Do you Budget the Kids?

[CampbellScot]

My step kiddos are 7 and 4...when we have a Disney trip in the works for the summer we start early with the "Disney Jar". It starts with whatever money they got for Christmas from distant relatives. They earn a quater a day after that for completing daily routine stuff...getting dressed, making their beds, putting PJ's in the hamper etc. They can lose money if they do something really horrible like hitting each other, generally being mean on purpose or being disrespectful to adults.

By the time August rolls around they have a nice tidy sum to take to Disneyworld. But the deal is, if they want a something they have to buy it themselves. None of this "Do I have to spend MY money on this" business. YES YOU DO. (they are SO smart and my step daughter has learned to hang on to money like a champ! ) It really makes them think about what they are buying, which is always a good habit to develop!!

food stuff we don't ask them to buy. They are little guys and as the grown ups it's part of our job to feed them! Plus we always do the dining plan, so they've got a snack coming anyhow...but generally they are not big on "snacking" on junk. We don't allow it and they've never developed a taste for it. They'll take one bite of a popsicle and then be ready to throw it in the trash...based on the cost of popsicles at DW...well it just won't do to waste them...then I feel hard pressed to eat them b/c I can't stand to see any food wasted...and then I turn into Pooh by the end of the trip and I'm not happy! SO...we carry fish crackers with us and they are happy as clams!!!

Whatever snack credits we have left over the kids use to buy "presents" for friends...bringing teachers Mickey rice crispy heads...things like that. They love to do that. It works for us!

 

[Atchley]

We are on the DDP so snacks aren't really a problem. The kids know that we will buy them a t shirt and usually a couple of other things, but that is it. They keep their money from Christmas and Birthdays and have to spend it on other things that they want. (When I say keep I mean Mom puts it up and won't let them have it until we go to Disney. They hate it now, but trust me, when we go to WDW they'll be grateful.) Just wish I had as much as they do to spend on Souvineers for myself.

 

[swillis]

This may sound bizarre - but to encourage our kids to wash their hands before eating snack or lunch and after using the restroom at school (kids just don't do this!), we offered to give them what we would have paid in a Doctor's office visit co-pay for each month of the school year that we don't have to visit the doctor's office.

We had a terrible year with strep throat last year - it kept running through the family and all those co-pays and prescriptions add up fast!

This year, we made it through August, September, October, Novemeber, December and January without visiting the doctor. And this is despite several notes home about rampant step throat or some other illness in the classroom.

It did not end up "saving" money to give them the money we would have spent on doctors/prescriptions - but I'd much rather spend that money on Disney than on being sick!!

I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! I'm going to put it into effect in my house immediately!! What a smart, smart, smart person you are!!!

 

[Dawn414]

My twins will be 4 so to another post's point, they really won't get the concept of money and cost...that being said though, we have been saving some of their birthday and Christmas money for our multiple trips this year. That way, they still get some of the gifts they want and someone else (Nanny & MomMom) are paying for them.

Dawn

 

[MommaPooh]

Our kids have always been taught to save their own money for extras, no matter if it is Disney or whatever. We have had them doing this since they were toddlers.

When we are in Disney they buy their own souvies for the most part. We do buy them a few things, but the bulk of what they get is paid for by them. We pay for all snacks and edible goodies. Both kids are really good about not wanting a snack unless they are actually hungry. They usually don't even ask, we have to ask them.

 

[Ilovefozzie]

For my Dkids, we do a combo of both. They save money up and we buy. Food isn't an issue. We are on the DDP, and besides, it's food. I have no problems buying them an ice cream. But again we had so many snack credits left over last time, that that's not an issue.

For their birthdays and valentines day we gave them money. They got a $10-$15 dollar gift and then $30 toward Disney for their birthday. They LOVED it. For valentines day they got the candy/chocolate and $10. Grandparents are thrilled to also give them money so they can get special gifts for themselves.

But we also buy a few little things as the week goes along.

 

[DaisyD]

No budget for the kids while on vacation. I wouldn't even consider limiting them money for ice cream and drinks. They are part of vacation expenses and ones that should be expected and paid for by the parents. We don't even limit DD on souvenier money but she isn't big on Disney stuff anymore as she already has all of that junk. I am the one that spends way too much on Disney junk for myself!

 

[HACAM]

My kids (DS 11, DS 9, and DD6) have been saving their money for our trip to WDW. Their grandparents have given them American money for their trip, and I alotted each of them $100 for the time we are there (1 week), they have to use this money and any money that they have saved for their soveniers, toys, whatever "extras" they want ( and can afford). DH and I pay for all the food, including snacks, but they don't get everything that they ask for either, and if they don't have enough money to buy the things they want, then they don't get it. It teaches them to budget their money. DS11 has a paper route so he has been saving for some time now, and is very good to his brother and sister...says he will share!

We often bring a backpack to the parks with us, and have lots of healthy and not so healthy snacks with us, so they at least get some good foods into them, and not just a bunch of junk!!

