Does anyone require their teens to pay for anything?

[KellyHonos]

Sounds like you’re a great sister.

I agree with this! ^^^

Also wanted to speak to the idea that its unfair for a 12 year old to earn money and contribute: If you agree together on the specific thing(s) she would save money to pay for, there is a cool opportunity for her to not only experience Disney again but to enjoy some pride of ownership on the trip. My advice, would be to try to give her the 'fun' things to pay for (like the Park Hopper upgrade or something like that, just as an example). My son is 11 and we sometimes do things like this with him, and he just beams with pride when he does.[/QUOTE]

I think that's a really amazing way to look at it. Thank you for providing a new perspective

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

OP, when you were 12 did you have to help pay for your vacations and cruises?
I think as an adult extending the invite to a 12 year old then you should pay for the trip, or you can go to your parent and ask them to pay for her portion. She can be responsible for her own souvenirs and extra snacks and stuff with her own spending money, but I wouldn't ask her to pay for her flight, or hotel or meals using her money.

When I was 12 I had to pay for any extracurricular activity/event (aside from school activities or sports). Concerts? Disneyland? Knott's Berry Farm? These were all things with friends and if I wanted to go, I babysat, washed cars or did extra chores. I didn't go on family vacations because we couldn't afford it so I know it's a bit different but many 12 year olds don't get to do fun things unless they work for it. If OP has the means then it'd be nice for them to pay but I don't believe it's unrealistic to ask a 12 year old to chip in.

 

[mco65]

I have teens.. they don't pay for Disney or anything while we are there.. but they do pay for things... but the money they get to pay for things comes from me anyway... so what's the difference...

 

[iivye]

I liked the PP suggestion of having her save up for little things. If she is getting an allowance I don't think it's out of line to ask her to save a little for the trip. My daughter is a couple of years older but has saved money for things she wanted when she was that age.

 

[starry_solo]

I don't think the OP is inviting her sister on another trip to WDW. At least that's not how I read the OP. It's the sister that wants to go again, OP would like to go again and neither can afford the cost.

Even talking about the cost of the trip hasn't dissuaded the OP's sister from wanting to go again.

So no, I don't think it's bad to ask her or the parents to pay for part of the trip. Is it likely that they can save enough $ to go in a year? Maybe not.

 

[smiths02]

I don't know that a 12 year old around here has any viable way of earning money aside from chores/allowance from parents. Babysitting is frowned upon until age 13 in my state (and most wouldn't hire a 13 year old to babysit anyhow), transportation would be an issue, etc.

I do, however, see nothing wrong with asking her to make decisions about any money she would get...like saving her birthday/Christmas/allowance money or asking for Disney gift cards for presents, etc.

 

[Hikergirl]

I have teens.. they don't pay for Disney or anything while we are there.. but they do pay for things... but the money they get to pay for things comes from me anyway... so what's the difference...

LOL, so true. My kids are responsible for what they want on the trip (besides food) and they use their money for that. They save their own money that came from gifts or jobs and use that.
I wouldn't make my kids contribute to the cost of a family vacation, if I'm not willing to pay, or if we can't afford it then I don't plan one.

 

[KellyHonos]

I have teens.. they don't pay for Disney or anything while we are there.. but they do pay for things... but the money they get to pay for things comes from me anyway... so what's the difference...

lol!!

 

[KellyHonos]

I just wanted to clear up any confusion--

I would never expect my little sister to work her **** off (doing what, I dont know) to pay for a majority of the cost. That is unrealistic and mean. I am simply asking if you guys ask your children, neices, nephews, friends, etc, to save up and EARN some $ for their trip. That's really all I was asking. If my parents had the money to help, they'd be coming. I still live at home, so I don't have bills or mortgage to pay, so it's easier for me to swing the cost, but not entirely. I expect her to bring her own spending money and then possibly contribute a little to her flight. I asked this question because she is old enough to start doing things and be held accountable to save. I don't expect children to pay for their trips, but a little responsibility never hurt anyone either.

Also, I realized that in order to make this trip happen, we're going to skip the park hopper (we didn't use it at all last time and its $160 we could use elsewhere), we will be staying at a value resort versus a moderate, and we may possibly just do quick services and not the disney dining plan. These things alone have already made the price much more doable.

 

[barkley]

Why health insurance? I am under the impression that all children are under either private or public insurance. At least that is what my representative tells me. Am I missing something?

many health insurance policies only cover 'emergency care' (and THEY define what an emergency is) out of state, some don't provide coverage out of your home state at all. it's always best to see what kind of coverage is provided before you travel AND see if that coverage is even feasible where you will be traveling to (if it's covered it may have to be w/an in network or preferred provider-and there may be none within hundreds of miles of a vacation destination). travel insurance can be well worth the cost.

 

[Hikergirl]

OP, I don't think there is anything wrong with expecting her to have her own money so that you are not paying for EVERYTHING she eats/wants/does.

