How much $ do you allow your children to spend?

[obnurse2003]

Well, we are heading down south this Friday night. I am trying SO hard to keep within my budget, but just buying necessities for the trip is costing more than I expected!

I have two children, DS14 and DD9. My daughter is especially excited about shopping. She would go just about anywhere if it had a gift shop!!!

My question is: How much do you allow your children to spend on souveneirs? My DH frowns on buying trivial items like that, but I on the other hand know that this may be a once in a lifetime trip for us all. Of course, I don't want to spend a thousand on things that won't matter to my kids 5 minutes from now. You get the point!

So, do your kids have a daily limit? A total trip limit? Just trying to get some views from those of you who have been there, and spent that! Thanks!

 

[karebear1]

We have always allowed our kids to spend any many they recieved for b-days or Christmas and added a few $$ more for their trip. They've been able to spend that money on whatever they wanted- with the understanding that we would buy park tickets, main meals and hotel for the fam, and anything else they wanted -treats,souvies from the parks etc. came out of their money. They all had their own fanny packs to hold their own money, and when they wanted something, then we'd just stop and wait for them to get it. It was funny how frugal they were....Doing this allowed for us to have a relatively fight free trip! Nobody begging for money for a treat or souvie- if they had the money they could get it, but when the money was gone, then it was gone. THEY ALL CAME HOME WITH MONEY FROM OUR TRIP! If I recall correctly- each of my kids probably had about $50-75/child and that lasted them a week.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

 

[slp87]

My DD (7) had $130 to spend on our 10 day trip last year. She had spent the previous year earning the money. She had to buy all of her snacks (ice cream bars, jawbreakers) and any other souvenirs, including her hair wrap. It's amazing how much more selective they are when it's their own money.

 

[missypie]

For an 8 day vacation that included 4 days at DLR, one at Universal Hollywood and some DTD shopping as well, I gave each child $50. (They are 12, 10 and 7.) It worked out really well because the DD who is 10 is a major shopper...(she can find something she wants ANYWHERE ... so when she finds something cute, I always feel the need to buy somthing for the other kids, even if they haven't found anything special.)

On the DLR trip, DD (the shopper) spend her $50 and got a two weeks advance on her allowance; DS (12) spent all of his money - but mostly on churros and ice cream; and DD (7) came back with $20 in her pocket. (I told the kids that whatever they didn't spend they could keep, which teaches the rewards of self restraint.)

The system worked beautifully. It was a bit heart breaking to see them deal with the high cost of Disney souveniers ($50 seems like so much money - but you really can't buy a hat AND a t-shirt AND a snowglobe...) but it was good for them and totally eliminated the "gimmes." (And yes, I did spring for plenty of snacks but I didn't buy something from EVERY churro stand!)

One more thing that I have started with the girls: We get a sterling silver charm for their charm bracelets from each place we vacation. They run between $7 and $13 each (Disney has some adorable ones) so if you started that as a tradition and just bought one, it would keep costs down.

 

[Prince Eric1]

Both of my kids dig into their banks and take about $30-$40 each. Somehow, my youngest always winds up with about $2 and a $9-$10 item she wants and I pay the rest, but we make them save at least $15 until the last day so they see everything first.

 

[4greatboys]

My 2 little ones are 2 little to shop but on our last 2 trips my older ones, 7 and 10 1st trip and 12 and 15 our second trip, had to bring their own spending money. It was their money so they could spend it how they wanted. I told them I would buy them a shirt each, or whatever they liked but only 1 item the rest was theirs to buy. Worked out great--especially since I didnt have to hear whining at every store. I think they each ended up taking about $200 one came home with probably half and the other came home penniless, lol.

 

[missypie]

There is SO much to do besides shop. If you keep busy and plan your days well, you can just neglect to go in to lots of the shops. The "Unofficial Guide" is pretty good at listing attractions that almost never have a wait. If you are in a time killing mode (e.g. waiting for a Fast Pass or PS time to come up), hit one of the "no wait" attractions instead of killing the time in the shops.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Our last trip, we were on a super tight budget and my grand daughter only had her own money to shop with......which ended up being a total of $30 for the entire week.

She did just fine with that amount and I probably spent less than $20 on her as well. I told her it was a gift, a huge treat just to get to GO to DisneyWorld, and she respected that. I didn't hear any begging from her at all the whole trip.


My sisters children, on the other hand....they begged and recieved almost anything they wanted!

To each his own I guess. LOL

 

[jdads2]

My kids earn money for our trips. They also have the option of saving whatever money they get for gifts and spending it at Disney, with limits.

The first trip they spent something like:
DS 11: $75
DS 8 : $60
DD 5: $60

Second trip add $25 to each of those. This trip they will be spending much less. Most money on pins and maybe a shirt. They are learning, that really cool "whatever" I see at WDW is kinda dull at home.

 

[Harambe]

DH and I pay for all the food, tickets, and hotel. We buy each of the kids a t-shrt or sweatshirt - and then we tell them that they can have one souvenier for the trip, and they can't buy it until the day before we go home! This has worked well. They see and plan on which treat they will buy - change their minds back and forth - but by the time they buy it (and we have about a 35.00 limit!) it is something they treasure.

This year, I've accumulated about 100.00 in Disney Visa reward dollars - and I will be wrapping up 50.00 each for one of their Christmas present. They can spend that during our January trip!

