Chores and Money Choices

[moobar25]

Good for you OP I think you should be proud of your kids. Good luck to the kids and have a fun vacation!

 

[Kellydelly]

Good Lord. Your idea is fine. It is cute. It teaches the value of money to your kids. I like it ! It's way to get your kids excited about the upcoming trip and also contribute to something extra they want to do, but obviously don't need to do. Don't worry about all the naysayers. You can't damage a kid by taking them on a cruise, unless they are terrified by water . I want to be your kid. Will you adopt me, please????

 

[Robbi]

In defense of the OP - I was that kind of kid from the get-go. I was always a good saver and had much more money than either of my brothers. They burned through theirs by buying things like candy and records (long before CDs - lol!). Meantime I had saved enough for several different toys that I wanted (Barbie stuff, transistor radio, camera), all by the time I was 6 or 7. The whole time I was putting roughly half in my bank account.

I was the same way with candy. Come to think of it, if I had been smart I would have sold my stocking stuffers, Easter Basket contents and Halloween booty to my brothers instead of just eventually giving to them...

Clearly, I grasped the concept of saving. I still save better than either of my brothers. I guess just I had a hard time with the concept of profit...

If her DD is happy doing it, then let her be who she is. OP - you have every right to be proud!

You sound like my brother. I would get money and want to go shopping. He got an edible creepy crawler machine and sold the creepy things at recess. Today, he owns several insurance agencies. He was a business man from the start.

My DD4 and DS7 decided they want to go to WDW when we do our cruise next Thanksgiving and are saving for their own two day park tickets all by themselves. (We said if they pay for the tickets we'll cover food and the hotel.) They earn money for extra chores.
DD4 is up to $36 and DS is up to $70.
Anyone else have kids budgeting and saving to WDW?

ETA-
Dear moderator,
I meant for this to be a fun cute thread.
Could you please delete this thread as it has turned quite negative?
Sincerely,
Lori

Lori, if this is what works for your family, great! The thread is relatively mild. When I read the title, I was expecting bloodshed.
Press the little red triangle under your name. That is used to get a mod's attention.

 

[cruisecrasher]

You sound like my brother. I would get money and want to go shopping. He got an edible creepy crawler machine and sold the creepy things at recess. Today, he owns several insurance agencies. He was a business man from the start. Lori, if this is what works for your family, great! The thread is relatively mild. When I read the title, I was expecting bloodshed. Press the little red triangle under your name. That is used to get a mod's attention.

I have a low tolerance for what other people say about my parenting or my kids directly. I'm more worried about what I might say! I need to get off the app to the web version to do that. Thanks.

 

[sydneysmom]

OP.... you are taking an awful lot of heat for simply trying to teach your kids good values, the value of a dollar and that everything you want in life does cost something. I think it's great that you are teaching your children so young the value of a dollar. There's nothing wrong with a little hard work or the pride that they will feel when they've accomplished something.

Just a quick story for you... our DD was 6 at the time our sweet dog got cancer. She had a very difficult time getting around, but she LOVED walks. Our daughter, on her own, asked if she could use her allowance to buy our dog a wagon so we could ride her around the neighborhood so she could still 'take walks'. She didn't think about herself... all she thought about was that she had to make sure we could still take our dog for a walk. She had about $11.00 saved, but you know what, that red rider wagon she picked out cost $ 11.00. Amazing. She never knew, nor will she ever know, that we paid the balance. She was so incredibly proud that day as we brought our dog around the block in her new wagon. I have never been more proud and more choked up. It was a beautiful thing.

Never underestimate kids. They've got really great hearts and they really do want to do great things. Your children want to contribute to your vacation.... it's very sweet.

 

[manning]

To those who said you are setting up the child for disappointment if not enough is saved. You use the common sense approach.

"Good job dear you saved just enough" you don't give an exact figure what they have to save. Tell them they are doing a good job and getting close. The exact amount you have to save comes later on in life. Right now you want them to learn the concept of saving

OP, you're on the right track. Your child is on the right track of learning personal responsibility. The greatest gift you can give them and a gift that keeps getting passed along. Handldled right it never wears out.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I absolutely love your idea.
I think your kids will definitely grow up to be very successful, good people who will be at such an advantage because they have learned to set goals and work to achieve them.
Hope you have an amazing trip!

 

[sunnyday123]

I have a low tolerance for what other people say about my parenting or my kids directly. I'm more worried about what I might say! I need to get off the app to the web version to do that. Thanks.

It's a public forum, you're not going to get everyone to agree with you on everything you say. No one here has said you stink as a parent, or anything about your children, just that some of us don't agree with making 4 and 7 year olds pay for their own vacation. Geez.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I wish more parents were like you OP.. Teaching them the value of a dollar at a young age will carry on with them for a life time.

