What's your biggest budget buster????

[Bookwood]

When your at WDW what do you end up over spending on?? Do you over spend your budget at all? Tell me your budget secrets- I need help!

[FLSharon]

Food, :oops: ... just food. :oops: OPps.... unless I'm in Epcot...then its adult beverages... daytime it's the Rosa Regale from Italy and at night, its the hot spiced wine in Germany... Oh my....

[BaciBecky]

A couple of times I've splurged on a Skagen watch..now I have two and it'll be a long time before I buy another!

Otherwise, it would be food - doing a sit down, but mostly am fine with counter service meals. For many years paid in cash, took cash with me divided into envelopes (resort, food,
souvenirs) and often brought some home! Also, planned the reosrt according to budget, but there was far fewer resorts then, so we enjoyed the Poly and CR for $79 a nght (before tx) :D

When my kids were young they were great about souvenirs -the rule was a small item and a bigger one such as a t-shirt or sweatshirt. They never really wanted much and often had to talk them into something to talk home.

Those were the days :flower:

eta:typo

[Belle]

I always run a pretty tight budget when we are at WDW, hence our ability to go more often. I keep a hotel budget in mind always... the Poly for the marathon being the exception. Whatever level hotel falls into our budget is where we stay and that is that. Again, why we are so versed in the many resorts on the WDW property.

I use Mousesavers.com all the time - those budget codes for cars, hotels, etc will pop uplast minute and I have been very lucky to catch a few last minute deals getting big savings! :D Plus, you can't beat those Southwest DING! fares! 8)

As for a budget buster, I would have to say that trying something new or different, that isn't on the typical "to-do" list usually creeps up - ie, taking out the watermice (we need 2 since there are 3 of us :? ).

Usually we are very good about spending and often come home with money to put back in the bank! :shock: Mik is very good about keeping souvenir requests to a minimum. Her budget is usually around $20 and she is good with that, no begging, whining, etc. (Same goes for Beast :wink: ) We do a lot of counter service, poptarts for breakfast, buy a case of water at Walgreens and that kind of thing. And I really don't feel like we miss out on anything.

It takes something out-of-the-ordinary to convince me to bust my budget :wink: Momma runs a tight ship around here :lol:

{hugs}
Belle

[SueV]

Well usually we don't have a budget:oops: BUT for our January vacation I made one up and was very surprised to see how much we spend on FOOD!!!! The food is our biggest expense next to princess dresses for the girls;)!! One of the reasons we have the motorhome is not only to use for transportation down there but to stay in and save some money! Yeah right!!!! I plan to have some meals and snacks in the motorhome but then it never really happens! The occasionaly bowl of cereal for breakfast and that's it! Even Joe says "Honey it's your vacation too, you dont' need to cook, and off we go!" So yea for us it's food and princess dresses not too far behind!:lol:

[LimeGreenCheri]

I usually overspend before I get there! I go to Wal-mart or Target and get things we'll "need". Now we go to WDW several times a year, I don't think we "need" these things everytime. So, my new budget goal is to keep that to a minimum.

Also a couple of weeks before, I decide to add on a night or two. That can up my budget by a couple of hundred dollars. Again, I'm trying to keep that to a minimum.

We are fortunate to live only 7.5 hours away. It makes for only gas money to get down there. Usually about $150 total versus $300 each to fly out of Atlanta, transfers, rental cars, parking at the airport what not.

[WillCAD]

Souveniers!

I shop too much. I can't walk past a shop at WDW without going in and looking around - and I almost always buy something.

Of course, being a cheapskate, I never buy the $42 polo shirts or $65 sweatshirts, but buying $5 and $10 items adds up quickly.

I have been working on my self-control, and I am proud to say that on my last trip (MF2005, 6 days), I bought ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Just food - no souveniers of any kind. I even stuck to my food budget and ate only 2 sit-down meals, sticking with counter service the rest of the time.

I hope I can stay with the program...

[SusanP]

We keep quite close to our budget. We don't believe in going into debt for vacation so we wait until we have the cash to go, and that is all we have! We usually choose value rooms, have breakfast in the room and eat counter service. The kids only have their own money for souvenirs and dh and I don't buy much. I keep all the receipts from our trips so I can plan quite accurately as to what the next trip will cost. We are rather frugal at home so we certainly don't feel we are missing out on anything while at Disney-if I don't have to cook dinner I really don't care where I eat! I just couldn't spend on one meal what would buy groceries for a week at home...

