Souvenier Money Per Kid?

[Mommytobree]

Hi! We are traveling in June to Disney with my 5 kids. I am wondering how those of you with multiple children handeled souvenier money?

 

[mjkacmom]

I gave mine $25 gc's, and they mostly bought pins. The last thing I need is to have a bunch of junk times 5!

 

[PatricenPete]

With our kids (ages 4 and 2), we let them pick out 1 thing on our last day of vacation. Last year, my son picked out a $7 car and my daughter got a $20 baby Minnie stuffed animal. Throughout the trip, we had gotten them a few little things here and there (like lollipops or jibbitz for their crocs) and on the last day, we let them pick out whatever they wanted.

Of course, that COULD have blown up in our faces had our son chosen the $100+ train set he had been eyeing in the gift shop....

 

[kristinw3girls]

My 3 are 14,11 & 8 they saved $130 each for our December trip. The all came home with $40 ish. I let them buy anything they wanted, but when it was gone it's gone!It worked out very well. We have doe this for 3 trips now, and there is never any begging, fighting or (most importantly) whining. Kids can certainly take less with the same kind of rules. It's yours, but spend wisely. Have a great trip!

 

[Darcy03231]

My kids (we have four) have always supplied their own spending money. They saved money they got for birthdays, Christmas and chores. Most times they each had about $100. Its amazing how little they spend when its their money. I usually buy each one a t-shirt and a pin and thats it.

I don't assign chores but do have a "Chore Chart" on the fridge listing each chore and the amount paid for it ie - taking out the trash and putting a fresh bag in = $1, setting the table = .50, clearing the table = .50, emptying dishwasher = $.50, raking and bagging leaves = $1 per bag, cleaning bathroom = $5. Its amazing how much gets done the closer the trip gets (and they fight over whose turn it is to clean the bathroom!).

 

[tinkerlisa]

We put 50 on a disney gift card for our older son but also plan on giving him some Disney dollars that he has earned. Last time he had $75 and came home with 30 or 40 of it. I dont want a bunch of stuff coming home with us cuz then I have to find a place to stash it all!

I do have to say at least the souveniers last. We have a stuffed Mickey from 6 years ago and its still in great condition and my youngest sleeps with it and a stuffed Minnie from 3 years ago that still looks new and again my youngest sleeps with it. Also have a light up toy that still works great. I figured my son would get tired of it by now, but both boys love playing with it!

 

[PatricenPete]

I don't assign chores but do have a "Chore Chart" on the fridge listing each chore and the amount paid for it ie - taking out the trash and putting a fresh bag in = $1, setting the table = .50, clearing the table = .50, emptying dishwasher = $.50, raking and bagging leaves = $1 per bag, cleaning bathroom = $5. Its amazing how much gets done the closer the trip gets (and they fight over whose turn it is to clean the bathroom!).

I'm going to do this with my kids!!! What a great idea! Granted, my kids are only 4 and 2, but I think it will be fun to let them earn some of their own money prior to our trip!

 

[disneynuts777]

My kids (we have four) have always supplied their own spending money. They saved money they got for birthdays, Christmas and chores. Most times they each had about $100. Its amazing how little they spend when its their money. I usually buy each one a t-shirt and a pin and thats it.

I don't assign chores but do have a "Chore Chart" on the fridge listing each chore and the amount paid for it ie - taking out the trash and putting a fresh bag in = $1, setting the table = .50, clearing the table = .50, emptying dishwasher = $.50, raking and bagging leaves = $1 per bag, cleaning bathroom = $5. Its amazing how much gets done the closer the trip gets (and they fight over whose turn it is to clean the bathroom!).

I do the exact same thing!!! It is amazing how little they want to spend when it is there own money
Our poor dog before the last trip was walked so many times that I thought his little legs would fall off
I have since amended the list to say walking the dog max 2x a day!!!

 

[tinkerlisa]

My kids (we have four) have always supplied their own spending money. They saved money they got for birthdays, Christmas and chores. Most times they each had about $100. Its amazing how little they spend when its their money. I usually buy each one a t-shirt and a pin and thats it.

I don't assign chores but do have a "Chore Chart" on the fridge listing each chore and the amount paid for it ie - taking out the trash and putting a fresh bag in = $1, setting the table = .50, clearing the table = .50, emptying dishwasher = $.50, raking and bagging leaves = $1 per bag, cleaning bathroom = $5. Its amazing how much gets done the closer the trip gets (and they fight over whose turn it is to clean the bathroom!).

Hey thats a great idea! My son has chores but seems to slack when doing them. I dont put any pressure on him, but if he doesn't do them he gets no money but it seems that he doesn't care because Dad will give him allowance even if I say he hasn't done anything. he learns nothing that way! I like the idea of a chore chart!