As a kid when Mom had to summer rummage sale I too gather up some of my items to sell. I saved my allowance to go to the fair or the amusement park

Don't worry about what others are saying. Those with a negative opinions don't understand the value of teaching kids to earn what they want. You are also instilling good work ethics for them to. They are working toward a goal.

 

[Debbie Jean]

OP.... you are taking an awful lot of heat for simply trying to teach your kids good values, the value of a dollar and that everything you want in life does cost something. I think it's great that you are teaching your children so young the value of a dollar. There's nothing wrong with a little hard work or the pride that they will feel when they've accomplished something.

Just a quick story for you... our DD was 6 at the time our sweet dog got cancer. She had a very difficult time getting around, but she LOVED walks. Our daughter, on her own, asked if she could use her allowance to buy our dog a wagon so we could ride her around the neighborhood so she could still 'take walks'. She didn't think about herself... all she thought about was that she had to make sure we could still take our dog for a walk. She had about $11.00 saved, but you know what, that red rider wagon she picked out cost $ 11.00. Amazing. She never knew, nor will she ever know, that we paid the balance. She was so incredibly proud that day as we brought our dog around the block in her new wagon. I have never been more proud and more choked up. It was a beautiful thing.

Never underestimate kids. They've got really great hearts and they really do want to do great things. Your children want to contribute to your vacation.... it's very sweet.

Your daughter is an angel... you are so blessed

OP, you sound like a terrific mom who really has taken the time to know her children.. it's wonderful that you have been able to use the trip as a teachable moment

 

[eliza61]

My DD4 and DS7 decided they want to go to WDW when we do our cruise next Thanksgiving and are saving for their own two day park tickets all by themselves. (We said if they pay for the tickets we'll cover food and the hotel.) They earn money for extra chores.
DD4 is up to $36 and DS is up to $70.
Anyone else have kids budgeting and saving to WDW?

ETA-
Dear moderator,
I meant for this to be a fun cute thread.
Could you please delete this thread as it has turned quite negative?
Sincerely,
Lori

It is a good thread. Why do you say is negative? What we can only have a good thread if every one agrees?
I kinda thought it was pretty nice.

 

[CathiVee]

Geez guys. I'm not even a mom and this thread makes me cringe. The OP didn't ask for your opinion on whether or not her kids are old enough to get $ for chores to save up for things. My parents always made me save up for things (yes, even when I was 4) and I turned out perfectly fine lol.

OP- have fun on your trip!!

 

[Marionnette]

Geez guys. I'm not even a mom and this thread makes me cringe. The OP didn't ask for your opinion on whether or not her kids are old enough to get $ for chores to save up for things. My parents always made me save up for things (yes, even when I was 4) and I turned out perfectly fine lol.

OP- have fun on your trip!!

She asked:

"Anyone else have kids budgeting and saving to WDW?"​

That pretty much left it open for discussing why one does, or does not, have their children "budgeting and saving", as well as different perspectives parents have on the ages at which they begin making their children contribute to the cost of family vacations and appropriate savings goals at various ages.

I didn't make my kids save for and pay for any portion of a family vacation and none of them has become a social parasite because of it. You turned out fine even though your parents made you do it. My kids turned out fine. The OPs children will probably also turn out fine. My opinion that the kids are too young to derive much from this lesson in fiscal responsibility is no reflection on the OP's parenting skills. Her thoughts on my relaxed approach to childhood doesn't make me a lousy mother in the eyes of my kids. Twenty-four years of motherhood makes you grow a thick skin when it comes to other peoples' opinions concerning your way of parenting.

 

[robinb]

OP: if you wanted this thread to go away quietly without more people criticizing your choices, changing the subject to "Moderator Please Delete" was not the way to do it. That's a click-bait subject if I've ever seen one!

 

[cruisecrasher]

It is a good thread. Why do you say is negative? What we can only have a good thread if every one agrees?
I kinda thought it was pretty nice.

Maybe (Probably) I'm taking it personally because people are talking about my kids and my parenting. It's (probably) a fine discussion, just not the one I'd intended to start.
As I said initially, I asked for others to share their family's choices and haven't gotten much of that but many comments on whether or not others felt my choices were appropriate.
No one wants to hear that.
That's all I meant by negative.

I love the wagon story above!

 

[cruisecrasher]

OP: if you wanted this thread to go away quietly without more people criticizing your choices, changing the subject to "Moderator Please Delete" was not the way to do it. That's a click-bait subject if I've ever seen one!

Thank you for that point. Changed.

