Williams Family: "How Are You Going To Get That Cheaper?"

"How are you going to get that cheaper?" asked the cashier at the grocery store as I held two dozen eggs that were on sale for less than $1 each.  The question was rhetorical and a jab at my savings record.  She was the same cashier that watched a few days prior as my $100 grocery total went to $60 in a flash due to sales and coupons. At one time I taught a coupon class.  

Now, I'm more about clicking than clipping to find savings.  A recent example is the savings to be had on our personalized t-shirt purchase from Zazzle.  

The initial savings came from a discount code on the Zazzle website, and I knew about the code due to an email alert.  If using Zazzle is of interest for you, sign up for their emails.  Also, you can save your design anytime, then add to the cart for purchase when discount codes are offered.

Before any online shopping, I go to Raketun (formerly Ebates) first and searched for Zazzle.  Voila, there was 5% cash back on Raketun.  I pushed the "shop now" button which took me directly to the Zazzle website and my cart was waiting. 

Raketun pays out in "Big Fat Checks" 4 times of year if your quarterly cash back earnings are over $5.  Otherwise, the cash adds up until the next payout.  The percentages for cash back vary from day to day and store-to-store.  If you are new to Raketun, there are great offers to get you started!

For online purchases, I use our Disney Visa.  For this particular purchase, there was a special offer for Zazzle, that I activated prior to purchase.  10% back as a credit on the Visa balance.  There were 15 different offers that I could activate for the account, but this offer was one I knew I would use.  The  special offers have expirations so be sure to check if they are still active or new offers need to be selected.

In addition to the percentage back on the Visa, I earned Disney Rewards, that translate into Disney Reward Dollars. The Zazzle t-shirt purchase was a 1% back in Disney Rewards.

And, if your email is attached to the Reciept Hog app, you can earn coins/spins.  Whoa!  Saving Receipt Hog for another time.

There you have it.  New matching shirts for the family for upcoming Disney Cruise and at a savings!

This savings thing isn't new for us!

While this post is about Ebates, Raketun works the same.  Ebates-- Get Money Back When You Shop On-Line

Our "Cheap" Lifestyle Supports Our Disney Habit

How A "Couponer" Does Disney

How Many "Loyalty" Accounts Does It Take to Make It Through Summer Vacation?

Williams Family--How Many "Loyalty" Accounts Does It Take to Make It Through A Summer Vacation?

After we arrived home from our 20 day summer vacation that took us to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, The Bahamas via the Disney Dream cruise ship, and Houston, Texas, I took stock of the number of "loyalty" accounts/clubs/cards that we used during our trip to either save money on the spot or in the future. The number varies on each trip, but the longer the trip, the more opportunities there are to save!

Flights:  We flew Southwest throughout our trip and all of us have Southwest Rapid Rewards Members.  Yes, even the boy!  While we haven't racked up enough flights/points for upgrades, we do get some perks.  Southwest has sent us free drink tickets for use in flight.  Southwest gift cards can be purchased with a 5% savings using Target Red Debit or Credit Card.

Credit Card:  Our "go to" credit card is our Disney Visa from Chase.  Just by having the card, we can get discounts while shopping on Walt Disney World property--10% off a $50 or more purchase.  Discounts of up to 15% can be had on tours and events.  There's also 6-months interest free for Disney vacation purchases including deposits on future vacations.  And, we get a percentage back in Disney Reward Points that turn into dollars that can be used towards Disney purchases!

Lots of designs to choose from!

We used our Disney Reward Points towards the purchase of our Walt Disney World Annual Passes and then used our Disney Visa for the balance.  Win/Win!

New card holders can get $50-$200 statement credits after making their first purchases.  Don't have a Disney Visa yet?  Click here to get started with the application!  (P.S. We have our Disney Visa since 2015 and haven't paid any interest, so it's the card that just keeps giving!)

We also have a Target Red Debit Card (a credit card is available, too) which saves us 5% on Target purchases including Southwest and Disney gift cards.  Know that if you purchase Southwest gift cards there is a limit to using 4 forms of payment when paying for the plane tickets so purchase in increments that allow you to maximize the savings.

Stocking up on travel essentials, even suitcases, can be done at a savings by using the Target Red Card at your local Target.

Dining:  In addition to getting dining discounts of 10% using Walt Disney World Annual Passes, additional discounts are available!  We joined Landry Select Club several years ago and it keeps paying off, year-after-year.  How it works?  Pay the one-time $25 fee to join Landry Select Club.  Members then get $25 to spend at any Landry restaurant.  Members also get $25 each year on their birthday.  And, each time members dine at a Landry restaurant, points accumulate to earn $25 rewards!  There are several Landry restaurants at Walt Disney World--Yak & Yeti, Rainforest Café, and T-Rex Café.

Don't have a reservation to dine at any of those busy restaurants?  No worries.  Flash your Landry Select Club membership card and get the next available table!  Merchandise discounts are also available as a club member.

