Kids spending money for WDW

[stayhomemom77]

Allowance for our kids started at age 6 so on our first trip, we gave them $50 each and that was enough.

For subsequent trips they were told 6 months beforehand to begin saving up so they would have spending money for the trip. Sometimes they got money or gift cards from the grandparents and those were added to the kitty but mom and dad contributed nothing. (We cover all snacks and I usually use a bit of my own spending money to buy a pin for each of them.)

We pretty much let them buy what they want, when they want until their money runs out. Mom hangs on to it for safekeeping and we do have VETO power we occasionally use (such as when DD wanted to bring a HUGE playset home with us on the plane) but generally it's really up to them.

Last summer we did a 3 week west coast driving trip and they had hundreds to spend. Disneyland was smack dab in the middle of the trip and DD bought only a couple of trinkets in the first part of the trip and then blew most of her money in DTD. She had like $12 left for the last week of the trip but she never complained and was thrilled with her Disney shopping spree.

Truly MY child!

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

Thank everyone we do not do allowance because they hoard money and I rather put money in savings for them, since we do buy everything they need and probably too much of what they want
This is where I am so far
I love the envelope per day idea for DD and may add some sticker etc the boys can just have theirs and budget they are old enough I am going to have them buy extra snack like if they want lemondae (I supply water of course) I will as I always though not as much on vacation limit sweets. Iwill hold it as DS13 has some fine motor issues so it would be a mess and likely to get lost (though he will be carrying a wallet so may work on this some as we are going to high school).
we do have a chart and taking away (one time so far) has helped alot like alot on the teenage attitude.

 

[KELLY]

I just buy my kids what they want within reason. Last year I think I figure they each spent around 120.00. They each got a Disney animator doll, Duffy bear and outfit, another stuffed animal and some small jewelry items.

We don't have allowance. Both of my kids have 50.00 GC from birthdays.

 

[coffeecassie]

My 9yo daughter and I just got back from WDW 2 weeks ago. She had $160 dollars of her own to spend. She was responsible for buying all of her own souvenirs, and any extra snacks that she didn't want to share with mom. It was just the right amount of money for her, and she was very careful and selective about what she purchased. I carried her cash in a separate wallet in my purse and for the first time, there was no pouting over souvenirs and treats that I wouldn't buy for her.

 

[dreaming4disney]

During our first few visits when my kids were much younger they wanted everything they saw coming off of the rides and into the stores. It was hard to tell what they really wanted. So, we decided to give them their own spending money and told them to spend it on what they wanted. It was amazing to see such a change! Suddenly they knew exactly what they wanted and didn't look at everything. It took that negative part of the trip away. I didn't have to say no after every ride. For us, it worked out perfectly.
they went from wanting everything to being much more selective.

 

[Eureka]

I do it differently with my kids (four of them). I just let them each pick a souvenir during the trip (up to $50). I don't see a need to hand them each $100+ when we are already spending thousands on the vacation . If they want to bring their own allowance money and spend it that is their decision.

Pretty much what we do. We buy them a t shirt, ears or a hat if they want it, and then it is on them to buy anything else. They/we are not big souvenir shoppers, even when not at Disney. I think mostly the experience is enough for them. (my boys are 10 and 12)

 

[sk!mom]

I guess if you know your kids will want to shop then that should be a fine plan especially if you don't give them a regular allowance.

We are not really a souvenir family. It just seems that it's a small world and there isn't that much available on vacation that you couldn't buy on the Internet from home if you really wanted it. DH is a hat guy so he will pick up a hat if he sees one. DD17 might buy a shirt or something. This Summer we're going to California and then on to Hawaii. DD17 is hoping to find a big floppy hat in a bright color since she hasn't been able to find one here. DH loves Hawaiian shirts so he likely will get one or two as we haven't seen many of those here either.

As my kids have grown up, if they saw something on vacation that I agreed was worth the cost and would be enjoyed after vacation, I'd buy it. If not, they had to use their saved allowance. If DD finds a great hat, I'll buy it for her. Anything else, I probably will not. Hey, we're taking her to Hawaii!

 

[jennyjinx3]

Pretty much what we do. We buy them a t shirt, ears or a hat if they want it, and then it is on them to buy anything else. They/we are not big souvenir shoppers, even when not at Disney. I think mostly the experience is enough for them. (my boys are 10 and 12)

I totally agree with that statement for our girls too, except even mom likes to bring home a few little trinkets! It is no different for the kiddos. And really, $50 doesn't go too far at WDW!

 

[taymaesmom]

I have always given my girls $100 each when we go to Disney, and even now at 18 and 14 I hold onto the money so they dont lose it.

My two do not get along and are always picking at each other (always have) so when we are in the park if one starts to bother the other on purpose and wont stop when asked then she has to give her sister $5. To them there is nothing worse than having to give their sister their money. It really helps to keep behaviors in check.

 

[bruhl1j]

Check on Disney Dollars. They come in $1, $5, $10 denominations. They work similar to a travelers check on Disney property. If you lose them, it can be replaced. They are great for kids. When my kids were young, we gave them enough to get a snack or treat each day. We explained that toys were not an option for them to purchase without permission.

A $1 Mickey Dollar makes a nice souvenir.

Guest relations, some resorts, and main st spot have the dollars.

JB

 

[Mom2Ben02]

We are driving from Chicago this trip, so I am giving each kid a roll of dimes at the beginning. "Dime Fines" - basically, each time they misbehave, they lose a dime. (if they fight with a sibling, don't share nicely, etc) At the end of the drive, I will trade any dimes left for a dollar. So, they will have up to $50 each.

