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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 18, 2010 8:06:50 GMT -5
I am taking my daughter to Disney World for her first visit in November 2010. This is not in the budget, and we will be leaving Dad and little brother at home... We are staying with my best friend and her parents at their Bonnet Creek timeshare, so definitely saving BIG on accomodations. (They have said I can take them out for a meal to repay them, so they have chosen to join us for the Princess meal in Norway.)
Since this trip is not in the budget, I am determined to pay for it creatively. I used frequent flier miles for our airfare. And I signed up for a few online survey sites to earn cash. Also had a rummage sale, am putting my kids consignment sale money into the fun, found great rebates here on the CTD websiter, etc.
I made a budget and decided I needed $2,127. This includes every last item I will need for the trip, right down to the dollar store ponchos, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, etc. I admit it, I am a spreadsheet addict and have so much fun with them!
Here is what I have earned so far since the planning started in April 2010: Selling old, unwanted gold - $182.83 Pinecone Research Surveys - $24.00 JBF Consignment sale - $492.29 Rummage Sale - $295.85 Weekly input (sporadic, but put in $5-20 per week when I can) - $200.00 Selling old digital camera to Gazelle - $5.00 Quick Rewards - $84.58 My Points - $50.00 Swagbucks - $35.00 Shopping.com paid reviews - $100.00 My Survey.com - $10.00 My View.com - $25.00 Chewing gum panel - $95.00 Sunshine Rewards - $10.46 Surveyhead - $56.70 Misc. Internet Earnings - $8.85 Rebates - $31.24
TOTAL: $1,706.80
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Post by photomom74 on Jul 18, 2010 15:21:51 GMT -5
Yay! Your daughter is going to love it! I've heard November is a nice time to go to WDW, I haven't been in November but it was perfect weather and way short lines the times I went in Oct, so maybe November will be slower too! You are doing a great job getting money for the trip! I just recently started doing couponing, rebates and tons of survey sites to pay for our trip next Summer. I'm encouraged by how well you've been able to earn extra money! Keep it up!
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 18, 2010 17:04:45 GMT -5
Thanks! I love to do surveys, so I am enjoying that part of things. One of them led to a chewing gum panel which has led to an extra $95, and they are not done yet. Woohoo.
The only snag with our November trip is it is during Jersey Week, which may be a bit busier. Oh well, it will still be fun, fun fun!
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Post by msmissy02 on Jul 18, 2010 20:58:05 GMT -5
How do you get started doing shopping.com reviews? I can't find any information on it. Thanks! I tried to do the Quick Rewards too, but my virus blocker kept putting up signals that they were blocking things from the survey website when I tried to do a survey.
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 19, 2010 6:39:18 GMT -5
Ms Missy, the shopping.com reviews were a promotion they did in April. I found out about in on DisBoards. They paid $10 for 10 reviews, up to $100 for 100. Review had to be approved and rated helpful by readers. It was a lot of work, but worth it for the cash! Not sure when/if they will do it again...
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 19, 2010 9:36:05 GMT -5
Cashed out another $6.23 in Quick Rewards this morning, which brings me to a total of $1713.03. Only $426.97 left to save by 11/3/10!!!
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 19, 2010 16:34:10 GMT -5
Added $12.10 to the fund this afternoon... $2.10 from QR and a $10 giftcard from MyPoints. I now have $60 in Walmart giftcards, which is perfect since we will stop there for snacks and drinks on our way in from the airport! Total: $1725.13 Needed: $414.87 (this seems SO manageable, I am thrilled! I have $28.20 pending from Surveyhead and $64.24 in pending rebates, as well as another consignment sale in October. ) Also, I discovered a mistake in my beloved Excel spreadsheets, so I had to edit all of my totals in my posts. All fixed now!!
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Post by tanya on Jul 20, 2010 10:10:16 GMT -5
Sounds like we both discovered "found money" yesterday! I love it!
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 21, 2010 11:10:55 GMT -5
A $5 rebate check arrived in the mail! Woohoo!
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 21, 2010 11:13:51 GMT -5
So...
TOTAL: $1730.13 NEED: $409.87
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Post by tanya on Jul 21, 2010 14:04:49 GMT -5
You are almost there!!! Keep it up!
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Post by cindyrella on Jul 21, 2010 15:10:34 GMT -5
How exciting! On my daughter's first trip we ate a Norway! It was so fun! How old is your little princess?
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 21, 2010 15:27:30 GMT -5
My daughter is going to be 6 when we go... I didn't think it would matter to leave Dad and little brother behind. Dad is a non-Disney sort of guy and little brother is only 3. Well, now Dad is sad to miss his little girl's reactions (she is super dramatic, so she will surely have BIG reactions to all she sees!) and little brother wants to go and meet Buzz and Woody. Oh well, I will just save for another trip when this one is done and we can ALL go!!
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Post by mollybug2 on Jul 22, 2010 10:27:11 GMT -5
I was hoping today's mail would bring some more rebate checks, but no such luck! I am adding another $3.27 from QuickRewards and $20 for my weekly contribution.
So $23.27 more for a total of $1753.40... still need $386.60!
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Post by hsilberhorn on Jul 22, 2010 14:01:07 GMT -5
My daughter will be 6 too when we have lunch with the Princesses in December.
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