One Year to Save 2017-2018

stayhomemom77

Dieting my way to Disney!!
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Hmmm...I've lost track of how many years I've been doing this now (I think this is the fifth thread), but please feel free to join me as I track my (nearly daily) earnings and savings. This (mostly) found money will be added into my vacation account for an August 2018 trip.

The last thread tracked the money accumulated for our July 2017 East Coast Canada trip and we had a FABULOUS time and stayed on budget.

Next year, we are planning on a Western Caribbean cruise (likely with Carnival Cruise Lines) and a few days at Disney. Funnily enough, the trip was actually decided upon while we were at the beginning of our most recent trip. DD14 looooooooves to cruise, and said it had been too long since our last one (August 2015) and "demanded" that our next trip be a cruise. DH also loves cruising so it wasn't hard for her to twist his rubber arm! I knew I could squeeze some Disney in if we left from somewhere in Florida, so I agreed. DS12 wanted to wait until we could afford to go to Hawaii, but he was outvoted! :rotfl2:

We're planning to go during the second half of August so we can take advantage of a Labor Day deal offered through a certain travel agency that seems to pop up annually. Those dates have not yet been released for next year and it's too soon in the saving process for us to have built up enough money to enable us afford the deposits to book anything as yet anyway, so things may change in time...but this is the rough outline of the goal for next summer.

Based on how much money we think we can rustle up between now and then...we are looking at a 5 day cruise, with stops in Cozumel and Grand Cayman and probably 2 day base passes for the parks. DD has also requested a water park (we did Blizzard Beach in December and had a blast!!) so budget permitting, that will likely be on the agenda as well.

I have been tracking the money since we got home from vacation on July 20th, so I'd better get posting!
 
Now...one thing I'm doing differently this time is saving funds in two separate bank accounts. The vacation account will house the main money for the trip, but I've been putting my own personal spend money each month towards our vacations for many, many years now and I've decided to track it separately this time. If for some reason we don't do the Disney portion of the trip, my money is going to revert back to me...and it's tougher to do that when it's all been factored straight in. In a way it sounds kind of greedy...but I don't love cruising the way the others do...so I'm willing to fund Disney with my own dollars but not anything else. DH has contributed his spending money to our vacations in the past but didn't for our East Coast trip and won't be doing it for this one either. I have no problem with that, but have decided that I can put a proviso on my own contributions if he is able to withhold his altogether.

As a very rough base estimate...I think we're going to need about $4000 CAD. Perhaps even $4500, depending on exactly what is going to happen during the Disney portion, and what the exchange rate will be like when it comes time to pay up. So, the goal is $4000 at present, and we'll adjust as necessary in the future when the details are nailed down.

So without further ado...

For July 20th...

Since I last updated, I've added $119.69 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $22.45 from quickrewards...
added $7.05 in Isay rewards...
earned $23.87 in credit card rewards...
earned $4.75 cash back through Zweet...
earned $16.75 cash back through Caddle...
earned $13.50 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $21.32 in the vacation jar...
added $10.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$22.45 in Quickrewards...
$7.05 in Isay Rewards...
$23.87 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.75 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$21.32 in the Vacation Jar...
$10.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$0 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $119.69.

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)

**I just cashed in my Esso points for $30 in free gasoline, so that one is going to take a while to build back up. It may not even happen between now and that trip, but I'll keep tracking it, just in case.
 
For July 21st...

Since I last updated, I've added $123.99 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $2.99 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $1.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $120.00 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$22.45 in Quickrewards...
$7.05 in Isay Rewards...
$26.86 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.75 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$21.32 in the Vacation Jar...
$11.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$120.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $243.68.

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
For July 22nd...

Since I last updated, I've added $7.18 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $5.78 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $1.40 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $0 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$28.23 in Quickrewards...
$7.05 in Isay Rewards...
$28.26 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.75 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$21.32 in the Vacation Jar...
$11.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$120.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $250.86.

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
Last edited:


For July 24th...

