[bethishooked]

We really didn't have a limit, cause my boys are not shoppers. (Too busy going on Space Mountain 30 times in a row!!!) But, when they did buy something, I usually ended up carrying it. So....now that they are older, the rule is you buy it, you carry it. That has worked well in that they save the shopping until the last day when we are going specifically out for souveniers.

[inluvwithdisney]

We do contribute, by having a garage sale and give all the money to the 3 kids!!! We also collect all of our change for the year and cash it in right before the trip and we split that between the three of them.. Our oldest babysits ALOT!! She usually has the most but they all end up with $250 or a little more! The Easter bunny brought them each a $50 gift card to disney this year too!!!

[dh464]

My boys don't shop either.They got better things to do with there time.So we save all our shopping untill the last day.But I do have to growing boys that will eat what they weigh in a day.So we limit snack money(10$pd.)So they don't fill up on junk and not have room for dinner.

[DisneyTeacher]

Nate always takes some of his own money and we get him things during our trip but I've noticed he wants less each time we go. He was 5 during his first trip and wanted everything but not so much now. I think he took $50 last year and didn't spend all of it. I think I'll let him take about the same amount this year and see how it goes. We don't limit what he gets but he also doesn't ask for a lot either.

[tinkerbelle24]

Madison is 6 and has been to Disney 4.5 times. yes .5 is when I was preg with her. She always wants wants wants. So this time Im tired of getting her whatever she wants and then she gets home and forgets all about it so she will be using her own money but I will get her 1 special thing I think. I will let ya all know how that goes

[nitaworm]

My kids get a weekly allowance and are expected to save their money to spend on what they like. However, they have been raised to not purchase trinkets at amusement parks or on our trips (we never purchased them items at the parks or in stores growing up). So they rarely if ever, purchase a single thing at the park. We take lots of pictures and scrapbook each trip. They usually use their money to purchase video games or other items for the ride down.

[leslieh]

Wow- I feel like a meanie! My kids get $25 each from me to spend on whatever they want. When it's gone, it's gone. It goes quickly...

[Caseys Corner]

My girls save between 200 and 300 per trip. It dont go far in WDW.

[E&B's Mom]

Originally Posted by Goodegirl2007

I glad I got a chance to read this thread. My DS is 4yrs old this trip, and I think he will really be into having his own spending money for the first time. We've been collecting Disney dollars.

I love the idea of having the first day or so as a "looking only" day. That way he won't buy on impulse. Thanks for all the great tips.

I loved when the kids were little and we did it this way. It really made them think about what they spent their $ on - I think it's a really good lesson. There's nothing cuter than a 5 year old trying to decide if the trinket is worth spending her $ on and then counting the Disney Dollars out one at a time for the CM.

[mairinmaureen]

Originally Posted by Willbegone

So far she has saved $275 dollars and still has 7 months to go!

How wonderful! Kudos to your DD!

I wonder if I could teach DH this saving method. He loves his CDs and comic books!

[smee57]

DS had almost $100 to spend, $50 in Disney dollars and the rest in money he received from his grandma, cousins, and some of his own. He didn't even spend it all. He's still into collecting pins so that's what he focused on just about the whole trip. He also bought a visor because the baseball cap he brought along was too hot. He's not a shopper so we didn't worry about him spending foolishly. I think $135 is a good amount.

[chottsy]

DD will be 5 this trip (in Nov.) she is not a big shopper, we usually spend about $50 for her souvenirs. She usually gets a stuffed animal, autograph book & pen, maybe a nightgown or t-shirt.

since she doesn't really ask for anything. it never had occurred to me to "limit" or "ration" the $ for her things daily.

if it ever comes to it, i think it is a great way to mange.

she will start earning allowance this summer, but not sure about the amount per week, or any specifics yet. i kinda have mixed feelings about it...trying to decide what is our best approach.

anyway..great thread! :C)

[smee57]

This just crossed my mind. We really had to take step back this year and give DS(11) control of his spending money. He did also buy a stuffed tiger from Animal Kingdom. He's always been a collector of stuffed animals. But we really thought he'd outgrown it. There were so many other cool souvenirs in that store, many of which he was interested in. But we wouldn't have chosen the stuffed animal for him. We would have chosen several other things. He was very proud of that tiger! We forget that he's growing up and needs to make many of his own choices.