Paying my kids to order water!!!

[HM]

I apologize to the OP. I realized I didn't really answer your question, but questioned you about your method instead. I guess I didn't see how that was saving you money. But I didn't really say that.

Foregoing drinks other than water at meals or snack time is one way we save money and suggest this all the time.
At WDW, we concentrate most of our meals around CS and often share when we know the serving is huge. This gives us more flexibility and opportunity to try more places and fit in snacks.

 

[hereyago]

Why not have them get paid for some chores and they can buy their own drink if they choose?

 

[JennyKS]

So not that it really saves money but my 10 year old daughter and I went in February. She is now considered an adult at Disney. I gave her on a Disney gift card what we budgeted for food. She could buy adult meals or save money and buy a kids meal. Any left over money was hers to use as spending money since we also went in November and she used most of her chore money then. She did really good and most times ordered a kids meal. I think she had fun figuring out where to save money and then buying it herself made her feel good. She also used that card to buy any snacks she wanted. Well maybe it did save me a little bit of money because she did share her snacks with me.

 

[aprilgail]

We eat out a LOT, at least 4 meals out in a sit down restaurant a week- sometimes my daughter gets soda other times she orders water, usually a 50/50 split. I tend to get water but if I feel like having some soda I just take a sip from hers, its always free refills (other than ONE place we go!). We went out with friends to this one place that doesn't give free refills and we were not aware of that, all 4 of us order soda- they come back and say "would you like another soda" just like every single place does and and we all said yes- well imagine the surprise when they bill came and it was 32.00 just in soda!! When we go there now we strictly order water because the no free refills pisses me off.

 

[valerie160]

We aren't big soda drinkers, so when we go out usually we'll order water anyways. The prices for 5 drinks is like $15-$20 or something ridiculous and I really don't need to add that amount to an already expensive meal. Unless the kids order kids meals where it comes with a drink - then they can chose what they want to drink. Especially at Disney, just for hydration purposes if nothing else, we have water at all meals and all throughout the day to stay hydrated (soda and coffee does the exact opposite, so we try to stay away). But, that's not to say that I don't budget for some kind of frozen drink each day (slushies, etc - usually buy 2 or 3 that we share) and a venti coffee in the morning that hubby and I share to get the day started!

 

[teller80]

When gas was $4 a gallon around here, I learned how to "hypermile" - drive in such a fashion to really maximize fuel consumption. I took my 1996 Toyota Camry (w/200k miles on it) from averaging around 31mpg to 44 mpg by doing things driving slower, trying to time traffic lights, pulse-gliding, and never taking the drive-thru anywhere. Considering I usually drive about 20k miles a year, that added up..

Had to google that term, interesting concept. But I think it could be annoying to those around you, yes?

 

[PerfessorZ]

Had to google that term, interesting concept. But I think it could be annoying to those around you, yes?

Absolutely - which is why I never did it with traffic behind me.

 

[AnnetteS]

Where i live water is the same price as soda...so healthwise the choice matters not financially...

 

[ellie05]

It is so interesting to see all the different perspectives here. We always order water when we go out, not because we don't want to spend the money but because that is why we like. We never have soda in our house and the rare occasion we do (mostly when we are having people over) it sits in our fridge for moths. We got a 12 pack of Coke for Christmas holidays, we still have 8 cans taking space in the fridge.

Op I think that is a great idea to help kids make a better choice. Our parents never had to bribe us we always just prefer water.

 

[Burnedout]

Nice to see some kindness, rather than judgement. I'm guessing those parents who find it so easy to judge others are going to pass that intolerance down to their children.

Lol
Because this isn't judgmental at all! Lol pot. Kettle...

 

[Burnedout]

Absolutely - which is why I never did it with traffic behind me.

Reasonable

 

[Burnedout]

As far as "teaching a kid" I have now "taught" three now adult men. They have college educations without debt. Because they learned and chose to live without for a long term goal. The oldest is Now living in a tiny apt. And chooses to eat or drink out on occasion rather than habit and has enough for a house down payment. At 25 he and his fiancé are set. The others have made great choices also. They all still have cars/motorcycle, take vacations and have social lives and eat primarily organic whole foods.

Teaching involves more than choices. It involves examples of good choices. I wouldn't give a choice for chicken nuggets and macaroni and soda, keeping the change, when there was salmon, or steak or chicken (the kind without chicken glue) and real veggies when they were young. Because as a parent it was our job to nourish them to the best of our ability. They always could work for spending cash or candy or soda monies. But it was understood those were extras and "fun" and not fundamentals.

 

[hsmamato2]

Where i live water is the same price as soda...so healthwise the choice matters not financially...

Kinda' OT but how is this possible? a glass of ice water is free at a restaurant.....

 

[njpyro]

Kinda' OT but how is this possible? a glass of ice water is free at a restaurant.....

Not sure where they live, but when travelling in Europe, mainly Italy, they will not serve you tap water in a restaurant. It's either bottled water, soda or wine. After several trips to italy, many different restaurants and cities, we have found a total of two restaurants who gave me free tap water.

 

[superme80]

If I don't feel like paying for soda I tell the kids no, but I will buy them a 2 litter for the house. They get a glass once or twice a week. Another thing is I will tell them they can have a soda OR I will buy them a smoothie from Dutch Bros. They are about the same price and the boys like them more.

 

[AnnetteS]

Not sure where they live, but when travelling in Europe, mainly Italy, they will not serve you tap water in a restaurant. It's either bottled water, soda or wine. After several trips to italy, many different restaurants and cities, we have found a total of two restaurants who gave me free tap water.

You are right..I live in the Netherlands and restaurants don't give free tap water. You have to buy bottled water and there is no refill on soda's.

 

[Ava]

My kids aren't really allowed soda (they're 6 & 2), but I will let them get juice when we go to a restaurant. DW & I usually get soda when we eat out. We don't drink soda at home, and we also don't go out to eat very often, so it's a treat when we do. Also, a lot of times when we go out to eat its to a diner for breakfast/brunch, so DW & I get coffee which is usually cheaper than soda.

At Disney, even when we were on DDP we'd usually get bottled water as our drink. Its too hot there for sugary drinks.

 

[princesskaycee]

I love this idea!