live within them.

That doesn't mean you should bring your can opener and can of corn But it does mean I think we should be more open to "hey, the Days Inn is clean and close and since you'll have a car anyway" and not so quick to say "by the time you pay for parking you might as well stay at a Value, its so much nicer and not that much more expensive after factoring in parking"

[tink2dw]

You should have been here at Christmas! I was amazed at a post, Which tablet is better for a 5 year old, the $1,200.00 or the $800.00? Which one is best?

I did not have that problem. My 5 year old wanted a Disney movie, a Barbie, and Candyland [a board game, you played on the floor, with your friends or cousins, you laughed out loud, and someone complained someone had 2 turns!] Those were the Days!!

In the whole of my life time I have never had $800.00 I could spend on gifts for a whole family, let alone one 5 year old. My used car cost $600.00 and I still drive it!

[disneychrista]

Originally Posted by crisi

I think we need to be a little more tolerant of the shoestring budget - it doesn't mean that they are living beyond their means, they could simply be trying to live within them.

[Colleen27]

Originally Posted by crisi

And we've gotten too judgmental. We've gotten to the point where if someone suggests splitting meals it must be because their family will have their house foreclosed on and face bankruptcy if they spend the full cost of the meal. But, you really don't need that many calories Not everyone needs to do a Disney trip with three character meals and Bibbity Bobbity Boutique - and I think we need to be a little more tolerant of the shoestring budget - it doesn't mean that they are living beyond their means, they could simply be trying to live within them.

That's the one thing I'd change about this board. Ask a question about saving or cutting corners on a Disney trip and you get the third degree from the Dave Ramsey disciples over whether you can really afford the trip in the first place. Ask a question about a real-life budget concern and the first thing you get is people picking apart any future or recent past trips in your signature. It certainly gets very judgmental at times and I think that sends a lot of average people - the ones doing a little better than paycheck-to-paycheck who have managable credit card debt or car payments and haven't fully funded their retirement and kids' college, but who <gasp> vacation anyway - to other boards with their budget-related questions or concerns.