How to keep (older) kids from wanting everything in sight

[buzz'smom2]

My kids earn the money for the trip by doing extra chores. I also pay for extra reading and school work. (This works really well for us during the summer. Last summer, the kids had to get a certain # of math sheets, 30 minutes of reading a day (they could carry time forward), writing, etc. They had a certain amount to get done each week. We went to WDW at the end of week 9 of their vacation. They had "prizes" along the way. E.g. After week they got their first week done, we went to McDonalds. After week 3, we went mountain biking. etc. After week 8, they received $40 to spend on vacation. The best part was that the kids went back to school ahead! Most of the prizes were things we would have done with them anyway, but they actually we excited and happy to do their school work. I thought they would miss at least one week, but they never did.)

When they were under 5, we allowed one toy a day. After 5, they had a budget. On our last trip, they had saved $70. They both came home with about $40 left over. They ponder those purchases much more carefully when their $'s are at stake!

 

[motaei]

Last December, I gave each child $40 in Disney Dollars (early Christmas present). DD-8 spent a good chunk on the 2nd day (a Santa hat with Mickey ears!). From that point on, she was checking the prices on everything to see if she could afford it & if it would be worth it. DS-10 spent none of it ... he turned it into US dollars & put it towards his savings for an X-Box! (however, thing s may have been different if we had made a stop at the Lego store to see the Bionicles)

I will definately be using the "budget plan" again for June's trip, but I since it's not Christmas, I like buzz'smom2's idea of making them earn it. But so far, they don't even know we are going. However, I'm not sure how long I can keep the "secret"!

 

[mbelec]

I do "Bonus Bucks" for any major trip. This Disney trip is our one-time trip (I think!. Each of our children has the opportunity (we started 10 weeks out) to earn 180 bonus bucks (this is $20/day for each child while we're there - they're 14 - today!, 11 and 7). I regularly leave them chore lists (water the plants, vaccum, empty the dishwasher, sweep, etc., based on age abilities) with bonus buck amounts next to it. As they do the chores, they put checks on the sheet on the fridge that equates with one Bonus Buck, which will translate to one dollar on our trip.

This way they earn their spending money, just like I have to earn the money for our trip. They know that when we get there, they only have a certain amount of spending money for the entire trip, and tend to be frugal. If they want something that's more pricey than their $20/day allotment, they know they have to save money for the next day. No advances, because they tend to think of it as spending my money, which they seem to think is unending!

Is $20/day too much for a child, as someone asked earlier? I don't know. We don't take many major vacations, and everything at Disney is expensive. A sweatshirt will take more than one day's allotment, as would many of the nicer items. Besides, I make them earn it, so I guess I don't think so.

 

[Teaching in NV]

Originally posted by hyzdufan
Blindfold them?

LOL

I do the Disney Dollar thing. We are leaving for WDW in two months, DD has been getting $5 a week in Disney Dollars. The cool thing about these is that its money we don't have to budget for during our trip - its technically already been spent (because we bought $200 in Disney Dollars last month and this month for incidental spending in the parks) By the time we get there, DD will have about $60 to spend on herself.

Disney Dollars help save you that heart stopping moment when you open your Visa Bill the month after your trip

 

[qtwns]

My 3 kids get $20 each to spend on any souvenir they want. The catch is they cannot make their purchase until the last day of our trip. I know this sounds cruel, but they actually enjoy shopping and then making a good decision on our last day. They are always happy with their purchases and there's no impulse buying.

 

[lindas]

We stay off site. There are souvenier shops everywhere on the highway. Instead of paying high prices in the parks, we took the kids to off site stores where they could buy the exact same junk, for less.

 

[MamaTink]

My kids (now 11,14, 19) usually save their allowance moey-or at least part of it! We give them a given amount of extra spending money for each trip. After all, DD and I get a spending allowance, too! This time they will each get $60. We'll be there 6 days. The amount depends on how long we saty and what our budget can handle. They can spend it however they wish. If we buy adrink or a snck, we buy for all. If they want extra snacks, they have to buy them. They've gotten really good at taking a snack from my room stash instead! When the money is gone, it is gone-no advances allowed. I have done this since they were young, maybe age 6 or 7. When they were that small, they got a set amount per day. Now they get one lump sum. The oldest spends his right away, The youngest spreads out her purchases, and the middle one will probably come home with money-unless he spends it all in Japan!
I like my system because it eliminates the "gimmies" and it teaches them to budget for what they want.
Hope this helps...

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Although my kids are younger, my dds (5 & 61/2) would like to buy everything in Disney World the first day. This time I asked the grandparents to give them some Disney dollars for Christmas, birthdays, Valentines day etc. and we bought Disney dollars for their Easter baskets. In addition, each time they do an extra chore or help out without being asked I add money to their "Disney Bag". We will be in WDW in the middle of July. This will be their money to spend on souveniers. I will buy the girls a new princess dress and something for my son, I saved all their "spinning lights" from last time, and I plan on going to the dollar store to stock up on those neon light up bracelets and necklaces. I'm waiting to see if they'll be more frugal with their own money than they were with ours. Of course the littlest one ds (3) was happy with any small trinket. He was the easiest to please.

 

[karylrocks]

DS uses his own allowance for everything. He gets $10 per week, but that goes for movies, video games, basketball cards, etc. so it really doesn't seem like that much considering how much everything costs these days. He will have about $100 saved for this trip, but I doubt he will spend even half of it unless he finds something really great.