 

[Metsfan520]

It's a public forum, you're not going to get everyone to agree with you on everything you say. No one here has said you stink as a parent, or anything about your children, just that some of us don't agree with making 4 and 7 year olds pay for their own vacation. Geez.

Exactly. Even if every 4 & 7 year old I know have no grasp of long time saving (heck, my 9 yr old nephew still struggles with the idea, and don't we all know some adults with the problem) I guess it's possible that some little kids get the idea of it. But I don't think that any post here (even the most critical) in any way, shape or form was negative of the OP's kids or her parenting.

 

[eliza61]

Maybe (Probably) I'm taking it personally because people are talking about my kids and my parenting. It's (probably) a fine discussion, just not the one I'd intended to start.
As I said initially, I asked for others to share their family's choices and haven't gotten much of that but many comments on whether or not others felt my choices were appropriate.
No one wants to hear that.
That's all I meant by negative.

I love the wagon story above!

Nah, some things I try to keep in my head when I start a thread and lol, believe me, I've developed these habits after a loooong time on internet forums.

I really believe social threads are great. so much to learn from others but I keep in mind...

1) Money, religion and children are the most sensitive topics on the face of the planet. I try, not always successfully to give posters the benefit of the doubt. I like to think especially here most folks are not mean.

2) on the net, tone and facial cues are lost so we're at a disadvantage. the smilies can help but some times a person could be asking a question but it sounds like a criticism. they truly may think some things an awful idea. That's not to say that your parenting style or choices are awful just this particular idea isn't some thing we agree on. Believe me, now that my kids are young adults, my dh and I use to look back and "cringe" at some of our more, shall we say "parenting" choices.

3) threads ALWAYS, ALWAYS morph. totally natural. I'm unfortunately probably public enemy number one on this front. some one makes a comment that reminds me of a song I heard in 10th grade and I'm off on a tagent and unintentionally taking the thread along with me. with a multipage thread it's almost a forgone conclusion.

4) Objectivity is good and should be expected. I try to remember when I ask a question that I indeed asked a question, which could mean a lot of different answers. My favorite example is the movie "Song of the south" and whether disney should release it. Now rarely do many folks agree with my side of the argument but a lot of posters have given me food for thought and while I haven't changed my mind about the movie, I have come to see that some good points were posted.

 

[QVCshopper]

As I said initially, I asked for others to share their family's choices and haven't gotten much of that but many comments on whether or not others felt my choices were appropriate.

I told you what we do. I also said it seemed like a lot of work for you to keep track of, and something I would not be interested in doing since the parent seems to ultimately be the one supplying the bulk of their ticket savings anyway.

The only other thing I wonder is if the kids would be able to accrue this much if, for example, their goal was much smaller like buying the Crayola marker maker (which my kids recently wanted desperately). I think (but I could be wrong) you're paying them for extra chores more than usual. Unless they get money from relatives and helping out neighbors... When my kids get money for their birthday, I let them spend some and the rest goes into their college savings account. In other words, do your kids always have this much earning potential? And if so, do you always let them spend it as they wish?

And we did cruise as a family. We've also done Disney both before and after the cruise... Hope you have transportation in your equation. That's an extra expense I don't think you mentioned.

 

[cruisecrasher]

I told you what we do. I also said it seemed like a lot of work for you to keep track of, and something I would not be interested in doing since the parent seems to ultimately be the one supplying the bulk of their ticket savings anyway. The only other thing I wonder is if the kids would be able to accrue this much if, for example, their goal was much smaller like buying the Crayola marker maker (which my kids recently wanted desperately). I think (but I could be wrong) you're paying them for extra chores more than usual. Unless they get money from relatives and helping out neighbors... When my kids get money for their birthday, I let them spend some and the rest goes into their college savings account. In other words, do your kids always have this much earning potential? And if so, do you always let them spend it as they wish? And we did cruise as a family. We've also done Disney both before and after the cruise... Hope you have transportation in your equation. That's an extra expense I don't think you mentioned.

DME is free/included and the cruise transportation was already figured into our cruise budget.
I don't keep track of it anymore than normal (they usually save in their own envelope they decorated that sits in the kitchen drawer) nor are they earning more than normal. It's just going to WDW rather than Legos or (in my daughters case) Barbie dolls and dress up Disney princess shoes. If they earn it, yes with guidance they can spend it on things that aren't inappropriate (violent video games, movies that don't align with our family values, etc.) DS most recent "big save" item was saving up for a large-ish Lego castle set. DD saved enough for a Snow White dress from the Disney store. This isn't the first time they've chosen to save for something big.
My kids don't typically get Christmas money or birthday money.