10 yr old sans parents - with friends - $?

[Andrea from PA]

My 10 yr old was invited to go with friends in June.

I'm cheap & budget minded (else we wouldn't take vacations ). I can do Orlando cheap & find ways for it to be fun, but allowing my son to go without us kinda takes away all my control freak thrifty.

All in all -- my mind-set for pricing is not realistic for my son's trip, so help me find a realistic budget.

They are planning: air fare, Universal, a day at Disney & BotCom (Transformer convention at Swan & Dolphin).

They plan on 1 day at Disney - I signed up for a give a day. I will be telling the other family about the 7 day $118 Universal tickets I find here in the Universal sub-forum. BotCom (rumored $50).

They have a condo & will do breakfast there -- at least lunch will be in parks & maybe dinner. My son eats like an adult. So, how much for food? $30/day? $25/day?

We hardly ever buy souvin. - it has to be really unique for us to buy stuff. We do usually give the kids $20 each for a T-shirt or something. But since he'll be with kids who may be buying stuff -- What is reasonable?

Overall, I think he'll be spending more himself then 5 of us on our spring trip

Do I have any hope on cheaper air than $275?

 

[DVCBELLE]

Wow, that is a tough one!! Have you considered asking the other family what they anticpate their daily expenses are?

I would just say "I am planning DS expenses and was wondering what you plan on doing for meals each day, are you big on souveniors, etc"

To be honest - are they expecting you to pay all that? If I invited one of my kids friends on vacation with me - they would our guest and I would cover their expenses! But on the other hand - if my child was invited - I would send money to cover all their expenses!! Classic catch-22!

 

[Andrea from PA]

Well, I'll talk more details with the other family.

I wouldn't expect anyone to pay for my son, but to pay some things would be nice -- that way if they want a nice dinner I won't worry so much. I personally think that Transformer convention is too high -- maybe they'd pay for that.

 

[Justsyd2]

Just to be safe I'd budget at least $50/day food and snacks, and at least $100 extra spending money, for, well, extras!

 

[formill]

WOW. I am really cheap. I would just say no he can't go. I would not be really thrilled at letting my 10 year old go away with another family anyway. But that is just me. Too paranoid most likely. We never buy souvenirs ever- I understand the desire when you are there but when we get home they just take up space so that is always hard if you are with the family that buys the mickey ears, all the stuffed characters etc every time. We took our son's 17 year old girlfriend the past trip - and we told her she had to pay for air fare and the tickets we had for universal (7 day ones)- the rest we paid for which did add up to be a LOT- we don't eat out a lot but every time there was that extra person etc.

 

[cvjw]

We took our 10 year old son's best friend with us to Disney in Sept. We paid for everything but his Disney ticket. His mom gave us $200 towards his ticket, and we kicked in an extra $200 to upgrade his ticket to a non-expiring one so he can go to Disney with us another time. I would have been fine paying for everything for him - since he was our guest.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I think once you decide to let him go along. You have to let go of how to save money. It is their trip and they may spend very differently than your family. The problem is you can not deny your son the things they are doing when he is there.
The suggestion about the 7 days parks is great as they may not know that but other than that, I think you are at their mercy as to what they choose to do.

I would ask them how much you need to give them them to cover your child's part. They may say, oh we are covering it or they may beat around the bush or give you a figure. If that figure is more that you are willing to spend you may choose to thank them for the offer but tell them it is not in you budget for your child to go.

I would also ask how much their son is going to have for extras and if he will have that money or them, and do likewise. No fun to watch you freind buy treats when you can not.

Now you can certainly talk to your son about over spending but if they give you a number and they have the money . you son does not have to worry about how much each meal might cost him,too much for a 10 year old.

I think if you trust them to take you son, you need to be able to talk about the money in an open way.

 

[Mommee]

I would ask the family how much money you'll need. When we bring DS's friend next year, his parents will buy the plane ticket and chip in towards the park ticket, but we'll pay the rest. The only money he'll need with him is if he wants to buy gifts for his family.

 

[Hannathy]

I would send the amount for souvenirs that you and your son agree on, no matter how much they spend. Good time to practice the old just because they do it doesn't mean you have to. My DD spent a lot less than the girl she went away with the last time, no big deal.

I would also ask the family how they plan on eating dinner. Maybe they are planning CS meals or eating outside the park then it will be less than TS meals. Your son can also learn to be a bit careful in what he orders if they are doing TS meals.

We have taken friends with us places and my DD has gone on vacation with friends and we always pay our childs own way as far as meals and tickets and they pay for theirs. the family taking will pay for lodging and if driving of course the transportation. If flying I would expect to pay for my own child. The family taking usually springs for a meal or two also.

The convention may be pricey but it sounds like something you would never do so isn't it neat that he gets to do something so different with his friend? I'm sure he will remember it all his life. Think about the memories and if you spread it out over all the years he will remember it isn't it worth a bit more than you would spend?

 

[gillenkl]

Before commiting to going - I would ask the family how much it will cost for my child. If it's too much $$$, then I wouldn't let him go. Personally I wouldn't let my 10 year old go with another family, but that's a different subject alltogether.

 

[winnapooh]

We took our 9 year old nephew last March. We paid for everything except his spending money. His parents gave him about $150 and told him that when it was gone, it was gone. He was Very good about remembering to see how much he had left before deciding what to buy. He even almost passed on the Lightsaber until the CM told him it was one sale And once it was gone, we didn't pay for anything extra (other than extra drinks and stuff like that).

He got really into pressed pennies, and since I had given him a fixed amount of pennies/quarters to begin with, he was done when that was spent, and had to watch my husband getting a penny he couldn't get (and he was fine with it, and even commented that he had already decided to spend all his money).

My point is...give him a fixed amount for spending, and I'm guessing he will learn to budget it for what he really wants.

 

[budbeerlady]

I would ask the other parents for their ballpark. Universal is going to be a bit and food. Hope he has fun!

 

[Planogirl]

I think that talking with the other family about expenses is a great idea.

I bet that your son is excited.