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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think 200 Euro is too much?

43 replies

waffilyversati1e · 22/04/2015 09:01

My son is 14 and is off to Germany on a school trip for 5 days in June. They will be visiting a theme park, spending the day at a museum and going to visit some caves as well as other bits and bobs.

We were talking last night about how much money I should be giving him and my Mum piped up that 200 euros would be a fair amount.
We aren't a massively well off family and I just think 40euros a day is a bit excessive (all of his meals and entrance fees were included in the £350 cost of the school trip)

AIBU to think that with this in mind 10euro or maybe at a massive push 20euro would be enough?!

OP posts:

SquiddlyDiddlyDoo · 22/04/2015 12:28

I would send him with 15 - 20 euros a day so 75-100 overall - you don't want to stop him getting something that everyone else is getting on a spontaneous whim, but equally you don't want to give him too much.

Maybe suggest to him that whatever he brings home in change can be used for a treat (if you pick something you would have done anyway (but don't tell him that) then you don't lose anything).

I find it quite funny that some posters think that all they will ever get there is an ice cream and one drink a day. Let's be realistic here... they will get (i) a couple of drinks a day, plus (ii) a couple of snacks (there are soooo many chocolatey and sweet snacks to be had on these trips round tourist central areas), plus (iii) general tat souvenirs like pencils and rubbers to show where they have been.

SquiddlyDiddlyDoo · 22/04/2015 12:31

Also, just to add to this, in my experience, you often get kids wanting to buy a whole meal each day because what they have been provided with is either not to their liking or (especially in the case of teenage boys) not always enough on these trips.

squoosh · 22/04/2015 12:32

20 euro a day sounds reasonable to me. A tenner seems slightly too little.

123Jump · 22/04/2015 12:34

Doesn't he have any of his own money?
My DSs are 10 and 8 and they bring their own Euros to spend on holiday, for any tat they want. We get ice creams & drinks etc.
I think €200 is fair enough, but I would split it with my DS.
They are so much more willing to spend my money than their own!

Floralnomad · 22/04/2015 12:35

I would budget at least 20 per day plus 20 extra ,so 120 for the 5 days .

NeedABumChange · 22/04/2015 12:47

€100 to spend and give him another €50 for emergencies that you expect back.

SoonToBeMrsB · 22/04/2015 12:49

I went to France with my school when I was 15 and they told us no more than 20 euro a day.

AwakeCantSleep · 22/04/2015 12:50

Outing myself as a German here. I can't see what your son would need 40 Euro/day for on an all expenses included trip to Germany. Even if he was to buy two drinks, ice cream, and some more food/snacks every day he should get change out of 10 Euro a day.

So if you send him with 100 Euro you are certainly more than accommodating any snack/postcard/pencil purchases. Really 50 Euro would do for snacking etc., so maybe he can take 50 Euro of his own money and 50 Euro of your money.

SpringBreaker · 22/04/2015 12:56

"My 14 year old cousin came to visit my family for a week last xmas from abroad and my uncle sent him with €10000"

please tell me thats a typo!!

TeenAndTween · 22/04/2015 12:58

I do think that part of the point of a school trip abroad is to practice speaking the language, and as such transactions in shops is part of the learning experience.

I would send with 100E - but saying you are expecting no more than 10E per day on snacks, fripperies, but the extra is there if needed.

poshfrock · 22/04/2015 12:59

My son went to France last summer on a 10 day watersports holiday. School said no more than 10 per day to be taken as spending money. So he was duly given 100 which he spent on drinks, ice creams, fake tattoos and an illegal airgun purchased in a back alley for 12. I think 10 per day is plenty.

Artandco · 22/04/2015 13:02

I would say 20 euros. Then if he hates food offered can at least buy something out

Superexcited · 22/04/2015 13:09

I agree with many others; 20 euros a day.
20 euros is not enough to last 5 days as that would be only 4 euros a day which is how many pounds, £3? I know my primary aged child would need more than that just to spend on snacks and bits and bobs.

TheRealMaryMillington · 22/04/2015 13:09

poshfrock that made me laugh

i would get guidance from school. if school have no guidance () I would strongly suggest to them that they get some.

i would have thought 5- 10 per day to cover expenses. a spare 20 for emergencies. and whatever his grandmother can chip in given that she's raised his expectations. and whatever of his own pocket money/savings he would like to take

SpiritOfTheRitz · 22/04/2015 13:24

Lol, Squiddly fair enough. I don't have teenagers.
I would still give enough to cover one ice cream and one or two drinks, and expect my child to cover any purchase of tat/souvenirs/unnecessary meals etc out of their own money.

Peepants78 · 22/04/2015 13:38

Sounds obvious, but have you spoken to the school? They may have a limit on this.
My dd spent a week in Germany on an exchange last year. Her school suggested around 50 euros, but no more than 100 (she had 8 days away)
She took 65 and came home with 20. Thankfully we thought to send her with some £'s too as she was able to eat whilst travelling down!

hidingfromthem · 22/04/2015 13:46

€100 overall is plenty.
at your mum. tell her to put her money where her mouth is.

ConfusedInBath · 22/04/2015 13:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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