USVI-On-Line

Have been home for exactly 1 week today and already want to go back. This time, would love to stay a week on STJ instead of the BVI's.
Have the dates picked, the villa picked, the daysail date picked, just need to get the $$$ together and make sure my son can go. Then it's on...
Sooooo want to get to St. John!!!

It's easy....just skip a couple of house payments and a couple of car payments ... and poof your in the islands!!!!

We're right there with ya! This time both our boys want to go with us so we have to save even more and probably scale back on the food and housing costs...which is no big deal to get us back!

bnsilly wrote:Have been home for exactly 1 week today and already want to go back. This time, would love to stay a week on STJ instead of the BVI's.
Have the dates picked, the villa picked, the daysail date picked, just need to get the $$$ together and make sure my son can go. Then it's on...
Sooooo want to get to St. John!!!

Good luck !! Where there is a will there's a way !

how does alot of PBJ's sound? Can vary the bread.

Cheat on your tax return? By time the come looking for you, you'll have been there & back.

Be rooting for you.

That's why I love this forum and all of you! You share the insanity and can completely understand that I've already been mentally figuring out how many nights we can eat beans and cornbread, etc..PB&J-hadn't thought of that..
Will let you know how it goes..
Love this forum..keep up the great posts~

Don't forget the old mac & cheese & hot dogs..real cheap

Have you thought about Sam's Club. With the various demo tables they have you can get main meals, side dishes and desert and never have to buy anything.

I'll see you at the freezer case!

JIM

lol hadn't thought of that...Sam's buffet on Saturday it is...
Any good tips out there for saving money/cutting costs to help with trips?? (Real ones? lol)

If it works for you, try carpooling. Hubby and I ridehsare to work and CONSERVATIVELY it saves us about $5,000 a year in just fuel, parking, and maintenance costs. That's a trip to STJ right there.

Carpooling in general can save you time as well. Most cities have programs and it's worth a look.

It takes some felixibility and not for everyone but honestly it can be a HUGE cost cutter.

Another thing you can do is have a yard sale. We did that last Spring and not only got rid of A LOT of crap but made several hundred dollars in the process. I organized my neighbors to join me as well so it ended up being a Block Yard Sale. At the end of the day I had arranged to have Salvation Army come to pick up anything that wasn't sold and everyone got a receipt. That way they could take a deduction on their taxes. It was a win-win for everyone.

Eating out is of course a huge expense and one that really adds up-- as is buying coffee. I started bringing my lunch and breakfast to work just to see how much money we would save and it's A LOT!

Fortunately hubby and I are DINKS and have structured our costs so that we could live off of one salary if need be. We actually have quite a bit of disposable income but I have been on such a mission to build up more cash savings that I have started to try these things just to see how much I can sock away.

Last year we were on STJ every 6 months. We took trips in Dec 2008, June 2009 and Dec. 2009. and I can tell you that carpooling and some of the cost saving efforts paid for at least two of those trips.

Some people also structure their IRS withholdings to force savings so that they get a nice refund at the beginning of the year. SOme would say that isn't the best idea since you are potentially losing interest income. But if you aren't disciplined enough to do it yourself, this can work.

The other option is to look at low cost wayts to stay on STJ or share a place to reduce costs.

Just some ideas....

Thanks Gromit!

This board makes me crazy.
I regretted not getting a tshirt at Big Planet that said "If found return to St. John" when I was there a couple years ago.
I just ordered it by phone..
St. John obsessed I tell you~

Gromits ideas are good ones. We do the IRS thing,would just "throw away" the money if got it weekly. Now get a nice refund and pays for the vacations.

Also besides the PB&J's, to make them more filling, can add bananas, like Elvis liked.

Sam's "free" buffet is a great idea!

This will happen for you.

I completely agree with the IRS thing. I have tried to talk to my husband about it but he didn't think it was a good idea. I am changing mine this week, that will help for another trip in 2011