Starting again in 2012!

Time to start over!

Our next family trip won't be until Fall of 2013 (unless some miracle happens), so we have over a year and a half to save up for this one.  Our goal is Disneyland again since Carsland wasn't open on our last trip.  My family also hasn't been during their Halloween time and the Party is awesome! We will have to do WDW when all the kids are big enough to do EVERYTHING, since it will probably be our only time as a family. Have to see if I can convince my husband that we should go alone sometime before then.

To add to our fund, a percent of my past Disney travel planning will go towards it, leftover grocery budget, credit card rewards including Disney Rewards Visa and any other rebates or found money that comes along.  I'm also still paying with pennies, so that I can get back nickels, dimes and quarters only and have those add up as well.

I'm also doing a meal plan service to keep me on track with meals, groceries.  I can keep staples on hand and just shop my pantry first before going to the store. It also cuts out a lot of the "What's for dinner" dilemma.  So far it's exactly what I needed!  There are all types of menu plans or store sales they use.  Definitely something to look into, and get 10% off if you subscribe by Jan 15 using the code 2012.

Opening California Adventure!

 

Starting over in 2012!

The reason for no updates is because right after the last post, a big opportunity came- sailing on the Disney Wonder to the Mexican Riviera.  This will also help in my Disney vacation planning, since I had only toured the ship.  I wasn't feeling ready to book for someone else until after I had done a cruise myself.

So we set sail on Nov 27-Dec 4, which was the same day we were going to arrive at Disneyland, so timing just happened to work out and I had put away enough to really help with the trip.  Account is down to $0, points are being used- so we'll be saving up starting when we return again.  You are welcome to join in then as well!

Disney Wonder- Bon Voyage!

 

June update

Emails/Surveys $31

Coins: $11.15

Sell stockpile, houses: $76

Amazon trade-in: $64.94

Disney rewards: 15

New total: $2398.55
no pic this month- need to get the comp fixed!

May update

Chase cash-back: $300.00

Travel planning: $115.16

Coins: $21.41

Disney rewards points 20

NEW Total: $2263.17
 
Back over the 20% mark!  This is what I like to see- progress! This month I am revamping our budget and getting back on the savings train.  Everything is deposited each week, so I'm also building interest on it in my account too!

Been busy with travel planning since the new specials are out!

• Free Dining at WDW
• Kids Sail Free to Mexico on DCL
• Resort room benefits at Disneyland!  

Counting down to our own trip too- added a countdown in the sidebar --->

Post edit- should have taken off the CC reward category before I did my total, reflected next month.

This is one of our favorite spots to sit and take a break with a Dole whip!

2007 trip- Trevor (4) and Devin (1) with daddy.

April update

Had a little set back this month- realized that the double mile rewards card also charged double the miles to use them.  Instead of saving them up to pay off travel, I cashed it out and will be using a different method instead.  So I'm back under $2000, but not for long I hope!

Cashed in CapitalOne rewards: $292.20

Travel Planning: $42.59

New TOTAL:  $1806.60

1993 Summer

We had a sisters' night last week to go see PROM and this was about the same seating arrangement in the car!  Yes my sister had a leash but she'd only let me hang on to it.  She's 21 next week!

March update- over 1/5 of the way!

Emails/Suveys (Paypal): $27
Disney rewards: 4
CapitalOne rewards: 40

New total: $2032.81

We used the Lowe's gift card this week from the Coinstar machine since we are starting our home remodel- worked great!  Glad we could use that 10% more instead of it going to fees.  I have my coins building again and will redeem them again the same way.

Food budget has been difficult the last few months- not so great sales, but it's finally getting better.  Hoping for a good April with lots of leftover!  I am on a new roll of pennies- nice to get rid of those!

Credit card- do you prefer travel rewards or cash?  I feel kind of tricked with my "Double Miles" reward card, cause when I went to see prices on things, it took twice as much reward to pay them down.  I'm looking at maybe a cash back one so I can bank that to our saving fund.  What do you use?

2009 with my 4 boys (youngest in the infant chair)

February update

CapitalOne rewards: $64 ($521 total)
Disney rewards: $2 (408)
MySurvey redeemed to paypal: $10
Ebates refund: $27.43

Total for February: $103.43

I had been overwhelmed to do coupons last month, but I'm already on a roll for March!  Hoping for more grocery savings!

With Stitch and my 4 boys at Minnie's Breakfast in the Park