Paying my kids to order water!!!

[jsmla]

It wasn't just the money for me although that didn't hurt. We didn't keep soda in the house and, until they were much older, they only had it when a guest at someone's home. We are very, very middle middle class but I doubt I would have agreed to pay for soda even if we were 1%ers. If we had been I would have blown it on sit down meals, bottled waters and a room at a Deluxe.

 

[Dakota731]

Wow, whatever happened to I'm the mom so I'm the boss and what I say goes?

 

[okeydokey]

Eating out is a treat and with that comes soda for the kids. I don't buy soda at home so it truly is a treat for them. I always get water just because it's better for me and I prefer it.

This is us exactly.

 

[Marionnette]

Drinks are expensive when dining out. Really they're outrageous! I made a deal with my children. If they order water while we're in Disney (or any other time), I will give them the cost of their soda in cash. It encourages them to make a better choice, saves me money off the dining bill, and gives them souvineer money to use on vacation.

My question is...what other unorthodox tips or tricks have you tried to save extra money?

I'd never bribe my kids. If I wanted them to have water at the dinner table, then they would be drinking water and that's all there would be to it. And if there was any fuss, they would learn that Mom doesn't mess around. It would be a very long time before they saw the inside of a restaurant again. that being said, I don't see where taking money from your pocket and giving it to your kid, rather than the restaurant, is saving YOU anything.

As far as unorthodox tips: I rarely use paper towels for cleaning. I have a basket of assorted rags (old towels, t-shirts and sheets) that serve my purposes for 98% of the household chores. Just like my mother and grandmothers before her. Sometimes, old-school is best. Paper towels are reserved for only the messiest of jobs and for my husband who cannot grasp the concept of using a rag. At $1.50/roll and 1-2 rolls per week, it's not a huge savings. But in a year, I save about $100.

 

[jsmla]

Wow, whatever happened to I'm the mom so I'm the boss and what I say goes?

That was me pretty much but, looking back, I do think it's a good idea to let them learn from experience every now and then. DS was generally fairly compliant as a young child and, as a result, didn't experience nearly as many life lessons as his more strong-willed sister. It seems to me he's had a harder time adjusting to making responsible decisions with his money now that he's an adult on his own. DD made a LOT of bad financial choices (Diesel jeans, anyone?) in her youth and perhaps learned a thing or two. It could just be a boy/girl, differing personalities thing but who knows.

 

[usnuzuloose]

no way i would do that. I am the parent. If I say they drink water, they drink water.

I agree, my children need to know that I am the parent and they need to follow the direction I give them. Once you give in they expect it all the time and then you have more problems than ever.

 

[Narnia_girl]

OP asked:

My question is...what other unorthodox tips or tricks have you tried to save extra money?

Why is so hard for people to either answer the question asked or just move on? I see this all the time on these threads. A person asks a specific question and instead of giving an answer to that people jump in with how their way is better, their parenting is better, they would never do that, etc.... She didn't ask if you agree with her. She asked for money saving ideas.
I don't think she bribed her kids, I think she gave them a choice: you may have soda or you may have the money I would use to pay for the soda, it's your choice. It's the same choice I am given as an adult all the time. But if I did disagree with what she did I seriously doubt that me publicly criticizing her would make her change her mind.
This is a board devoted to saving money, she asked a money question; seems pretty simple to me and no judgement needed.

 

[Marionnette]

OP asked:



Why is so hard for people to either answer the question asked or just move on? I see this all the time on these threads. A person asks a specific question and instead of giving an answer to that people jump in with how their way is better, their parenting is better, they would never do that, etc.... She didn't ask if you agree with her. She asked for money saving ideas.
I don't think she bribed her kids, I think she gave them a choice: you may have soda or you may have the money I would use to pay for the soda, it's your choice. It's the same choice I am given as an adult all the time. But if I did disagree with what she did I seriously doubt that me publicly criticizing her would make her change her mind.
This is a board devoted to saving money, she asked a money question; seems pretty simple to me and no judgement needed.

