I found a new way to "save" for a cruise

[taravthompson]

Originally Posted by BND

So what you're doing is giving the utility companies your money to earn interest on? Why not just put the extra into a savings account so that YOU earn the interest. That would make more sense. You're actually costing yourself money doing this. It's purely a psychological exercise and not a very money saavy one at that.

I agree... open a savings account away from your primary bank if you have to but I would say every pay period put 10-20 away. I have a family of 7 and it is hard but the determination that my husband and I deserve a break is so there... do not ever pay your utilities higher... they are already over charging...

[taravthompson]

Originally Posted by JustUs275

We've been saving our change in the change compartments of our vehicles and haven't cashed it in for a couple of years, will be interesting to see how much is there! (Any change that makes its way into our house goes into the two 2-yr old grands' piggy banks! ) Also, I usually get a bonus at work every month, ranging from $100-$400. This month's will be $400 - yay! I also received an offer in the mail, to open a new account at a neighborhood bank and receive a really nice duffel bag as a gift...it looks perfect for DH to use as a carry-on for our (first!) cruise in May, so I'm going to open a savings account there and designate it as our "vacation fund" and tell DH we can now start packing!

Where are you going in May/ I will be on the dream with the girls this trip it is my first cruise..

[kharrison__15]

I, too, have been saving change for a long time. I usually use this towards small vacations/weekend trips to visit friends. This is my first 'real vacation' without family, so I'm looking forward to spending my own money. It makes it much more rewarding

I also save all the cash I make from 'side jobs'. Being young and single leaves me pretty open to babysitting, house sitting, dog walking, ect. Any 'extra money' (usually cash) I make aside from my full time job goes into my trip fund.

I also have the privelage of being the maid of honor in my sister's wedding this August, so unfortunately, I have to split all the extra cash between the funds!

[DonnaK]

We do the garage sale thing. Each spring and fall, we do major cleaning inside our house, tool shed, etc, and set aside things we don't need/want anymore, including clothes. Then, we have a weekend sale. We advertise in the Pennysaver (local weekly newspaper) and usually collect around $1000 each time, with the added benefit of having a neat and well-organized home. People buy the strangest things, in the poorest of conditions, so we set out everything even old towels for rags. We have a 25 cent table, a 50 cent table and a dollar table for the small things, and then put price tags on only the larger items.

Family members often save up their unwanted items to donate to our sale too.

[AShann]

Hi- In this electronic world, how about setting up a vacation checking account, and drafting an amount you feel comfortable with every month? Pull $50 a month out of your primary account and put it in there. At the end of the year you'd have some extra $ for vacation and you'd likely not miss this much a month!

[FINTUCKYFARMS]

Originally Posted by cuppycakemom

If you're really into couponing to save money, you should check out this woman's blog that I've been reading for a while now....

Google couponing to disney. She is doing pretty much what you are, in that she is putting away her "savings" to create the fund for their trip to Disney world. SHe is a crazy organized couponing fool, and I've saved a ton of money by reading the deals on her blog Seriously, it's wonderful!!

fistfullofcupons.com does the same thing. Saving as much as we spend on our food bill each week. Makes a huge difference.

[cloudshoveller]

This post warms my heart. My husband and I are determined we are going to save enough money to book a cruise for our Anniversary. We are cruising virgins but I am now obsessed with the idea and all I do is comb the CC boards planning and dreaming. We have already begun saving, but I am immediately going to implement your suggestions. Yay!

[wotaripper]

Originally Posted by linkerbink

I have a little jar that was given to my late mother for her to use to save for her cruises...marked "Cruise Fund". That's where I put my daily change. I just added my daily dollar bills per Talus731! The amount should start adding up in no time. Thanks! I have a few things that I hope to sell on eBay, as well.

Any more ideas out there? I'm desperate....I'm hopelessly HOOKED on cruising!

one of my biggest savings as i work full time is to very rarely buy lunch i take leftovers or buy tins of soup etc i can heat up in the microwave take a sandwich or crackers cheese and tomato etc. i figure 5 days a week at $ 10 a day for lunch and snacks theres $2600 a year ive saved .plus i get to eat some really nice lunches on my cruise.

