How do you pay for your trip?

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Registered: 04-26-2006
How do you pay for your trip?
10
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 12:53pm
I am just in the dreaming phase of the next trip, but I was just wondering how you pay for or save up for a trip. We probably have 2 years (sniff, sniff) to save up for the next trip, but we are hoping to build a house in the meantime. So, I know things will be tight. For our last 2 trips we have booked packages, which I love the convenience of, but I have been thinking of pre-purchasing tickets. What are your thoughts?
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 4:55pm

We bought 10-day non-expiring tickets our last visit and only used 2 days on them (and had one more already), so we have 8 for our next trip.














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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 7:39pm

We've been to Disney World 7 times in the past 14 years. The first time was our honeymoon, so we would have had to save money anyway! LOL

But, for the other trips, we saved until we had enough to book and pay for the trip in cash. I've never used credit cards for vacation (well, technically, I booked using my Disney Visa so I got the points, but we pay in full when the bill comes).

I've done everything from Ebay to yard sales to banking Christmas money from relatives to using income tax to be able to go. Now that I am working again (after being a SAHM for 11 years!), I bank every single one of my paychecks so we can go on vacation. We have always been accustomed to living off of my DH's salary anyway, so it's not like we're missing mine. (I don't get paid much...I teach preschool part time! LOL).

Aside from a car payment and our mortgage, we are debt free. I'd have a harder time justifying all of that money for a vacation if we had a lot of debt to deal with.

Hope this helps!
Marcy

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Registered: 06-16-2005
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 11:15am
We were extremely fortunate in that I inherited some money and am using a bit of it to finance our trip.
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Registered: 01-13-1999
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 11:37am

I have to say that the only way we can do it is to use our credit card then save up to pay it off as much as we can.

Carole

Carole

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 3:14pm

We got a timeshare from my parents so our hotel was free and for the rest we saved up (overtime, garage sales, saving loose change) until we could pay cash.


I noticed you said you are planning to build a house.

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Registered: 11-20-2005
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 3:37pm

Several family members have timeshares, and my aunt graciously gifted us one of her weeks.

Booking 10 months in advance is going to be a huge help; we're paying for things cash, little by little. We also get a small discount on tickets through DH's employer, so that helps, too.

I also have a separate checking account that was designated just for DS' daycare costs, which has a set amount taken out of my paycheck. I started paying DC out of our household account, and designated that account the "Disney World" account. It has its own debit card and all that, too, so I can use that to buy the tickets and whatever else without having to dip in to household money or use a credit card. I also anticipate that a portion of our tax refund will go towards our vacation as well, but that would end up being spending money most likely.

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Registered: 03-16-2004
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 4:11pm

DH travels on business quite often. Between hotel points and conferences held at Disney resorts, we have never paid for our hotel room, on or off-property. Also, as Florida residents, we get special discounts on ticket prices and such. And since we live driving distance, we do short weekend trips and don't have to save up for longer trips.

Ruth in FL


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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 7:19pm

We are fortunate this way, at least I think we are. I have a part-time job (full time hours most of the time, lol), to pay the house payment. Our payment is taken out bi-weekly, the same way I get paid. Whatever is left after the house payment is for vacation/whatever extras we want/emergency fund. Mostly it's our WDW money. Since I can work as many or as few hours as I want as long as the work gets done, and there is ALWAYS tons of extra work to be done (we're short-staffed big time), saving for a trip hasn't been difficult. This year, half of the "extra" is going to get the credit card paid off; I haven't been able to save as quickly, but we want to be debt free as soon as possible except for the house/car payment.

~Steph

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Registered: 04-26-2006
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 11:12pm

I am so afraid that will happen to us too. DH has said no more Disney trips until we build our house, but then we will really be broke! That is why I want to be saving and planning now :)

Thanks to all for your replies.

Charis

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Registered: 04-26-2006
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 11:23pm

It sounds like you have a pretty cool arrangement. I just returned to work after being a SAHM for the past 3 years. In theory, we plan to save almost all of my salary as a down payment on a house, but in reality it hasn't worked out that well so far. Fortunately, we don't have a lot of debt, but we don't have a huge surplus either, LOL.

I am hoping to be really frugal and some how save a lot of money for a sooner trip :)

Charis