This last lesson in our budgeting series is so important. You’ll review your findings, make final decisions, and establish a budget.

Now that you know how much your Disney World vacation will cost, it’s time to sit with that number. Ask yourself:

• Is my budget too much? Can we afford this trip?
• Should we save more to get to do the things we want?
• Have I genuinely accounted for the bulk of our expenses?
• Did we plan too many expensive meals?
• Should we do the Disney Dining Plan?
• Can I cut items from the budget to make this trip more reasonable?

You’ll need to consider the answers to these questions and any other doubts you have about your budget. When you’re satisfied, it’s time to establish a real number. Take your finalized expenses and set a realistic amount for this vacation.

Subtract Expenses as You Incur Them

Okay, now it’s time to put those numbers to work. You’ll need to subtract every vacation-related expense from your budget between now and your vacation. You can make a list on paper or create a spreadsheet. Write your total budget at the top of the sheet. Then, subtract each item as you pay for them. You’ll probably start with items like your hotel deposit and airfare. But you must remember to account for each item to stay true to the budget you set.

Stay Accountable Throughout Your Trip

Disney World is truly the Most Magical Place on Earth. It’s also a place where guests often overspend. This next step is important, especially if you’re on a tight budget. This step requires you to maintain accountability throughout your trip. Trust me, if you can stay true to yourself and your budget, you’ll thank yourself later.

I doubt anyone ever left Disney World in tears because they were responsible and didn’t spend too much money. But I have a feeling it’s an everyday occurrence for people to walk around the parks and return home with money anxiety. Which one would you rather?

So carry your balance with you, and every time you purchase something, continue to subtract it from your total budget. If you find a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt or a pair of Minnie Ears that you have to have, take a moment, subtract it from your budget, and then you can decide if it’s worth it or not.

If you don’t want to calculate items in the parks, you can save your receipts and balance your budget at the end of each day or first thing the next morning. But make the time to do it!

Our budget spreadsheet has an expense tracker that you can use before and on your vacation to keep track of expenses. You literally enter the expense and the category and it automatically subtracts the amount from your budget. You’ll constantly be aware of how much you have left to spend based on your initial budget.

Balance Your Budget After the Vacation

At the end of your vacation, it’s time to balance the budget. If you’ve been subtracting each expense from the start, you already know how you did. Did you stay on budget, or did you get off track? If so, where?

You can compare your original list of expenses to the ones you incurred. Did you spend more somewhere? Did a character meal cost more than you expected? Did you end up buying that sweatshirt or Minnie Ears after all? With the facts in hand, you can identify any extra expenditures or places where you miscalculated.

Finally, and I love this part: Congratulations! If you took the time to do this, you’ve come full circle. You are ahead of the game and can apply these same practices and techniques to your everyday life (if you haven’t already).

You can also use your budget as a guideline for planning your next Disney World vacation!

If you haven’t already, check out our Disney World vacation budgeting spreadsheet.

Our Next Stop? How to Find the Disney Resort that’s Right for You!