Saving Money For Your Disney Trip

If you’re anything like me then you’ve materialized here today looking for inspiration. Maybe you’re considering a trip to Walt Disney World [or anywhere really] in the future or you’re already counting down the days until you leave. One way or another, I’m sensing that money is on your mind and you’re hoping to find some new and interesting ways to squeeze a few more pennies out of your paycheck. . . .

My fellow mortals. . . . I just may be able to help you out!

Now, before we jump into today’s chat, I want to clear the cobwebs around some of the areas that are often neglected in discussions like the one we’re about to have. First and foremost, vacations are expensive. . . . . obviously. Though there are rare exceptions, most people who plan a vacation will find themselves having to budget or even cut corners to make it happen. If this sounds like you, then know you are absolutely NOT alone here. The differences usually show up in how the budgeting and corner cutting is done. After all, the term “expensive” is relative. In fact, it’s that very point that has me bringing this up right here at the start of our chat.

I realize that sometimes discussions like this, where budgeting tips and tricks are shared, can miss the mark for some people; especially those families who are already on a very tight budget. Having spent many years in a similar position, I know that there can be frustration and it can make your trip planning experience even more stressful to feel like what you’re doing is as good as it’s going to get. Though there’s a good chance that some of the suggestions we talk about today will miss the mark, I want you to know that we’re always keeping an eye out here for the tips and tricks that might make a difference for you and your family. Of course, you’re always welcome to share what works best for you and your family with us!

Ok! Enough of that. . . let’s jump right in!

Put Together A Solid Budget

If you’re plan is trying to get every extra penny out of your paycheck, the first thing you need to do is figure out how many pennies are out there for the taking. What’s the best way to go about doing that? Building yourself a solid budget. Having a budget doesn’t only help you gain an understanding of how your money moves month to month, it helps you figure out where it makes the most cents [pun totally intended] to cut back rather than solely going off the suggestions of others.

Now, if you’re not sure how to get started with building a budget for you and your family, we’v got you covered! You can find a FREE Budget Building Guide over in the Bootique [COMING SOON]. This guide will include steps you can take to get your own budget started, examples of how to determine where you can cut back and some other tips we’ve learned along the way that might be helpful for you.

Set Aside The Change

Prior to 2020, when the world was a slightly different place, I operated solely in cash. At the start of each month, I’d go to the nearest “no fee” ATM and pull out the month’s spending money. Then, any time we got change, it would go in a jar as would any leftover cash at the end of the month. This worked out really well for a few different reasons. First, it gave us a visual representation of how much money was left in our budget each month. . . . which curbed spending. It also had us setting aside what would end up being a substantial amount of money. In fact, we saved upwards of $1000 a few summers ago in loose change. . . . loose change!

Of course, with the state of things currently being what they are, using cash isn’t the best option. Not only is there the matter of health and safety, but there are still businesses that are only taking exact change for cash payments. This has made it necessary to adapt. Easy enough. The way we’ve gone about doing that is by setting aside in a different way. Rather than putting coins in a jar, we set aside dollar amounts under $10.00 by putting it into a savings account. [Example: If we had $309.24 in our checking account, we’d put $9.24 into our savings.] Though it’s not quite the same, it’s still an effective way to save a little bit without breaking the bank.

Switch To A Disney Rewards Credit Card

Having a credit card isn’t for everyone, but if it’s something you’re capable of and you’re going to use a credit card anyway, having a Disney Visa by Chase is a great option. The biggest perk of having a Disney Visa is the rewards. Every purchase you make earns you 1 to 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars which can be used like a Disney Gift Card. In addition to Disney Rewards Dollars, Disney Visa card holders can also enjoy other perks like 10% off at dining locations at Walt Disney World and even special character experiences. These perks, plus the Disney Rewards Dollars being designated for use at shopDisney and the parks, makes the Disney Visa a “must have” for someone planning a Disney trip. However, if it’s not right for you and your family, there are other cash rewards style cards that you might want to consider.

Give DIY A Try

When most people think of DIY they think about some sort of project, like home improvements or car repair. For those of you out there reading this who have the skills and tools for those types of jobs, doing it yourself can be a great way to save money that would have otherwise been spent on hiring a professional. However, these types of projects aren’t the only things that you can give the good’ole DIY try!

Of course, a discussion about saving money for a Disney vacation wouldn’t be complete without the make your own coffee at home suggestion. Though not everyone buys a $6.00 coffee 5 times a week, if you do, making your coffee at home [even if you buy the fancy beans or grounds and creamer] can save you at least half of what you’d spend in a month. Crunching some basic numbers, that could mean saving something like $62.00 a month or $744.00 a year. That’s nearly a thousand bucks!

Another great way to save lots of money though the power of DIY is movie night. Though prices vary around the country and at different theater chains, the average movie night can come in somewhere around the $50.00 mark (2 adults, 1 large popcorn, 2 candies and 1 large soft drink). That’s a significant chunk of change. Though there will always be movies that are better on the big screen, for the family who is simply looking for a fun way to spend Friday nights, having a movie night at home could be the way to go. No matter how you slice it, movie nights at home are always going to be more affordable than going to the theater. However, for the very frugal among us, there are ways to cut the costs down to almost nothing.

Looking for a little movie night inspiration? Check out how we do movie night HERE.

Consider How You Are Paying Your Bills

Did you know that how you pay your bills can impact how much you pay? Truthfully, it didn’t occur to me either until one day when I happened to be poking around and realized that there was an $8.00 “convenience” fee for me to pay this particular bill online. I was blown away! I did a bit more digging and, as it turns out, there are a lot of companies out there who will charge different fees depending on how customers choose to pay. Knowing this allowed me to adjust the way I pay my bills accordingly and save money each month.

We’ve gone over a few different options here today, but the list most definitely does not stop here. Like I said earlier, we’re always keeping an eye out for new and interesting ways to save money and we’ll be sure to keep you updated! Until then, what are some of your favorite suggestions or what do you think we should have mentioned and forgot? Let us know!

Until next time. . . . .