We used our Landry Select Club rewards to take our family out to eat in Houston.  Used rewards and earned rewards simultaneously!  Click here to sign up today for Landry Select Club!  Note:  You can sign up at a restaurant BUT won't be able to earn points or the sign-up reward until your next dining experience.  So, if you even think you might dine at a Landry restaurant, go ahead and sign-up for Landry Select Club.

Shopping:  One of our favorite "loyalty" cards for shopping is our LEGO Vip card.  Membership is free.  The LEGO Vip card allows us to earn points for Lego purchases at any Lego Store.  These points turn into dollars for future purchases.  Having a LEGO Vip card also gets access to special purchases or gifts with purchases.  We combine the LEGO Vip card with our Annual Pass discount for extra savings!

While there isn't a Stein Mart in our area, I've shopped Stein Mart while in Houston and I do have a Stein Mart shopping card that gives access to special coupons and savings.

Our Walt Disney World Annual Pass allows us to get a 20% discount at Walt Disney World shopping locations.  But, what about while on the cruise ship?  Well, we are Disney Cruise Line Gold Castaway Club members which allows us a 10% discount on purchases made while sailing with Disney.

Entertainment:  You might be thinking that isn't Walt Disney World entertainment enough?  Well, mostly, yes!  And, when we travel to other destinations, like in this instance Houston, we enjoy seeing movies.  One of our favorite ways to save is joining AMC Stubs program.  There are two layers of the program--one is free--and the other is Premiere and has a fee.  We joined the FREE version.  It allows us to earn points that turn into dollars when we enjoy movies at AMC theaters.  There are also regular perks, such as free popcorn refills and special lines for ticket and snack purchases.  (I don't have an AMC card, although I could most likely get one.  Our account is attached to a phone number.)

I also used my affinity for MyCokeRewards to stock up on AMC rewards!  MyCokeRewards offered FREE movie tickets, popcorn, and drinks for entering MyCokeRewards codes.  So, we watched movies and ate snacks for FREE while earning perks for future movie going.

There isn't an AMC theater where we live, but there is an AMC theater in the middle of Disney Springs!

There are ways to combine the above offers for additional savings.  For example, we book our Disney Vacations through AAA and early AAA ExploreMore Rewards which pay off in $100 checks after so many vacations.  We use our Disney Visa to pay off the balance, earning Reward Points.  I told the husband the only other layer we could add would be to use our Target Red Debit Card to purchase Disney Gift cards at a 5% discount and then use those to pay off our Disney Visa balance.  Doable--just more steps.  (Click here to read more about AAA ExploreMore Rewards.)

Speaking of AAA, we can combine the 10% discount that being a member offers us at Landry Restaurants with Select Club for additional benefits.  AAA also offers at 10% discount on SuperShuttle, which we used for transportation to/from the airport in Houston.

Planning on saving on future vacations, too.  We booked our next Disney Cruise while onboard for a 10% savings.  Used our Disney Visa for the deposit, which is then interest free for 6 months, and earning Disney Visa Reward Points for the purchase.  When guests use their Disney Visa to pay for the entirety of their cruise vacation, additional perks apply such as merchandise discounts, photo, and spa purchase discounts.  The perks change from time to time so check to be sure.  Click here to see the savings onboard when using Disney Visa to pay for your vacation.

How many "loyalty" accounts did it take?  I lost track!  But no matter how many you use, savings can be yours.  And, we learn more ways to save with each trip so don't beat yourself up if you missed a savings opportunity.  There's always next time!

Related Posts You Might Enjoy:

When Does An Annual Pass Become "Worth It"?

How a "Couponer" Does Disney

Are There Coupons For Disneyland?

“Are there coupons for Disneyland?” was the question that came after inquiring about our summer vacation plans.  An innocent question given my penchant for saving money.  The short answer:  “No.”  The longer answer—there are many ways we have already saved money on our vacation.

AAA--Being a member allowed us to get a great price for our Disneyland package along with perks.  We also earned AAA Explore More Rewards for using AAA’s service to book our trip.

AAA also allows for additional savings while at Legoland, similar to the 10% savings on food and merchandise at Universal Resorts.

Speaking of Legoland, we got a great price—and great savings-- on the resort hotel by purchasing our stay in advance.  Because we are staying at the Legoland Resort, we get early access to the parks and free breakfast at Bricks, the buffet restaurant at the resort.  And, by purchasing our Legoland Park tickets on-line we were able to snag a buy one day get one day free deal.  We are also have a Lego VIP card which will allow for us to earn points on any Lego purchases and then redeem those points for free merchandise.