[Acklander]

Originally Posted by BND

So what you're doing is giving the utility companies your money to earn interest on? Why not just put the extra into a savings account so that YOU earn the interest. That would make more sense. You're actually costing yourself money doing this. It's purely a psychological exercise and not a very money saavy one at that.

this advice made sense in the old days when banks paid a decent amount in interest, but in the current days of 1% interest it's not like they're losing that much money, so if it works for them all is good.

What I do, is have one of those big 5 gallon water jugs with a skinny neck (so you can't get the bills out). In it I throw all lose change. I'll also take out of the bank all "extra" money earned to throw in the jug. Whenever DH works an OT shift he'll put half the money in the jug. At my job I get extra referral kickbacks from other companies, and I throw all that money into the jug - they're just little amounts from each company, but last year it added up to just over a thousand dollars all together. I've just picked up an additional side job for about 10-15 hours per week. I plan on putting half of that money in the jug as well. With the tax refund we put half in the jug, and so on.

I don't really save much as far as coupons and things like that since I tend to buy the off brands instead. They usually come out cheaper than the named brands with a coupon. We're going to be moving soon, and will be having a yard sale to get rid of all the extras and clutter stuff. I'll be putting all that money in the jug as well.

[youngestof9]

Originally Posted by cloudshoveller

This post warms my heart. My husband and I are determined we are going to save enough money to book a cruise for our Anniversary. We are cruising virgins but I am now obsessed with the idea and all I do is comb the CC boards planning and dreaming. We have already begun saving, but I am immediately going to implement your suggestions. Yay!

good for you! One suggestion posted in a different thread was every time you get a $5 bill, put it away for vacation (or whatever). I started doing that and currently have $145 without blinking an eye! I normally would have spent it on unnecessary things (like my favorite, diet coke big gulps from 7-11 LOL). It totally adds up!! Today I broke a $20 and got $17 change and they gave me 3 $5 bills (well, and 2 singles lol). I was fretting because I really don't want to end up with no cash in my wallet, but 3 $5 bills is jackpot anymore. LOL!!!

[cruisercassidy]

Originally Posted by jojogana

what we are doing is paying EXTRA on monthly bills like an extra 50 a month on the electric/gas bill, untill one whole month is paid extra, then i move on to phone bill, get that one paid a month exta, then car and so on and so on, untill my husband and i have both of our last paychecks before vacation COMPLETLY for vacation.

I love this idea! I'm putting a minimum of $25.00 back into a savings account each week. However I could definitely use this idea when it's closer to time for our cruise. That way I won't have to worry about the bills for a month and can focus on my trip! Great Idea!!!

[cruisercassidy]

Originally Posted by lanabanana78

We do an old antique jar (I think it's a 2 gallon vinegar jar) and all loose change goes in - my husband's daily pocket change and my car change - as well as savings from coupons. I also use MyPoints, which is an easy way to earn points based on shopping you already do and for visiting websites. Points get redeemed for gift cards at tons of stores, or (my favorite!) for a Visa gift card. I'm going to have enough points for our cruise in July to get $300 in Visa cards, which we'll use for expenses on our trip. The easiest way to get points is that you get e-mails with a link to a website, if you click the link and go to the site you get points if you use the site to place an order you get lots more points. Most of these I open and then immediately close. But I also have a reminder toolbar that alerts me when I'm shopping on a website that earns you points (like BestBuy, OldNavy, Target, Eddie Bauer, etc) and can earn points (usually 2-3 points per dolloar). That's how you get bigger point values. DH actually used this to book our cruise, airfare, and hotels prior to the cruise so we're getting points for all of it! I've also convinced him to book all of his travel for work through it to get points. If anybody is intersted in this, contact me and I'll send you a referral (so I can get referral points, of course!) I've also got gift cards for Christmas and birthdays for people through this program, at no cost to me!

I use Mypoints too! I cashed mine in last year for a $50.00 iTunes gift card. I'm gonna use mine for visa gifts cards next January. (Since my vacation is in the beginning of March.)

