SAVE Money for Disney

DISNEY vacations can be a HUGE expense for families, but they do not have to be... With the right choices and options a family can save hundreds if not thousands on a DISNEY vacation.

• One of the best and smartest ways to save for a Disney vacation is to open a separate savings account specifically for your vacation fund. If at all possible, jump-start the account with a lump sum, such as a tax refund. DISNEY offers these, and will add 'bonus' cash in your account as well! Check out more information on a Disney Vacation Account!

•  Disney gift cards can yield a savings as well. It might seem a little complicated BUT, it is an effective way to reduce your Disney spending by hundreds a ta time. You can save over 15% when buying a gift card online at a reduced cost (reputable sites only) to a store that sells DISNEY gift cards at a reduced rate (Target, Bj's, Costco, Sam's Club). Use those cards to buy the reduced cost DISNEY gift cards and use the gift cards to pay for your vacation. To further your discount, buy the original discount using your Disney Visa (get your 1-3% back in Disney points!) Check out Raise Discount Gift Cards or Cardpool Discount Gift Cards for purchasing gift cards

• Don't SPEND your change... save it in a jar! (a 2-liter bottle can hold 700$ in dimes) If you don’t want to roll the change, see if your bank takes unrolled change (TD Bank) or visit a coin-star machine (some even give gift cards instead of cash! Be careful some coin machines take a percentage).
  
  
   
  
  
  • Play the checking account game... When writing a check, round up your checkbook entry to the nearest dollar. (For instance, if you write a check for $57.12, record it in your checkbook as $58). Not only does this help you prevent overdrafts, it also means you’re accumulating a little extra in your account every time you write a check. Another good thing about this method is that you’re earning interest on that extra money, assuming you have an interest-bearing checking account. AND round down your deposit entries to the nearest dollar. (For instance, if you deposit $300.91, record it as $300). Again, you’re accumulating a little extra “ghost” money in your account.
  
  
  • If a payment ends, keep making it — to yourself! If you pay off a car or a credit card, keep making that payment, but instead write the check to yourself and deposit it into your vacation savings account.
  • Make a rule that “found” money goes in the vacation fund (rebate, tax refund, gift check, work bonus, EVEN laundry money) deposit it in the vacation account.
  •  Cut out one small daily expense and put the money you’re saving into your vacation fund. The savings can really add up (don't buy a latte, bring one; bring a snack from home instead of the vending machines).

• Ask your family to help you save. Often children aren’t very aware of how much small expenses can add up over time. If you point out that every nickel they can save the household will get them closer to seeing Mickey, they may surprise you! Solicit their ideas and suggestions, and then agree to put aside what you’ve saved for your vacation fund.(Collect returnable cans/bottles)

• Cut expenses....Spend less on entertainment and save where-ever/whenever you can (borrow videos from your public library, eat out less, and/or use grocery store coupons).

• Sell your junk. Have a big garage sale, list things on ebay/amazon or another tag sale site, use a consignment store or Craigslist.

• Evaluate your spending on cable television and telephone services. If you have a cell phone, see if there’s a better plan for you, that fits your usage patterns at a lower cost, likewise with your insurance companies.

• Re-evaluate gift-giving. Perhaps you can just start exchanging greeting cards. Or you might prefer to institute a gift exchange (each person draws one name) or switch to “gifts of love” (give each other certificates for back rubs, car washes, and other kind gestures that cost you nothing but your time and effort). Or set a low dollar limit on gifts and see how creative you can get.

• Hang on to your receipts: Some receipts from park restaurants include same-day discounts for Downtown Disney retailers in the fine print, so be sure to inspect yours before tossing it. You can use these discounts to buy marked-down toys and costumes for your kids!

• Check out APPS that earn you money or save you money!