It worked for us last year, although their were some tears from my DD, as she was only 5 at the time and really did not understand the whole budget thing, she definitely has a better handle on it this year, she has been saving every penny she gets, and can't wait to get the item she was not able to purchase last year!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

What we did with our kids (starting when they were 5) was we rewarded their good behavior. We had a chart. They got stars on the chart for good behavior. They could get up to 4 stars a day. At the end of the week we totalled up their stars and they got $$ for a reward. We divided the number of stars by 4 I think -- so they could get at most $7 per week (although they never got that much.) I think they ended up with 3 or 4 a week. I bought Disney dollars and that was how they were paid. That was their spending money for the trip.

I worked out well because we didn't hear "buy me, get me" at all. And they were very discriminating on what they wanted to buy.

The most recent trip we didnot do that however -- they are now 11 and 8. We told them that we were not going to WDW to shop and they were allowed a couple of little items. Each girl picked out a plush toy.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We don't budget. If we want ice cream we get ice cream etc. As far as souveniers go we get within reason but truthfully the kids don't really ask fo rmuch. They might see one thing that they have to have and we usually buy it. For example DS wanted a pirate gun and DD wanted a stuffed baby Ariel doll. Our youngest is happy with a lolipop but we always get him something too.

 

[threecrazykids]

This time I'm doing it different. Last time we just bought everything for them and it ended up on the last day they were complaining that they didn't get something they wanted...

So...this time I've told my kids ahead of time that we're going and we're starting them with $50 each. Between now and the time we go (May) they will be able to do chores to earn more money. Each one can ask for additional chores to make money to have while we're down there.

Then when we get down there I'm giving each one of them a "checkbook" (which is just extra checkbook registers) that they can keep track of how much money they have for their souvineers. This way I don't have to say no, and they can decide how much they are able to spend or in that case...how much they are willing to spend on something.

As far as snacks etc, we will buy all that stuff for them. We're on the dining plan so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[hollyb]

No of course not. Money is our problem not theirs. Let kids be kids. They know that if we say we can't buy that right now maybe later we will follow through. As for being on vacation no one likes to hear the word no. We save all year for this, if DD wants 10 new stuffed animals why not? We have already set aside $300 for DS to spend in the Lego store.

We would never say ok you can have soda right now but no food later.

 

[gardnchk]

We have four kids, ages 13, almost 12, 10 and almost 9 (will be 13, 12, 10 & 9 by the time we go in April) I don't want to have to say "no" to them per se.....so we came up with a spending money jar. It's a big jar with disney stuff all over it. Everyone, kids included, is encouraged to throw their spare change into the jar as often as possible. However much money is in there when we leave, will be divided between them.......that way Mom and Dad aren't saying no, but we're not breaking the bank either. Snacks and stuff like that are of course our responsibility........this just applies to souveniers.......so far they have about $40 each!!!!

 

[mommiepoppins]

my kids have a budget. They have there own spending money that they saved!

 

[twins4disney]

I love eveyone's ideas. Our twins really do not have any concept of money, they know that items cost money, but cannot grasp how it works, we don't expect that yet. Anyway this trip, I really have to budget for everything. We are bringing our 4 previously bought light spinners, and will bring some of their more portable snacks into the parks. We will certainly let them get snacks that they want, but nothing to excess. How much do would be a good amount to limit for souveniers for them? Like I said they do not understand costs of things, but I am not too worried about any big fits if they do not get a certain item. I guess I am feeling guilty, because previous trips we have thrown caution to the wind and bought just about everything...which is why I am on a tight budget this time

 

[Ilovefozzie]

I love eveyone's ideas. Our twins really do not have any concept of money, they know that items cost money, but cannot grasp how it works, we don't expect that yet. How much do would be a good amount to limit for souveniers for them? Like I said they do not understand costs of things, but I am not too worried about any big fits if they do not get a certain item. I guess I am feeling guilty, because previous trips we have thrown caution to the wind and bought just about everything...which is why I am on a tight budget this time

When we went last year our DD was 5 and she was "budgeted." And honestly? She loved it. We did play it up by buying her a cheap wallet/coin purse from Walmart and put her money in it. So she knew it was her money. I admit that we did "point" her in a direction. "Honey, you don't want to buy that toy...what about the Princess crown you told us you wanted." We also budget into our money another $20 or so for each child just in case they "oops" on their spending. But the couple of things she got she really really wanted.

I was amazed how quickly she caught onto the thought of an item being cool but not "cool enough." So maybe if you buy them wallets (to be held in mom's bag) and talk it up about they get to decide, and just because it's cool on the first day something cooler could come along on the 3rd.

Don't feel guilty. Last year we budeted 30 bucks each and then that "hidden" 20. This year they are 45 from mom and dad plus the hidden amount and grandmas and pas have helped out and given them Disney money for special events. So right now they are up to 75ish.

Good Luck!

 

[starbox]

When we went last year our DD was 5 and she was "budgeted." And honestly? She loved it.

Teaching our children to learn budgeting, spending wisdom, and how to avoid impulse buying is one of the most valuable life skills we can give them. Teaching them to take pleasure in what they have is so much healthier in the long run than teaching them that they can have everything the see and ask for.