Souvenier Money for Kids

[angelat]

Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to find out what you all give your kids in the line of souvenier money? Last time we went (our first time at WDW) we allowed our kids (then DD 8 and DS10) $50 per park and that included Universal and Sea World.

This time we are trying to be a little more budget minded with the whole trip. We are only doing WDW and possibly Kennedy Space Center, so I was thinking that for DD10 and DS11 we might just allow $100 each for the whole trip. Is this reasonable, or is this not enough? DS came home with money last time but DD spent all of hers. DH and I would only get $100 each as well. I just think we don't need a lot of junk to remind us of our trip. Maybe a shirt or towel from a park and something else. If they choose wisely, they could probably get a few things.

Right?

 

[eeyoremum]

We don't give our DS (15 & 9) any money. They need to bring their own. I pay for the trip that is plenty. We have been doing it this way for many years. It works well because they tend to think about purchases more if they have to spend their own money.

This time around DS15 bought nothing at all. DS9 only bought 2 things. We go once a year to Disney so the boys don't really need too much. We take tons of pictures though. This year I think it was in the 500 range.

 

[iluvjus]

I am planning on getting my 8yr old "disney dollars" prob $100 for our week, then he can decide what he wants and how he wants to spend

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

My girls are setting aside at least 1/2 their allowance for Disney....they just don't know it yet! They get 50 cents/year in age for each week ($4/wk for my 8yo, $2/wk for my 4 yo). We will add more to the final amount before the trip. When they do "extra" chores around the house or are particularly helpful or agreeable they get tickets that they exchange for TV or computer time. Tink will do and exchange for these before we leave too.

 

[PebblesMK]

My daughter is 8 and I told her that she will have to earn her own money. We took one of those nestle quik chocolate milk mix boxes and superglued the lid on, cut a small hole in the top and then we painted it with Disney stuff. It says "Maysain's Disney Money" and on the other side it has the date of our trip. She helped me in making a chore chart for herself. We have the stuff that is expected (room) and then extras. She also has a chart for books read (as she struggles with reading and needs incentive to do so). And then there is the "extra" chart....helping grandpa with the yard, helping grandma make dinner. Every Saturday night we go through and she gets a quarter for every chore or book read. Some weeks she does really well, others not so much. The only rule to her allowance is that half of it HAS to go in her savings account and the rest she can do what she wants with. It can go in her Disney bank or she can just put it in her wallet to spend as she wishes. It has really made her excited to do things around the house. She has also made money when she is caught doing something amazing. Once my mom answered my phone to hear the neighbor girl say "Let me talk to Maysain".....and then later my mom heard my kiddo call the girl back and say "Hi, this is Maysain. I was wondering if I could talk to Abby since I heard she called". ....she got paid for having great phone manners. She has also been paid for things like being extremely helpful with my grandma (who has alzheimers and is confined to a wheelchair). I do believe when they earn the money themselves, whatever they buy with it means that much more.

 

[PixiePlanner]

My children have had a "vacation envelope" since my inlaws first talked about taking us to WDW a year ago. My DH came up with this idea. Ex. DS gets $3 a week for an allowance. $1 goes in vac. envelope, $1 goes in savings and $1 is for him to spend. He rarely spends money and has almost as much in his "stash" as in his envelope! My DD on the other hand, gives her money away. "No Mommy, I don't need offering money, I have my own." How can I tell her not to give her money to church!?!

 

[PixiePlanner]

I did read somewhere that if money is spent wisely, $25 a day per person is a good budget. This of course does not include meals.

 

[Bektasmic]

You might want to think about things they would be likely to be tempted by and prep them for how much stuff generally costs. For example, my son (6) will definitely want some lego guys or a set at LegoLand and the build-your-own-lightsabor. I've given him opportunities to earn money with extra jobs around the house, and he knows he needs X amount for certain things.

We've also deliberately gone through his toys and talked about what we have room for and that if it goes over that he will have to give some of his current toys away (we have plenty of room, but he doens't have to know that!). Also looked at his "junk box" of stuff like random action figures and little keychains and stuff like that to show that some of the stuff that looks really cool at first can just end up "junk" at home. Also have discussed what type of toys he can get at Target and locally so his eye for souvenirs will be driven toward unique items that he will really play with.