Food can be a big expense during a vacation.  We are saving money buy purchasing character dining vouchers as a part of our vacation package (and earning rewards).  These vouchers include tip and gratuity which is big savings.  Our Disney Rewards Visa also allows us to have 10% savings at select Disneyland dining locations.  We also used our Target Red Debit Card to purchase Disney Gift Cards.  A $50 Disney Gift Card costs $47.50 when I use our Target Red Card.  We’ve been stocking up on Disney Gift Cards since January—2 per month—and will be using those to pay for out of pocket meals.  We’ll also have $25 towards a meal at Rainforest Café due to Landry’s Select Club annual gift to members.

Because I pre-ordered Disney Photopass +  product, I saved $30 over purchasing the product once we arrived at the Disneyland Resort.  Click here to read more.

By making purchases ahead of time, I also saved money on trading pins--click here to read more, and Lego minifugres for trading--click here to read more.

 

The Disney Rewards Visa also allows us to earn reward points that can be spent on Disney products or services.  We also got a 20% discount on the Walt in Walt’s Footsteps Tour that we booked for our Disneyland vacation. 

While we used the Visa to pay off our trip and if we hadn’t then paid the balance in full, zero percent interest for 6 months would have been ours for using the Visa to pay for a Disney vacation.  But we earned reward points for the entire amount!  So, yes, we booked the vacation through AAA and earned Explore More Rewards, then paid using our Disney Rewards Visa and earned rewards!  Loyalty does pay!

A Disney vacation can be an investment in both time and money.  We’ve found the investment to be worth it.  And, we have found that savings can be had!

How A "Couponer" Prepares For A Disney Vacation (Or Any Vacation For That Matter)

Last summer, after our multi-day Walt Disney World trip, I wrote a post about how a “couponer” does Disney—click here to read more.  But as our summer 2014 adventure approaches, I thought I would confess/tell/share how a “couponer” prepares for a Disney vacation.

Let me begin with the fact that I know taking a family vacation to the most magical place on earth is a potential budget busting affair.  Flights, resort stay, park tickets, and dining can all add up and that isn’t even taking into consideration souvenirs or other magical experiences.  A husband of a friend was surprised to hear about how much we spend on a multi-week vacation that includes adventures on land and sea.  He was under the impression that since we save so much in other parts of our life that we would save on vacations, too.  Well, Disney hasn’t give us a trip, but we have saved by purchasing and reserving in advance, using a travel agent that can snag discounts and perks for us, and not adding extra days or privileges to our park tickets that we would not use which means we aren’t paying “full price” for our vacation.

Let me also add that our multiple trips gives us some advantages such as not having to go out and buy stuff like a misting water fan or umbrellas or ponchos or a park bag.  These items, among others, are things we already have on hand and I make sure to keep tabs on them when we return from a trip so that they are easily accessible for the next trip.  Having these items saves us money before AND during the trip.

Another caveat is that we do not, I repeat, do not, go out and buy a bunch of new clothes for a vacation.  If something new is purchased, such as a new dress for me for formal night, it is purchased well in advance, is most certainly on sale, and the purchase comes out of our regular budget.  But sometimes, other items are needed. . .

There were some new items that were needed/purchased for the upcoming trip.  Some did not cost us a thing and many of them I made money back when purchasing them!

• The husband needed a new pair of black, closed toe, fisherman sandals.  These could be worn on the ship as well as at the parks and are perfect for cruise casual evenings.  I “bought” them from Amazon using Amazon gift cards I had earned through Swagbucks.  And, not only did I not pay a thing, I MADE money, as Ebates was offering 3% back on shoe purchases on Amazon.  ChaChing—money in my pocket—cash money!  (Click here to get started with Swagbucks and click here to start earning cash back every time you shop on line with Ebates.)
• One of our planned meals for our upcoming trip is at T-Rex Café.  Again, we used Swagbucks to earn a $25 gift card AND will earn another $25 credit on our Landry Select Club account as it will be the anniversary of joining Landry Select Club.  Nothing like dining for FREE!
• Also, the husband needed some rash guards.  Those, too, were FREE with Amazon gift cards and I earned cash back—click here to read the post about the FREE rash guards.
• All three of us were in need of waterproof watches.  Enter Amazon and Swagbucks.  Again, paid zippo and earned 3% back when shopping on-line through Ebates.
• This one is a need/want, depending on your perspective.  We promised the boy a new game for his Nintendo 3DS for the trip.  He selected a game and I added it to my cart on Amazon and waited until I had enough gift cards to cover the cost.  This item is on its way!  But, the boy won’t get it until the day of the trip.  
• The boy had outgrown several of his swimsuits.  K-Mart had boys’ swimsuits 50% off ($6.49) and because I started my on-line shopping at Ebates, I earned 4% back on my purchase.
• A big cash rebate from Ebates came when we booked our stay at the Hyatt at Orlando International.  I knew we needed a reservation for two nights and I also knew that we were members of Hyatt’s Gold Passport Program.  Then, I waited.  And to our luck, Hyatt offered a “double cash” back promo on Ebates and so I got 12% cash back for our stay!  And, points earned using our Hyatt frequent stayer program.
• The boy also needed new tennis shoes.  He wanted Nikes (gulp)!  Thanks to MyCokeRewards, I snagged $50 in Nike gift cards for FREE and the boy has new black/red Nikes.
• What’s in it for me?  Well, in addition to knowing that my fellas are well taken care of, I am looking forward to a treat of a pedicure prior to our trip.  No out-of-pocket costs though, as I was given a gift certificate during the holidays AND am getting a $30 check from an on line company that pays me!

