How do you save spending money for your cruise?

[jixjix6305]

We are trying something new this year. We have a wine jug that we keep putting singles, fives, and scratch off ticket winnings into. We can't get the bills out without breaking the bottle...anyone else do odd things like this?

[suziehmkr]

The way we save money for spending on the ship (we started this with our Pride cruise) is that we ordered Funship Dollars. They can't be spent around home, so it isn't as tempting as money in a savings account. I purchase them throughout the year and redeem them on the ship.

[Cuizer2]

Yes, every evening I pull out all my quarters, and nice looking $1, $5 and $10. I have well over $1,000 saved. My last cruise was the beginning of May 2006. My next cruise is not until June 2007. I have been saving quarters for years. The new bills I have been saving only since I started cruising.

[caribbean dreams]

I tryed to sell my Husband once for extra spending money, but after sitting in the front yard all day with a for sale sign on him, there was still no takers, it started raining and i felt sorry for him so i brought him back in the house, i guess i'll just start saving my change instead.;)

[jixjix6305]

carribean- perhaps we can do a 2 for 1, sell them both, and cruise together LOL...

I was thinking about buying drink coupons, but am afraid I won't be able to redeem them for martinis for me or Jameson rocks for Jim...

[DASA]

Set up a special savings account dedicated strictly for entertainment. That's the only way we can do it. But you have to have discpline (sp) . I put $75.00 a week out of my check every week into this.

 

I know not everybody can put that much but if you put what you can afford aside it will add up quick. $20.00 a week is a little over a $1000.00 a year.

 

Claim 0 on your income tax and use the refund for a cruise,don't buy that new car if you really don't have to,eat out less .

 

Throw the kids and husband or wife out :eek:

 

Take 4 or 5 day cruises, they are just as great as the 7 day ones. Keep checking the cruise ships web site for that price drop that they don't tell you about.

 

You have to decide what you can cut back on to have that 1 week of pleasure.

 

The one thing i don't recommend is putting it on a card if you can't afford it in the first place. That week on a ship will cost you a hell of a lot more if you do.

 

 

Have a great cruise.:D

[molly361]

carribean- perhaps we can do a 2 for 1, sell them both, and cruise together LOL...

I was thinking about buying drink coupons, but am afraid I won't be able to redeem them for martinis for me or Jameson rocks for Jim...

 

The Fun ship dollars work good as they can be used for anything. You can have them put directly on your sila and sign card by putting your booking number in the addres fiedl when ordering them online- If you start doing this is $25 increments they will add up fast .

[Jan_In_Maine]

For the first time I am trying my mom's idea - envelopes. I have one for each port and when it gets "filled", by putting some money in each week I seal the envelope and then I go on to the next one. Our cruise is in August and all port envelopes "are filled" and now I'm working on casino money!

 

I think what ever works is great - our ds (15) is saving "extra" money he gets for his spending. Enjoy! Jan

[MamaParrotHead]

First off, we call and put a decent chunk of money right on our S&S (getting a confirmation email/fax from our PVP showing our update invoice with the OBC). Then for the rest, we either start an allotment to be taken out of DH's paycheck weekly and put into a separate account OR from our tax return. This year it's definately our tax return (due back tomorrow, actually) :D and we're taking it out in TC immediately and putting them in the safe at home. One more thing to cross off my list AND puts us *that* much closer to actually going. LOL

[rwillis9]

I have just been taking my spare change and any time I have ones in my pocket at the end of the day and placing them into a ziploc bag in a drawer. So far there is a decent amount of money and I will take it all to the credit union before leaving to get it into a easier amount of bills. We have added some Christmas money that we did not spend and a few rebates from things as well.

[racegrrl]

No five dollar bill that crosses our hands gets spent. It goes right into the jar. Easy to save $50 and up a week that way, and you hardly miss it. That's for the spending money

 

For the actual vacation, I automatically put 5% of my take home in a special vacation savings account that I have to mail the money too, and make a 1 1/2 trip to the bank to get out - makes it inconvenient to get to and it doesn't get spent until it's time to pay for the trip. :D

[Bonnie&Rob]

I cut coupons and put any coupon money or store savings card money into the vacation fund. My grocery store prints the amount saved at the bottom of the receipt and that amount goes right into the vacation fund.

[DebP]

When I get a bonus, tax refund or otherwise see our savings getting healthier, I open a 3, 6 or 12 month CD that will mature close to the cruise date. This keeps the funds "hands off" and no bad surprises when we return to a relatively large credit card bill from S&S or indulgences.

[GoinCruisin]

I have a few different ING direct 4.5% savings accounts... and one is called "Vacation funds", LOL... I have money transferred into the account every month. I also have one of those "vacation funds" jars that I keep all my change in, and I turn that into cash and use for tips, etc.

