Spending Money For Your Kids?

[PatsGirl]

Both of my kids started doing chores when they were about 3 or 4 years old and were paid allowance, starting at $2/week; now my DD8 gets $3/week and my DS15 has a job and doesn't get allowance (although he is still expected to help out around the house and yard). They used to spend their allowance right away, the same day if I'd drive them to the store then I got smart. We went on the DIsney Cruise 3 years ago and to be honest was much more than I should've spent but I did save tons on making them save their own spending $. I didn't have to give them any at all. Now everytime we go on vacation, at least twice a year, I only pay for three meals a day, everything else is on them. It's amazing how the frozen drinks aren't worth $6-7 when they are paying for them, that regular Disney channel beats out PPV movies, and glowsticks are just not a necessity anymore, lol.

Actually, thinking back, our first couple of trips to Disney, when they were both smaller and not responsible for their own spending $, I treated them each to a small wrapped gift under their pillow each night. I bought items from the Dollar Store and Disney Store on sale and was able to get them all those extras they NEED like t-shirts, autograph books, sticker albums, etc.
That was alot of fun and instead of looking for things to buy at the giftshops, they tried to guess what Mickey/Minnie would leave for them in the room.

 

[Tissa]

My son has a piggy bank that he saves his Disney spending money in. Whenever he gets money from relatives or the toothfairy it goes into the bank. I tell him when he gets money he can have a certain percent of it to spend and the rest goes into the bank. Also if he does good in school all week he gets a dollar. (a dollar is a lot to him) it goes into the bank. If he acts up in class I take a dollar away. Whatever he has saved up is what he can spend at Disney. So if he wants to be a smarty pants in class then he can come home from vacation w/out any souvies. He actually has about $30 saved up so far. I do plan on slipping in an extra $20 if he does really well.

 

[tamman]

My kids also get Disney Dollars for Christmas, Birthdays, Valentine's Day and also for allowance. I take the money and add some of my own if needed to make $180.00. I then put $20.00 into 9 envelopes and label the envelopes Monday, Tuesday, etc. Each child gets one envelope per day. If they want something that costs more than $20.00 they have to wait a day or dip into the next day' envelope. I have found that this has worked really well and it has helped both kids (DS 8 and DD 6) manage their money and think twice about expensive purchases.

 

[skiwee1]

My 6 y/o doesn't save for souveniers. I just buy what she wants. She does keep a lot of her birthday and holiday money in a bank in her room. She can take some of that if she wants but it isn't necessary.

 

[CubScoutMom]

We have 3 DS's who will be 13, 11, and 7 years old on our November trip. We have always given the boys a certain amount of money each day on vacation to use for souveniers. Usually $10/day. This has worked very well for us. It cuts the gimmes, and nagging and whining down to nothing. This trip, we are thinking of upping the dollar amount to $20 and having them be responsible for their own snacks and treats as well as souveniers. This will give them added freedom as well as responsibility. When I buy snacks, everyone gets the same. This way, they will have more choices.