To make DS pay for school trip?

[AtSea1979]

DS wants to go on a school trip in year 8. It's to Europe and it's £700 would you expect your DC to contribute? He's been saving for a Switch console. Should I make him choose? Or do jobs? Or sacrifice Xmas presents and birthday? (Although I'd still end up buying stuff for him to open). Or would you just pay for it all?

Can you afford it?
How many children do you have? Would you be able to do the same thing for them?

I never had to pay towards any trips like that but my parents could afford that as there weren't any other siblings at home.

It would depend on my financial situation but if I could afford it reasonably comfortably I would pay for it all for my DD.

I would pay for it all as it's part of his education, it's not for leisure. Bit baffled as to why you asked tbh. I've never heard of such a thing.

I wouldn't expect my child to pay.

I've said one abroad trip each but dd2s was nearer 500.

Is it a proper school most-are-going or a total extra to school? For the first I'd pay if I could, for the second maybe 50:50 if the child had money?

If you can only afford it with his contribution then YANBU

YWNBU to get him to do extra jobs or use birthday/Christmas money as his trip spending money even if you can comfortably afford it

i would pay for it and have

are you entitled to any help from the school eg reduced rate/low income

Well it could be skiing which is leisure. Depends whether it is curriculum based or just a jolly and how much you would need to give up. Maybe get some jobs done around the house too.

This is part of being a parent - giving your kids opportunities to expand their horizons.

I would encourage my kid to save towards his pocket money but pay for the trip myself.

I had to raise the money for one of my school trips as my parents couldn't afford it. I was a bit older and I did things like washing cars and ironing and some gardening. I was possibly 16 though (yr 11)

I would consider chores as a way of funding it, especially if it is more of a 'fun' trip then a necessary curriculum trip.

if i could comfortably afford it i would just pay for it.
if you cant then its reasonable to discuss it with him

£700 in y8 sounds more like a jolly than educational, so I'd say he couldn't go unless it was something that was a clear passion or something we would never do as a family (eg skiing) or they contribute.

I don't mind forking out for educational stuff but that seems a lot of money for a y8 trip.

It's up to you to fund it not your child.

We funded the school trips. Would not have expected the DS's to pay.

No. You want to make a 12/13 year old pay for his own educational trip? no words really on the bizarre threads that pitch up sometimes on MN.

I'm funding my daughters until she is old enough to contribute, she is currently year 8 and had a USA trip in year 9 at £1400 and a French trip cost yet to be determined. She is saving for spending money herself.

*has

I can't imagine giving him an £800 holiday so it would be a xmas gift or something.

I'd only be paying that sort of money for a school trip if I felt it was of real educational value and not the sort of thing he would otherwise do.

I can't imagine my DC ever having enough money to be asking them to contribute.

Remember he will need spending money too. Could he be responsible for raising that?

When I was 16 I paid for a school trip to Russia. I had a part time job, my parents couldn't afford to pay for it but I wanted to go. It was a "history trip" but I was going more for the fun as were most people. I don't think it's at all unreasonable to make a teenage child contribute to something like this whether through chores, getting a part time job, foregoing certain presents, it is a lot of money and I think it's good to teach them some financial responsibility and that you have to work for what you get.
Depending on when it is op I would be getting him to do jobs around the house empty the bins, wash cars, cut lawn, tidy up etc to "earn" money towards it and set a limit to how much he has to contribute (say half) and how much he "earns" for particular tasks. And also explain he will be getting much more modest presents for Xmas and birthday this year and must save any money he gets at Xmas birthdays for spending money.

Parents should fund school trips as far as I'm concerned. We funded all school trips. I can't believe anyone would expect a child to choose between birthday and Christmas presents to fund this. If you can afford it why would you expect them to fund it?

I'll also need to get him a passport too as it ran out last year. It's round Europe so quite educational but not something we don't already do as a family. He doesn't know anyone going on the trip but still wants to do it. Often when he "really wants" something I suggest he buys it himself and low and behold he's not that bothered about it. I can't comfortably afford £700 but I could make cut backs, I just think DS should make cut backs too such as giving 50% of his pocket money for a few months etc but I see the general consensus is either I pay or he doesn't go.

If you can afford it you pay , if you can't then tell him that and see if he suggests chipping in because he really wants to go . I wouldn't expect a child to contribute if his / her parents could afford it .