A. People comment on the entire post because this is a discussion board and when you post something, anything in the post is open for comment.
B. Paying someone in order to influence their behavior is bribery.
C. The OP is welcome to accept or ignore any advice offered, as well as to skip reading (or respond to) any comments that she might considered critical of her parenting.​

 

[monorailsilver]

I am chuckling,I just told my kids and dh that we were not buying any soda in the park or drinks for that matter (they did get a few slushie said at snack times). We had water containers that we filled up with bottled water that we shipped down and that is what we drank at meals. We didn't do dining and all but 2 of our meals were quick service. They did get to order soda at the 2 TS and we had 5 pool days so I told them they could drink all the soda ey wanted that day.

I can tell you paying OOP that trip in 2013 was much cheaper then the dining plan.

 

[kamik86]

The closest thing I had to this was in college. Technically at that point I met the requirements to put myself as no ones dependent on my taxes although since I was still in college mom also had the option to claim me.

If mom claimed me I got back anywhere from $50 (early years) to $200 (years where I had a co-op job half the year and paid in much more) less on my taxes. However if mom claimed me she would pay more like $300-400 less. So mom paid my taxes and she would send me what it "cost" me plus split the extra with me.

I don't have kids but honestly this is one of the reasons I hate how much DH wants to go out to eat. He can't go out to eat without wanting at LEAST one app (but always to share so if I don't want the calories I get a guilt trip because now he can't have it) and a drink (at least soda but even worse beer).

I didn't realize just how much that added up until I started traveling and realized how little I spent at dinners out alone.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

The closest thing I had to this was in college. Technically at that point I met the requirements to put myself as no ones dependent on my taxes although since I was still in college mom also had the option to claim me.

If mom claimed me I got back anywhere from $50 (early years) to $200 (years where I had a co-op job half the year and paid in much more) less on my taxes. However if mom claimed me she would pay more like $300-400 less. So mom paid my taxes and she would send me what it "cost" me plus split the extra with me.

I don't have kids but honestly this is one of the reasons I hate how much DH wants to go out to eat. He can't go out to eat without wanting at LEAST one app (but always to share so if I don't want the calories I get a guilt trip because now he can't have it) and a drink (at least soda but even worse beer).

I didn't realize just how much that added up until I started traveling and realized how little I spent at dinners out alone.

DH does this as well. He often wants to get some kind of appetizer or side, but I usually don't want the extra calories or am just not that hungry. I tell him to go ahead and just take the leftovers home. Once I decline, but give him permission, he usually ends up not getting it. Its a devious guilt trip, but I realize it for what it is and move on.

 

[Iowajes]

Eating out is a treat and with that comes soda for the kids. I don't buy soda at home so it truly is a treat for them. I always get water just because it's better for me and I prefer it.

For us eating out is such a treat, soda doesn't get added as more of a treat. It's way too expensive!

It's not unorthodox, but the biggest money saving tip is to bring your own snacks (or even meals). No need to buy park food at all. Being at Disney is treat enough.

 

[Minnesota!]

I'd never bribe my kids. If I wanted them to have water at the dinner table, then they would be drinking water and that's all there would be to it. And if there was any fuss, they would learn that Mom doesn't mess around. It would be a very long time before they saw the inside of a restaurant again. that being said, I don't see where taking money from your pocket and giving it to your kid, rather than the restaurant, is saving YOU anything.

As far as unorthodox tips: I rarely use paper towels for cleaning. I have a basket of assorted rags (old towels, t-shirts and sheets) that serve my purposes for 98% of the household chores. Just like my mother and grandmothers before her. Sometimes, old-school is best. Paper towels are reserved for only the messiest of jobs and for my husband who cannot grasp the concept of using a rag. At $1.50/roll and 1-2 rolls per week, it's not a huge savings. But in a year, I save about $100.

