Some more ways - from a thrifty family
Budget with envelopes...set aside a certain amount for groceries, etc. Clip coupons, shop sales, be diligent about not buying extras at the grocery store or Target - and buy store brands and clearance/sale items whenever possible. Whatever you don't spend from the grocery budget goes right into the Disney Fund.
Look into a vacation club through your (or your DH's) employer - sometimes it can be taken out from the paycheck pre-tax and that's a really easy way to not even miss it.
Tax refunds - pop 'em right into savings!! A quick chunk of cash!
Cut down on driving - this saves us a ton...we do our best to not leave the house unless necessary, and then we run all errands on one day. Hit the stores closest to your house only once or twice a week and come straight home.
When you are tempted to order a pizza or rent a movie as a family, discuss with them if they'd rather do this or Disney. We popped a $10 or a $5 in the Disney jar reguarly by making something at home when we were tempted to order out.
Call Geico. They are our car insurance provider now and we have saved SO much over the past three years. I can't begin to tell you! We pay in monthly installments (instead of in chunks every 6 months) and you pay four months and get two months off. Those two months off, put the "insurance money" from the budget right into the Disney Fund!
We also have a Visa check card through USBank with a cashback option on all our spending that is NON-pin. (Anything run through as "credit" not "debit") It costs us the exact same, but we get 1% back every year. We pay all of our bills, gas, insurance - everything with the card. This year we got over $100 back - for nothing!!!
It was an easy save.
Santa brings Disney Dollars - as do Grandma and Grandpa and birthday presents, etc. If they don't want to buy Disney Dollars we suggested clothing that can be worn at Disneyworld (for us, Princess shirts, nightgowns, and jammies - to cut down on souveniers and letting the girls get some "new" stuff down there)
Get your airfare through Southwest - ours was $91 each way - but there are even less expensive rates through them. At times they go as low as $49 each way! You can't buy it ahead of time too much (I think 5 or 6 months) but keep an eye on the fares and buy when it is lowest!
Ebay and garage sales - especially "lots" of children's clothing. Include photos and calculate actual shipping costs...buyers love this.
Consider picking up a small part-time job on the weekends...or start sewing/crafting from home and sell on ebay or in a craft mall locally. Go in with a friend and rent a booth at the craft fairs...you might pull in a good chunk of your trip by doing that. Instructions are all over online for free!! You might also look into doing home parties - Pampered Chef, Partylite candles, and Discovery Toys are all ways you can earn money just by going to parties and selling items. Typically you have a mentor (or consultant) who takes you through the steps and helps you get parties signed up!
Go for voluntary simplification!! We started buying the girls two pairs of jeans, two long sleeved t-shirts, a sweater, a sweatshirt, and two church dresses each fall. A few pairs of socks and undies, and one multi-purpose pair of shoes. You might do a bit more laundry, but you'll save a ton.
If your kids are old enough, have them do odd jobs for neighbors. Mowing lawns and shoveling snow (raking leaves, too) can make a bit of money here and there
DH hates doing this stuff, if we had a neighbor whose child would be willing to do it, I'd pay!!!
Make your gifts - for Christmas, birthdays, etc. If you sew, find something to sew them...if you bake, bring homemade breads or cookies. People appreciate the gift and throughtfulness of your time...and often the consumable/perishable gifts are more appreciated than the ones that have to be stored somewhere
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