How do you budget for souvenirs?

[ljv1975]

Just curious how people budget their souvenir spending. I am trying to figure out the best way and how much for each person (DH, DD2 and myself). Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

[adoptionislove]

Unfortunately, I don't. If I see something I or someone I know would like...I buy!!!!

[thrillme]

I guess I really don't. My DS doesn't want a lot of sovineers except "maybe" for a T-shirt. Since he's my only one I limit him to maybe $200 at the lego store (I'll probably divide some of that to get a light saber this year). Me...all I want is a Christmas ornament.

Pictures are my biggest souvineer.

HOWEVER...when we go to Universal my DS LOVES his superheros so I can bank on at least 2-3 T-Shirts, hero clix (if they have them) and perhaps a superhero encylopedia of some sort. It may be a lot to spend but he loves to play Clix every weekend and he LOVES pouring over his superhero encylopedias. My Dad was a big comic book superhero lover so I guess the hobby passes down to both of us.

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

I have to set a budget. If I bought everything I wanted I'd spend more than my house is worth buying collectible pieces.

I'd set a dollar range. On our last trip (10 days) I planned on $100 - 150 for him. He doesn't usually get but a t-shirt and a couple of other items. I planned on $350 - 500 for myself. I on the other hand get several t-shirts to wear, pins, mugs, etc. Also I budgeted $1000 for him to spend on me for Christmas. I like the WDCC pieces so he was getting me some of those.

I found that to be the best way. If you set it for the trip then everyone can spend at their pace.

[positive0negative]

Several trips with the trip home filled with "man..I wish I'd got that.." has taught me to pretty much buy stuff I like when I see it. I passed on a lot of things this time that I know I'd like to have, but I know now I should have just jumped on them.
Luckily my Dad is sweet enough (read = loves any excuse to visit the World) to drive three hours from his house to pick me up some stuff at DTD if I really can't stand it.

[disneymom15]

From the time my daughter was small, we set a limit. We would allow her to take like $75 out of her savings acct. She could also earn extra money for helping Grandma, baby sitting, etc that she could use however she pleased. We always buy her a couple of things from us. She learned early on not to buy the first thing she sees, otherwise her money would be gone 2 days into trip.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

We try and set a general limit for the trip. We also try and think about what we need/want before we go.

Such as, I really want a Mickey sweatshirt this time, we want more stuff for the house, etc. This helps keep us on track when we see all of the "cute" stuff all over the parks.

We do tend to spend more than we intend to, especially since you don't really see the $$ when it is charged to the room key. It's funny, we buy the Dining plan, the packages, all so we can track spending, and this one always messes us up.

Last trip, we spent about $750 on "stuff", not too bad for the 3 of us!

[Polynesian Dweller]

Selected "Don't budget" but then we don't buy many souvenirs regardless of where we go. We tend to like to get a couple of things that act as reminders of the place. I get a shirt or two and a hat each year. WIth that little, budgetting isn't a concern.

[SBETigg]

Budget? What is budget?

[Funforall]

Ours really isn't a specific amount budgeted. We'll walk through most of the stores but not find things that my sons just have to have. If we do buy something it's usually one thing per day and not very expensive. Lego store is the one that hurts us most.

[BronxTigger]

I don't set a budget. However, I've been enough times to have a pretty good idea of some of the things I want before I go, so I make a list of those and add it to my itinerary. Also, when I do see things that I want that I hadn't considered before hand, I think about if I will really use it after I get home, and also about if I would regret it if I didn't get it. I try not to be overcome by impulse buys and that crazy Disney emotion that they must pump into the gift shops.

Overall, I've been happy with the things I've brought home over the last few trips, and I don't feel like I've overspent.

[princessjojo]

I chose budget for the whole trip, but it kinda falls into each of the three choices. We have the boys save up their money, but we also give them some as well. Then we give them the choice of how much of their money they want to take, put it on a gift card or disney dollars, and let them choose when and how to spend it. If they spend it all on the first day, then so be it, it's gone. We try to discourage this, but also try to teach them lessons on how hard it is to come by and how easily it is to lose.

I still have trouble with this...

[biodtl]

As soon as we start planning and book the trip, I start buying Disney dollars anytime I have a few extra bucks to spend.

I also have tell the kids that they can save their money and buy Disney Dollars with them. I don't force them, but they know that whatever they save is what they have to spend. We spend as many DDs as we have, but no more.

[GrmGrninGost]

However you decide to do it, I highly recommend waiting for a few days before purchasing anything but necessities. There is so much to pick from, I'll often see things I like better after I've spent my allotted money! Oh well, then you just have twice as much!

[tinksmom02]

I couldn't vote in the poll, because my budgeting method is to save as much as possible before the trip, and that's my spending money LOL

On our January 07 trip, DD pretty much got whatever she wanted, mainly because Grandma and Grandpa were with us. In September, I severely cut back on my spending (on her, anyway LOL). I also had a pretty detailed list of what I wanted to buy--for me, and for gifts for others. DD also had a list of things she wanted to buy.

Although, I guess that didn't work out too well, seeing as how I had to buy another suitcase the night before we left LOL

[RAIDER]

We have never budgeted as such as we have always had a good idea what people want .Also when we have gone to the USA we tend to get our xmas presents for the following year as well in some cases

[crazy4tink]

Well, for my family, it's really the first two...

For me, I have an allotted amount that I can spend the whole trip and I spend it as I see things that I would like. I also spend some of my allottment on DS. This budget amount is based on how much I have been able to save before we go. I do have an idea of what I will spend before I go, because I know I want a tshirt, and a mug, and a frame, and a... you get the point.

For DS, he gets an allottment that he can spend per day. Last trip he did very well with this and alloted so well that most days he had money left over; then we went to DTD for our last day and he was able to spend his daily allottment, plus the leftovers!

I must admit though... and let me qualify this by saying, I am cheap .... but that being said, I really didn't spend as much on my last trip as I thought I would. I brought home more than half of the money that I had budgeted; even with those little extras, and I really didn't feel like I missed anything or didn't do, because I didn't have. I had a great trip, got a lot of great souvenirs, and brought money home... how cool is that??

[Tink#64]

Well I voted for setting an amount per day/ per park, this is what I do for DS's, but DH & myself get an alottment for the entire trip. We all bring some of our own spending money for more spending power!

I'm weird, for our upcoming trip & our last trip, I made of a list of things that I wanted to get for myself! This years list includes an umbrella, another watch, and a long sleeve Tshirt! I said I was weird! Every year I also add to my kitchenware collection. Last trip I found an adorable clock that matched everything i had! I love my clock!

[TrishaTrish]

As soon as we start planning and book the trip, I start buying Disney dollars anytime I have a few extra bucks to spend.

I also have tell the kids that they can save their money and buy Disney Dollars with them. I don't force them, but they know that whatever they save is what they have to spend. We spend as many DDs as we have, but no more.

what are Disney Dollars? Next week will be our first trip, and I have set the kids(4) on their own budget......just curious what a Disney Dollar is, lol, is it something I need??

[BritCody]

If I like it I buy it, is pretty much what I go by.