Overwhelmed paying for vacation

**Daisygirl** · 06-23-2008, 05:30 AM

The girls and I have planned a trip to Disneyworld this summer. I know I am going about it the right way - I am paying cash for the whole thing before we go. However, I think maybe I messed up - I am so fnancially overwhelmed right now.

The trip itself is halfway payed for and I will be finished in two more weeks. (I have my vacation pay coming the first week of July). I am worried about the plane tickets though. Prices just keep going up and I am not able to pay for the tickets yet.

I'll pull it together, I always do but I am so stressed out right now as far as the money is concerned. It's not like you can tell your kids, nevermind, we aren't going to go to Disney this year!

So anyhow, the kids will be away for a few weeks and I am planning to live on peanut butter and jelly for the most part. I am going to turn off the AC and I am going back to blackbelt frugality for that amount of time. This budget cutting will help a lot, and I will feel more under control.

Thanks for listening!

**Greebo** · 06-23-2008, 06:03 AM

Couple thoughts here:

Have you checked to see if Disney can get you any kind of a deal on the travel tickets?

With something short term like this, since plane tickets always cost more the closer to departure you get, this is one of those very rare cases where I might consider charging the tickets, and then paying them off on the cards as fast as possible. Reason being, if the tickets are going to get more expensive the closer you get to the trip, and you can save a few hundred by buying them now and you can pay them off in a month or two, then the interest paid will be less than the increased cost.

However, I'm not recommending that - I'm saying I'd consider it.

I was going to ask if alternative travel was an option - like taking the train, but I see you're in Ontario, and that'd be a whole week just getting there.

Anyway - good luck, and hang in there! You can do it!!

**Michelle** · 06-23-2008, 07:30 AM

I commend you for paying cash for the trip

When you say that the trip is halfway paid, do you mean that you have that money set aside for the trip, or did you already pay a travel agent or similar?

I'm wondering if you could find a package deal somewhere. I've had great results with www.expedia.com and www.travelocity.com

What about trying priceline for your airline tickets? I think if you go to www.kayak.com and search for flights you can see a fare chart to determine when the lowest prices are for the flight you need. That way if you can fly a day before or after, you could save some money.

Also, sometimes going directly to the airline for tickets will give you the best rate. When I've flown to FL in the past, I've checked Delta's website to see what they're offering.

HTH, and have a great time! :mickey:

**IntlMom** · 06-23-2008, 07:57 AM

Great suggestions Michelle!

Karen - glad you get to go and have fun.........what memories you and the girls will make!

**kwilson18** · 06-23-2008, 11:07 AM

I'm not sure where you are in Ontario, but check out flights from other cities- Buffalo often has cheaper flights to Florida because they have more low cost airlines competing.

**Michelle** · 06-23-2008, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by kwilson18

I'm not sure where you are in Ontario, but check out flights from other cities- Buffalo often has cheaper flights to Florida because they have more low cost airlines competing.

Good idea. I can currently fly out of 3 different airports (all within 1-1 1/2 hr radius). The more flexible you can be, the better price you'll find.

**Grayce** · 06-23-2008, 11:23 AM

I second the recommendation to check the costs of flights from Buffalo. Southwest has some good prices. We are going to Orlando in September and we have decided to drive. We figured out what it would cost for gas and a hotel for one night each way and it is cheaper than flying (we have a really, really small car). From Ontario, Orlando is 22 hours away.

**Mom23boys** · 06-23-2008, 01:24 PM

Have you visited mousesavers.com yet? They have some great tips on visiting Disney frugally.

**Bethany** · 06-23-2008, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mom23boys

Have you visited mousesavers.com yet? They have some great tips on visiting Disney frugally.

Mousesavers.com is a great website for planning to spend time in Disney. Lots of fun little ideas to keep the price down. For example, drinks in the park are sooo pricey but it's so hot there that you gotta keep hydrated. Mousesavers gave us the tip to pack in a rolling cooler frozen juice boxes or pouches. I didn't even know you could bring your own drinks in the park. This saved us probably close to 50 dollars alone. Also, we bought a big couple of bags of chips and brought those in. The meals in the park are ok, but expensive. I'd definitely think about splitting meals while in the park. Anyway, our trip was almost two years ago, but I remember pouring over mousesavers.com for hours and figuring out a bunch of little tips. In the cafeteria style places you can buy slices of bread and individual tubs of pnb and jelly and make your own sandwiches for something like 50 cents. But to buy a pb and j was like 2.50 at the time.

**missmanny** · 06-23-2008, 06:47 PM

After reading your previous posts about what you have been through in the past and the journey you took to get yourself to the place you are now, I completely understand why it is important for you to take your girls away for a magical holiday.

Have a good time and ENJOY yourself! with careful planning the money will take care of itself.

BTW - when my DSO goes away I live very cheaply and I actually love it, no cooking everynight (I'll just eat some toast or a sandwich) DSO would never be prepared to eat like that at night so it saves us a fortune while he is away.

Everything will be fine, you've made a plan and I know you can stick to it.

**frugalfoster** · 06-23-2008, 11:04 PM

You know what they say..."when the going gets tough the tough get going". That slogan fits you to a "T". Compared to what you have been through, tightening your frugal belt for this vacation is a walk in the park. Hurray for you that you are taking your daughters to Disneyworld! Also check out the website mouseplanet for more tips.

**knitnmom** · 06-23-2008, 11:16 PM

I did this last year when we went to Disneyland, and we're doing it again this year. We had so much fun and what helped even more was knowing that we paid in cash! The kids earned their spending money saving plastic bottles. Needless to say they were more careful with what they chose to buy!

With all that said, I would definitely buy the tickets now if you can and make it a goal to have them paid off before you fly.

Oh yeah, and have a magical day!

**Daisygirl** · 06-24-2008, 05:38 AM

Thanks for the great tips. I will check out some of these websites.

By hlfway paid, I mean that Disney has half the money for the trip and will be receiving the other half in two weeks. I went that way as opposed to paying on plastic.

I have talked to my dad and I am going to borrow the plane money from him, paying him back before we go on our trip. We are definitely flying out of Buffalo, far cheaper and actually closer to us than Toronto.

The girls have been earning their spending money putting their toys in a yard sale, to be continued next weekend.

We bought a package staying at Disney and also bought their meal plan. The only thing we are taking with us are the snacks and drinks. (backpacking that stuff in with us.)

**TheRootedNomad** · 06-24-2008, 07:28 AM

Glad you got it figured out. Enjoy the wonderful time with your girls!!!! I've been stashing money for a "fun" trip with the kids at some point too. It won't be this summer but I can't wait for it to happen.

**DonnainME** · 06-24-2008, 08:30 PM

I'm a little jealous. I used to live in FL and went to Disney a few times. I live in Maine now and would LOVE a Disney vacation. Maybe in a few years when my business is doing better.