There you have it.  A family prepared for a summer vacation without breaking the bank or busting the budget.  I am so grateful for Swagbucks and Ebates—both allowing me to keep our budget in check.

Click here to get started with Swagbucks.  And, if you sign-up now and earn 1,500 Swagbucks by July 14, you'll get an addition 500 Swagbucks Bonus!

Click here to get started with Ebates—remember to start at Ebates every time you shop on line AND be sure to select your sign-up bonus!

FREE Rash Guards For The Husband Using Swagbucks

As the planning continues for our summer 2014 vacation which includes a Disney Cruise and a trip to Walt Disney World, the need for various items arises.  The latest need and/or request from the husband were rash guards that he could wear while on the ship and at the water parks.  I checked various stores to no avail, but found a great supply--lots of color choices and the size he needed--on Amazon.  Better yet, due to my ability to earn Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks, his rash guards have arrived and were FREE!

He got four of them ranging in price from $16 to $19 with the dark colors being less expensive than lighter shades.  The rash guards can be machine washed and tumbled dry, another convenience.

The next items in our Amazon cart are waterproof watches and already I've earned $10 worth of gift cards to go towards their purchase using Swagbucks.

Earning is easy with Swagbucks--just click here to get started.

A PIN Code For Summer=Savings

               

We are headed to Walt Disney World again this summer for a sea/land combo vacation.  And, while we got a discount for our Disney Cruise by rebooking on board, we are/were still trying to get the best savings for the Walt Disney World portion of our summer vacation.

On March 17, summer discounts were released to the general public that had been previously released to Disney Visa card holders.  The discounts were for up to 30% off of stays of 6 nights or longer and were good through August 28.  Once the discounts were released, I contacted our travel agent.  There was good news and bad news.  The bad news—our resort for our summer 2014 Disney vacation Port Orleans French Quarter—was not included in the special.  This has happened to us before, and we have changed resorts to get the discount.  Only this time, Disney’s Coronado Springs did not have any standard rooms available during our stay, only king rooms or suites;  so we didn’t switch to Coronado.  Port Orleans Riverside offered garden view rooms as a part of the summer discounts and the savings was minimal (around $50) to switch resorts.  We decided not to switch. 

Oh, the good news was that since we had reserved our vacation in January through AAA, we were getting a pretty good price with the AAA discounts and cheaper park tickets, as the prices went up in February.  That is good news!

Then, we got a PIN Code in the mail.  For those of you who may not be familiar with PIN Codes, they are special, multi-digit codes assigned to your family that are good for the specified discount with the offer.  The offer we received with the PIN Code was FREE Park Hopper added to Magic Your Way Tickets of 5 nights or more for stays through August 28.  All righty then!  This offer covered our July stay, we already had a 5 day ticket with Water Parks and More Fun added.  I called our travel agent.

I was willing to bargain.  Park Hopper added to a Magic Your Way Ticket costs the same as Water Parks and More Fun.  We were willing to exchange the Park Hopper for a free Water Parks and More option—if that was possible.

Our travel agent emailed me that we were able to add the Park Hopper for FREE to our tickets AND the price of our package decreased by $88.  Why did the price go down?  Well, last summer Walt Disney World changed its pricing structure and made it more economical for guests to add BOTH Park Hopper and Water Parks and More to their tickets.  Once you have one, it is a minimal fee to add the other.  So, by adding Park Hopper, even if it was free, it made the Water Parks and More Fun option added to our tickets less expensive.  I can live with that!

So, now that we have discounts, Memory Maker, Water Parks and More, and Park Hopper to our theme park tickets, it’s back to the drawing board for our touring plan.  I’m thinking there may be an extra evening visit to Magic Kingdom, especially since there may be some additions to FastPass + for guests with Park Hopper.

A Valentine's/Birthday Gift For Myself--For FREE!

My birthday is approaching, as is Valentine's Day.  While people who love me would love to shower me with gifts, I tend to be more practical.  I also tend to find those special things that I like for myself.  It used to bother my mom, who would ask me for a shopping list for the holidays, only to discover that I had purchased the items for myself as I have been earning an income since I was 15.

So while the husband and boy coyly try to conceal some sort of gift giving, I found a Mickey watch on-line that I snagged as a treat for myself for FREE!