 

[monorailsilver]

Two of mine have a $40 GC & one has a $25. They can buy whatever they want & I do plan on giving my oldest with the $25 GC another $15. I think that is more then enough. I won't let them buy clothes as I think the clothes are all crap. They can buy pens/pencils/pins/jewelry/candy.

 

[CMW0021]

We are driving from Chicago this trip, so I am giving each kid a roll of dimes at the beginning. "Dime Fines" - basically, each time they misbehave, they lose a dime. (if they fight with a sibling, don't share nicely, etc) At the end of the drive, I will trade any dimes left for a dollar. So, they will have up to $50 each.

We typically drive and this idea is fantastic.Thanks for sharing!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

We are driving from Chicago this trip, so I am giving each kid a roll of dimes at the beginning. "Dime Fines" - basically, each time they misbehave, they lose a dime. (if they fight with a sibling, don't share nicely, etc) At the end of the drive, I will trade any dimes left for a dollar. So, they will have up to $50 each.

Great idea!! We are using this idea at home because my sons teacher does a similar thing with marbles at school so we figured it works for her maybe it will work for us. I love the idea of using it on the car ride too

 

[MrRomance]

Ok so I am letting te boys 14and 10 at time we go have 140 each (the oldest has lost 5 already tho) if they are good between now and our trip ie clean each day without fighting and complaingin about it. if they complain they lose $5 but anyways this is the first time on a trip I have given them their own money. Is 100ish enough? and what should I expect them to buy with it?? Also DD3 should she have her own or not I am pretty sure she will not understand money yet

We put our DD9 on notice when we book our trip (usually 18 months in advance) that we will be going and that we will match whatever she saves or earns for herself up to $100. Throughout the year, she then makes her own decisions on what she will save and what she will spend. She gets chances to earn money through chores and she also gets money for birthdays and Christmas. We give her the choice of money or gifts for Easter too. She has learned now to split her money now. If she gets £5 for doing jobs or getting good grades, she splits it into two banks. Half goes in the one for Disney, the other half goes into the other bank for spending. She created her system herself.

When we're getting ready to go, we put the money (plus the amount we've matched) on to a Disney gift card which she keeps in her wallet. She can spend the money however she wishes, but she knows there is no more coming. During the trip she tends to buy some things immediately, but she also writes down what she has seen that she likes, where she saw it and how much it is. At the end of the trip she'll decide where the rest of her money will go and we take her to buy the stuff she noted. Again, she created her system herself.

As a result, she's become very responsible with money, she doesn't part with it easily and she feels like a grown up. It works well for all of us.

 

[Bob NC]

Throughout all our trips with the kids they never really had spending money.

For one thing none of us are just 'shoppers' for the sake of shopping.

For another, this was a Disney vacation, not a shopping trip.

We never spent time just walking around stores looking for stuff to buy.

Sure, we would get the kids the occasional thing. A light up toy during a parade, a pin here and there.

People are different, but we and the kids were there for the resorts, parks and other activities, not shopping.

 

[DawnM]

We are much the same.

However, when the kids were little they were more interested in little toys, cars with Disney on the side, etc.....We had several of those Disneyland Autopia Chevron cars.......4 of them they got for FREE with those freebies they gave out every so often.

But they really aren't interested in shopping at Disney (could be because I have boys too!) other than a few things.

However, when we used to offer to let them have $50 or so per trip they started NOT wanting to spend it on actual Disney stuff but on Legos!

Dawn

Throughout all our trips with the kids they never really had spending money.

For one thing none of us are just 'shoppers' for the sake of shopping.

For another, this was a Disney vacation, not a shopping trip.

We never spent time just walking around stores looking for stuff to buy.

Sure, we would get the kids the occasional thing. A light up toy during a parade, a pin here and there.

People are different, but we and the kids were there for the resorts, parks and other activities, not shopping.

 

[kajs22]

I allow them to spend their own money from holidays, report cards, allowance etc. as they wish because it is money they earned or was given as a gift.

Before any vacation they are allowed to earn extra money by doing extra chores above and beyond their normal responsibilities. They also lose money for bad behavior, fighting, complaining about the chores and such. They may have as little as $20 and as much as $200. This is all they have for spending money and really makes them consider what to buy before and during vacation.

 

[disney1990]

Ours granddaughters are usually given about $50 each. They have to wait until near the end of the trip before buying so they don't change their minds. We make a note of what they want and where it is so we don't forget the stores we need to revisit.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I have a friend who asks grandparents and aunts and such to give her daughters Disney gift cards or money with the stated purpose of Disney spending money for birthdays and Christmas before a trip. She keeps track of the money, but her daughters can spend it whenever and however they want at WDW. Even if she thinks its a pile of junk - it's their money, not her money.

She commits to buying each girl one t-shirt and one "whoops" item. Someone always needs a pair of crocs because they get a blister, or gets drenched on a ride and needs a new outfit or spills coke all over everything etc. So one (sometimes two) "whoops" items.

Sometimes things adults think are junk are the kids' favorites for months and sometimes they're just junk and the kids learn they're junk and they wasted their money! The kids learn how to spend their money, mom doesn't have any arguments.

I don't remember how much these girls took to Disney last time, but it was in the hundreds, because pretty much every single relative they knew for Christmas AND birthday gave them Disney money. They got the joy of thinking about what they would buy at Disney for months and months, then they bought what they wanted when they wanted, until the money ran out. (And they were both pretty savvy by that point on what they wanted and how the math worked, because they'd been rehearsing it by dreaming about Disney.)