[nicholaspaige]

We also have a tight budget. We bring Poptarts, granola bars,etc. for breakfast, and bring crackers and peanut butter/cheese, fruit, goldfish,etc. for snacks for the day and usually do one sit-down meal a day. For us it gives us a nice relaxing hour or so to get recharged. Our kids are so used to going all day that they don't complain. Of course they need to eat BETWEEN EVERY RIDE!!! :yowsa: and DH doesn't get it!!:yikes: He can't understand how 2 little kids(yes they are 6 and 9 but not big) can eat so much!! :shock: And every morning we "discuss" how much snacks I am bringing because "we don't need all that", and of course most is gone during the course of the day.:nahnah:

And since we have DVC, AP's and now ME, the only thing we have to pay for is food. We go often enough that they don't need many souvenirs, although we almost always come home with something.

[Ursulinda]

PICTURES! I'm a sucker for Disney photos - but really - I don't spend that money until after I'm home. . . although now, I hear you can get ALL your photopass photos on a cd for $100. WISH they'e do that on the cruise too!

[EpcotBill]

Yeah, food and when in Epcot, beer.

[Flash]

t-shirts and more t-shirts -- I could blanket the world with my t-shirts...

[Stinkerbelle]

Pins and beer!

No matter how many pins I buy in advance on Ebay to trade, I always find some that I have to buy both for myself and for Ken. He is much better than me at just trading and not purchasing. He enjoys the hunt. I just like to buy what I like and hang on to them. Along with the pins the pin cases and books and extra pages for the books have become budget busters as well.

Now for the beer... that's all Ken. I can't stand beer, but between the beers he drinks at the Adventurers Club and beers in Epcot we could probably add another hotel night to the trip. I am not sure about the rest of WDW property but they charge $4.50 for a Miller Lite at the Adventurer's Club. Yikes!

[PreacherBoy]

I echo WilCAD. Our biggest Budget Buster is souveniers. It seems that every shop has something we absoulutely NEED. Last May, we couldn't even get out Downtown Disney without spending a fortune.

To solve this problem, I put my wife on a budget of Disney Dollars. She saved for months every extra penny she could. Just before we left for Disney, we stopped in our local Disney Store and exchanged all of her cash for Disney Dollars. While at WDW, the only money she had for souveniers was her Disney Dollars. Once she spent it, she was done. No more souvenirs for her. (OK, I fudged a little bit. But only a little.)

[Sheryl]

One of my biggest budget busters is my problem of overspending on gifts to bring home for family member. I only have one niece and nephew, and I can find something for them everywhere I shop. They are just so adorable, I cannot help myself from buying for them. Even though I don't have any competition, I still have to be the "Favorite" aunt.

[loribell]

Our biggest budget busters would have to be food and the length of our trips. Of course if we went on shorter trips we would go more frequently so our costs would still be up there.

Since we have DVC we could save on food but it is my vacation too so I am not going to cook.

Lori

[cshore]

The World of Disney store is my biggest budget buster. Each trip Ali and I say "we really don't need anything, so we won't spend too much". Then we enter the Disney store and find all kinds of must haves. Now with a grandbaby on the way I have an all new list of must haves for the baby. I have no self control.

Chris

[Carrie]

I'm an impulse spender. I'll go in a store for 1 item and come out with a lot more. Souveniers has always been my budget buster. But on my last trip I took cash. Debit card purchases add up without me realizing how much I'm spending. When I can see the cash dwindling, I know its time to curb the spending.

[Belle]

I'm an impulse spender. I'll go in a store for 1 item and come out with a lot more. Souveniers has always been my budget buster. But on my last trip I took cash. Debit card purchases add up without me realizing how much I'm spending. When I can see the cash dwindling, I know its time to curb the spending.

Same here Carrie :) We only use the debit card for planned, bigger things like character meals... but otherwise it is cash.

That goes along the same principle as I refuse to add a credit card to my room key for charging purposes. That makes it waaaaay to easy to overspend... That is also one thing I dislike about the DCL - you don't have a choice but to charge to your key :mad: Let me tell you that bill adds up quick, even though the cruise itself is mostly "all inclusive" :yikes: Those few drinks and souvenirs can leave a nice sized porthole in your wallet!!!

{hugs}
Belle

[BetsyBoo]

Carrie and Belle,

I am with you too! We take cash for the Souveniers, Usually we decided how much we will spend before each trip and we stick to it. Kids get 2 pins each trip, it is up to them to trade them or keep them. The kids take some spending money of their own however, we usually give them a small allowance 20-30 and they are pretty good, they usually come home with money. Now since we have been fairly often it seems that our must have spending has decreased dramatically.