It probably also depends on what constitutes spending money in your family. For example, does a t-shirt fit into the category of something a parent buys or something a kid buys? And what about if your child wants to buy gifts for other people? What if your child wants a light up spinner or special balloon or expensive treat that you normally would not purchase?

Have encouraged him to save up 100.00 for 7 day trip and will likely get him a few surprise items if he is showing good money management and decisions. Plan on also letting him take pictures of stuff he thinks is really cool, since so much of souvenir buying is about preserving memory, not necessarily having it at home to keep forever and ever.

btw, hubby and I also plan on sticking to the 100.00 limit for each of us.

 

[ireland_nicole]

last trip, DH and I bought each kid one thing; for DD it was BBB, for DS it was a build your own lightsaber.
That being said, they each saved their money during the year; both allowance (they tithe 10%, save 30% and the rest is for Disney.) and holiday gift money. Last trip, DD had $250, and came home w/ $70. DS has a pirate and star wars obsession, and went w/ $270 and spent it all. However, he does still play w/ everything. (those lego sets cost a fortune) This year, they'll probably each have about $200 of their own money each, but DH and I aren't buying anything.

 

[LWatson]

we are paying for a few things like the Pirates League, autograph book, and a possible shirt. But, my oldest (will be 4) is saving up his money from chores (cleaning his room and taking out the bathroom trash when I take the kitchen), and my youngest gets $5 a week to go in his piggy bank. They can use that money for their souveniers. We are trying to teach them the value of a dollar early.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Gosh we must be the mean parents. We pay for one refillable mug for them to share at the resort (they really shouldn't drink much soda anyway). We pay for one hair wrap for DS10 (about $20--DD12 does not get one, I shudder to think what it would cost in her long hair, but more gets spent on her hair the rest of the year, which she understands so does not feel slighted). We give each kid $10 in spending money. Beyond that they have to bring their own. We go about once a year and they generally come home having not spent all of the $10. They do kidzeyes all year and have a check sent out before each trip in case they see semething they just have to have.
That is IT. If they want something to eat which is not on the dining plan--or want their own mug at the resort, etc., they have to buy it. Both kids understand that if we spend a lot on stuff then it eats into the vacation budget and we travel less often. Both would rather travel more often and skip T-shirts and over priced toys and the like. DH and I do not buy souvineers for ourselves either so all is fair

 

[AngelBabyJana]

Since this will be our first trip to Disney, we plan on giving our kids DD16, DD10, DS5 each $100 in Disney Dollars as a surprise before we go. They also have a change jar that they have been saving money in (we all drop our spare change in there throughout the year) - they get to split whatever is in the jar (actually it is one of those HUGE water bottles).

We will buy them each a t-shirt and souvenir of their choice - plus all food, drinks, snacks, & mugs (we are on the Deluxe Dining plan so we should have more than enough). We are also having a gift basket sent to each of them (from Mickey of course) with Mickey ears, autograph books, etc.... but we are only doing the welcome basket since it is their first trip, that won't happen for future trips.

I was personally wondering if we were giving them enough spending money since this will be their first trip to Disney. We go to Six Flags & Seaworld all the time and they don't spend anywhere near this, but I know a week in Disney is a whole different story.

We don't do money for weekly allowances - they help out just because they are part of our family and they know that everyone has to do their part. We always buy them what they need, and a lot of what they want, lol. They do get money for birthdays, Christmas, etc.... mainly from the relatives.

 

[PebblesMK]

...They do kidzeyes all year and have a check sent out before each trip in case they see semething they just have to have...

What is kidzeyes?

 

[NHdisneylover]

What is kidzeyes?

