The Penny Project

Starting again in 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:27:00 +0000

Time to start over!

Our next family trip won't be until Fall of 2013 (unless some miracle happens), so we have over a year and a half to save up for this one. Our goal is Disneyland again since Carsland wasn't open on our last trip. My family also hasn't been during their Halloween time and the Party is awesome! We will have to do WDW when all the kids are big enough to do EVERYTHING, since it will probably be our only time as a family. Have to see if I can convince my husband that we should go alone sometime before then.

To add to our fund, a percent of my past Disney travel planning will go towards it, leftover grocery budget, credit card rewards including Disney Rewards Visa and any other rebates or found money that comes along. I'm also still paying with pennies, so that I can get back nickels, dimes and quarters only and have those add up as well.

I'm also doing a meal plan service to keep me on track with meals, groceries. I can keep staples on hand and just shop my pantry first before going to the store. It also cuts out a lot of the "What's for dinner" dilemma. So far it's exactly what I needed! There are all types of menu plans or store sales they use. Definitely something to look into, and get 10% off if you subscribe by Jan 15 using the code 2012.

Opening California Adventure!

Starting over in 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:01:00 +0000

The reason for no updates is because right after the last post, a big opportunity came- sailing on the Disney Wonder to the Mexican Riviera. This will also help in my Disney vacation planning, since I had only toured the ship. I wasn't feeling ready to book for someone else until after I had done a cruise myself.

So we set sail on Nov 27-Dec 4, which was the same day we were going to arrive at Disneyland, so timing just happened to work out and I had put away enough to really help with the trip. Account is down to $0, points are being used- so we'll be saving up starting when we return again. You are welcome to join in then as well!

Disney Wonder- Bon Voyage!

June update

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Emails/Surveys $31

Coins: $11.15

Sell stockpile, houses: $76

Amazon trade-in: $64.94

Disney rewards: 15

New total: $2398.55
no pic this month- need to get the comp fixed!

May update

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:12:00 +0000

Chase cash-back: $300.00

Travel planning: $115.16

Coins: $21.41

Disney rewards points 20

NEW Total: $2263.17

Back over the 20% mark! This is what I like to see- progress! This month I am revamping our budget and getting back on the savings train. Everything is deposited each week, so I'm also building interest on it in my account too!

Been busy with travel planning since the new specials are out!

Free Dining at WDW
Kids Sail Free to Mexico on DCL
Resort room benefits at Disneyland!

Counting down to our own trip too- added a countdown in the sidebar --->

Post edit- should have taken off the CC reward category before I did my total, reflected next month.

This is one of our favorite spots to sit and take a break with a Dole whip!

2007 trip- Trevor (4) and Devin (1) with daddy.

April update

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Thu, 05 May 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Had a little set back this month- realized that the double mile rewards card also charged double the miles to use them. Instead of saving them up to pay off travel, I cashed it out and will be using a different method instead. So I'm back under $2000, but not for long I hope!

Cashed in CapitalOne rewards: $292.20

Travel Planning: $42.59

New TOTAL: $1806.60

1993 Summer

We had a sisters' night last week to go see PROM and this was about the same seating arrangement in the car! Yes my sister had a leash but she'd only let me hang on to it. She's 21 next week!

March update- over 1/5 of the way!

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Emails/Suveys (Paypal): $27
Disney rewards: 4
CapitalOne rewards: 40

New total: $2032.81

We used the Lowe's gift card this week from the Coinstar machine since we are starting our home remodel- worked great! Glad we could use that 10% more instead of it going to fees. I have my coins building again and will redeem them again the same way.

Food budget has been difficult the last few months- not so great sales, but it's finally getting better. Hoping for a good April with lots of leftover! I am on a new roll of pennies- nice to get rid of those!

Credit card- do you prefer travel rewards or cash? I feel kind of tricked with my "Double Miles" reward card, cause when I went to see prices on things, it took twice as much reward to pay them down. I'm looking at maybe a cash back one so I can bank that to our saving fund. What do you use?

2009 with my 4 boys (youngest in the infant chair)

February update

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:31:00 +0000

CapitalOne rewards: $64 ($521 total)
Disney rewards: $2 (408)
MySurvey redeemed to paypal: $10
Ebates refund: $27.43

Total for February: $103.43

I had been overwhelmed to do coupons last month, but I'm already on a roll for March! Hoping for more grocery savings!


With Stitch and my 4 boys at Minnie's Breakfast in the Park

Late update 1/29/11

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:07:00 +0000

I'm probably going to be doing MONTHLY updates, so it'll look like big steps and I won't run out of pictures to post!