How did I get that for FREE you might ask?  Easy.  Swagbucks.  I have written about Swagbucks before and the incredible earning opportunities.  Here's how it works. . . I use Swagbucks as my search engine, just like you might use Google.  I earn Swagbucks 2-3 times per day through Search and Earn.  Then, there's the on-line games, the videos, the surveys, the special offers, the daily poll.  There are over 15 ways to earn Swagbucks.

Once you earn Swagbucks, you can redeem them at the Swagstore.  My favorite redemption is the Amazon gift card.  Amazon gift cards NEVER expire.  The Amazon gift cards that I earned through Swagbucks is how I got my new watch--for FREE!

Another way to earn Swagbucks is through Shop and Earn, so I actually earned more Swagbucks when "purchasing" the watch.  Yes, there are some things in life that are FREE.

If you want to start earning Swagbucks--click here to get started.  It is easy!

We have used our Swagbucks to also earn Landry gift cards for T-Rex Cafe and Rainforest Cafe at Walt Disney World.  Click here to read more.

Swagbucks also helped us get Disney trading pins--click here to read more.  And, Swagbucks helped us get our new waterproof camera--click here to read more.

Happy Swagging!

We Got A PIN Code From Disney Yesterday!

We got a PIN code yesterday from the Walt Disney World Resort!  It came in both email and snail mail form and offered discounted savings as well as a free dining opportunity.  Unfortunately for us, the dates of our trip did not align with the offer.

What is a PIN code you might ask?  Well, it is a special, multi-digit code that is assigned to your family that can be used when you make a reservation at the Walt Disney World Resort that can save you money.  The offer we received yesterday was for dates now through March 5, a week or so in March, mid-April through the end of May for a discounted stay, and then a free dining offer—in which the a dining plan would added for free to your stay—for mid-August through September. 

The PIN codes have a limited time in which they can be used.  Ours had to be used for a reservation by Feb. 15, 2014.

How do you get PIN codes?  That is a mystery as there seems to be some randomness in how they are distributed.  What I have found is that if you have an on-line login for an account through the Walt Disney World web-site and you log in to inquire about prices and availability, it may somehow trigger your name and email to receive a PIN code.  The thinking being “hey, they want to come, let’s give them some incentive.”  I will say that the PIN code we received was specifically addressed to return guests—both on the flier we received in the mail and the email.

The dates of the offer do not align with our current trip plans.  If we didn’t already have a trip in the works, the PIN code offer for significant savings may have enticed us to make plans, though. 

While the receipt of a PIN code, or any other discount offer, would lead prospective guests to believe that they need to book their vacation directly with Disney, that is not accurate.  A travel agent can also apply the PIN codes to your reservation.  When we have used PIN codes, I have either called our travel agent, or forwarded the email with the PIN code.

Also, the arrival of the PIN code tells me that Disney is already thinking about summer offers.  There is an offer to the public with discounts through June.  Now, we just need a discount offer for July and we are all set.  The discount can be applied to our current reservation.  I’m predicting April. . .

Have you ever received a PIN code from Disney?

What Disney Has Taught Me About Budgeting

We have flown in and out of Orlando International Airport over two dozen times and have flow from various airports. . . going where the price and times of flights were the best.  Our upcoming trip is no exception and it was without hesitation that we purchased our airline tickets over 10 months ahead of time.  And, now the price for those same flights has increased $189 per person.  Wow!  Paying that price would have taken a much bigger bite out of our vacation budget.

Budgeting is on my mind for a variety of reasons. . . one being that we currently have a vacation budget being built and adjusted, another is that I responded to a post on a message board about budgeting for the holidays, and I am getting ready to make a short presentation this week about budgeting for the holidays and spending less.

Let’s face it, unless we are trust fund folks or live off investments, we are all living on a “fixed income”—no matter the source of that income.  My pay is the same each month, no matter the hours I work and if I want more income, well then I work another job or find other ways to increase the amount of money coming in.  The majority of people operate similarly.

So the ideas that will be presented this week for budgeting for the holidays and spending less are based on the same ideas of planning and budgeting for a Disney vacation or any vacation.  Here they are:

• Set and know your budget.  Don’t let emotions of the holiday or event override the budget.  Yes, we would all like to splurge, but the momentary exhilaration is not worth the long term grief or worry of going over the budget.
• Get organized.  Buying something at a great price ahead of time is wonderful, but then you have to know where you put it/hid it for the upcoming holiday or vacation.  I had a friend who kept buying the same color of shoes over and over because she couldn’t find hers.  Organization can save you money!
• Plan ahead.  Yes, I know that means making decisions ahead of time rather than going with the flow of the vacation or holiday gift buying.  I would rather spend a little bit of time making decisions at my leisure than use time during the holidays or during a vacation to make decisions that are pressing.  Planning ahead lets me enjoy the wonders of the holidays and my vacation time.  Consider planning ahead for grocery purchases as well as gift purchases. 
• Prioritize—stuff vs. experiences.  What is important to you and your family?  For us, we made experiences a priority over stuff.  So when the holidays role around, we go to festivals, shows, and concerts—many of which are free or their admission goes towards a charity.  This is same for our Disney vacations—souvenirs are much lower on the priority list than say a meal at a unique location, or another experience. 
• Look forward to the next one. . . whether this be the next vacation or the next holiday.  As soon as one is over, the planning begins for the next!  Spreading and spending time, energy, and resources throughout the year rather than feeling exhausted during the moments that we want to savor. 