 

[HopperFan]

We have been taken kids regularly for 19 years.
We have always done the same routine and it works well.
They take Disney Dollars from the Disney Store, usually about $50 each.
We will browse some in park stores, but they are not allowed to purchase anything in the parks, unless it is an item that is very special and we don't think we can find anywhere. Just window shop and get ideas.
Years ago, the plan was on check out day we went to the resort gift shop and they could purchase their big remembrance. Since Downtown Disney now has so many options we usually go there before we leave and they do their shopping. Many items they saw in the park they can get there.
This way we have designated shopping time and set amount of money. By the end of the trip they REALLY know what they want instead of impulse buying. They usually end of getting some really special items and no junk.
And best yet ~ we have a wonderful trip without them asking to buy anything. They know the routine and it works out great.

 

[disneyjunkie]

DS gets to spend what ever money he saves (and what he gets from my parents ) any why he wants.

I take care of food, one shirt, autograph book, and Epcot Passport. All of his candy, ice cream, candy, popcorn, candy, dole whips, candy.... he has to use his money for. (He loves the fudge )

When we were there in 2001, he had $140.00. He was able to take $20 with him each day. If he didn't spend it all, he could add the balance to the next day.


This worked out well for us.

 

[CHIPSTER]

I have no children but have taken 6 nieces and nephews with me at various times. I usually make them earn money before their trip so that I'm not the bad guy by saying no, you can't have it. After all, they did earn the money and it is theirs. I was pleasantly surprised many times that they usually thought more of buying for other people than spending it all on themselves.

One of my nephews was only 4 so his earning capacity was limited. I told him he could pick out anything he wanted and we always enforce the rule that they can look at all the shops they want in the parks to get an idea of what they might want and then we do all of our shopping at Downtown Disney. It was so cute with the 4 yr. old. He must have spent a good hour walking around the World of Disney looking and looking and he finally picked out a $3 fat pencil. Go figure!

 

[Jillpie]

We have three boys. The ten and eleven year old take about 70.00 each. We tell them they can take 10.00 with them to the parks each day. That way, if they spend it, thats it. It really helps them to make good decisions. They usually end up spending it on the little beanies or stuffed animals, we have so many of them that we lined them up on a shelf in our family room and they are so cute!
Anyway, the 15 yr. old takes about the same, but doesn't end up spending nearly as much as his brothers. He's very picky about how he spends his money. He takes however much he wants a day, usually 20.00. Limiting the amount every day really helps in "wanting everything" they see.

 

[JetMom]

On our last trip to WDW, we saved change for a year and gave it to our 3 DS's. They wound up with $100 each for a 10 day trip, so we gave them $10 each morning.

This past summer we went to D.C, for a week and they had about $45 each.

They were fine both times...and very selective about how they spent their money.

 

[skiwee1]

I don't have a limit of what to spend on DD who is now 4. I pretty much buy what she wants. I love the stuff as much as she does and can get just as excited over a new castle to play with! LOL!

 

[goofyernmost]

With us it was always pretty simple. We HAD to budget in order to go at all. We put aside a total of about $200.00 per trip for the "junk" stuff and then divided it up. There was never any arguement because that was it. They knew it, we knew it, end of discussion. We did occasionally have "discussions" concerning what they were spending the money on (even if it was their own) but mostly when it was on nothing but candy, ice cream and other highly nutritious goodies, parental no's would be created. Tee's, trinkets were up to them but when the money was gone it was gone.

My mental process throughout our travels was that I was paying for everything else, food, shelter, transportation, tickets, etc. I didn't OWE them anything else. As they grew older they earned more and more of their own money and with maturity became less likely to spend it on the stuff we felt strongly about and they became really, really frugal. As was said, it makes a big difference when they had to work for it.

As stated in other posts, it was surprising how long it lasted when "earning" became part of the picture.

 

[missypie]

During our DLR trip I, too, encouraged DD to wait until the last day to shop for what she wanted (she was looking for the perfect charm bracelet charm). We had a great gift shop at our hotel and the plan was to do that last thing. As it turned out, it was pouring down rain and there must have been 60 people in line in front of us, all buying ponchos! So sometimes waiting does not pay off!

 

[patsal]

My kids save their allowance and any money they get for gifts. When it is time to go on vacation they can withdraw this from their accounts and that is their money to spend on whatever they want. DH and I either match the amount or when they go to the checkout we "surprise" them by paying once. We know that they spend more time choosing when it is their own money and they will not buy things they do not want/will not look at again. It takes a long time to save up for a big ticket item on just $2.00 per week, so they are much more disciplined.

 

[KdawnLily's Mom]

My DS has saved about $450 worth of change since our last trip in Feb of this year (he has been very diligent in collecting his money, even separating US coins from CDN ones). He doesn't call this his money he calls it "Our Money for Disney"- he is telling his Granddad that he is going to share with everyone.
Will I let him spend it all? I'm not sure.
He is only 5, turning 6 while we are at WDW but very responsible with a dollar. We will be there for 17 days which works out to about $26 a day. Really, the money is his to spend as he wishes- with guidance from Mom, of course.
He likes pictures so some of the $ will probably go towards a photo package from Chef Mickey's or Donald's Breakfastosaurus, perhaps a ToT or Splash Mountain pic?
He knows that this won't be our last trip to WDW and whatever he doesn't spend comes home to go into his savings again- for the next time.
My son also earns points towards spending $ and extras at WDW.
For chores (cleaning his room, helping mommy around the house) and for good behavior. He also loses points on occasion... being bad, not cleaning his room.
So far he has earned a Pal Mickey, a PS2 game he has wanted (that they sell at the Virgin store in DTD) and some extra spending money for DisneyQuest or the resort arcade(which he LOVES).
I told him on our last trip that if he wanted anything from WDW to take home he would have to earn it... he sure has been working hard since to get those things.

KdawnLily (not her mom.. I want my own name back.. waaaaaaaaaa)