money money money

does anyone save money whilst there? i mean do you just spend everything you earn because its not much...either for the year program or the summer program...

 

My friend worked in f&b and saved loads...but also spent loads...you just have to remember the tips are quite good!! That bulks you're wage up a bit in f&b. x

 

It's prob a bit easier to save with the year program, I know I didn't really save any this summer. I came home with 400$, but my flight and insurance to get there was 900, plus everything I bought and took down, plus my credit card bills when i got home (they werent really much though, maybe 100$)

I wanted to do as much as I could though, so I gave away a couple of shifts, and shopped a ton more than I usually would.

 

yeah i think the temptation to shop for me would be far too much and id spend anything i have spare!

 

I didn't save anything...I mean I could have but the exchange rate coming back was rubbish so I just spent it. The CM in the World of Disney looked shocked when our bill came to over $400...and then I handed over my ID and got my 40% Christmas Discount ;D

If you have the chance to save a bit each week, then do it. It's always nice to have something left over at the end of your program just in case you see something you really want to buy, or decide to go travelling for a bit.

Most people I spoke to said they couldn't save anything because they didn't get paid enough, but they did go out every night, so what do you expect!

 

How much would you say the average person would earn in a week minus the housing expenses? Is it pretty easy to get lots of overtime if you want it? I think when I first get there I'll just be up for work, work, work so I'm in the park all the time haha.

I'm hoping to save up a lot so I can travel afterwards. I agree with the exchange rate thing... it's so rubbish it would be like slave labour if you decided to convert back to £1 ($6 an hour roughly equivalent to £3 an hour... shocking!). If you wanted sum new clothes or something you might as well go crazy and buy what you can while you are in the US.

 

i think my average pay checks were something like $150 - $200 a week, after rent was deducted so thats plenty to live on!!

On my first program i came back with like $400 but didn't change it into £s (no point). i just kept it in $ to take back for my next program.

On my 2nd program i came back with about $800, and i did go travleing afterwards. But i did put alot of things like hotel, flights etc in my credit card.

But again i didnt change my $ into £ cos it means i can use it for when i go there in December for vacation and for when i go back on another program next year ;D

 

When I was in QS F&B I earned about $250 a week, but I was working 60 hours 6 days a week. That's after rent was taken off. In attractions I earnt between $150 - $200 but I was being paid less and got less hours. Again, thats after rent (at least I think it was!) Don't forget they take tax off as well!

 

Oh that's a bit rubbish about tax. I thought if you weren't a US resident you could claim it back? Or is that not the case?

 

you still pay tax but you pay the very least amount of tax. It was like $150 for 3 months... maybe more. and you can claam it back once your home.

 

i tend to buy things as soon as i see them but hopefully if i get to go i'd save some and then spend it on everything i wanted but didnt get before i left cause of the exchange rate...

 

What bank did people use? I've heard theres a couple of ways of doing banking when you're out there and I'll probably be as equally confused about them when it comes to actually picking one!!!

 

I chose Vista FCU...and then there's SunTrust...I know a lot of people chose SunTrust because there are more ATM's the further away from Disney you go and I don't think you have to pay a monthly fee, but Vista filled all my needs, the fee was only $3 a month (ok so that's one less Wendy's for me), and because I worked at MK there was always a branch near me! I still have the account...and having no ATM's far from Disney doesn't bother me as I have a checking card anyway. Plus the cards have cool Disney pics on them

 

...SOLD!!!!! haha. ok i think i follow that. so you can use the card then like you would use a visa card anywhere you go? but if you go to new york you'll struggle to take cash out??

 

Basically yes in the USA your debit card IS a credit card (has a Visa logo right on it). When you use it the funds are taken out of your account in about 2-3 days time. Problems with this arrise because if you DON'T have the funds in your account when they go to remove them they charge you about $35 PER TRANSACTION. I personally know a few people who wracked up hundreds of dollars in debt to their bank. You can use any ATM to take out cash from your account but if it's not your banks ATM be prepaired to pay 2-3 bucks every time you use the ATM.

 

Wow sounds like there's silly charges for the most ridiculous things. Nobody wants to pay money to spend their own money :S

What about if you use the card as a credit card? Are there any hidden charges there appart from $35 for going overdrawn?

 

try looking at their website www.vistafcu.org it will probably give you more details about the rates.

 

it does really suck about having to pay to use the ATM machines (going to need to get into the habbit of saying ATM and not cashpoint!!)

What is the advantage then with going with vista bank? i mean do you get charged for ATMs with the other bank account?

 

Yup...if you want to draw money out at any of the complexes and you don't have an account with Vista FCU they will charge you for using it.

With any of them, somewhere along the line you will be charged for something! Then again, you don't have to have a bank account at all, and can cash your paychecks at Publix

 

i'm thinking bank is a good idea maybe. i'd get a bit silly if i went to get my pay cheques cash in hand!!! ah well i guess any bank that fits the purpose then is fine. i'm surprised though that you get charged. ooo i think i've just realised that i'm rather tight fisted