Since I last updated, I've added $3.27 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $3.27 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $0 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$28.23 in Quickrewards...
$7.05 in Isay Rewards...
$31.53 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.75 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$21.32 in the Vacation Jar...
$11.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$120.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $254.13.

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
For July 25th...

Since I last updated, I've added $1.10 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $0 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $1.10 in the vacation jar...
added $0 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$28.23 in Quickrewards...
$7.05 in Isay Rewards...
$31.53 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.75 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$22.42 in the Vacation Jar...
$11.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$120.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $255.23.

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
For July 26th...

Since I last updated, I've added $16.49 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $13.49 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $3.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$28.23 in Quickrewards...
$7.05 in Isay Rewards...
$45.02 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.75 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$22.42 in the Vacation Jar...
$14.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$120.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $271.72.

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 


For July 27th...

Since I last updated, I've added $4.36 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0.60 in Isay rewards...
earned $0.96 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0.10 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0.70 in the vacation jar...
added $2.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$28.23 in Quickrewards...
$7.65 in Isay Rewards...
$45.98 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$16.85 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$23.12 in the Vacation Jar...
$16.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$120.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $276.08

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
For July 28th...

Since I last updated, I've added $23.98 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0.75 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $0.47 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0.25 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0.51 in the vacation jar...
added $2.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $20.00 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$28.98 in Quickrewards...
$7.65 in Isay Rewards...
$46.45 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.10 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$23.63 in the Vacation Jar...
$18.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$140.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $300.06

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
For July 31st...

Since I last updated, I've added $14.96 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0.75 from quickrewards...
added $1.80 in Isay rewards...
earned $5.56 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $5.85 in the vacation jar...
added $1.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$29.73 in Quickrewards...
$9.45 in Isay Rewards...
$12.01 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.10 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$29.48 in the Vacation Jar...
$59.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$140.00 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $315.02!!

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
Since I last updated, I've added $101.94 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0.90 in Isay rewards...
earned $0 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $1.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $100.04 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$29.73 in Quickrewards...
$10.35 in Isay Rewards...
$12.01 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.10 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$29.48 in the Vacation Jar...
$60.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$240.04 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $416.96!!

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
Here I am :)
I enjoy following your updates as it reminds me of other places to look for funds.
We may head on a similar vacation in later August of 2018- although for sure it will be WDW and then maybe maybe a cruise add on- will see.
 
those shopper's points, are you just going to spend them and then put the $10 in the vacation plan?

Also I see quick rewards have disney store cards? is that in canada as well? it won't let me see without becoming a memeber.

I will be following this post. =)
 
those shopper's points, are you just going to spend them and then put the $10 in the vacation plan?

Also I see quick rewards have disney store cards? is that in canada as well? it won't let me see without becoming a memeber.

I will be following this post. =)


Yep! That's exactly what I do with my Shoppers rewards (and my PC Points rewards as well!) When I have $10 in rewards, I head to Shoppers on grocery day and buy milk plus various other sale items that bring me to $10-$12 range. I pay for the overage in cash and use my $10 in rewards. When I get home, I transfer the $10 from the grocery budget to the vacation account and VOILA!...my rewards money just went towards vacation.

I have been using QR for years and years now and nearly always cashed out for Disney gift cards, which generally arrived in the mail a week and a half after ordering them. It went along nicely with nary a problem...but then last year, the Disney gift cards I was ordering wouldn't arrive all of a sudden. The first time it happened, I contacted them to explain that it never came and they sent me a new one. That one arrived. But when I ordered a second gift card a month or so later, it didn't come again, nor did the gift card for Chili's arrive which I had ordered at the same time. They credited my account the funds for the Chili's card but refused to do anything about the Disney gift card, so I was just out the money. The person I dealt with was pretty rude that time and basically ordered me to start cashing in through Paypal because they cards were "only a problem on your end" apparently. Perhaps she thought I was lying about them not arriving?? Not sure why the trouble started all of a sudden, but I took her advice and started cashing out to Paypal. Haven't had any problems since.

QR pays in US currency, so the gift cards (and the paypal amount) are in US funds...which is quite nice. The downside to cashing out with paypal is that you lose a little on the exchange going BACK to USD. But it's a small matter to me.