Am I glad we purchased our airline tickets so far in advance?  Definitely!  Part of shopping for anything—airline tickets, the holiday turkey, or the latest electronic gadget, is knowing a good price when you meet it and making the leap.  Speaking of which, I’m off to the grocery store to snag a free turkey.  That price is definitely in the budget!

How A "Couponer" Does Disney

The newspaper the husband is reading was FREE

Saving money and Disney vacations are two of my favorite things.  When I get to combine them, it is a bonus!  Here is how a “couponer” makes the most of a Disney vacation while saving money:

Rewards Programs—Let’s start here as I used at least 4 rewards programs to make the most of our vacation.  We fly frequently and belong to many frequent flier programs.  AirTran’s A+ has the best return on points for travel.  We each had earned enough A+ points for a FREE upgrade to business class.  All I had to do was phone the airline 24 hours before travel and ask to use the points for an upgrade.  We got seats in business class which meant no baggage fees, free food choices beyond pretzels, and free alcoholic beverages—which the husband took advantage of.  That one phone call saved us over $75 in baggage fees alone and we earned credit for the flights for future upgrades.

We also belong to Hilton Honors which gives us points for stays at any of the Hilton family hotels.  Our pre-flight stay was a park-n-fly at Embassy Suites in Kansas City near the airport.  While we didn’t have enough points for a free stay, we earned points and got a discount using our AAA membership.  The free breakfast and free shuttle to/from the airport added value to our stay.  And, we were still racking up points for future use.

Landry Select Club is another rewards program/membership that pays you back when you dine at Landry restaurants which include Rainforest Café and T-Rex Café, both of which can be found at Walt Disney World.  We had accumulated $50 in rewards for the club and another $100 in Landry gift cards using Swagbucks—click here to get started earning Swagbucks.  We ate at both Rainforest Café and T-Rex Café for FREE with enough gift card credit left over to get the boy a souvenir at T-Rex Café AND the Landry Select Club saved us 10% on that purchase.  Those two dining experiences only cost us the tips, which we paid in cash AND we earned points towards more rewards from Landry.

Since we were heading to Kansas City the day before we flew, we made the most of it with a trip to Schlitterbahn Water Park.  I had acquired two free tickets using MyCokeRewards points so all we had to do was pay for the boy’s ticket—which was still $33.  Imagine paying for all 3 of us!  Cha-ching!  Schlitterbahn allows guests to bring in coolers, so we packed lunch and drinks to take with us.  Parking and tube use was also free, so we had a full day for $33.

Hy-Vee Fuel Saver Rewards program also saved us tons of money on gas driving to and from Kansas City.  We paid $20 for gas—total—to make the round trip drive!

Coupons:  Yes, you can use coupons and vouchers while traveling to Disney! 

After our day at Schlitterbahn, we needed dinner.  I had printed out coupons on Amazon Local for buy one, get one free Whoppers from Burger King, which was just a few blocks from Schlitterbahn.  Guess what we had for dinner?  We combined that with the free Manager’s Reception at Embassy Suites for a lovely evening.

Our AAA package contained vouchers for various purchases and experiences.  The boy played in the resort arcade for free using one of the vouchers.  We also brought home souvenirs from Planet Hollywood for free, AND had an afternoon snack there for FREE using the $15 food voucher located in our travel packet.  And, by using AAA to book our vacation, we are earning AAA Travel Rewards for discounts off future travel.

Getting the most out of your park tickets and dining plans:  For our trip was had a 9 day base ticket (the more days you have the less you pay per day) so we had great value in our park tickets, then we added Water Parks and More Fun for $59 per ticket.  Because we had a 9 day ticket, adding Water Parks and More Fun gave us 9 additional entries to Water Parks, DisneyQuest, miniature golf, or Wide World of Sports per person.  Given that entry to the Water Parks and DisneyQuest is $45 per person per day and we went to two water parks and DisneyQuest, we can out ahead by adding the Water Parks and More Fun option to our tickets.  If we had only used that option once, we would have lost money.

We also had the basic dining plan on our tickets—one table service credit, one quick service credit, and one snack credit per person per night of stay.  We zeroed out all of the credits.  I had lost track of the quick service credits somewhere in the middle of our stay and phoned our resort front desk.  A check on the computer gave the total and we were in good shape for the rest of our stay. 