[Bones26]

For people who shop online a lot, you might want to try ebates. They give you a percentage cash back on your total (before shipping and taxes) for making purchases at certain stores. You get a check every 3 months for the money you earned. It kinda sounds like the MyPoints. Maybe compare the two sites and see where you can earn the most money. I am going to look into MyPoints for myself... Thanks lanabanana78 and crusiercassidy for the info.

Great suggestions everyone!

[sjn911]

I have cut way down on eating out, grocery and misc. household bills; and any paid music/play etc. events. Yes I miss both, but I have spent the past two years going to sporting events of 7 nieces and nephews with my family (still gets me out). I do occaisionally attend a movie or $15.00 limit venue. A move and the economy hit hard; but in past 2 years I took a couple of seniors on a "paid" cruise, just took a couple of weeks off visiting family and friends out of state, and have a cruise booked for end of the year.
All of this as a solo income earner and traveller...I do consider myself very fortunate..times are tough...but there are many ways to make it happen. Love this newly found thread...thanks all...sjn911.

[Gone_Again]

I've recently reevaluated all of my spending. The travel bug has bitten and I have a great desire to see the world. Being on a very tight income, I've had to get creative on how to do so.

I've done everything from changing my cell phone plan to making my own wine. I've found a coffee I like to brew at home rather than buy my morning coffee at the coffee chain.

I've started a blog about all the things I've found to save money on so that I can travel. If you want to have a look, please check it out! Note, I'm not a professional writer by any means, but since I found something that is working to help me save for traveling, I thought I would share with others.

http://stuffthepiggybank.blogspot.com/

[Kimbopolo]

At the end of the month, we deposit surplus $ in a special "Travel Fund". This is after living expenses, regular savings, and retirement funding. This method tells us exactly how much $ we can spend on our next trip.

[littlejo]

I have paid for the past 3 cruises we have been on by selling unwanted stuff on ebay. the first yr I did this, I paid for a 10 day cruise, all the excurisons we went on + we had about 4,000.00 blow money between us. The total I sold that yr on ebay was over 15,000.00. easy way to get rid of stuff I no longer need and make money at the same time. I have also begun to buy items that are on sale or really cheap with using coupons and selling it on ebay. Am a power seller.

[cruising to paradise]

I enjoyed reading your blog Gone Again.We are currently saving for 40th Anniversary cruise to Mediterranean. Every time I want to spend money I think about the cruise and I am determined we will go.I am working 2 part time jobs and the money from 1 job goes for bills and the money from the other is saved for the cruise. Its good to read how others do it and get different ideas.

[Gone_Again]

Originally Posted by cruising to paradise

I enjoyed reading your blog Gone Again.We are currently saving for 40th Anniversary cruise to Mediterranean. Every time I want to spend money I think about the cruise and I am determined we will go.I am working 2 part time jobs and the money from 1 job goes for bills and the money from the other is saved for the cruise. Its good to read how others do it and get different ideas.

Thank you! Oh the Mediterranean! I'm sure once you get there it will be well worth all the work. I find the more effort I put into getting the vacation, the more I truly enjoy it. Staying in an inside cabin isn't alot of people's idea of a vacation, but to me, I'm just happy to be able to be on the ship, and will gladly take whatever room I can get! .

[Honey and Cinnamon]

We have Connie Petunia the Piggy Bank... She is a large bright yellow pig and she holds dollar bills, each year we get a new one and fill it up with dollars no change... The change we donate to the church.... the bills go in there and we break it just 3 months before we leave for our cruise for final payment. the kids like to play Pinata to it in the back yard, we never know how much we accumulated in the back yard till we see how much we put in. We found last Jan 2010 that we had saved nearly four thousand dollars, so our entire family can have a nice trip.

We had fun though we spent it all this past March . Our kids bought the soda packages which was good for them kept them nice and happy and winding up till dinner time... DH and I got the water package and it was fun as we added our own mix to the water with gatorade to the water.

I try to save at least not less than 500.00 a month for our trips....since we can afford to do this, not many can. When we take our trips we take ten people with us, that is our gk, children and now pops will have to come but not on an all girls cruise. a themed cruise.