Help with souvenier budget for kids;)

[Mom2Ben02]

We have 3 kids - DS8, DD6 and DS7months. I am not too concerned about the baby's budget , but am wondering what to allow the older two to spend. We have room, air, tix and DDP paid for. My *thinking* was $10 per day, or $70, each. DS8 went to WDW when he was 15 months old, and we have not been back since, and probably won't be back for a long time. Is that reasonable? This $70 will not all be from me - they each got $25 Disney Dollars from Grandma for Christmas (and are still confused by this, as the trip is a surprise). We have a very generous family, and I am sure they will get more spending money as well, and we'll "top it off" at whatever number we decide on.

TIA!

 

[h2oophelia]

Well our trip coming up will be my first since 1991 so I'm definitely NOT speaking from experience, but my DD7 will be bringing $65. Of course, I'll be breaking out my cash for a few select items like Mickey ears and whatnot, but I have a feeling that will be plenty for her to have fun with.

I'm interested to see what others have to say...

 

[Ericandjenng]

It could be enough and it could not be enough. It just depends on the kid and the parents' response when the kid(s) ask for more. How do your kids act when you just go shopping? How do you respond?

For example:
~~Pins start at 6.95 each and go up, up, up. But the majority do fall in the $7-$12 range.

~~T-shirts can be found for about $10 but typically are more likely to be $15-20.

~~Light sabers can be made in HS for $19.99 for a single sided one. The double is slightly higher.

What do you kids like to do? What are their favorite characters/shows from tv and movies?

 

[shortbun]

I usually decided how much money I'd allow DS to spend in total and divided it into even amounts then into an envelope. If he didn't spend all in one day, we'd distribute the leftovers evenly into the remaining days. DS was so frugal, he'd end up with lots to spend the last two days. You could also just toss the remaining money in the next day's envelope. Maybe that makes more sense.

 

[hsembrick]

This last trip we gave our kids $100 for the trip (they earned most of it and some was bday money). We also told them that they have spend it on anything that they would like to buy and that if they want something it will come from their money, not mine. We found that this worked wonderfully. If they wanted a "sugar tube" they paid for it, t-shirt, pins, GIANT SUCKERS, ect. It really helped with the "can I get"s. We did have the dining plan so most snacks where covered but any extra "junk" come from their pocket.

 

[candielips]

Our 2011 trip will be the 1st trip that I will be setting a souvenir budget. But mostly because of my DH . He is the one that I always have to restrain.
But my DD will be 4 for this trip and DS will be almost 2. I'm not sure he'll really have a budget though.
I was thinking about $50 but we will be paying for her BBB. But she doesn't collect pins and doesn't want clothes. When I factor in most of what she would want, $50 will cover. I also offset the expensive things she would want, like dresses, by buying them here and saving a bundle. Just a couple of wks ago I picked up an Ariel dress and Tiana dress at the Disney store for $14.99 each!!!

I am thinking DH will be getting amount this year so I don't end up with even more Vinylmations and stupid Indiana Jones hats.

I think you have picked a decent amount for them to play with. Enjoy!

 

[Ashlotte]

When we go, I give the kids $20 each for the whole trip. They know they have that amount to spend and I encourage them not to buy their souviners until a few days into the trip so they have had a chance to see what is available. I wouldn't want them to spend it the first day and regret it because they found something better later. That being said, if they have their "own" money (left over birthday money), they can spend some of that, too.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

OP here - You guys are awesome!

DS8 is a HUGE star wars fan. Also loves P&F. DD6 thinks she is a ) Both of them are SPENDERS...that is to say, when they have money, all they think about is spending it. I was hoping that the daily budget would help with that. They are used to me saying no to things at home, and are usually fine with it, but with their own money...

We are bringing Mickey Ears, pins, light-up toys, and other misc "souvenirs" with us.

Thanks again for input!