When we were checking out of our resort, the Cast Member checked our “account” to notice that we had no room charges and had no dining or snack credits left over.  I was overhearing other conversations about room charges while people were checking their bills or even limiting room charges.  We did good. . . especially for 11 nights/12 days!

Strategically planning your stay:  We strategically planned our stay to be less expensive.  Huh? How do you do that?  Well, the most expensive nights at a Disney Resort are Friday and Saturday nights.  We checked in on a Monday and left the following Friday, only having one week-end during our stay.  This also allowed us to fly on a Monday (less expensive day to fly) and a Friday (which was also less than flying on a Saturday or Sunday).

We also took advantage of a percentage off special for our resort stay which then gave us a refund which we then used towards our Photopass + prepurchase of $149.  Both Photopass and Photopass + are available for purchase prior to your vacation at a discount.  Let’s do the math. . . $149 for 980 photos before editing. . .that makes it about 15 cents per photo AND we brought home five 8 X 10 dining photos that are sold for $35 each.  Yeah, we came out ahead on this one!

When Bell Services picked us and our luggage up (there is no charge for this, just a tip) when we checked out of the resort, we were the first pick-up and it was 8:15 am.  That means the resort wasn’t doing banner business, at least for Bell Services.  I inquired as to why that might be and was told “the economy” and how it can be expensive for a family to travel to Walt Disney World.  Yes, it CAN be expensive, but it doesn’t HAVE to be expensive.  

Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t pinch pennies, only watched them carefully.  The boy came home with new toys including Lego’s which were partially purchased using Lego VIP rewards points which also allowed us to get a FREE Lego set.  We also brought home souvenirs, but they were purchased using a 20% off discount code found on a Quick Service receipt.  One receipt was from an order for 3 glasses of ice water which were FREE and then that receipt was used to save over $30 on souvenir purchases and we paid cash rather than “charging” them to our room.

I am going to venture to guess that the thinking or brain power behind some of our savings can be too cumbersome for some folks and they get caught up in the adventure or overwhelmed by the sites and sounds that are inevitable at Disney (I will write another post about the noise level).  Yet, by doing a bit of planning and strategizing, savings can be had and some significant savings at that.

Swagbucks Equals New Winter Coat For The Boy

Combine Midwest winter weather, frugality, and a need for color coordination and you get an interesting mix when it comes to purchasing winter outwear for a growing and rambunctious boy.  Somewhere in our son's early years, I decided that his winter outwear would be black and red.  This decision has paid off over time as items were outgrown or broken and needed to be replaced.  For example, the black snow pants still fit, but he outgrew his boots--new black and red boots to the rescue.  I knew the new boots would still match the rest of his winter apparel wardrobe, therefore reducing costs of replacing other items just because they didn't match.

Shopping, okay browsing, winter clearance items is also made easier due to the color combo commitment   Even if that bright blue jacket is the right size and price, since it doesn't match, it doesn't get purchased.

Recently the zipper broke on the boy's winter jacket.  My first impulse would be to replace the zipper, but this would be the last winter for the coat anyway as the boy continues to grow.  So, I jumped on-line and found a new coat for a reasonable price at Amazon.  What made the deal even sweeter was paying no money out of pocket for the coat, as I had accumulated enough Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks to cover the purchase of the new coat.

Earning Swagbucks is easy--by Searching as you would any internet search engine, Shopping and Earning, watching Swagbucks TV to get the latest news and entertainment, and taking advantage of special deals and offers.  The coat purchase earned me even more Swagbucks as I went to Shop and Earn before choosing Amazon, and children's clothing was an earning category on Amazon.

Redeeming Swagbucks is easy, too.  Amazon gift cards are just one of the many categories Swagbucks users can choose to redeem their Swagbucks earnings.  450 Swagbucks can be redeemed for a $5 Amazon gift card that never expires.

So my recent purchase checked off several boxes. . . the boy's new coat is black and red still matching his boots, snow pants, backpack, and lunchbox, it cost me no money out of pocket and I actually earned even more Swagbucks for making the purchase.

To get started earning Swagbucks click here now.

There Is Such A Thing As A Free Lunch--Well, Breakfast Anyway!

That’s us at the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport ready to eat our free breakfast before catching our Disney Cruise Line bus to the port.  Did I tell you the breakfast was free?  Well, it was free for the adults and we got a great deal paying for the boy’s breakfast.  How did we get a free breakfast?  It was included in the fantastic rate our travel agent got for our room and I wasn’t going to turn down a free meal, frugal as I am. 

That same frugality is what got me into the coupon game and now the coupon game has turned into teaching coupon classes!  A friend and I have teamed up and have taught two rounds of classes so far with three more starting this month!  We were even featured in the local newspaper—click here to read more.

The savings on everyday things from gasoline to haircuts allows us to enjoy our trips to Disney.  And, if we need to tighten the belt a bit due to an unexpected expense, I know our freezer and pantry can tide us over.