Kidzeyes is an online market research company. Basically the kids sign up for it (and parents have to mail or fax in their consent for the kids to participate) and once in a while a survey gets sent to the kids' email for them to click the link and take it online. You can have it sent to your email address if the kids do not have their own. Parents also get an email letting you know the child got an invite. The surveys tend to be about things like cereals, cartoons (sometimes they have gotten to watch possible episodes of a new series), granola bars and the like. Surveys can take anywhere from about 30 seconds to a half hour. Surveys also get sent to parents and when you answer it your kids get credit. Kids are paid for surveys in "points." Points are at least 50 cents and I have seen as much as 500. 1 point=1 cent. When kids have more than $10 in credit they can have a check sent to them (in increments of $5). My kids "earn" about $40-50 a year doing this and enjoy taking the surveys. They have been doing it for about 5-6 years and we have never had any problems with the company. It is a pretty good program--not enough to get rich on, but good for vacation pocket money

 

[CSS1996]

Our trips are usually 10 nights in length and DD & DS get $100 each for the trip. They get it at the beginning of the trip and can spend it how they choose, but once it's gone, it's gone. They are very good with and it and usually come home with money left over.

 

[PebblesMK]

Kidzeyes is an online market research company. Basically the kids sign up for it (and parents have to mail or fax in their consent for the kids to participate) and once in a while a survey gets sent to the kids' email for them to click the link and take it online. You can have it sent to your email address if the kids do not have their own. Parents also get an email letting you know the child got an invite. The surveys tend to be about things like cereals, cartoons (sometimes they have gotten to watch possible episodes of a new series), granola bars and the like. Surveys can take anywhere from about 30 seconds to a half hour. Surveys also get sent to parents and when you answer it your kids get credit. Kids are paid for surveys in "points." Points are at least 50 cents and I have seen as much as 500. 1 point=1 cent. When kids have more than $10 in credit they can have a check sent to them (in increments of $5). My kids "earn" about $40-50 a year doing this and enjoy taking the surveys. They have been doing it for about 5-6 years and we have never had any problems with the company. It is a pretty good program--not enough to get rich on, but good for vacation pocket money

Wow...this sounds like a neat idea as long as it's reputable. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the information!

 

[scrapbookmom5174]

Every summer my kiddos do a summer reading program and get to "work" towards rewards throughout the summer. We would take day trips, a special toy, etc.... This summer my kiddos will be working for Disney Dollars. I haven't figured it out quite yet, but for every 1/2 hour of reading will earn them so much money for the trip. I found the a very creative DISer who made her own disney bucks that I am going to print off for them.

 

[PebblesMK]

Every summer my kiddos do a summer reading program and get to "work" towards rewards throughout the summer. We would take day trips, a special toy, etc.... This summer my kiddos will be working for Disney Dollars. I haven't figured it out quite yet, but for every 1/2 hour of reading will earn them so much money for the trip. I found the a very creative DISer who made her own disney bucks that I am going to print off for them.

I love this reading idea. You should let me know how you record it, or if it's just a regular chart with the book, minutes read, page left off on and stuff like that.

 

[dannewi]

We usually do this for every vacation. I have a paint can that I decorate with scrapbook paper ( you can buy unused cans at a hardware store). We throw our loose change in and whatever ends up in the can gets split up between the two kids.

The kids birthdays are a week after we return home so we are considering giving them the option of picking out a nice item as an early birthday present.

Since I am using the touring plans I plan on setting some expectations regarding gift shops.

 

[KARAJ]

My kids have been to Disneyland twice....My son was the only one really old enough to want anything (3) We thought we would spend like $40.00 for him on a 2 day trip. Ended up only getting each child the Mickey Ears w/name (planned on that ahead of time) and also a crystal mug personalized, which was also planned ahead of time, because my DH and I had them done on our Disneymoon and wanted a full family set. We really only paid for some extra snacks and that was pretty much it. We really did not buy any souviniers. But we purposely did not walk through the shops, and kept the kids really busy.

This next trip will be all of ours first trip to WDW and we are only giving the kids $10 a day for our 7 day trip. They are pretty good about understanding if you wait till tomorrow you can get this instead of this. We will provide food and drinks, and have at least 1 snack on our Dining Plan. We will also pay for other snacks that we stop for as a family but if they wanted one that we were not going to get anyways I may have them pay for it with there special money. We do not pay for balloons or light up thingy's but we do take a couple glow sticks and stuff with us to surprise them with.

But every child is different and so is there family, my 5 yo niece who is going with us will get about $200.00 for her 7 days. So more than double what we will give to ours.