I have managed to save quite a bit for The Disney Fund. I am so excited to deposit this money and see how much closer it brings me to our goal:
$348 refund from the IRS. We have to pay the IRS each year, so it was completely unexpected to receive a $348 refund 4.5 months after tax day. You should of heard me scream for joy after I read the letter (I’ll admit I was nervous to see a letter from the IRS).
$30 rebate
$20 rebate
$9.68 Staples rebate
$23.50 in spare change
$30 from the gas budget. Publix had $50 Shell gift cards on sale for $40. I went to Publix 3 times that week and bought 3 cards. Since I paid $120 for $150 worth of gas, I took the $30 difference out of the gas budget and deposited it into the fund.
$461.18 added to the Disney Fund. $2683.47 saved since June 1st, 2010. (Goal is $3,000.)
You can see all the previous deposits here.
Don’t forget that you can now showcase your own Disney funds via the Couponing to Disney message board! (See how to do it here.) You are more than welcome to link to your thread in the comments below!
Becky says
Wow, I had no idea there are sales on gift cards! Like the shell ones and a previous post of yours for Disney! OMG I would have jumped on that. Ugh. Might check out Publix tomorrow and see about the Shell b/c maybe we could use that on our way down the end of the month…
I only started saving for our trip (but I should mention I never spent my tax return so basically the trip is fine and paid for), what I have been doing is setting aside any extras I get to spend on Food & Wine Festival. Trying to see how much free or cheap money I can save for that! So far, I said I found that $100 I didn’t spend on my summer vacay, and: I got a surprise $16 refund from our last internet bill from FL, $10 rebate from alcohol, had a $50 giftcard someone gave us for moving away (got in May, never spent), got a $25 giftcard from my bank rewards, and a $30 reward from Budweiser (thanks to the House Party I won). So all that is going toward Food & Wine spending! Ooh it’s like eating and drinking for free around the world! Still just under 3 wks to go…I think we’ll be changing our change “bucket” into some cash, too.
Holly says
Nice!
RK says
Seriously? The IRS sent you a refund you hadn’t even asked for? Wow. I guess the government does something right occasionally.
Robin D says
So COOL!! Can you REALLY go to disney on $3,000.00 these days? I Sooo want to go again for the youngest BUT with four of us now I don’t see how we can! Not to mention we only have workers comp to live on now too!! Maybe one day!! Great Job! Thanks for sharing!!
Jenny says
Robin… it is absolutely possible to have a glorious Disney vacation on $3,000! How glorious just depends on what deals Disney is offering at the time and how much it costs to get there. Going in the off-season can help a lot with keeping both of those costs down. Hope you get that trip some day soon!
Connie says
Robin, it really depends on what type of Disney vacation you want. Our last two trips were wonderful and I was able to budget under $3K for my husband, myself, my 18 yr old son, and my 3 yr old son. Along, with helping for some things for my dgt and her boyfriend. It is all what you can do without or have to have! and, yes going off-season it a great way to help keep the cost down. Good Luck! and I hope you guys are able to enjoy the magic soon.
Beth Anne says
your not going to like this answer but yes you really can do disney cheaply. But you have to sacrifice some “Disney Magic” we are wanting to go to Orlando for a weekend in October and we found a CONDO in the Kissimmee, FL area (right outside WDW) for $35-$60 a night. Depending on how many stars you want. So if your willing to stay outside the park you can get some cheap hotel rooms. The cheapest Disney hotel I found was $75/night. Also if you get a condo you can cook some of your meals to keep the costs down. Yes not always fun but we LOVE to go away so we do these annoying and not so fun things so we can go away.
Brandy Evans cook says
I don’t have a local publix. Is there a way for me to buy gas cards etc from them online?
Allyson says
So when is your trip scheduled? You’re awful close!
Brian Y. says
Good deal on the gas cards, Just hope that there are Shell stations around when you need them….
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
Oh we already spent them. Shell is my hubby’s favorite gas station.
Melissa says
God is good! That’s your reward for being a good steward of your resources.
Natalie says
Agreed! I’ve recently gotten into couponing and am excited about how I can use my extra cash! Some of the free deals I am using to put towards Operation Christmas Child! I’m saving money and it is allowing me to have more money to use towards spreading the Word of God! To God be the glory!
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
Awww thank you. God has blessed me so much in the past year.
Beth Anne says
I love watching your Disney Fund Deposits! It makes me excited even though it’s for your disney trip and not mine. I know the feeling I work as a 1099 for a tutoring company and used to have to PAY taxes every year so when I actually started getting refunds it was super exciting!
Hillary Wallace says
Way to go!! I love seeing your Disney fund grow on the sidebar!
I have started saving all our spare change in my son’s piggy bank (he is too young to understand it, so it’s a cute place to put the money until he grows into actually wanting to spend it!!), and our bank account is set up to put $1 for every bill we pay into our savings, so we’re getting a lot of savings stored up without really having to try (along with the trying we’re doing of course!)