BetsyBoo

[Bookwood]

I have to agree with Betsy Boo on the the more often I go the less I spend theory (at least on souven"ears"). I usually don't buy anything except a couple of pins and maybe a shirt I can wear for work (if I find something cheap enough :rofl: ). I don't feelthe need to have everything I see!

[MJTinNH]

I have to agree with Betsy Boo on the the more often I go the less I spend theory (at least on souven"ears"). I usually don't buy anything except a couple of pins and maybe a shirt I can wear for work (if I find something cheap enough :rofl: ). I don't feel the need to have everything I see!

I'm with Bookwood and BetsyBoo. I have gone often enough that now I don't really buy souvenirs. Although I always scope out the watches and T-shirts every trip. I might find one that really catches my eye!;)

[mickeefan]

I would have to say on our last trip we overspent on Photopass.
I ordered some and DD ordered some with us ending up spending more than it would have cost to buy them all. We didn't know you could purchase them all for one amount.

We save up for our trip, but then put everything on the Disney Visa. There's always the excuse that we are building up rewards points.
We do make sure we pay it off to avoid paying interest/service charges.

[tiggerguy]

Our budget buster is when we drive up to the door and they say Welcome Home.The whole trip is out of control from the kids having spending privileges on the room key to the wife and I eating dinner alone at the yachtsman or fultons(You can feed a family of 8 on that dinner check for 2).I have only one person to blame and thats me tiggerguy2000.
I can only hope we have self control and I trust my children.
What's a vacation if you have to watch the money belt
The tighter the belt the less fun you have

[smallworld0]

On our last couple trips we splurged at Crystal Palace. To some it may not sound like much, but we usually share meals even at the counter meal restaurants, but we have a love affair with CP, so we do it one time each trip. It was worse this Christmas because we took our 2 boys and one son's girlfriend. Chaching, baby! $$$ ......But, we have some great pictures and wonderful memories.

Nancy:mickeyXmas:

[Timon]

Without a doubt it's Disney apparel. I always have something Disney on. Whether it's my Mickey Mouse watch, tie clasp, tie, or socks, I'm always wearing something Disney. And that's just dress clothes. Add in tee-shirts and sweat shirts and we're talking big budget busters. My goodness, one pair of Mickey socks is $9.00, and the color variety is very limited.

Any of you folks that have been to the Disney outlets know if they've got Disney apparel?

[kathleena]

Budget? Hmmm.....I think I've heard that word somewhere before.......budget....budget......

I usually go with a budget in mind, but it's more of a way to manage my mind, than it is something to stick hard-line to. If I overdo anything it's definately souvvies - but I've become much better with controlling those urges over the years.

Food - we will go and eat what we want and where we want - we think of it as part of the vacation experience so it becomes our most expensive item. We do plan ahead to only eat so many meals sit-down and so many with food in the room, save on water by buying offsite and bringing a bottle to the park, bring in snacks etc and stick to that plan, but we don't really stick to a strict $$ amount, just a general not-over-so-much-per-day.

Our feeling is we don't want to stress about money during the vacation. So we watch our spending back year round at home and fill up the vacation coffers so we can relax and enjoy while we are there. Then while we are there, we just try to be sensible and not waste money, but still enjoy our time.

[mickeefan]

Someone mentioned watches. That's my downfall. I just can't resist a new Disney watch.
I have a Disneyland 35th anniversary watch.
I have a low number first issue WDW 25th anniversary watch.
I have a 100 years of Magic watch.
I have a 2000 WDW watch.
In 2004 they had a beautiful Citizens Mickey Watch that was eco-drive solar powered. I could not justify the price.
They had another identical to it which ran on batteries. I purchased that one.
Well not too long after that they advertised the eco watch at half price.
Needless to say I bought it.
These are just the favorites I have. I should be an octopus, but I do love my Disney watches.

[DVCerLee]

Our budget buster is when we drive up to the door and they say Welcome Home.

Wait a minute!!!! I thought DVC was to help us save money.:confused:
I guess it just helps us budget better, because we're paying ahead of time. At least that what I tell DH:mrgreen:

Dis

[Carrie]

My budget buster is the hotel. I'm always refiguring the numbers so I can add on another day.