 

[quandrea]

Why health insurance? I am under the impression that all children are under either private or public insurance. At least that is what my representative tells me. Am I missing something?

I’m Canadian. We need out of country insurance.

 

[MomToOne]

I am simply asking if you guys ask your children, neices, nephews, friends, etc, to save up and EARN some $ for their trip.

I think "earn" is the word some people are having issues with. A 12 year old really doesn't have many opportunities to earn much money, at least not in a real sense. Even though I started babysitting by 12 or 13, I would never hire a 12 year old babysitter today. Or pet sitter. Times have changed.

Now, if she gets an allowance or money for birthdays, Christmas, etc. I have no problem asking her to "save" some of that towards the trip. But if she isn't receiving much money in that way, that might not be realistic either.

 

[wendow]

When I was 12 I had to pay for any extracurricular activity/event (aside from school activities or sports). Concerts? Disneyland? Knott's Berry Farm? These were all things with friends and if I wanted to go, I babysat, washed cars or did extra chores. I didn't go on family vacations because we couldn't afford it so I know it's a bit different but many 12 year olds don't get to do fun things unless they work for it. If OP has the means then it'd be nice for them to pay but I don't believe it's unrealistic to ask a 12 year old to chip in.

This is somewhat in line with how we do things because it was how I was raised also (raised by single mom with NO extra money).

My dd17 pays $25mo towards the extra cost of her car insurance, $21 towards her $36mo phone bill and $75 towards each session of theater she does (cost $200). Any concert, play, Starbucks, movie, shirt at the mall...anything...she buys herself. She babysits and saves. We don't pay allowance.

My dd15 pays $40 a month towards dance tuition (almost $300), $21 towards phone ($36) and then also for any coffee, movie, concert, etc. Also babysits and pet sits.

I think it teaches the value of money and character. I also do not think it's unrealistic to ask the sister to help depending on what is available to her (many people today are hesitant today to hire a 12yo for babysitting even though it used to be fine 20 years ago!). Again, my teens come up with their own extra money for vacations. For WDW, that usually is about $125 each saves (pays for extra snacks & souvenirs).

 

[barkley]

I am simply asking if you guys ask your children, neices, nephews, friends, etc, to save up and EARN some $ for their trip. That's really all I was asking

here's what we did when my kids were younger-we told them they needed to help 'save' for dl/wdw trips. saving meant helping to curtail expenses on other non essential expenses over the period of time before we booked the trip and then actually went on the trip. we would set up a savings jar and if something came up like a request to go to the movies we would offer the option to do something less expensive (back then video rental store-now it would be redbox) and put the difference into the jar, instead of going out to eat at the pizza place 'let's get one to-go and put the extra in the change jar'...it got to the point where they liked seeing that money build up so it wasn't unusual to see them opt to toss a portion of their allowance or monies gifted to them for a birthday/Christmas into the jar, dh and I were always solicited for any random change we might have acquired during the day, and our cars were never as clean as when they decided to search the center consoles and cushions for dropped coins

we would set a financial goal for a point in time prior to when we knew we needed to book our trip to see if we were on track-more often than not we had exceeded it.

 

[wendow]

I think "earn" is the word some people are having issues with. A 12 year old really doesn't have many opportunities to earn much money, at least not in a real sense. Even though I started babysitting by 12 or 13, I would never hire a 12 year old babysitter today. Or pet sitter. Times have changed.

Now, if she gets an allowance or money for birthdays, Christmas, etc. I have no problem asking her to "save" some of that towards the trip. But if she isn't receiving much money in that way, that might not be realistic either.

I alluded to this as well. People do not hire 12yo's very much to babysit. My teens are very responsible and yet no one asked them to sit back then. Most I know want a girl who drives or is at least older teen/maybe college.

And yes, not all teens get an allowance or much cash as gifts. Saving much can be really hard at 12yo. Of course, I also know teens who get very generous allowances!

 

[wendow]

OP, I didn't say it earlier but I want to add in with others saying that you are a great sister! I love that you are trying to teach her some lessons along the way of having fun with her and making memories!

 

[quandrea]

One suggestion might be for her to forego birthday or Christmas gifts and get cash toward the airfare or her pass. We do that with our kids. Dd, 13 wants to run the Star Wars half marathon. That will be her birthday gift, celebration.

 

[SharonZ]

I don't think the amount OP is proposing, $100 is outrageous for her sister to contribute. You might save money by paying for meals out of pocket. Some of the CS meals can be shared.

 

[SC Minnie]

OP- I think you need to write out how much you can afford for a trip for the 2 of you. If say, tickets are the breaking point then tell sister and her parents that you'll take her again but they need to cover the cost of her ticket to the park. Tell them how much it will be. Let them decide if they can swing it-- either having her do additional chores, raking the neighbors leaves, or dog walking for extra money or they tell her it will be birthday/Christmas present. Just a thought.