We quit buying paper towels, too, when we were super broke about 8 years ago. Rags work much better...financially, and environmentally

For OP - I let my kids have whatever they want to drink when we go out...they drink water, and only water at home and school (I let them get 1 carton of milk with their lunches). A pop or chocolate milk once or twice a month doesn't bug me.

Savings tips? I make a HUGE batch of trail mix before we go, putting it into a doubled gallon freezer bag. Bring along snack size baggies. Scoop out servings into the baggies each day and throw in our pack. So much cheaper than in park snacks, super filling, and the kids think it is a huge treat because it has m-n-m’s in it.

 

[onenursebrandy]

OP asked:



Why is so hard for people to either answer the question asked or just move on? I see this all the time on these threads. A person asks a specific question and instead of giving an answer to that people jump in with how their way is better, their parenting is better, they would never do that, etc.... She didn't ask if you agree with her. She asked for money saving ideas.
I don't think she bribed her kids, I think she gave them a choice: you may have soda or you may have the money I would use to pay for the soda, it's your choice. It's the same choice I am given as an adult all the time. But if I did disagree with what she did I seriously doubt that me publicly criticizing her would make her change her mind.
This is a board devoted to saving money, she asked a money question; seems pretty simple to me and no judgement needed.

Thanks for this!! I was kinda shocked to read all the bribery comments, and got a little worse when I read all the "I'm the boss" comments! My kids are DS9 and DD19....and if I told them both to order water, they would!!!! I also get I'm not really saving, just transferring money from the soda account to the "spend on random novelty item" account! I don't really see it as bribery. It forces my kids to make a decision....something kids sometimes need more than a boss.

 

[Jesse 23]

I usually bring along a little water flavoring to make them happy but I love your idea of paying them. I think it's a great idea to get them to start learning the value of money and get what you want in the end anyway.

 

[garnetandblack]

DS6 hates soda and refuses to drink it. When we go out to eat he's allowed to order whatever he wants to drink since it's typically included with the meal. He really enjoys lemonade and loves white milk (he doesn't like chocolate). For the last 6 months he will only order water. That's what he asks for at home and that's what he prefers at restaurants. I used to send him to school with 100% apple juice and he said, "Mom, that's 100% sugar!"

We drank so much soda growing up and it was a hard habit to break. I drink soda less than once a month now and I don't even enjoy it anymore. I do like sweet tea because I'm southern but prefer water when I am eating. The cost of ordering a soda or tea is almost as much as ordering alcohol now. At happy hour it's cheaper to order a Stella at Carrabba's than it is to order a tea.

 

[BLAZEY]

DD6 doesn't like pop, so will get the bottle of water or a juice with her kids meal. We carried Brita water bottles with us and ordered ice water along with our meals. DH and I shared an adult meal most times as the portions are huge. DD6 often kept the carrots or grapes for snacking later after eating a meal. Dh sometimes ordered a Coke with a meal but he and I both shared it and the waters.

 

[brertoad]

I usually order water at restaurants to save money. I get annoyed at having to pay $2.00 - 3.50 for a soft drink. I especially hate paying for non-refill soft drinks. I will order a soft drink sometimes, but it's usually when I am really thirsty and I plan on drinking like 4-5 servings. I remember doing this for the longest time, in a year this can save a couple hundred bucks.

Sometimes I'll order just a salad and/or soup instead of an entree, just depends on how much I want to eat for lunch or dinner, but it does save money. It doesn't take much for me to feel full.

Sometimes at QS restaurants I'll order just a sandwich without the fries, saves about $2 (not bad especially when no one wants to eat fries or apple slices).

We avoid Disney buffets and character meals in general, this saves money because they are costly.

We use the Tables in Wonderland card, that saves us money in the course of a year.

 

[HM]

What? Paying them to order water? Why can't you just say, we are all ordering water instead of sodas at restaurants from now on. We did that with our kids.

 

[zoemurr]

We almost alwayst order water because.. Well I'm just mean. But at DW we found the lemonade was so sweet we could split it 4 ways. Then we filled the cups up the rest of the way with water and it tasted perfect.