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Original poster

To let the kids setup a lemonade stand?

169 replies

Thenonstopcleaner · 20/05/2026 20:38

DS and DD 9 & 7 are begging me to allow them to set up a lemonade stand this weekend. Some little kids on our street were selling their toys the other day just for pocket money and we bought some bits from them. So I am guessing this is where the idea has came from! I have said the only way I will let them do it is if the money goes to charity.
Both not happy about that at all! But that’s the only way.

Im not 100% keen on the idea and I know DH will flat out say no. Is it a bit cruel to say no?They aren’t very confident kids so I think it would be great for them.

(I remember painting nails for 20p out the front at a kid but everyone seemed much kinder back then).

OP posts:
Growlybear83 · 20/05/2026 21:55

Some children have had a lemonade stand next to the shops along our road over the last few weeks and have been a real menace. There is a group of about five children aged from about 7-15, and they accost everyone who walks past, as they go into the shops and when they come out again, and are quite rude to people when they don’t buy a drink. The stall is at a crossroads by a mini roundabout so cars tend to be slowing down when they get to the stall. They have a big sign by the side of the road and at least one of the older children jumps out at every car as it slows down, holding a sign - it’s a wonder that they haven’t been injured. From what I’ve seen sticking out of the bags by the side of their stall, it looks like they're buying the really cheap bottles of lemonade for 85p from Sainsbury’s and selling it in little paper cups for £1 a time. Not surprisingly they don’t seem to get many customers! 😆

Tableforjoan · 20/05/2026 21:54

I’d buy it off the sweet little girl next door. But I also bbq with them and trade fruit and veg for eggs and juice…

HedgehogsOnTheWall · 20/05/2026 21:54

Who the hell is going to buy a drink from random kids on the street?! I wouldn't be encouraging this.

Surgeonsattheedgeoflife · 20/05/2026 21:53

No tax if it’s for charity!

Surgeonsattheedgeoflife · 20/05/2026 21:53

Some kids near us did this last summer. It was very sweet and I bought some lemonade. That was also for charity.

Shmurtle · 20/05/2026 21:52

LifeIsAMeatball · 20/05/2026 21:37

I’m intrigued to know how much you think they are making from cups of lemonade to tip over personal allowance

Show quote history

I was replying to @XDownwiththissortofthingX who seemed to think OP's children would need to register with HMRC otherwise they would be tax dodgers Confused
My point was that they wouldn't be making enough to tip them over their personal allowance - if they were, that would be a much bigger business than what the OP's young children are suggesting!

Butterme · 20/05/2026 21:51

Yes let them!
It sounds a lot of fun for them.

Most people don’t have cash so I doubt they’ll get any customers which will be a shame.

If you’re really friendly with your neighbours then I’d personally give them some change and ask that they use it to buy the lemonade.

likelysuspect · 20/05/2026 21:51

Forgot to say I used to do this with my friends when I was little in the 70s, in South London. So this isnt new for people seemingly baffled by it.

And also selling 'perfume' which was some water, in an old jam jar with squashed up rose petals.

Winewolfhywls · 20/05/2026 21:50

Tableforjoan · 20/05/2026 21:41

Got any grapes.

Show quote history

Nooooo I wanted to be the first one to say this hahaha

likelysuspect · 20/05/2026 21:50

I always buy a small cup of luke warm lemonade with a bit of twig or leaf in it if I see kids selling it from a stand

Best one was last summer, it was very hot, on Lindisfarne.

Tableforjoan · 20/05/2026 21:50

..

duck tales GIF
BoarBrush · 20/05/2026 21:49

My kids did this, with a sign saying they wanted sweets money 😂they were always successful. Let them crack on.

Winewolfhywls · 20/05/2026 21:49

Have you got any grapes?

DefinitelyDana · 20/05/2026 21:47

Aw don’t quash their entrepreneurial spirit!

WonderfulSmith · 20/05/2026 21:46

As said above, it’s only something I’ve seen in Snoopy cartoons.

Bikenutz · 20/05/2026 21:46

I think it’s cute and would buy something just to support them, but it’s probably because I’m old 😂

DoreenSlater · 20/05/2026 21:46

You bought toys from the other kids. They will probably buy a lemonade from your’s.
Maybe a few other people will out of kindness. They would where I live.
Kids love this sort of thing. It will keep them busy.
MN is such a downer sometimes.
And give the money to charity? Why?

Nottopanic · 20/05/2026 21:45

pizzaHeart · 20/05/2026 21:44

I could see the sweet side of this but I would never ever buy it. And I taught DD not to buy things like these either.
Call me boring or whatever, we always took part in cake stalls and fairs at primary but no way I would buy food/ drinks from little children on the side of the road.

Why not? Why would you teach your children not to either? I don’t get it.

Surelythistime · 20/05/2026 21:45

For me the ‘grabby’ aspect lies in it being potentially people you know (neighbours) walking past and feeling obliged.

Nottopanic · 20/05/2026 21:44

I honestly don’t see what could possibly grabby about it. They won’t be pestering or harassing people. Is your local Tesco grabby just for trying to sell things?

pizzaHeart · 20/05/2026 21:44

I could see the sweet side of this but I would never ever buy it. And I taught DD not to buy things like these either.
Call me boring or whatever, we always took part in cake stalls and fairs at primary but no way I would buy food/ drinks from little children on the side of the road.

LifeIsAMeatball · 20/05/2026 21:43

I do think the begging point is very valid. No one likes a hawker whether you are on a weekend in Marrakesh or walking past a couple of sweet village kids.

I was very strict on this rule. I think partly because I grew up in the 80s when slightly threatening youths would hang out by the shop with the worst made Guy Fawkes’ ever begging for a penny for the guy.

But with the right boundaries in place, it can be a very nice summer thing to do that creates lots of happy memories (for children and the ginger beer drinkers!)

icannotlivelaughloveintheseconditions · 20/05/2026 21:43

Why not! Get them some paper cups, ice, lemonade and let them crack on!
I’d say 50% charity 50% to them . Gives them a bit more incentive

Tableforjoan · 20/05/2026 21:41

mamaduckbone · 20/05/2026 21:33

I think it’s quite sweet and entrepreneurial and wouldn’t expect them to give the money to charity, obviously depending on the area you live and with adult supervison.
I now have that stupid duck song stuck in my head though, so for that reason only YABU.

Got any grapes.

To let the kids setup a lemonade stand?
ClayPotaLot · 20/05/2026 21:40

I don't see why you object to them trying to earn a little money. Would be great for them to see how much work is involved, cost up the supplies, chat to people coming over and then, if they do well, enjoy their earnings. I'd front them the cost of some paper cups, lemon and sugar to try that out. Brilliant experience for them.