 

[mom2prettyprincess]

I don't assign chores but do have a "Chore Chart" on the fridge listing each chore and the amount paid for it ie - taking out the trash and putting a fresh bag in = $1, setting the table = .50, clearing the table = .50, emptying dishwasher = $.50, raking and bagging leaves = $1 per bag, cleaning bathroom = $5. Its amazing how much gets done the closer the trip gets (and they fight over whose turn it is to clean the bathroom!).

I think this is a amazing idea. I only have 1 and all the change we have we put in her piggy bank and thought of using that as her spending money. But now we will be there on her birthday and she gets a GC for the what will you celebrate theme.

The chore chart is great! I may have to make one of those up soon. thanks!

 

[Mommytobree]

I like the idea of the chore chart-that is GREAT! I think I'll do that!


How did you decide what is a souvenier for "them" and what is something you purchased for them? My youngest son is without a doubt going to want to do build-a-dino after we eat at T-Rex. Of course, everyone else probably will too, unless I tell them that if they choose to make a Dino it comes out of their money. I think I may do $50 each from Mom and Dad, and let them earn additional money by doing chores before the trip.

 

[Darcy03231]

I like the idea of the chore chart-that is GREAT! I think I'll do that!

How did you decide what is a souvenier for "them" and what is something you purchased for them? My youngest son is without a doubt going to want to do build-a-dino after we eat at T-Rex. Of course, everyone else probably will too, unless I tell them that if they choose to make a Dino it comes out of their money. I think I may do $50 each from Mom and Dad, and let them earn additional money by doing chores before the trip.

My kids know every year I will buy them a t-shirt and a trading pin. Other than that anything they want is bought with their money. You could do the same thing with the dinos. Mom and Dad will buy the Dino and after that anything they want comes out of their money.

While I'd love to I can't take credit for the "Chore Chart". It was something I read years ago in a magazine (most likely at a Dr.'s office). I never believed in giving an allowance just for the sake of giving them money and assigning chores just never seemed to work and most of the time I'd end up doing them anyway. I found that this method really worked for us. If the kids wanted money for something they found chores to do off the chart. If they wanted to go to the movies they did enough chores to earn the money. If they wanted to buy something at the store they did enough chores to earn the money. I also found they did a better job if they got to pick their own chore and chose the time to do it (plus I won't pay if the don't do it right - all chores are subject to inspection by Mom). I have to say I never thought the day would come when my children would fight over cleaning the bathroom!!!

I found that listing the chores, the days they needed to be done with a check box for doing it worked the best. I use a magnetic dry erase board. Some chores are daily and some are weekly. When a child checks off the chore they put their initials next to it. If its a weekly chore thats it for the week (dusting, vacuuming, washing floors, bathroom cleaning, etc.). Some are daily (setting and clearing the table at dinner, loading and unloading the dishwasher), some are as needed (trash), and some are seasonal (mowing the grass, snowblowing the driveway, yard cleanup). I used this system to keep my bathroom from being cleaned four times in the same day (or like the PP whose dog got walked constantly).

 

[SCHBR'smom]

We have been doing the chore chart for awhile now, too. We, however, dont' pay as well. Most things are more like a quarter. But, we have age appropriate chores as well, when my middle DD was 3, one of the chores she could do was open and shut the blinds for us and we wouldn't let the older ones do that. It was an easier way for her to make money. But then, the higher dollar chores (vacuuming, dishes, etc) were reserved for the older ones who could make money quicker by doing bigger chores. We also have a general help catagory, if they have been particularly helpful. Works great for the 21 mo old, sometimes she'll take her diapers and the new baby's and throw them away for me. Not a big deal, but helpful, especially for a 1 yr old.
We'll buy them each a clothing item (shirt, hat, etc) and a small souvenir (ie, no trains or castles). Anything else they want, they buy.

 

[Steph9072]

Our last trip for our dd and dss we told them we would buy them both Mickey ears if they want it, a souvenier up to $30 & a t-shirt.

We also told them that if they wanted to spend more they would have to either earn their own money or save Birthday money. They actually asked for Disney $$ for Birthday and Christmas. This is actually when we started allowances for the older kids. On top of what we spent both of the older kids had earned and saved from gifts almost $100 each

Even though ds was just shy of 3 we did the same with we bought him Mickey ears (or Stitch ears), a t-shirt and a Stitch toy. Sam had been given about $50 in Disney $

HTH

 

[Micka Mouse]

My kids (we have four) have always supplied their own spending money. They saved money they got for birthdays, Christmas and chores. Most times they each had about $100. Its amazing how little they spend when its their money. I usually buy each one a t-shirt and a pin and thats it.

I don't assign chores but do have a "Chore Chart" on the fridge listing each chore and the amount paid for it ie - taking out the trash and putting a fresh bag in = $1, setting the table = .50, clearing the table = .50, emptying dishwasher = $.50, raking and bagging leaves = $1 per bag, cleaning bathroom = $5. Its amazing how much gets done the closer the trip gets (and they fight over whose turn it is to clean the bathroom!).

I loooove this idea!!!!!!!!