The gift card budget took a bit of a hit last month when I was sitting on $75 in BB gift cards that could suddenly no longer be converted into Disney gift cards. I was able to recover it nicely with an extra step. I sold the $75 BB gift cards to Cardpool and received $67.13 for them. Then, I cashed out another $25 in SB to PayPal. So, today, I will be taking (2) QR codes to BB and buying (2) $50 Disney gift cards. I will have to pay $7.87 extra (not the "free" money) but I should earn $12 back in SB so overall, I am still coming out ahead
So what I thought was going to be a major blow ended up being just a little glitch. Now, I'm just going back to cashing out my SB to Target for the $25 discounted card each month and any extra will go to PayPal.
Here's where the gift card budget is sitting right now...
Total Needed: $1600
Total Acquired: $1503.19
STILL NEED TO EARN...$96.81 (*but I added $150 as a "cushion" so my basic budget has already been met
)
Every time I look at this, it flabbergasts me! I cannot believe that I have earned almost $1600 in FREE money. These gift cards are going to give us the ultimate Disney FREE DINING experience
.
To break it down a little further, here is some of our dining plans so far...
Saturday: Planning to do the Parisian Luncheon at the F&W festival if it is offered this year ($175) but if it is not, I have a dinner reservation booked for us at the Yachtsman Steakhouse which should be the same cost, probably less.
Sunday: Lunch at the 50's Prime Time Cafe, sharing 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert and 3 sodas ($75)
Monday: Hoop-Dee-Do Revue, Category 1, late show ($180)
Tuesday: Lunch at Sanaa, bread service, (3) sandwiches, (3) drinks...($75)..Still trying for a dinner ADR at BOG ($170)
Wednesday: Member Night dinner at Splitsville ($150)
Thursday: Dinner at Jiko, sharing 2 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert and 3 sodas ($150)
Friday: Breakfast at Boma ($75)
Total TS Meal Cost (as planned): $880
Total remaining Dining budget: $320
We should have no problem eating around these meals for $40/day. We are "snackers"...if we get hungry, we will grab a pretzel and share it, or a Dole Whip and share it. We would easily split a single CS meal with maybe an extra side between the three of us and it would be a meal. We will have our groceries in the room for all of our breakfasts and we will have snacks with us too. This is all based on the original $1200 that I have as my "base" budget. If I can get that extra $150, we will have a nice cushion to use at the F&W festival booths if the girls decide they want to hit them up this year. It's one of my favorite things to do, but I am not going to force it on them if they are not interested.