[sms30519]

Several years ago my DH surprised me. We had an upcoming trip that I was not sure what we were going to use for spending money. The day before we left he showed me an envelope with $800 in it. When I asked him where he got it he said he had started putting aside $50 a week several months before. He cut back on the coffee and expensive lunches and was able to save this money without taking extra out of the bank and without my ever knowing it (I watch the bank account like a hawk! :D ) The funny thing is he has never been the saver in the family...he usually buys whatever he wants and when he wants. So it was truly a pleasant surprise and I was so proud of him!

[PJNJcruise5]

Lot of great ideas! I never seem to have pocket change left after my kids (3) ask for it all the time. Our best way of saving is to deduct a certain amount from our checking account every week as if we'd spent it and then right before the cruise add it back in. This method takes discipline but it works.

[HERKIMER417]

Like others I have a special piggy bank - thats our out pocket money for the casino and other "throw away " stuff.

 

But my trips are paid by a second job.

 

I work full time doing one thing and that pays the bills. But I also have a part-time job. I have the employer of the part-time job directly deposit my pay in to a seperate account than my regular pay check.

 

It's that account that pays for the trip and any special toys - like new golf clubs or skis.

 

The monthly money is no more than $250 but multiplied by 12 and

Bingo thats a cruise.

 

It is just a matter of wanting the trip and willing to discipline yourself not to hit that account.

 

J

[molly361]

I have a few different ING direct 4.5% savings accounts... and one is called "Vacation funds", LOL... I have money transferred into the account every month.

 

I have one of the ING accounts also, I have $200 a month automatically transferred into it for vacation purposes

[HAPPYCRUISINGIRL]

I also save change to a piggy bank....Yes it's a pig...LOL.. But I come in to work early and work Saturdays during our busy season. I put that extra money into a vacation fund that I have. Last year I saved $4000.00 !!!!

[GoinCruisin]

...dup

[GoinCruisin]

 

I have one of the ING accounts also, I have $200 a month automatically transferred into it for vacation purposes

 

Those ING accounts are the best thing since sliced bread :D LOL!!! And the rate just keeps going UP!!

[june1300]

take your lunches to work and put the $$ you would spend on that lunch in a special jar/account. $5-$10 per day for lunch/ dinner adds up real quick

 

same with those starbucks coffee's $ 5.00 per cup of joe adds up, brew your own and take a thermal to go mug.

 

tax refunds

 

birthday, Christmas and other gifts, put away or ask for funship dollars.

 

change....wait till you see how it all adds up

 

Rent a dvd instead of going to movies, share your popcorn, we dont need to eat the whole bucket anyway!!!

 

every time my kids want to give me thier change for paper $$ that gets put away.

 

if 4 or more are going see if it would be cheaper to drive to port(depending on gas rates of course) than fly....airfare can be a killer

 

get other family friends to go on the cruise, gives you peer pressure & support to save $$

[unicorn1075]

We start by paying tips as part of the cost. We pre-pay for excursions weither booked through the cruiseline or privately. We also include the cost of parking as part of the cost of the cruise, so we put the parking fee in an envelope and then put it in our home safe. Then we start saving loose change (man does dh have a TON of that by the end of the week) and "small" bills. That adds up very quickly. We will NOT put a vacation on a credit card. I don't want to pay interest on fun! This cruise we will also have a credit on our S&S cards before we ever board the ship so I don't even think we will need the "extra" money. When we get back I will put the money we didn't spend into the next cruise and start again.

[june1300]

oh I also forgot...

our house is too small & cramped (but still bigger than what we grew up in) so we stay cramped rather than buy a bigger house with a bigger mortgage.

 

our "new" cars are someone else's "old" cars

 

DH's overtime $$

 

We do visit the local resale shop for clothing (my sons fav outfit is his Cruise tuxedo that cost 2.50 yes including a belt and shoes!!!)

 

I do my own manicures for about 4.00 or less while my friends pay $15-$30 per week for thiers.

 

I get my cruise dresses on EBay while DH bought his Tuxedo from one of the tuxedo rental shops. his tux cost the same to buy as it would have to rent.

 

We visit state parks to let the kids run, buy memberships at the museums & zoos and make sure to go at least twice if not more so memberships pay for themselves. We have very active kids and they need to "run/ burn energy constructivly" or they make me crazy

[neatokimmo]

I have to budget for it, I can't do the cash approach in a jar because I'll steal money out of it. Plus I budget for food and stuff like that, I don't often have anything left over :)

 

I spend about 10% of my take home on trips. I don't spend a lot on regular entertainment things like weekly movies or going out to eat. Being single, runing a household takes up a lot of my time. So I guess I roll that into trips where I can leave all the everyday things behind and just enjoy myself :)