Feel free to ask me any questions and I'll do my best to answer them! I am an open book. :rotfl2:
 
Here I am :)
I enjoy following your updates as it reminds me of other places to look for funds.
We may head on a similar vacation in later August of 2018- although for sure it will be WDW and then maybe maybe a cruise add on- will see.

I can always count on you!

Sounds fun...gotta get that baby in on the Disney mania!!
 
Oh my gosh...I'm behind already! LOL For August 2nd:

Since I last updated, I've added $4.57 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0.75 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $3.82 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $0 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$30.48 in Quickrewards...
$10.35 in Isay Rewards...
$15.83 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.10 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$29.48 in the Vacation Jar...
$60.00 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$240.04 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $432.18!!

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
For yesterday...

Since I last updated, I've added $10.65 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0.75 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $6.09 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $2.80 in the vacation jar...
added $1.01 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$31.23 in Quickrewards...
$10.35 in Isay Rewards...
$21.92 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.10 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$32.28 in the Vacation Jar...
$61.01 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$240.04 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $432.18!!

In addition, I have...

8541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 
Since I last updated, I've added $13.18 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $1.13 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $0 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0.60 cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $1.45 in the vacation jar...
added $10.00 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$32.36 in Quickrewards...
$10.35 in Isay Rewards...
$21.92 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.70 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$33.73 in the Vacation Jar...
$71.01 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...
$240.04 in my Personal Savings Account...


For a Grand Total of $445.36!!

In addition, I have...

541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)

**I cashed in my Optimum points on some groceries and put the cash in my vacation account.
 
Ummmm....

I guess there was some wishful thinking involved when I was doing the math for this little vacation...

And it's looking like in total...if we do all the things we actually WANT to do....we are going to need more like $5600 USD...which is more like $7200 CAD.

:scared1::scared1::scared1:

Darn that exchange rate!

Obviously I'm going to have to make some cuts to the plan...and save like a lunatic....but I do think it can be done! :thumbsup2

So GAME ON!!

Here is the general breakdown...

Cruise
Outside Room $1869
Tips $259
Excursion $560
On Own $232
Parking $75
Total $2995

Travel
Hotels $115
Gasoline $200
Food $100
MISC $100
Total $515

Disney
Hotel $750
Tickets $800
Food $500
Total $2050

For a grand total of $5560 USD.

Now...we *could* get an inside room and save $190, do without the cabana in Grand Cayman and save about $70 there and we could also do a cheaper excursion in Mexico and save about $200. That would bring us down to $5100.

The Disney part could be cut also...but not by a lot. We could stay at a value resort and save about $200 and we could save a bit on the food...but not much.

So, I'm going to divide the totals up...Disney and then everything else and we'll just see how we do in the next couple of months.

Disney $2665 CAD
Cruise $4563 CAD

I'll fix the tracking sheet and then re post the current info!
 
Since I last updated, I've added $0 to my vacation fund, because I...

earned $0 from quickrewards...
added $0 in Isay rewards...
earned $0 in credit card rewards...
earned $0 cash back through Zweet...
earned $0. cash back through Caddle...
earned $0 cash back through my Checkout 51...
added $0 in the vacation jar...
added $0 to the vacation account...
added $0 to my paypal account...
added $0 to my personal savings account...

So the new totals are:

$32.36 in Quickrewards...
$10.35 in Isay Rewards...
$21.92 in Credit Card Rewards...
$4.75 in my Zweet Account...
$17.70 in my Caddle Account...
$13.50 in my Checkout 51 Account...
$33.73 in the Vacation Jar...
$71.01 in the Vacation Account...
$0 in my Paypal Account...

For a Grand Total of $205.32!!
Goal $4563

DISNEY
$240.04 in my Disney Account... (personal spend money)
Goal $2665

In addition, I have...

541 Shoppers Optimum points... (8000 points = $10 in free rewards)
197 Esso Extra points... (1800 points = $10 in free rewards)
$28.40 in USD (left over from our last trip Disney trip)
 

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