How much to send with child for senior trip?

MrEVILdrPorkchop2u

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How much would you send with your child for spending money on their senior trip? They are headed to FL for 5 days. They are doing Universal, Sea World, Busch Gardens, the beach, and Downtown Disney. All meals are included. DW and I just aren't sure what a fair amount is. DS is VERY responsible with his money. What do you think would be a good amount?
 
how are the adults that are going??
the reason I"m asking is my senior trip was just a shopping spree for the adults - we did do the Zoo for an hour & half - the Mall got 3 hours & the adults were loaded down with bags (then went over to another shopping center)

how about snacks?? extra drinks if it is going to be hot
 
Reddy said:
how are the adults that are going??
the reason I"m asking is my senior trip was just a shopping spree for the adults - we did do the Zoo for an hour & half - the Mall got 3 hours & the adults were loaded down with bags (then went over to another shopping center)

how about snacks?? extra drinks if it is going to be hot

Adults are all very responsible. It's a very good group in charge. That shouldn't be an issue like your trip was. That really is a shame that happened on your trip.

Snacks and extra drinks are on them. They are going to be there before it gets hot. The only thing they suggested was a roll of quarters for the hotel for snacks out of the vending machine.
 
I'd send a couple quarter rolls and probably at least $25 a day($1s and 5s) in case there's an emergency. Then, I'd discuss with him how much he thought he'd need for a couple souvenirs. T-shirts down there can be expensive in the parks. I'd want him to be able to buy a shirt for everyone to sign and maybe another as a momento.
 

I can't help with a $$ amount, but just wanted to "toss this out there" does your DS have a debit card - or other emergency way to get money if the original amount isn't enough?
 
My ds went for a school convention has been to the parks (basically growing up in them) yet with all the Hoopla of the trip , youd think hed never gone before:rotfl2:...
needless to say the CC was like 300...went thru cash too, about 100 and it was a 5 nite trip...Just say'n
And as an aside, we had no issue with the costs and has had his own cc since about 15...
.so, Id go with your gut...Id rather give Xtra than too little, but that s just me...:cool1:

Wishing it is a safe and MAGICAL trip
 
Thanks everyone! DS does have a debit card that he will be taking. DS has grown up in the Disney parks. He has only been to the other parks 1 time in his life in younger years. He isn't a big souvenir person. He usually buys himself a tee shirt and a sweatshirt every Disney trip. I am thinking 2 rolls of quarters for the hotel would be a good idea. I also think I will pick up a couple boxes of snacks to pack for him too.
 
My dd went on her senior trip to Universal Studios for 5 days last May and for the most part her food was included except like two meals they did a group dinner that was oop and we sent her with 400 to be safe seems like most kids had 300-400 on them whether it was all cash or cash n debit card . She had half and half ;) hope this helps.
 
I would match whatever he has. It will help him realize the hard work that goes in to earning $$$ for a trip and he may make better decisions.

It he saves a good amount than he will have $$ to come home with a use for college or whatever.

I think at that age kids need to be responsible for some to their $.
 
nicki.momof3 said:
I would match whatever he has. It will help him realize the hard work that goes in to earning $$$ for a trip and he may make better decisions.

It he saves a good amount than he will have $$ to come home with a use for college or whatever.

I think at that age kids need to be responsible for some to their $.

Agree with all of this. I will say that he has already paid for a portion of the trip. The trip is 1275.00. He raised 437.00 in fundraising and paid 400.00 in cash towards it. DW and I paid the difference. We felt it was important for him to contribute. Still torn on the amount to send with him.
 
I would send $50/day. I think that is more than enough for drinks / snacks / souvenirs and extras.

My daughter is going on a 4 day snowboarding trip to Maine next week with the school. We're sending $150-$200 with her, but that needs to cover her food.
 
DS went on a 4 night trip to NYC, and we sent $500 with him, and he spent it all. He was only responsible for a couple breakfasts/lunches, and just spending money. I wanted DS to be able to do whatever the other kids were doing, so we gave him extra to cover anything that came up. He had a blast!
 