 

[Darcy03231]

In order to not have the "Can I buy" or buyer's remorse we save the last day for our shopping day. During the week I take pictures of everything they think they want and make sure I have a picture of the price tag. On the last day they decide what they really want and have money for.

Since we travel a lot my kids are responsible for their own souvenir money. I have a chore chart with various chores and the $ amount listed next to it. Its funny how many chores get done in the 6-8 weeks before a trip and how they fight about who gets to clean the bathroom (highest $ chore - luckily we have 3.5 baths).

 

[candielips]

Since we travel a lot my kids are responsible for their own souvenir money. I have a chore chart with various chores and the $ amount listed next to it. Its funny how many chores get done in the 6-8 weeks before a trip and how they fight about who gets to clean the bathroom (highest $ chore - luckily we have 3.5 baths).

I can't wait until my kids are old enough to fight over who gets to clean the bathroom.

 

[Judique]

We have 3 kids - DS8, DD6 and DS7months. I am not too concerned about the baby's budget , but am wondering what to allow the older two to spend. We have room, air, tix and DDP paid for. My *thinking* was $10 per day, or $70, each. DS8 went to WDW when he was 15 months old, and we have not been back since, and probably won't be back for a long time. Is that reasonable? This $70 will not all be from me - they each got $25 Disney Dollars from Grandma for Christmas (and are still confused by this, as the trip is a surprise). We have a very generous family, and I am sure they will get more spending money as well, and we'll "top it off" at whatever number we decide on.

TIA!

Most of the 'Mickey' stuff did not interest my kids when they were younger.

What they did like was that shop in Epcot at the Japanese pavillion. It had Hello Kitty and a lot of other small things and they always bought something there.

I think $70 is a good number. It would basically pay for a tshirt, a stuffed animal and a lightup toy. You really don't want to drag a lot of stuff home anyway. I would let them buy their own autograph books and a special fat marker pen at Disney as soon as they get to a park with their own money. They are the perfect age and the ones at Disney can become a special souvenir. Save a page for the pictures as the characters sign the books!

 

[gillenkl]

Yes, $10 a day is plenty. This is the amount we're giving our kids for their trip.

 

[klm7926]

Great thread and good tips!!! I love the waiting for the last day and taking a pic of what they want! I'm sure my boys will want everything...especially DS2 when it comes to CARS!

 

[lisaross]

i think that will be more than enough! That being said - i would let them spend however much they want per day - so if they want someting for 50.00 the first day - they will only have 30 for the rest of the trip!

We have 3 kids - DS8, DD6 and DS7months. I am not too concerned about the baby's budget , but am wondering what to allow the older two to spend. We have room, air, tix and DDP paid for. My *thinking* was $10 per day, or $70, each. DS8 went to WDW when he was 15 months old, and we have not been back since, and probably won't be back for a long time. Is that reasonable? This $70 will not all be from me - they each got $25 Disney Dollars from Grandma for Christmas (and are still confused by this, as the trip is a surprise). We have a very generous family, and I am sure they will get more spending money as well, and we'll "top it off" at whatever number we decide on.

TIA!

 

[scrappinmom]

As my girls have gotten older their budget has gone up....they are 16 & 11 now & they earn all their own spending money, by doing chores, bday money, etc. I always buy them new ears & a t-shirt. I agree with all that said, everything comes out of their money...youngest dd will want candy, sugar tubes, etc...& I hate spending $3.50 on a bag of chip & dale pretzels!!!

They pretty typically spend anywhere from $100-$150. I do the envelope system too, they get "X" amount per day, if they don't spend it all, it goes into the next day. One year when oldest was 10 or 11 I think, I didn't divide it out, just put her money in one envie..well on day 2 she was out of money & I had to listen to the "can I borrow, I'll pay you back when we get home" for 8 days...I won't ever do that again!

 

[labdogs42]

Its funny how many chores get done in the 6-8 weeks before a trip and how they fight about who gets to clean the bathroom (highest $ chore - luckily we have 3.5 baths).

