general costs - how much money do we need?!

Hoping some of you current CRPs out there can shed some light on the money situation...

I kno it will vary slightly for each person but it would be really helpful to those of us just beginning the process if you could give a general idea of how much you saved in the run up to starting the programme & whether this was enough/too little.

Obviously there has been some general info given on the need for money for first months rent/4 months insurance but how much approx was that for you guys?

How much extra money did you take with you? What was that for?

Is this a break even experience or have some of you made a loss because of poor pay?

Sorry for all the q's, but I'm jus trying to work out how much I need to save to have enough put by for when i get over there. Thanks in advance for your help. Ruth.

 

I found the answer to this one on another thread when I was browsing and from memory people said $500-$1000....

 

thanks for the reply kimmie, that certainly helps, but do u know what that money went on?
was it kitting on the flats or was it food/drink or something else entirely?
And did people that have completed the programme lose any money in the long run?

XxXx

 

From what i understand, you have to pay like 100 before you get there for the acommodation fee or whatever that is, 200-250 for the first two weeks of rental, about 50 for shoes, plus food and transportation in orlando.

 

...that was the amount people recommended to have with you for your first 2ish weeks when you don't get paid (so, to survive.. haha)

..yeah there are a lot of bits and bobs to sort out like your shoes as mentioned by shinjirod

 

oh here see this thread:
http://www.wdwip.com/smf/index.php?topic=7270.msg245300#msg245300

 

From what I've read, the money that you take over for the first couple of weeks goes on general living costs and setting yourself up. For example, if you don't take bedding with you, you'll have to buy that when you get there. Towels, soap etc... anything that you don't have room for in your luggage.
The flats are already kitted out with furniture and cooking utensils, although general food supplies will be needed.
Of course, like any company, it takes a couple of weeks to get you on the payroll system, and they expect you to pay your rent in that time (instead of it coming out of your pay check).
I think that's most general things. Some people choose to save up for transport, and buy a car when they get over.

Basically, if you think you're going to want it when you get there, either make room in your case or put a little extra money aside for it.

 

Your rent comes out your paycheck, so after the two weeks you will get a check for the two weeks you have been there and your rent will be out of that too, you dont have to pay it out your own money, i advise people to take out as much as they can tbh, especially for the first few months cos so much goes on that you really cant budget ureself until ure getting a steady income, im basing this on my last year as an ICP btw! I took out £600 which was like over $1000 but the exchange rate was awesome last year and has changed slightly, Id say to be comfortable wen ure out there and to keep up with peoples plans like going out, partying, shopping for shoes etc, and other theme parks you will need to take about 500 quid!! the money i took out with me last year lasted me for the 3 months i was there, and was kind of an emergency fund if you will, only used it wen needed to book Miami and when i had ran out of money lol, but being paid weekly helps a lot!!! so u dnt really run out too often!!!

 

The accommodation fee is a registration cost to hold your spot.
My shoes were only about 20 dollars. Go to Walmart! & they lasted all summer.
You don't have to pay anything up front, rent wise. Two weeks will come out of your first paycheque, but that paycheque also has two weeks worth of working!
I was on the ICP, so only 2.5 months. I came home about 400 in debt, but that didn't concern me too too much. I got paid rather well too, 7.13 an hour for Custodial. I worked lots of extra shifts, never went to Universal/partying/any of the trips and was still flat broke.
My health insurance before hand cost me 200. But it came in handy when I got sick the last week of my program!
When I left, I had saved about two hundred, but I also brought A LOT with me, as my family drove me down. So I already had bedding, etc. I managed to hit the sales @ home beforehand. WalMart isn't bad for prices, so when you do get there, my best suggestion would be to SPACE out the things you buy.
You need a pillow and a sheet. You need a towel. You need some shampoo (bring a travel sized one at first!) The rest of the "essentials" you'll have probably brought with you. Wait two weeks to buy that extra pillow and another blanket and a second towel. And so on and so forth. You may not look or feel as lived in right away, but the advantage for you guys is that you're there for a whole year, so there's less of a chaotic feel!

 

wot sort of shoes did u have to get?

ryt so we need to buy a pillow, then im guessing a pillow case, sheet 4 on the matress, then a sheet 4 over u?? lol

 

You'll probably get told the type of shoes but I read somewhere black sneaker type shoes that you can polish...

I think if you can fit in in your case then bring it, if not then you can def buy such things there!

 

Wait on the shoes, because it depends on your role and location. Resort custodials wore white non slips, park custodial wore black non-slips, and you don't know that stuff 'til you're there. You don't even need a pillow case right away, use a tee shirt! (jokes, but just trying to show you how to save $$).
I had black non slip running shoes/sneakers. They were the same as was required at McDonalds, if you've ever seen their shoes!

 

I just have to add, I work with a lot o people who have done crp. And quite a few I spoke to who worked in food and beverage saved A LOT in tips and stil had an amazing time!

So aslo g as u take a bit with u to begin with and then work hard, it'll be fine!

I'm also thinking that if I have no money, I won't be able to afford to eat, therefore I'll lose weight! Winner!!

 

what do you mean by saved a lot in tips? I thought we weren't allowed to have tipped positions? ...or maybe that doesn't apply for CRP?

 

Yeah in the presentation we were told that in food and bev you start on 8 dollars or whatever it is then u move on to a tipped position if they think you're good enough and u get like 3 something an hour because of all the tips. And that's crp.
X

 

obviously thats only if you are F&B...merch is a set salary so do they have enough to survive on and be able to save so can go out aswell?

 

Yeah Hun, everyone goes on about how mad it is! How it's like uni but better. So we will probably be a bit studenty and have to do things on the cheap but don't worry!

I'm meeting someone out there tomoro so I'll ask her all about it and get back to u

x

 

Other than the $100 assessment fee you don't rly have to bring that much.. I have used about $1000 so far - but I did buy a laptop for $650, lots of clothes and rides and dinners at restaurants.. And of course bed sheets, food, drinks etc.

 

Right, just been for dinner with some "cast members"
the guy who was on food and bev said he was fine with money and the merch girls said it was tough and a bit like being students, having to be a bit stingy...

But...

They ate having the most amazing time! And I had such a great evening with them, and drove past the commons and it's made me so fricking exciting!!

Xx

 

Oh cool!
What did they guy who did food and bev say about his experience? Actually, did they like their experience??