Spending money for teenagers

[KaChow]

I have a 13 yo and 15 yo. We will be on vacation for 10 days 6 in DLR and 4 in Phoenix. All meals and most snacks will be provided for (if we just had a ice cream and now they want a iced coffee, they can cover that).

So how much would you plan on giving them? I'd like to just get them a visa style gift card where they can keep track of how much they spend.

 

[DizFan13]

The amount is hard to determine. I usually encourage my kids to bring their own allowance Xmas/Bday money, and then we give them $50 each "Disney money" for our typical DLR trips, and it was $100 for our two weeks in Orlando over the summer. We cover all meals, the occasional treats, and usually buy each kid something fun, like a T-shirt, some pins, or another collectable. Their money is Disney money because if they don't use it in the parks, it comes back to Mom and Dad. This prevents them from wheedling us with sweet smiles and extra hugs for one more churro or another ice cream sandwich, all the while planning to buy a new video game when they get home! It's not that they are manipulative or that they try to be sweeter than usual, it just happens on vacation. Of course, it might just be me, but I find that it is very easy to give them more than they need once I am in the parks, so this way we all know how it works up front.

A word about the prepaid Visas; we used to use these for every trip. That way, when the kids were younger, we didn't have to worry about them keeping track of bills and change. What we discovered, however, is that there are some drawbacks. There are fees, the money can "expire," and they are not accepted everywhere. Just as a heads up.

 

[nikkislaght]

Only you can determine how much money you can afford to give your children.

My son (7) has been saving since last Feb,. he now has close to $200.
some in gift cards and some cash... as we are going to other parks..

I would not use the pre paid visa cards as they come with fees.. so therefore you are not getting the full value of the card

I would get them gift cards . from any of the major supermarkets or go into Disney store and get them... they will be the value of the cards..

The receipt you get from the store will give you a balance.. or you can go online to keep track of the balance...

The only places you can't use the cards are on the free standing carts in the parks... all other places will accept the cards.

 

[jakoky]

Hi there, I have always given my kids about 100, but they have been lucky, between their grandpa and their dads boss, they have always been given another 150 for each disney trip! I also have had them save their money ( babysitting, lawn mowing, jobs) and and with that they have brought more spending than me ...( they usually bring way too much money, at least 500 each)...this money is for clothes and whatever they want to buy at disneyland...i only give them the 100 and buy them each a Disney shirt or something, and the rest they bring is savings or whatever

 

[larina]

My kids save money for park use. We get the girls each 2 pins when we go and will spend about $50 a kid towards the end of a trip, when they really know what they want.

At Christmas, we spent more (went a bit nuts, but used lots of discount cards), but they also had a bit of their own money, since we planned from June. My 8 year old had over $200 between savings and holiday money (she had about $80 when we scheduled the trip). My 18 year old, about $150, but she bought gifts for lots of friends, so there went that!

Most important thing is not to get things right away, you could change your mind later. Although, keep your receipts and you can trade things in (even in different stores) if this happens.

 

[KaChow]

I'll be getting the pre-paid visa from my credit union, so there are no fees. It's a great perk of the CU. I really don't want to limit them to just spending it in the parks. They may want to go to the GardenWalk or DTD and do a little mall shopping instead of just Disney stuff. They will have spending money that they will have saved, so they can decide to use it on vacation.

I can afford to give them an outrageous amount, but that's not what I wanted to do. Just looking for a little heads up on how much others have done and how it worked out.

Thanks guys!

 

[KaChow]

Although, keep your receipts and you can trade things in (even in different stores) if this happens.

Thanks, that's good to know!

Looks like I'm about on par, I was thinking $150 for each on the visa. Then they'll also have any money saved up and whatever grandma and grandpa may do for them as well.