Kids budget?

[nottellin']

I'm trying to come up with a budget for my kids. They are 6 and 7. How much do you think will be enought for 10 days at Disneyland? We will be buying them treats, meals ect. But if they want any toys or "extras" that will be up to them. They already have autograph books and mouse ears. We were thinking of $200 each. Does that sound like enough? Does it sound like too much? Any input would be great.
Thanks All

 

[PinkBudgie]

My boys usually had around $20 or $30 each. What were you thinking they needed to buy? I know my boys had a ton of toys already and didn't really need a lot from Disneyland. Just some sort of special thing they could bring home. If you are not counting food, snacks, and mouse ears, $200 sounds like a lot to me. But every family is different.

This last trip we also required our boys to do a certain amount of extra work around the house (above what they do for allowance). This money they had to spend at Disneyland. Our boys are notorious savers to the point where we have to say, go ahead and spend some. Anyway, you might want to have your kids do some extra jobs to earn some money for Disneyland. I bet they will be a lot more careful with what they choose to spend it on.

 

[disneychrista]

First you need to ask yourself what exactly do you expect them to buy with that money. Toys, shirts, and other suvies? Do they have to pay for extra treats (churro's, ice cream etc) that is not planned?

For suvies I would not give them more than $50. So much of the I have to have's are tossed to the bottom of the toy box when they get home.

For extra treats I would say no more than $5 per day.

So that said I think $100 total would be my max.

 

[BC Disney Lover]

We gave our 7 yr old son a $50 gift card and it was plenty. He was so excited to go to the Lego Store in DTD but didn't really find anything we couldn't get at home. In Disneyland he ended up with a snowglobe and some pins. We always make the ears our treat but this trip he wanted the Mad Hatter hat which cost more so he paid for that.

Have fun

 

[Brian Shepherd]

Holy cow!

When I went in August my daughters were 14, 7, 1.5....we budgeted them $100 each per day and were had 7-day park hoppers ($2100)

This included no food.

This did include the princess package hair salon, dresses (like snow white or belle), stuffed teddies, pictures for the wall.



It's just what we did as my kids have never been to Disneyland before and at the time my wife and I said, who know when will ever be coming back!


buuuuutttttt, to each their own

 

[bumbershoot]

We have a much smaller food/souvie budget (though we don't buy many snacks other than fruit at the parks, due to food issues and blood sugar problems), but we go rather often.


I will suggest taking a few hours and running over to the disney outlet in Fullerton, to see if they have anything the kids want for much much cheaper than in the parks.

 

[Canyon girl]

We just came back from 6 1/2 days at the parks. Souvie budget per kid was $50 dollar gift card and $16 in Disney dollars. When do you spend all that money ($100 per kid per day)? I am on the rides and at the shows. As has been said, to each their own. IMHO, putting that much emphasis on "buying" takes away from the magic of Disney.

 

[nottellin']

The everything else would be things like those glow neaklaces or any tee shirts, hats, dolls ect that they wanted. Or if they wanted an "extra" treat like an ice cream or churro ect...not that we won't buy them treats there but if they wanted another one or when nobody else is having one. They have also expressed an interest in bring back "something" for their classmates. So I was thinking of doing the pressed pennies..out of their own budget.

Also just wanted to be clear the $200 would be for the whole 11 days..not $200/per day.

 

[princessnicchia]

That sounds about right to me. I normally budget each of my girls around $100 each, that is to buy one item of clothing, one small toy type thing, and something to bring back for their teachers (usually something very small). WE only go for 5 days normally thought. And if they are going to pay for their own face painting and some treats, and for 11 days, I think some extra is reasonable because SOMETHING they can't live without will catch their eye. If they are into build a bear, that is a quick $50-$75 right there, so the money can go quickly.

 

[fairycat]

At $20 a day I don't think that is too crazy personally.

But one thing to think about, instead of the kid's blowing huge amounts of money on things like glow sticks that just end up in the garbage, why not go to the dollar store before you leave and pick up some of the cool glow jewelry, wands and other fun stuff they have. Then your kid's can save their money for stuff that will last and they can enjoy longer.

 

[PinkBudgie]

The everything else would be things like those glow neaklaces or any tee shirts, hats, dolls ect that they wanted. Or if they wanted an "extra" treat like an ice cream or churro ect...not that we won't buy them treats there but if they wanted another one or when nobody else is having one. They have also expressed an interest in bring back "something" for their classmates. So I was thinking of doing the pressed pennies..out of their own budget.

Also just wanted to be clear the $200 would be for the whole 11 days..not $200/per day.

