Money panic

[mickeyforpresident]

Can you guys just give me your best opinions on how much money to take: I know this is a how long is a piece of string etc., but we're a family of 4, on the DDP, not necessily big spenders or shoppers (the usual toys for the kids etc.). We're taking £1,500 on our FairFX Card (at around $1.4 when we changed it) and we'll convert £400 this week.

We have credit cards, but I really don't want to use them.

Last time our biggest outlay was food, which with DDP we wont have.

Do you reckon we'll be ok? I hate the idea of not having enough money.

 

[wayneg]

At Easter we averaged £100/day for 3 adults.
That covered all our meals, tips, tolls, gifts for people, drinks, supermarket trips, snacks and petrol. Take the food out and not much at all.

 

[2Tiggies]

I can't remember how many of you there are (sorry)

As you know, it is such an individual question so nobody can really tell you what is enough.

If it helps you, together with Wayne's info, I would say I am an above average spender when I go. I save everything between trips just to really enjoy splurging. Did you mean £1500 and £400 or was that meant to be dollars?

Staying onsite, no car and with the DDP that would comfortably allow us to enjoy ourselves (1 adult and 1 8 year old), to include some OOP TS plus tips for restaurants and sundry. I take more but I always take way too much. I also take credit cards and have never, not once, used them there. I also take a few hundred $$ out of my budget which is set aside as DDs own spending money as of the last 2 years which made things easier. Although we can't tell you how much you need, if you are not big spenders you should be able to enjoy yourselves without feeling pinched and restricted. As you say, food is your biggest outlay. Deduct your estimated total for tips from your money you are taking and divide the rest up into the number of days you are there and you should have a fair idea.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

In Dollars we have $2000 on the FAIRFXCard and about $600 in cash. That should be enough for the four of us - not much on food as we're on DDP.

 

[2Tiggies]

In Dollars we have $2000 on the FAIRFXCard and about $600 in cash. That should be enough for the four of us - not much on food as we're on DDP.

Looks fine to me. That is almost $200 per day over 14 days. I would take $150 aside per day, not literally in cash, but making a mental note. If you don't have a laptop with you then you will need to keep track of your FairFX spending in a wee note book anyway. Keep your receipts and record your spending for that day every evening. Once you hit the halfway mark, if you are consistently coming in under budget, you may want to start planning a little splurge near the end of your stay, or just pat yourself on the back and save the rest for the next trip.

Personally, I wouldn't be worried at all. Enjoy the best part of your countdown and have a wonderful trip.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Thanks, Buddy

 

[catherine]

In Dollars we have $2000 on the FAIRFXCard and about $600 in cash. That should be enough for the four of us - not much on food as we're on DDP.

For the 4 of us on the DDP and a coupleof meals OOP we spent approx. $500 - $600 on tips. For TS meals on the DDP we used cash to pay the tips to avoid confusion with charging. So I'm sure that you'll have more than enough!

 

[scojos]

there are 5 of us, i have budgetted $50/day for tips, we dont drink alcohol (except a few beers maydisappear at the pool party)
we then have $1500 for food when off site/shopping/parking at US/SHOPPING etc.
we spent about $600 in 2 weeks 2 years ago on ddp with lots of shopping so not too worried
hth
tracy

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I have always found $100 a day fine to include food, staying offsite. I usually take £100 per day which gives me a great cushion. Clothes shopping will be in addition to that - maybe £500.

You will have loads. As said, divide it into daily amounts. Any left over is all bonus

 

[fuse04]

there are 5 of us, i have budgetted $50/day for tips, we dont drink alcohol (except a few beers maydisappear at the pool party)
we then have $1500 for food when off site/shopping/parking at US/SHOPPING etc.
tracy

I'ii drink to that

 

[scojos]

I'ii drink to that

thought you might