Agree with all of this. I will say that he has already paid for a portion of the trip. The trip is 1275.00. He raised 437.00 in fundraising and paid 400.00 in cash towards it. DW and I paid the difference. We felt it was important for him to contribute. Still torn on the amount to send with him.

I would give him the same amount that he put in aside from fund raising--$400. However, I would give $200 in cash and give him the other $200 to put on his debit/cc and then also a couple rolls of quarters and a bunch of snacks ie. junk food (lol!) for the hotel room. I don't think I would be comfortable with him walking around with that much cash to possibly lose or have stolen. However I agree with other posters about better to have more than you need and come home with some cash than not to have enough. Especially since you say he is good with his money.
 
My sons went to disney/universal for their senior trip. Luckily they had been to the world many times prior so they sort of knew what to expect as far as spending.

We sent them with 70 bucks a day.
 
Did the school give you a suggested amount? I wouldn't go higher than $300 if he also has a debit card.

Are they flying or taking a bus? We packed a lot of snacks and our son had plenty to eat on the bus ride home when everyone else was hungry.
 
MinnieForMe said:
Did the school give you a suggested amount? I wouldn't go higher than $300 if he also has a debit card.

Are they flying or taking a bus? We packed a lot of snacks and our son had plenty to eat on the bus ride home when everyone else was hungry.

They haven't given us an amount. Only thing they said was bring a roll of quarters. They are flying. My wife is thinking of tucking in a couple. Of boxes of snacks.
 
Very generous folks on these boards! DD16 (oldest of 5) gets about $100 of MY money on similar trips, and a $100 visa gc for an emergency (which gets returned to me). She can bring as much of her own money as she wants, plus her debit card (attached to HER savings account, money she made from working).

I spend $1000+ for these trips - if she wants to keep up with other kids with very generous parents (or the "only" children), she can do it with her own funds.
 
Very generous folks on these boards! DD16 (oldest of 5) gets about $100 of MY money on similar trips, and a $100 visa gc for an emergency (which gets returned to me). She can bring as much of her own money as she wants, plus her debit card (attached to HER savings account, money she made from working).

I spend $1000+ for these trips - if she wants to keep up with other kids with very generous parents (or the "only" children), she can do it with her own funds.
My boys aren't that age yet, so I'm glad to hear another parent not be so overly generous. I was thinking maybe $25/day, a couple of rolls of quarters and call it a day. If he didn't have a debit card, I'd be thinking about a Visa giftcard for emergencies.
 
I signed my DD up for a PayPal Student debit card last year. It has really come in handy - she's at home, friend calls and asks if she can go to mall, movie, etc. I'm at work - no $$ at home. I can transfer money from my PayPal (bank) to her card and it's there instantly! It also helps for those times she wants to purchase something online - she has the cash in hand - give it to me, I put the $$ on her card - done!

As far as spending $$ - I would send part cash and part on the debit - say $200 cash - with another $200 on the card. A little under $100 each day seems about right to just take care of himself.

Hope he has a blast!!
 
I think every child is different you only know your child and how they will do with the $ so go with your gutt.

My dd18 is in college and I gave her $400 the day she left for college on her college debit card, she has about $80 left on that as of now. Of coarse she has a meal plan, this money was for extras at bookstore(sweatshirts, t-shirts,) but can be used anywhere that accepts debit cards.

She got $300 when she went back for sring semester.
My dd18 is very responsible with money and doesnt spend to spend thank goodness, but if I sent her on a trip I would want her to have extra just incase but I know that she will come back with $$ so I guess that makes it easier, if she wanted to purchase something $$ out of the norm knowing she would text and ask if it was ok first (she did this the first 2 months at college and they were sweatshirt purchases $49 I told her she could do what she wanted it was her money and had to last)

That being said we went to NYC in Dec for the weekend and she had about $300 and spent $60 although she saw lots she wanted she talked herself out of most of it.

I would go with atleast $300-$400 and slide a few snacks end the bag couple of rolls of quarters since you said he is very responsible I'm sure he will have $ when he comes back.....

Now if this was my son I would have to lower the amount and tell him you have X amount each day don't spend anymore than this and he would come back with maybe a $1:rotfl2:
 














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