What are some neat/unusual ways you save for your trip?

[DznyDreaming]

Another keeper of the change here!!
My son and I never use change for anything....it change goes straight into "Disney Money" which we keep in one of those big plastic popcorn containers from one of our trips.

We also have a great time rolling the coins and talking about our trip. It is a wonderful time to spend together getting us in the mood! These memories are just as important as the trip itself.

[Chrissy&Tayen]

we have change too.. but i have a duralast battery a change holder.. LOL

its a battery that was used to for show.. their is nothing in it.. when you pop the top on it.. it has lil sections that i used to keep each type of coin separted... and a slot that i used for special coin i refuse to role and spend..

[Cinderella2]

I was thinking about getting a weekend job at the local Disney Store just for vacation money. The last time I worked there I spent more than my paycheck though. I kind of like having weekends off to for the first time in my life so I can't decided.

[capitalangel]

I do the change thing a little but I have a weird way for most of it....I buy disney gift cards. The teens at my church sell gift cards as a fundraiser (they get a percentage of the sale). I buy cards from them, then added them to my account until i paid of my trip. Now I buy them for spending money. That way i only have to carry a small amount of cash in the parks, and the youth group gets money. I was able to buy cards a little at a time and since the money is on the cards, I CAN"T SPEND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can buy cards at the disney store or online. I also asked for gift cards for my birthday.

[pelegirl56]

I watch every Disney special I can get my hands on (Travel Channel, History Channel, etc) and write a list of my priorities (food, special events, etc), then I do a lot of internet research to find it cheaper. I eat at the "nicer" places for lunch, when sometimes it's cheaper. I read the Orlando Sentinel online weeks before I go to see if there is anything special going on that might offer a reduced rate. I call the rental car places and try to negotiate my prices for my rental car (I have been successful about 80% of the time), and I purchase a gas card well before I leave so that I already have that pretty much budgeted out. I purchase my airfare (sometimes) through Southwest Airlines Ding! Fare or through TED. I also use a Disney Credit card and accrue the points and I am a change saver .

Oh, and my brother, parents and I went in a bought a "time ownership" which is pretty much a time share with some tax breaks and flexibility in usage. The thing has paid for itself three times over. It is not a DVC, but can be used at select DVC resorts with some transfer time, so we are able to stay at Saratoga Springs, etc.

[LockShockBarrel]

i'm one of the spare changers. i rarely use it because i hate being that person looking for one more penny. my only problem is if i have a piggy bank or container that i can open, i tend to break into it for other stuff. so what i do is get a decent size container that i don't mind ruining that i can use and that has a lid i can cut a coin slot into. then i glue the top down. this way i can't break into it for whatever, and i'll only cut into it once its full. i've used coffee cans with the plastic lids, butter tubs, anything like that really and if you have kids (granted i'm 22 and i still do this) you can decorate the container! this works the best with the coffee can as you can paint over the metal and write "disney fund" or what have you on it.

[First Timer]

I save all my change and one dollar bills in a jar. We never plan more then 3 months in advance but i still manage to save anywhere from 100 to 150 dollars

[InStitches]

I'm so glad I ran across this thread. I was able to save enough change last year to buy our tickets. Immediately after out trip, I began saving again and we will have enough again for our trip in Nov.

[ohiodisneydad]

I suggest getting a hield interest savings account. I have one from INGdirect that started as 4.5% APR. I transfer over to that as often as I can and since its not easily acessible I leave it alone. I plan on throwing our tax return into it and holding it until we go. If you decide to get one of the ING accounts let me know and I can send you a link via email. I get a referral bonus! More Disney money!!!!

[DisneyDreamer13]

i run the finances in our house, Disney is listed as a bill that needs paying every week!

[AuntBee]

Spare change, yes. Disney Visa, big yes! Last year I had enough points saved to pay entirely for our room at Port Orleans Riverside, as well as our Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets! I also go off-season, when the rates are lower, and then use a special promo from Visa to get an even better rate! My best savings will change after this next visit though: I will be using the last day of my multi-day tickets that had no expiration AUTOMATICALLY added; from now on, we'll have to pay for that option.

[disneyveteran]

I also save change, and my small children add to the fund with change they find on the ground. I've also been making jewelry for a few years now and half of my sales go into that fund. My mom opened a Disney only savings and we both drop money in it. Last year that added up to $800.

[tasha36]

[quote=DisneyDreamer13;512559]I'm in the UK & my kids are getting money each week in dollars. quote]


We also do this - my parents give us birthday/christmas money in dollars so we can't spend it before we go!

[Jenroc]

I also do the change thing. I wrapped a 10 litre (I'm Canadian, eh ! lol) in Disney wrapping paper so that we really can't see what is in there. I add ALL change we find/get from shopping and when finances aren't too tight I add in $5.00 bills too.
It is amazing how fast things add up especially since we have $1.00 and $2.00 coins !!!
I am going to start adding $20.00 from each of my daycare families when they pay me in cash each week ($60.00 to $100.00 per week). I have my kids add 1/2 of their allowances to the trip fund too, so they have their own money to spend.

[Jenroc]

Oh yeah ..... I forgot ! I also preplan what events/recreational extras that we want to do. I then take envelopes, write on the outside the event, the amount per person and total amount and keep it with my Disney planning book. When I have extra money, after all the bills are paid for the week, I add the bils to the envelope and put it away. Being a single mom, I can't afford to lock away money, in case of emergencies. The money is still available but in a sealed envelope for safe keeping.
I also have a P/T job and some of that $$$ is left in the bank for my trips.