Do you buy your kids...

[Mickey'snewestfan]

On our first trip I told DS(6) that whatever money he could save I would "match" when we got to WDW. That was a mistake. He did every chore he could think of for months, asked for $$$ for his birthday and ended up with $150, which meant I needed to come up with $150 more.

Despite the fact that he was rolling in the dough, I didn't want to spend my vacation shopping. So I told him the $$$ wasn't coming to the parks, that he'd be able to go shopping at DTD at some point but that we weren't shopping in the parks. I did buy him whatever snacks he wanted, mostly since his requests were reasonable and we had the DP to cover most of them.

On the 5th night of our 9 day trip we went to DTD. We spent a couple of hours in the shops and then sat down to make our decision. He asked me what $300 would buy at home and I think it hit him how much $$$ he really had. He then announced that he wanted a "Beyblade" toy top. I told him that Beyblades aren't a disney item and so they didn't sell them. He then asked a CP the same question and she led him to the Beyblade section . Apparently moms don't know everything. Anyway he left the store with a beyblade and $292. The next day he decided that he wished he'd bought an autograph album in the park so we stopped and picked one up. He also bought a sheet of autograph stickers so he wouldn't have to waste his time standing in line for the characters .

So he came home with $280, a top and a book full of fake autographs (he also suggested that I should ask to see other people's books and then forge the signatures in his. When I pointed out that those would be "fake" signatures he said "MOM, all the signatures come from people PRETENDING to be the characters, why can't you PRETEND to be a character " You have to love 6 year old logic. However I refused to walk up to complete strangers and ask to borrow their books so I could copy out the signatures -- I just have too much pride. He did get the signatures of the characters he saw at character meals.

When he got home he used the $280 to buy a video camera that got a lot of use.

For our second trip he brought the forged autograph book, and bought a pressed penny book. He also asked for (and got) a temp. tattoo on his last day. That seemed to satisfy his need for souvenirs.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

So now I know not to tell my boys I will match what ever they save.

 

[The Godmother]

If the kids go on a new ride we will get them a pin for the ride. They know that the trip is not about shopping and our mantra at home is if you keep asking for things you wont get anything. They are allowed one big thing (toy, costume etc) per trip. If they pick thier treat on the first day then they are done shopping. Usually they want to wait until we go to Downtown Disney to do thier shopping. We, knock on wood, have had few struggles with this and have never had any all out break downs over shopping. Often times they will be satisfied with taking a picture of them wearing the silly goofy hat or holding the pirate skull.

 

[KELSTER]

My dd saves her allowance up for 6 months but asks me not to give it to her until the day we leave. Easier to resist spending

I buy her a new hat (baseball type) each year but other than that we just do the pressed pennies.

She always comes back with at least 3/4 of her $$$.

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

My boys are young (2 and 3) and last year we saved all our coins in their piggy bank and that added up to $120!! So, we used that money to get them their gifts at Disney. We are planning to go again in DEC 2008, and we are doing the same thing. This year I plan on "teaching" oldest DS a little about money, and teach him the value of it. Do any of you think that is too young to do that???
They are both really good about not wanting everything in stores. They understand that they will not get everything they ask for or like.

 

[bigbabyblues]

No. Their first two trips, they each got one toy during the vacation and that was it.

Last year, they had some of their own money (they were 6 and just 4) and when it was gone, it was gone. We do buy their autograph book, pen, and a light spinner for each on each trip.

 

[IdoBeliveinFairies]

we always tell dd (4) she has to wait till the end of the day to pick out the one thing she really wants. It has worked so far. There have been no fits for anything she merely states she likes something and then decides what she wants at the end of the night. However, I sometimes let he get more than just one thing..so bad mommy and daddy

 

[Whitaker24]

Budget whats that? but do have a question?

My lil boy will be 4 the time our trip rolls around what is an adequate amount of money for him to have to spend on this trip? $100 for him and what about his mom who doesnt know what a budget is what would be a good budget for her $200?

thanks for the help.

 

[twinspluscade]

everything they ask for when you are on vacation in WDW? I fear my 4 year olds wanting something in every store at Disney!! We normally dont buy our boys something everytime we are out shopping on a normal day, but on vacation, they seem to always want everything.

What do you all do about it?

Good grief, no! With three kids we'd go broke.

On our last trip, each of my kids (they were 5,5,3) got at WDW: an autograph book, a pair of crocs (hadn't planned on that one, but their tennis shoes got soaked in a rain storm), and got to pick out ONE toy that was under $20. That's it!

 

[patti_jim_peanut]

When we went last year our DD was 4 yrs old and we gave her $10 each day at the parks. We told her she could spend it on whatever she wanted but that all she got was $10. It worked out great...she was hilarious, coming to us with a toy wanting to know how much and if she didn't have enough, she would save her money until the next day and get it then.

Too Cute!

Off Site - May 2004 - DD2 and I
Off Site - July 2005 - Honey-moon
Pop Century - April 2007 - Whole Clan!
Pop Century - April 2008 - Whole Clan minus hubby and sister in college

 

[grlpwrd]

Our kids earn their own money thru chores and yardwork plus they also have limitations.

We don't allow free for alls when it comes to shopping for souvenirs.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Our kids earn their own money thru chores and yardwork plus they also have limitations.

We don't allow free for alls when it comes to shopping for souvenirs.

Same here.

It is assumed that we know more about good financial choices than an 8, 11, or 13 year old. Although the older boys are given much more control. Just not total, yet.

 

[DisneySouthernChick]

I feel so much better.My oldest DS usually saves around 120.00 for disney. And I always feel embarrassed that I let him spend it all. But now I see thats average. THANKS

 

[Tramp68]

I did not read through all of the replies, so I apologize if this is a duplicate idea.

Similar to the chores, My wife and I decided to let them earn their money while on the trip...I find that the saving in anticipation was not motivating enough....

1st we commandeered the coffee pot and blender pots from theoom (1 for each child) then they earned money for each "chore" that they did. If they were ready in the morning they got a dollar, made the bed another dollar. doing something nice for a stranger, whatever...

The immediate reward and desire to get the item they saw in the store was amazing motivation

It made our vacation a dream...no arguing (take a dollar out), etc...They were looking for things to earn them money, and we didnt have to worry about keeping them in line.

Adjust the amount you give as needed...

 

[redshoe]

My son had saved his Christmas and birthday money, as well as some other money he had, and ended up with about $125. Let me tell you, when it came to spending his OWN money, he got downright miserly!! We didn't put any restrictions on him...he knew that he could spend what he had, and then that was it. He was pretty careful He bought a couple of starter pin sets, a fill-your-own-skull-with-pirate-goodies thing at the Contemporary, and a box of Mr. Potato Head parts at DTD. Then he was going to buy an explorer set at AK, but my DBF bought it for him because he was brave enough to try Everest (even though we made it clear that he didn't have to if he didn't want to), and then he really tried hard to enjoy it even though the backwards in the dark part of it scared him. Overall, it worked well. Not once did he whine or beg for something he wanted - he knew the decision was in his hands. And since he wanted to have money left over to buy a new game for his DS, he didn't really get much into the whole shopping thing, so we didn't spend much time doing that. We were all more into pin trading!