I see. I had thought you would tell them they have $200 to spend on whatever they want. You could come up with an amount like $50 and tell them that is the amount they spend on whatever they want. The rest you can budget in your own head. Like you let them pick one clothing item, you know you will spend a certain amount on gifts, they get to pick one snack item a day, etc. That way they get to learn how to budget their own smaller amount while you keep the larger total budget in your head to keep from going crazy.

Like some said, you could look for glowing things ahead of time and bring them. My sister found a bunch somewhere cheap but I forget where- Amazon? I have also seen them at them at the dollar store.

 

[PrincessKell]

A neat thing we did When we went on our trip, we got the school address and mailed a post card to dd's classroom. (we live in Norcal so it didn't take long to get there) When she got back they thought it was really cool! It was cheap and didn't have to buy something for everyone in the class.

We always get a sweatshirt which is about $30 or so for DD, she gets new ears each time. usually she gets a stuffie and dress up of some sorts, and a cup. We also save the plastic cups that come with meals, just wash them out they are great for home for kids.

I would say $100 for the trip would be enough but if you have the money for $20 a day go for it.

 

[PHXscuba]

Unless your 6 and 7 year olds are WAY more savvy with money than mine, it's going to be hard for them to understand how much $200 buys, especially when they have that many days to spend it.

How about itemizing the things they will want (i.e. classmate treats, sweatshirt, doll, etc.) and telling them they get one of each these. YOU will know how much money that works out to even if they don't. Tell them they can have 1 (or however many) extra snack each day and let them pick. Number of items seem to be easier than money for kids to grasp.

How about a collection? The pressed pennies are great, or magnets, keychains, etc. I think at that age it keeps them more focused in a gift shop than simply wanting everything they see (I still have this problem 30 years later!). They can buy quite a few of them for the same money as one stuffed animal that will get tossed in with the other 50 at home! I lived near DL as a kid, and every time I went, I got another small china cat.

Good luck. I'm sure you will do well because you are thinking about it ahead of time rather than just spending as you go.

PHXscuba

 

[c&m]

We give our DDs $25 each to spend for the 3 days we usually spend at DL/CA.

This allows them to buy at least 1 T-shirt or several smaller items. Mostly, they just do the penny press because those are lasting souvenirs. They have learned over the years that the plastic "Made in China" toys do not last, and the toys lose their appeal when they arrive home.

Whatever the DDs don't spend, they get to bring it back home and put in their bank accounts.

I typically buy the glow sticks when I see them for $1 around town and bring them with me. A nice surprise for the DDs when I pull them out in the hotel room.

One thing I do realize is that if I give my DDs more $$$ than the usual $25, they end up spending it recklessly. With only $25 in their pockets, they are usually more careful and thoughtful with the money.

 

[staley7580]

Sounds good to me! What we have done is when they ask for something.. just let them know that there will be no buying anything until the end of the trip. Then for my ds, he can think on it during the whole trip, and really decide that what he wants is REALLY what he wants!Other wise he would just buy whatever.. you know?

 

[MommyWithDreams]

$200? Can I come with your family and get a spending budget like that too? That's really generous.

 

[WannaBeAPrincess]

I really think it depends on how often you go to DL. I would assume that a family that has never been before or who don't get to go often would probably budget more on souveniers. We go 2-3 times per year and we give each of our kids a $50 gift card to spend. We will buy their food, but other than that, they buy the extras.

 

[firefly87]

It sounds like everyone does something similar in doling out money to their kids. In prior years, I could cave to the "I wants..." between the kids AND myself!

In 2006, I gave each of my sons $5.00 Disney Dollars per day to spend on whatever (it totalled $25 per kid for the whole trip). I think the first day, they both spent it on a candy from Pooh's Corner. But once that $5.00 was gone, they knew they had to wait til the next day to get another $5.00. After that, both of them figured out if they saved their money up, they could buy something that was more expensive. It really made them think about if they really wanted something or not. And if they were saving up their money to buy something more pricey, they had the whole trip to think, shop and compare.

I have actually used this same concept on other trips we've taken and it's really cut down on the frivolous spending (for them at least......now I just have to work on my own frivolous spending!!! )

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Oh Firefly I really like that idea...a few bucks a day gives them something to look forward to. IF they find something for 15 they know they need to save it. WHat a great lesson.

 

[firefly87]

Oh Firefly I really like that idea...a few bucks a day gives them something to look forward to. IF they find something for 15 they know they need to save it. WHat a great lesson.

I got that idea from another Disney discussion board. It sure worked out well for us, so we're doing it again in March. This time though, we are taking my 4 year old nephew for the 1st time and I don't think he gets the concept of money & budgeting! I'll have to figure something out for him.

On another note, we have previously bought those spinner things that light up and they usually sell them in the evening. In 2006, we brought ours back to DL with a fresh set of batteries, so that helped by not having to buy new ones while we were there!