spending money

[eeyorefanuk]

Me again - sorry! Can you tell the holiday is getting closer

Right we are going for three weeks, on the free disney dining plan. We have booked and paid for all our tickets. We have a car on hire. We will probably eat out once for breakfast and once for dinner per week (just for a change but nowhere posh).

We cannot decide how much spending money we need to take for the two of us.

We are not big shoppers as in going over there to buy lots of named items etc, if anything it will be souveneirs of t shirts, ornaments, etc of disney, universal, sea world etc.

We have a credit card.

I really do not know how much money to take.

Also thinking of doing some dollars and some travel card through first choice.

Any thoughts, tips or advice would be appreciated.

 

[2Tiggies]

It's really hard to tell someone else how much money they will need as we are all so different that it's kind of like telling someone what colour shirt to wear.

You have the free dining plan so your food is covered. Food is your single biggest outlay and would have knocked you back some serious cash over three weeks if you were paying OOP. Add to that the fact that you are spending some time off property, you will have plenty credits to see you through onsite. You will obviously need to budget for those offsite meals too. I know you were checking out prices for Universal etc so you should have a rough idea.

Even if you aren't big shoppers, there are all those hidden costs. For example (I think your kids are older so this is just an example of things I have encountered) DD would spot hair braiding or those tattoo transfers, or a build your own mug or something. Not big outlays, but it adds up over a few weeks. I gave her her own spending money last year and it worked really well (I kept the actual money and we kept a log together so she could see what she was buying). Even better if your kids are older and understand budgeting a bit.

Tips: YOu have probably have this all worked out already but I like to have a separate budget for it plus some extra just in case and keep it separate to my spending money (less strain on the brain )

I can give you an example of my spending allowance for one adult and an 8 year old: $150 per day (we have dining inlcuded too). However I have a habit of overbudgeting so I don't have to think about money while I am there - I do that in between trips so that I can have a trip!

Sorry, probably not much help - it is easier to get this kind of input from someone who knows you quite well - and we haven't met for a glass of wine yet

 

[orangetiggs]

we take around £1000 for 2 weeks but we shop alot

we also take a fairfx perpaid card and might be worth looking into as its normally a better rate than the high street

 

[scojos]

if it helps (which it probably wont)
we are taking $50 a day for ddp (budget $30 tips and $20 for silly things the kids want
have $100 for refillable mugs and $100 for gardengrocer (water, cereals, longlife milk (im allergic to other types of milk)
for the last 6 days (when we ll be shopping and in a villa so we ll need to buy food too) we have budgeted $1000.
we always take to much, going easy this time...
tht
tracy

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Sorry, probably not much help - it is easier to get this kind of input from someone who knows you quite well - and we haven't met for a glass of wine yet

Oh thanks for your info - I know it really is a stupid question to ask - we are going around and around trying to sort out how much to take. With the children we have decided to change money for them but not give it all to them - they are crafty monkeys - normally there are six adults who go, who buy for them, they come home with lots of goodies and their spending money still intact to change and keep on the return We priced up universal fast passes and it was cheaper to spend a night there to get two days passes, than just pay for two lots of fast passes We are thinking of doing all day dining at Bush Gardens, and probably book that before we go. Thanks again I cannot believe who quickly the time is going now. This year has gone so fast.

 

[2Tiggies]

Just a point to note, your question is one of the most commonly asked - so not stupid at all. It's just that it's very relative. How old are your kids? I know you are also often on the DISigns board. I am trying to remember who had Disney Money on their shared folders. I actually used some (not those ones, just made my own) like vouchers. So it wasn't a big deal if it got lost but I made her treat it as real, i.e. didn't tell her that it didn't matter if it was lost etc. I had DD keep them in the room safe with my money and when we took some out before we went out, she got to keep hers on her so she could see how she was spending. When she bought something she traded me the appropriate play note for a real one and paid. I then kept the change separately for her in case she wanted anything else small that day. It is amazing how she put thought into buying things. Several times she asked me to note the name of the shop she was in so we could go back on our way out of the park and she could decide if she really wanted whatever it was. IMO kids are the next outlay to food expenses - if they don't actually come first in terms of cost . If you can help make them accountable for their own cash there is less pressure and honestly, my 7 year old didn't nag me once (nothing like winging and nagging to wear you down )

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Forgot to say, we are going to pay the tips by credit card - since 8 of us will be quite costly.

One is 15 and one is 12 (niece and nephew) - since it is their first time and probably only time (sister, single mum) I want them to have what they like (within reason). They are both good kids and would not go mad (fingers crossed).

Thanks for all your help and advice

 

[scojos]

.

One is 15 and one is 12 (niece and nephew) - since it is their first time and probably only time (sister, single mum) I want them to have what they like (within reason). They are both good kids and would not go mad (fingers crossed).

Thanks for all your help and advice

what a lovely aunt you are, have you considered pre buying what you need for the, and having delivered to your room, pins can be brought in bundles from ebay if you think that is something they dlike , as can lanyards.
you could have a package done (betsy does them) that might help with your budget

Lee, i love the idea of printing fake money, i might do that for my 3

 

[joolz1910]

I'm reading this with interest. I always give my kids their own spending money on holidays and days out. It amazes me how tight they are with their money, yet they will spend my money very easily. I have watched my eldest DD think very carefully over whether to spend 25p on a tombola when she was spending her own cash!

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm reading this with interest. It amazes me how tight they are with their money, yet they will spend my money very easily.

Well I must admit, given half the chance, I would be the same

 

[mollies_mum]

I'm reading this with interest. I always give my kids their own spending money on holidays and days out. It amazes me how tight they are with their money, yet they will spend my money very easily. I have watched my eldest DD think very carefully over whether to spend 25p on a tombola when she was spending her own cash!

I thought it was only my DD that was like this

 

[eeyorefanuk]

what a lovely aunt you are, have you considered pre buying what you need for the, and having delivered to your room, pins can be brought in bundles from ebay if you think that is something they dlike , as can lanyards.
you could have a package done (betsy does them) that might help with your budget

Lee, i love the idea of printing fake money, i might do that for my 3

I always consider myself the lucky one to have them We were looking to have something put in the room, but thinking about it, wondering whether it will be worth it. Not money wise, but whether they would have time to "look at it". They used to do pin trading at disneyland paris but when we went last year did not bother - What could they use their lanyard for??

 

[eeyorefanuk]

sorry do not know how to double quote - think your remarks on the kids being tight with their own money is sooooooooooooo funny .

My niece when younger used to make me laugh, say in the supermarket, she used to come up to me and say - I love this (say mag), but I love this (say sweets) - I do not know what to buy - she always knew I would say "have both"

 

[martinrmn]

We are the same, always unsure how much to take. I try and change about £400-500 in cash which will cover parking, tips etc. In addition I take a Post Office cedit card which does not charge for use abroad. I used to have a Nationwide card but they now charge for using abroad. My wife and I also take a spare credit card, just in case and some sterling cash, about £100.00 for our return. There are 3 of us with our 9 year old son John. To be fair we always bring cash back which we use the next time we go.

We now try and stay onsite for 1 week with the Disney dining plan which does save money. As a family we do spend a lot but then we shop for the clothes bargains as well.

Hope that helps.