And how mush do you pay to clean a bathroom? My son is almost 6 and I'm ready to start teaching him to clean bathrooms and I'd gladly pay him! Just interested to know the going rate!

 

[AlwaysPlanning]

Great Ideas! I have young children that have evolved into professional spenders just like their mother. We have inacted a budget our last 3 trips for all of us! Ugh! I was not happy but the spending was getting out of control. When my DH bought the girls 8,6 D&B park bags I decided that was enough!

So we now give them a Disney Gift card $50 for their spending. We did the $10 a day but then they were getting pins and "junk" so now I by the little stuff and use ap/dvc/visa discounts. I let them by one big thing with the allowed money and they really have started to learn value for their money. In truth they watch how we shop and what we buy or don't buy. Good Luck, I think that Disney Trips are the best Class in economics and budgeting, So glad that Disney can give me one more tool to teaching my children. A value added point to our trip, I'll have to try this on the teachers when I take them out of school in 2moths.

 

[3boymthr]

When we went my kids had a much higher budget but it was their first trip and my oldest DS is/was a teenager. One of the things they wanted was very expensive and they knew about it before we ever went - they wanted to do the DHS star wars photos that they showed the kids getting on the trip planning DVD - at the time they cost about $40 each (I spent @$160 for four ) - although I will say it was more of a family souvenir as they still hang on the wall and when they come down I'll probably keep them.

 

[Darcy03231]

And how mush do you pay to clean a bathroom? My son is almost 6 and I'm ready to start teaching him to clean bathrooms and I'd gladly pay him! Just interested to know the going rate!

My children are all older now and have jobs so I'm pretty much stuck doing it myself, unless they feel like making some extra money. When they were younger the chore chart looked like this:

Full Bath - $5
Half Bath - $3
Setting and clearing the table .50 each
Loading and unloading the dishwasher .50 each
Vacumning - $1 per room
Dusting - $2 per room
Vacumning and washing the kitchen/hallway floor - $3
Taking out the trash - $1 (we're a family of 6 so its was easy $7/week if they want to do it).

Each child was still responsible for their own room w/out pay and their own laundry (starting at age 12) w/o pay.

I used a dry erase board. Certain chores like the bathrooms, dusting, vacumning and washing the floor were once a week chores, while others were daily. Oh, I forgot about the cat (we don't have pets anymore). Feeding and changing water were .50 each per day and cleaning the litter box was $1 per day (scoopable litter - this was youngest DS's favorite chore, I don't know why, he just liked it).

As they got older we also paid them if the mowed the lawn, shoveled/snowblowed the driveway, babysat, washing windows, helping clean out the garage, etc.

When they were really little I would have them help me do things to earn money (ie, picking up the house, shredding the junk mail, putting laundry away, etc.). Neither DH or I believed in an allowance so all the kids learned early on to equate getting money with working for it.

With four kids I did have to police it somewhat the closer we got to the trip so each kid had an opportunity to earn some money. I'd divide the chores up and they had so many days to get them done. If they didn't do them within a certain time frame, they became fair game!

 

[wgwtgb]

I know you mentioned air, ou are flying, but when we went with ds 8 and dd2 I brought many little things that I had collected over the year (after holidY sales at walgreens was where I found most of my Disney themed items). When we would leVe the room DH or I would make an excuse to go back and put something on the bed for them. After the first day when we were asked for something in the park we would mention waiting to see what Mickey had brought to our room! It was very special for them bc they thought we had paid extra for Mickey to pick out items that he knew they would like!! We spent very little in the parks!! Also, for this next trip, since they will be a little older I'm going to have them go online to Disney merchandise (don't remember the website...I'll probably have to ask on the Disboards myself) and have them pick something out that they really want. I'll let them know that they may have a little $ but that this will be their big purchase and that's it!!! I think if they know what to expect and that you are going to hold firm they will be pleased with whatever your budget is.