Budgeting for every single expense

Okay, so you have booked your Disney World vacation. You have your package which includes your hotel, park tickets, dining and Memory Maker. If you still have to purchase your plane tickets...that is okay, you have budgeted for that. But, many people overlook the little expenses that add up when they are planning their vacation. When you break down every single aspect of your vacation, you can be smart with your money, set a budget for everything and really make sure that you are making every dollar accountable.

• Budget for your long term Airport parking. Go online and price out how much it will cost you to park your car for the duration of your trip. 
• Airline baggage fees...so dreaded! If you book on Southwest, they still give you 2 free checked bags. Go onto your Airline's website to see how much they are currently charging for checked bags. Click on the Airline to go directly to their page: JetBlue, Delta, American, Alaska, Allegiant, United.
• Make sure you budget in for your airport food. If you have an early morning flight, budget for a quick breakfast for the family at Dunkin Donuts inside the terminal. Do the same if you have a lunch time flight or dinner time flight.
• Make a shopping list for snacks you will pack in your bags. Granola bars, fruit snacks, trail mix, Goldfish, crackers, etc. You can work this budget into your regular weekly grocery budget the week before you leave. 
• You will need to purchase sundries such as: Shampoo, conditioner (if you have kids, sometimes the little bottles they give you just are not enough. If you stay in a Villa make sure to pack your own!) toothpaste, lotion, SUNBLOCK!!!!, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes...for the plane :),  pack pain relievers for both the kids and for you, pack some gas/tummy medicine also.  So, set aside and account for these purchases.
• Budget in to have some groceries delivered to your hotel for you. Even if you are not staying in a Villa, your room will have a mini fridge. Have them deliver a couple cases of bottled water, juice boxes, a half gallon of milk, orange juice, maybe a box of cereal, oatmeal (hot water from the coffee maker) etc. You will be happy to bring along those juice boxes and bottles of water to the parks with you....unless you want to pay $3-$4 per bottle! I have used The Garden Grocer and would highly recommend their service. They deliver right to the Bell Services of your resort. 
• Set a daily budget for your children's souvenirs!!! It is very easy to get carried away and pull out that credit card to buy everything they want. It is also not a good feeling to go and not be able to buy them what they want. Set strict daily budgets for them...we set a $25/day per child. This is for them to buy a stuffed animal, tee shirt, Mickey ears etc. Explain to them that it is up to them how they spend it. If they see something they want that is $50...don't cave in and give them extra money. They can choose to not get anything the next day and use tomorrow's money to make that $50 purchase. This is a great way for them to be smart with their money and make a responsible decision on what they really want.
• Set a souvenir budget for yourself! The only thing I HAVE to get every time we go to Disney, is a Christmas ornament. So, I usually set aside $25, just for that.
• If you drink alcohol.......try to set a budget for your drinks. If you are traveling with your kids, chances are you are not going to be spending an arm and leg on alcohol...but keep that in mind. 
• Restaurant tips are NOT included with your dining plan. Make sure you set aside money for every time you will be dining at a table service restaurant. Remember, that parties of 6 or more, will have an 18% gratuity added to the bill. If your family is of 5 people or under at a buffet...probably $25 would be good.
• If you have the Dining Plan: You will get lunch, dinner, a snack per person per day. You will also receive a refillable mug to use for drinks at YOUR resort. So, you will have to get breakfast on your own. There are a couple of ways to do this...You can eat a light breakfast in your room with the things you brought in your suitcase or had delivered. You can pay out of pocket for your breakfast and eat at your resort's quick service eatery (you can grab waffles,egg sandwiches, pancakes,eggs etc ). You can get an idea of the menu pricing by searching for your resort's quick service restaurant's breakfast menu. Get a sense of the prices and budget how much it will cost you to buy the whole family breakfast...multiply that by how many days you will do so. My favorite thing to do is to use our snack credits for breakfast!! Seeing as you had waters and juice boxes delivered to your room and how you get dessert with both lunch AND dinner, this is a great use for your snack credits. You can get a huge cinnamon roll, muffins, pastries, etc using your snack credits. You can switch it up and only use them some days and then save those snack credits for a yummy cupcake or sweet treat at one of the park's confectionery stores!
• Make sure to budget for some fun things your resort may have to offer. For example....if you are staying at The Port Orlean's Riverside, budget in to take the family on a horse drawn carriage ride. Or, to fish at the fishing hole, rent a boat or to rent a Surrey Bike! Visit your resort's homepage to learn more about what your resort has to offer and if you want to enjoy any of those extras!
• Budget in for tips, if you are planning on using Bell Services.
• If you have a pet that you will be boarding...budget in for that as well!

Okay, I know it sounds like a lot...but that is why we are planning, well in advance. Having a budget and sticking to it will make your vacation a lot more relaxing and less stressful!