I had $125 leftover in my grocery budget this month total!

This week I'm adding:
Grocery- $51.00
Change- $7.40

New total: $1858.38

1984- first trip, first ears!

The non-update week 1/22/11

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:44:00 +0000

Did a lot of good stockpiling this week (Saved between 59-63% at the store)- but no leftovers or contributions this time.

I did add some CapitalOne rewards: 69

New total: $1799.98 (might need to add 2 pennies to round it up!)

View from Mickey's Fun Wheel!

Update: week ending Jan 15, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:23:00 +0000

Grocery budget: $47

Change: $3.20

New total: $1730.98

This week I had to refill on pennies! So I did make purchases, I just did small ones each time- lots of ones where I used 3-4 pennies in a transaction. When I pay, I let the cashier know how much I'm handing them, so they know to count the pennies. $10.04, when it's $9.94, so I get back a dime. Random fact: Dimes are my favorite coin, even though they aren't worth as much as quarters.

Pierce Southern California CityPass trip Jan 2008- with 6 week old Kyle.

Week of January 8- good progress!

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:47:00 +0000

Disney travel planning: $220.68 (2 vacations I helped plan, travel was in 2010- got paid!)
CapitalOne statement: $12
Grocery budget: $35
Change: $4.05

Total: $1680.78

Yay! What a great week- even when I was out of butter I still made do and didn't run to the store. Staying home keeps me from impulse buys and spending less money! And that doesn't mean I didn't go anywhere, I start out with about 20 pennies at a time and even had to refill cause I was getting low!

This week's pic is actually from WDW!

Brought me back to the day I first met Minnie

Happy New Year! Update Jan 1- review so far and plans for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 10:17:00 +0000

Disney rewards statement: $2
loose change this week to add: $6.80

Total: $1408.95

My favorite transactions in stores are the ones that end with x.x4 or x.x9 cause I can get rid of 4 pennies and get back other coins!

For just starting in November, the project has had a great headstart- over 14% of the way there with cash, gift cards and miles/points and I will hopefully be adding the first of my travel money soon from October and December trips planned! There's a new Kids Stay and Play free special going on, book by February 13! Email me if you're thinking about going.

Looking forward to getting started with a new year and hopefully lots of savings! I'm going to be working on using what we already have in the pantry and freezer, so that will mean less meals out (unless you want to meet me at Surfin' Tacos) and experimenting with using more long-term food storage items with bulk/freezer cooking. I have a few ideas to get started, but wanted to try some out first.

I've also been doing a Hawaii Price book on produce to share and for my use. We've completely changed the way we eat over the last year. The BOLD are the current sale prices and it lists the price and store for the main fruits and vegetables. Next I'll be adding baking items and spices/seasonings, plus the amounts needed per year.

I'll also be keeping track of my savings and coupon deals with The Savings Tracker, check it out for yourself and keep track of your budget and savings!

2003- My first trip to DCA, our oldest son's first Disney trip (6 months)
Traveled with my family- parents and sisters and John's sister and her husband

Update: Week ending Dec 26

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:05:00 +0000

$18.85 leftover groceries

Capital One statement: 45

New total: $1400.15

What was your best deal on Christmas?
I saved up my Swagbucks for gift cards and used them to get the dishes we wanted- so they were FREE!

What are Swagbucks? They are points you get for searching the internet. They also post codes on their blog. You can join and enter JoinIn2010 in the Swagcode box to get yourself started!

Here's a flashback- we went to Disneyland with some friends a long time ago and the same family was here last week to visit!

1987

End of the week: 12/19

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:43:00 +0000

Leftover grocery budget: $20.90

I used up my Walgreens Jingle cash and did the Hallmark RR- sold the cards to someone for what I paid for them. I still only used $2 to get $20 worth of stocking goodies!

New total: $1336.30


Sharing a little Disney holiday greetings!

End of the week update: Dec 12

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:30:00 +0000

Leftover grocery: $9.55

Have $10 Jingle Cash (Walgreens)to start off next week, so hoping for a lot more leftover for the fund!

Two years ago today:

Goofy's Kitchen with greeter Pluto, Dec 2008

Tip: You can ask the Disney Photographers to use your camera!

Update, Dec 5

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:11:00 +0000

No leftover grocery $ this week- lots of stocking up!
Hot Chocolate
Vanilla
Walgreens

Did have coins back though: $4.80

CapitalOne points- 59

New total: $1305.85

A year ago today:

Checked in to Grand Californian, Dec 2009

Opinion polls

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:30:00 +0000

Another way to earn extra fund money is online opinion/poll sites.

