Spending money

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2006
Spending money
6
Tue, 04-17-2007 - 1:21pm

How does everyone pay for things while in the world? I do not want to use the credit card while we are there since, IMO, it is way too easy to spend more than you budget. However, I don't really want to carry around a lot of cash or mess with traveler's checks. I think I have read where you can deposit cash on your key to the world card and use it like a debit card. Has anyone ever done this? I also considered getting a Disney gift card. We are not on the dining plan and this would be our way of paying for most of our meals. I realize we will need to carry some cash for the snack carts that don't accept plastic.

I appreciate any insight you can give me. Our trip is getting close and I am suddenly thinking of all the little details :)

Thanks,
Charis

Avatar for carolejd
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-1999
Tue, 04-17-2007 - 2:14pm

We usually use our Key to the World card in lieu of a credit card , all our spending goes on our bill and we pay it off at the end of our stay (Usually with our credit card, so we aren't really saving any money this way it just helps to only have one card to carry and we don't have the worry of losing our actual credit cards etc)

This does mean we don't have to carry much cash with us, there are only a few places where you can't use it, but it is a bit like a credit card in that you can spend carelessly if you aren't careful. However I find that knowing I will see all my outlays on my bill at the end of the trip helps me keep from spending too wildly!

Carole

Carole

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-17-2007 - 2:51pm

We use our Disney Visa. I never charge anything to my room because I find that method way too tempting. However, I'm pretty much a cheapskate, so I am not quick to pull out the Visa anyway! We are on the dining plan, so no money needed for food. We have accumulated nearly $300 worth of rewards points which we will use for souvies and extras. I usually carry about $75 in cash, for tips, and other "just in cases"....

Marcy

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Avatar for laurieh88
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 04-17-2007 - 4:43pm

We usually just use our credit card since it accumulates points towards air travel and merchandise. My husband and I are both accountants with very good self-control (not to mention the fact that we go to Disney just about every year, so we've got enough merchandise), so this is fine for us.

A debit card of some kind is a great idea. This is what we do for the kids, so they aren't carrying cash at the parks.

Laurie in OH, mom to

Alex, 12 years old
Julianne and Leah, 10.5 years old
Audrey, 3 years old

WDW visits in 1973, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006!

LAURIE IN OH, Mom to:


Alex, 1

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-17-2007 - 9:07pm
We don't have credit cards. So our charging privalages on our Key to the World card goes on our debit card. So 'if it ain't there, it ain't there'. Usually the only thing we use our KTTW card for is dining since we don't do the dining plan. Ocassionally we'll use the card for a small thing here or there, but for our 'big spending' we hit Down Town Disney with a set ammount of cash (same way I do outlet malls at home! lol).

FW Cabins- Dec 2006, POFQ- August 2006, FW Cabins- Dec 2005, Contemporary-Sept 2004, offsite July 2002, FW

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Tue, 04-17-2007 - 10:42pm
Just like Marcy mentioned, I have a Disney Visa that I use for many things at home and that helps earn me Disney Rewards Dollars - I had over $300 to spend on our recent trip. I use this for souven-ears and some meals.

Val, Co-CL Disney Vacations

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 04-18-2007 - 8:59am

Val, I don't know if you guys do this too, but I wanted to mention here HOW I use my Disney Visa. We use ours for everything at home...gas, groceries, etc. I hardly ever have cash on me. Every time I make a purchase, I write it into my checkbook as I would a debit card purchase. I subtract from my balance. At the end of the month, when the Visa bill comes, I add back in what I've spent, and write the check for the total amount. I've had this card for nearly 5 years now (I think!) and I've never carried a balance. You have to be pretty good about writing everything in (as you would with a debit/atm) but it works for us (I am completely anal about this sort of stuff! LOL)

Our Disney Visa is our only credit card (we had others but I paid them all off!) and I'm very proud to say that as of November of last year, we are debt free (except the normal stuff: mortgage, car payment)

Marcy

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