[Mickey4Us]

After hotel (usually splurge for a deluxe), I would say food. We tried eating in the room once but it wasn't very pleasant for 2 adults and 2 kids under 5. It would be nice if there was a table and chairs in the room - oh well. Breakfast is one meal that is over priced at WDW in my mind. Maybe when the kids are older we will opt for a poptart but the hubby likes to eat a decent bfast too. I am just so anxious to start my day that I could care less about bfast! We try to limit ourselves to one character meal per trip. Although on our last trip we had 2 - the baby was just acting up so much that we need a treat!
And usually one one sit down meal per day is the limit!

[SueP413]

My biggest budget buster is food for sure. I love the sit down restaurants. It is my goal to visit each and everyone. Of course, I have almost reached the goal. My DS, 6 is a souvenier hound. He wants EVERYTHING so we keep him in check. We usually stay for free or very cheaply because DH travels for work so we have points or join him on his business trips.

Like LGC I used to buy a lot before we left. On our first BIG trip on 2002 I had beautiful outfits for the boys for every day. WOW I was NUTS back them.:p

[Kaycee]

Mine is definitely adult beverages. :shots: Food and souvenirs are no problem - I always spend less than what I budgeted in those areas. But evenings spent hanging out with friends at Jellyrolls or strolling around World Showcase with drink in hand really add up.

[smallworld0]

FOOD!!! We do try eat outside of the parks for breakfast, counter meal for lunch and then a sit down for dinner....but there's always Mickey ice cream bars, Dole Whips, popcorn, churros.....who can resist???

Nancy :mickeyXmas:

[Ursulinda]

As I posted before, PICTURES are my number one, break the bank item, but uh, I just remembered a couple other little things . . . like BATH stuff from Basin! I LOVE IT! And scrapbook stuff that I bring home and horde and never use because it's 'too nice'.

[roodad]

There is usually one real splurgy meal that puts a little knot in my stomach when I sign the tab. Other than that, disney watches are a major budget buster. I have been lucky lately, in that there haven't been many interesting pocket watches available at WDW.

[SuzyQ]

:rofl:
We don't really have a budget per say that we go over, we are just CHEAP! :rofl:

Seriously, I think that our biggest expense is always the hotel room if we are not staying DVC. Other than that, we really don't purchase many souvenier items and our food bills are pretty reasonable (we'll use our Disney rewards for a fancy dinner here and there). :)

~Suzy

[mickeefan]

We don't work from a budget either. I'd say our biggest expense is the rooms. Since DD goes with us now, we get two rooms at the Poly, need I say more.
This is fine as she needs her privacy and she does take care of both of us for the entire trip and we are thrilled she has started going with us.
I'll have to remember to slow down a little this year. I heard her tell someone our ECV's kept her at a fast pace last year, but she would not say anything about it.

[PixiePrincess]

Our biggest expense is the room~ This past trip we paid $1870 for 6 nights. :yikes: Dang!! That's a lot of money. :neer:

[ActionTina]

Hi :) everyone, I'm new here! Just signed up today! I'll say that for us it's the food as well. The first time we visited the only TS we did was Holly and Vine for the Fantasmic package. Last year we had free dining and this trip we are paying for it for 10 nights. It's not a lot of money for all the food you get but I don't really need all that food :WILLpower:. Still, we are having it anyway because we love going to the different resturants and what we can eat we really enjoy! We have 5 nights no DP after that so we will see if we can save a little bit then.

This year I am getting a few souvies that I refused myself the last 2 trips! Indulge me and let me tell you what they are :D! One is a medium sized super soft Eeyore that is just so cuddly. I told my self you are an adult, no plush for you! But now nah, I'm having him! Also a anamatronic Stitch in his Hawaiian gear that sings and dances, so cool! Then there is a mug with the fab 5 falling from the TOT shop. Mine :waving:!

I really need to learn how to do Disney for cheaper, maybe someday...!

[ChrisR]

We have seasonal passes and DVC so that saves us money in that a lot is prepaid. We actually bring stuff to make simple meals and sandwiches in our room. We usually eat all but one breakfast in the room and maybe one other meal per day as well. By budget buster while at the park would be character breakfast. I love being able to take pictures of the boys with the characters without having to stand in line. DH says the budget buster is when we get home and I scrapbook our trips. He says it costs more than the trip!

[Mariaºoº]

Having been a single mom with a very tight living budget I can honestly say that I'm pretty good with a budget when at Disney. My budget busters were for those rare things that happen...flat tire and FW Campground flooding and having to move up in price on a resort hit the budget belt pretty hard in 2002. The kids receive Disney money as stocking stuffers, b-day presents, Easter basket fillers, etc... throughout the year which ends up being enough for them to have $20-$30 a day to spend and when it's their own money they are very picky over what the purchase and normally come home with some extra money for the next trip.