The whole family is in on the savings game from packing food from our house instead of eating out when we are on the go, looking for deals on needed items, and clipping coupons.  A few days ago the boy asked if I had any toy coupons and the husband sent me a text this morning indicating he had saved over $35 when purchasing gas using a local grocery store’s fuel saver program. 

In addition to saving on everyday purchases, I have made a goal to not spend any money out of pocket for holiday gifts this year.  I’ve already started with my first “acquisition” (I can’t really say purchase) of an 11 X 14 collage photo print that only required a small shipping fee and will eventually need a frame.  I also have Amazon gift cards stacking up by using Swagbucks to earn daily while searching the web—click here to get started with Swagbucks.  (Click here to read about the free gifts last holiday season.)

While some would see Disney travel and saving money as somewhat juxtaposed opposites, I actually see them as collaborative partners.  By saving money, we have more money for Disney AND I have figured out ways to save money on Disney travel.  For example, our next trip will be 11 nights Monday through the following Thursday.  I know that the most expensive nights to stay on property are Friday and Saturday nights, therefore, we only have one Friday and Saturday night during our stay.  I also know that Saturday and Sunday flights are more expensive, so we are flying on a Monday and Friday.  Just by adjusting our stay, even though it is lengthy, we saved money on our stay and our flights.  And, by having such a long stay, the cost per day of our park tickets is minimized and becomes more economical—more savings!  Just imagine how many Photopass photos we will be able to squeeze in during such a long trip!  Shazam!  Our cost per photo on a pre-ordered (at a savings) Photopass CD just went down!

Yes, there are ways to save for and on a Disney vacation.  But since we are still months away, I think I’ll concentrate on everyday savings.  Coupons, anyone?

I Used Swagbucks For My Holiday Shopping

 Shhhh. . . . Don't tell anyone on our holiday shopping list, but I got all of the items in the photo above for FREE!  How did I do that?  Swagbucks, that's how.  When interacting with the Swagbucks website, I was able to earn Swagbucks that could be redeemed for prizes and gift certificates.  My favorite is the $5 Amazon gift card.  I then apply the gift card to my Amazon account--they never expire--and then make purchases at Amazon.  All of the items in the photo above were purchased at Amazon.  So, 4 Disney watches, cookie cutters, and an Olympus camera all for FREE.  Okay, the camera isn't for holiday gift giving, it is for our family.  I began earning Swagbucks in July and had nearly $200 in Amazon gift cards when it came time to do our holiday shopping.

Here's how Swagbucks works:

Once you click here to get started, you will be greeted with a log-in or join screen.  You can create an account through Facebook or by using an email and creating a  password.  Joining Swagbucks in free.

Once you join, it is about earning Swagbucks.  The easiest way to earn is by searching--using Swagbucks as your internet search engine, just like you would Google.  Just type in your search in the Search and Win window at the top of the Swagbucks homepage.

You can also download the Swagbucks toolbar to your desktop and use it for your internet searchers.  I typically "win" twice a day when searching. . . once in the morning after 2-7 searches and again later in the day.  Here's what it looks like when you win Swagbucks.

Another way to earn Swagbucks it to find Swagcodes.  When you see the Swagbucks Swidget click on SC to see if any Swagcodes have been released in various locations--right there on the Swidget, Facebook, Twitter, or the Swagbucks Blog.  You can find a Swagbucks Swidget here on the Williams Family Blog--I use it to find Swagcodes.

When you find a Swagcode, copy it and paste it in the "Gimme" box on the Swagbucks homepage.

There are still more ways to earn Swagbucks.  Check out the "Earn" menu on the Swagbucks homepage for Coupons--just print, save, and earn 10 Swagbucks for every coupon scanned when you shop.  You can watch the news on Swagbucks TV and earn Swagbucks.  Then there is "Shop & Earn" where you can earn Swagbucks by shopping at your favorite on-line retailer.  Just start at Swagbucks Shop & Earn when you go to shop on-line.

When you have earned Swagbucks, head on over to the Swagstore and redeem your Swagbucks for prizes.  Find the Swagstore under "Redeem" on the menu bar on the Swagbucks homepage.

Be sure to "Verify" your Swagstore purchase either on-line with your password or through your email.  It can take a few days, no more than a week, for the gift card code to be credited to you but Swagbucks will send you an email telling you the gift card code is ready to be used.

Amazon not your thing?  Well, there are Target, Wal-Mart, Paypal, and many other gift card selections available and other prizes.

My goal is use Swagbucks for all of my holiday shopping one year from now.  And if I was able to snag almost $200 in Amazon gift cards in less than half a year, I'm pretty sure I can earn enough Swagbucks when I have an entire year.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

So, go head.  Get started earning Swagbucks.  It's easy and free.  Click here to get going.

Yes, some things in life are free!