Spending money

[KimKamMom]

Well, we're four weeks away from our trip.
I will begin have my DDs earn their "Disney Dollars" tomorrow.
DH and I both work full time. The mornings are tough. I have parent teacher conferences this week. My girls will earn "Disney Dollars" for each morning that I am on time for work. They can also earn them for extra help around the house.
I know I would be spending the money anyway, but this let them decide how much they can earn, and lets them set the limit. If they don't have enough for something...it's their problem.

 

[hvivona]

We started about a month ago having the kids do chores to save up for our May trip. I think its a great way to tach them money managment.

 

[loopner67]

A phenomenal thing happens when kids have their own money to spend - they become frugal!

We did this last year and it worked so well with my boys. They knew they only had X amount of money to spend. What happened, though, was our little guy spend all his money and knew he was out of cash. So every shop we went by, he'd ask his older brother if he needed to stop and buy something. LOL! He wanted to help spend his money, too!

Because of this, I think we're going to budget out their money for the week. Some at the beginning of the trip, some in the middle, then some at the end.

 

[MommaTinkerbell]

Yes, we are on board with the same idea!! My DD9 has received Disney Dollars for Christmas this year and I have "bought" Disney $1 to give as allowance for extra chores..ex. cleaning bathroom(extra$1 for tub duty) and taking out and picking up trash cans. She was excited about them for about 2 weeks but has since lost interest. I think when our trip gets closer...reality will hit her again and the race will be on to earn those Disney Dollars before departure day.

 

[alexy]

Because of this, I think we're going to budget out their money for the week. Some at the beginning of the trip, some in the middle, then some at the end.

We also have our two kids do extra chores leading up to the trip. We then also help them make the mony last for the entire trip by giving them an envelope every morning with a portion of their spending money. They can either spend it all that day or save up for something larger. At the end of the trip we then surprised them by adding to their left over funds to buy them something really special.

Last trip my then 6 year old DD once used her day's allowance for a very special purchase. . . She rented herself a stroller for the day because she was tired of walking. I offered to push for the day because she so carefully considered what was most important and how to spend her hard earned money!

 

[dsnymomof4]

Last trip my then 6 year old DD once used her day's allowance for a very special purchase. . . She rented herself a stroller for the day because she was tired of walking. I offered to push for the day because she so carefully considered what was most important and how to spend her hard earned money!

That's so funny! I guess she was really tired. I could totally picture my DD6 doing the same thing! We have certain relatives who always give the kids Disney Dollars for birthdays, holidays, etc. (they know they'll get used since we always seem to have a trip in the making). I also started last month, using chores as incentive for earning spending money. I like the idea of rewarding the kids for making it to work on time!

 

[DiznEeyore]

It always cracks me up (and frankly, makes me a little jealous!) to hear about kids that become frugal when they have their own money ... mine just spends all his and begs for more, LOL!!

 

[drivencrazy]

My girls 12 and 9 have some $$ saved up from b-days and Christmas that is for the trip so when I suggest they can do this or that for more Disney money they are like "I think I have enough already..." I guess it's better that an out right NO! Wish they were more into saving more for Disney it would help me out some!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Each of my DD's had $100 even for our last trip in Aug 06. Some of it was saved Bday money, chore/odd job money, and then I made up the difference to $100 each so that they were on a level playing field. Older DD14 thinks younger DD11 gets more. So I decided an even amount for each would work best for our family. Well, when they would ask for something, I would say "Where's your spending money?" Older DD14 would produce it, if she decided she really wanted it. Younger DD11 was a horder. She didn't hardly spend $35 and almost $20 of that was on sovies for best girlfriends. Older DD14 spent about $80 I think. Trip before this in Dec 05, I bought their stuff and I KNOW I SPENT MORE THAN $115 on sovies and extras just for them! Guess I learned my lesson!