I've been doing Opinion Outpost for about a week and get a few referrals each day. Every 10 poll points equal a dollar- so it adds up over time! I'll probably cash out once a month (transfers to Paypal) then add to our Disney fund. When you have 50 points or $5.00, you can make a request.

Join HERE.

Update: Nov 28, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Swagbucks: $25 to Paypal (on sale for 550 SBs for $5)

Grocery leftover: $17.30

Total this week: $42.30

1984- with my dad and sister at it's a small world

Update- week ending 11/20

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:35:00 +0000

PROGRESS

Disney Visa rewards: +3

Grocery budget leftover: +26.90

This week's total: +$29.90

Grand total: $1199.75


At Minnie and Friends breakfast in the Park, Plaza Inn, 2009- All 6 of us!

Coinstar

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Those green machines are pretty cool to count all your money for you- but if you cash it out, you lose almost 10% of the money which goes toward fees.

But there is another option that got me excited- if you opt for a gift card, you get 100% of the money and they don't expire! There are different options, I had considered Amazon, but they are on my black list right now because of refusing to remove a book about "how to be a pedophile", but then I noticed Lowe's was an option- and since we are saving to also build a house, I can transfer the money from the House account to match the gift card we will eventually use!

If we had an Albertson's I might consider that as well and just use the grocery budget money to move toward the trip.

Another update- we had a good weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:30:00 +0000

It's amazing what random money you can find around the house- I had found more money rolls from another bank that we hadn't cashed in yet, "Honey" (my husband) and the older boys took the recycling in and I counted up our miles and rewards points.

More explanation why I am including my credit card miles/rewards:

The Disney VISA rewards can be turned into a gift card and used to pay for our package/tickets- just have to get the redemption cards beforehand. Rewards accrued: 401

The CapitalOne card can go toward the flights- instead of being stuck to the days an airline reward card allows us to fly, we shop for the best flight deal and pay with that card. Then when the bill comes, we can redeem the points for the flights (100 points per dollar on the bill). Points tally: 27200 (or 272 like I count it in the column)

Rolled cash found: $175.75
Recycling: $41.40
Groceries: $120 (from past weeks also)

We are already at: $1178.45 or 11.78% of our goal!

T's 4th birthday- Buzz made his day! 2007

Update:

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 03:54:00 +0000

Counting the change we had in one of our jars- $168.30, time to get it to the bank and in our Disney fund!

Other ways we get money toward this fund:
my Disney travel planning- part goes into this
our Disney VISA reward dollars
recycling cans/bottles- $.05 each
leftover from our weekly grocery budget

Eye on the prize:

California Adventure, 2003- Grizzly River Run

The Penny project

noreply@blogger.com (Testing) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:24:00 +0000

When we first dated, my now-husband thought I was crazy to pay TO the penny- my goal was never to have any change in my wallet.

His family had always saved the leftover coins and used it as spending money on their family trips. We started to do the same after we got married, pennies in one jar, the rest of the coins in another.

We had our son a year after and when he was 6 months we went on our first trip as a family- when it was time to open the jar, we had $1200!

Our goal now is to go to Disneyworld someday- we've been to Disneyland a number of times so this is the next step we hope. We are also trying to remodel our house, so there isn't much in the budget to go toward WDW. This is why I'm re-continuing the Penny project. I've seen on Couponing to Disney how even the littlest bit helps- she does all kinds of methods to save up for their yearly Disneyworld trip.

We use cash for most food expenses, so when I purchase, I like to pay to the nearest dollar and then use pennies to round it to the nearest $.x0 or $.x5- then I only get back nickels, dimes and quarters. Those coins and any leftover bills at the end of the week go into the travel jar. Today, my total was $x.88, so I used 3 pennies and got back $.15! I'm hoping to whittle down this penny jar and then see how close we are to our favorite place!

Post-edit: Also adding to the fund through Credit card rewards- Disney Visa I can turn into a gift card to pay for the trip- room/package and CapitalOne points to help pay for the flights (I can still shop around for best prices and then use the points to pay down the credit card) and also part of my Disney Vacation planning will help and go toward this trip!

Each week I'll also share a picture from a previous trip to Disney- fun to share and brings back good memories to keep me going:
First time meeting Minnie Mouse (1984)

I'm facing away- Minnie had me captivated and gave the best hug!