To let DD take more money on the school trip than the school have allowed?

[welliebootsgalore]

DD is going away for a week in May with her class. They are a smallish class so they are quite a tight group and I know most of the other parents very well. Was chatting to some of my friends at a birthday party yesterday and they have all said they are letting their DCs take £30/40 rather than the allowed £15.

From what I can gather, all of the parents I have spoken to are letting their DCs take a larger amount. AIBU to let her take £40 too? I don't mind giving her more but I feel like it?s going behind the school?s back a bit. And I don?t want to upset those children who aren?t bringing more money. ( Not sure if there will be any but not sure).
I can?t go and say anything at the school as I feel like I would be betraying the other parents. I spoke to one of my friend's about my worries this morning and she just said that because we are paying for them to go to the school that we should let them take whatever money they want.

AIBU to let DD take more money? Sorry for sounding like a real ?goody two shoes? but I just don?t want to upset anyone by doing the wrong thing!

Was just going to add - make sure if she has a PAYG mobile that there's 5 to 10 quid in credit, so she knows there's no need to use any of the cash for that.

40 quid seems too much, and even 30 risks theft or loss. Not wishing to suggest youngsters are all dishonest but 1 in 20 might be tempted, IYSWIM.

Therefore seems reasonable to stick to 15 quid, but if she had a couple of pound coins from pocket money that she took along with her, that's not for your to know about, is it - you've provided her with 3x fivers and as far as you are concerned that's all she has with her.

I remember going on a couple of camping trips when I was a teen living in Sussex. Groups from different 3rd or 4th year classes went in minibuses, one year to Somerset and another year to Dorset.

Each trip I felt I could have used a bit of extra cash - don't remember limits being set but it would have been nice to have been able to afford a spare can of coke or whatever. Only went into towns once or twice during course of week away, as we were visiting tank museum, etc.

I don't agree with encouraging children to break school rules. Stick to £15, which is more than enough for a week's spends at that age. They won't be able to spend it on much other than sweets, fizzy drinks and ice-creams anyway.

It's not buying junk food though necessarily, the odd ice cream, a bit of candy and a soft drink mummy might not allow at home are parts of being out and about as a kid in my books.
And for not being able to get a cab or something, I would be shocked if a nine year old wouldn't know how to do it. Doesn't every child get a piece of paper with the address and name of the youth hostel? So depending on where they go telling a cabbie where to go when lost is a basic skill when being away from home in my opinion.
About the phones, fair enough. I understand that that might not be necessary today anymore as a lot of young children have phones. If so just make sure it's topped up enough!

Not sure which poster said it (sorry!) but I don't think only teens need "emergency" money for cabs and phone calls. Why could a nine year old on a school trip not get lost? I am sure there are some activities where the kids will be allowed to go out themselves (i.e. in small groups).

Oh ok I didn't know that.
It might be different in Germany and the UK so I hadn't realised that that's the case. We did our first school trip with 8 and we were always allowed in groups of three. So having the knowledge of how to get a cap, call for help etc and to have the assurance of extra money was an important part of preparation that my mum had to fulfil!

If they are really never alone (how boring, where is the fun in that kind of school trip?? ) then you can stick with the 15 pounds, not like the kids will need more and/or would be able to spend more with the teachers sharp eyes watching

It depends on the nature of the trip, also. Well, actually, no it doesn't, because if the school recommends a given amount, then that comes from their experience as to what is appropriate. If there's to be lots of wandering around shopping centres (unlikely), then presumably that's factored in. If it's a PGL-type activity centre, there's one small crap souvenir shop, and staff choose a window of opportunity (a narrow one, if they've got any sense!) once during the week. And we're mean and ban them from buying blue drinks and vile-coloured sweets. Who wants to be on duty at night after that little picnic?
Re: hunger. These trips (specially for 9 year olds) are so tightly timetabled, that there aren't going to be opportunities for them to nip in to the chippy (or sweet shop, God forbid) to stock up on food. And in my experience (of numerous trips to a wide variety of centres) there is a huge amount of food on offer, and it's all the type of stuff that kids love. Why would it not be? Kids can eat as much as they like, and if they happen not to like what's there (and even the really particular types often muck in and forget about their "normal" likes/dislikes) they can fill up on bread and fruit. It's not like they're being sent to some Oliver Twist-type orphanage.

A caB of course, not a caP. Although they are needed if it's warm haha

Thank you for all the replies.

I am going to have a word with her teacher after the holidays and let her know what is going on. Then hopefully, as was suggested earlier, the teacher can say something to the class along the lines of 'no-one will be allowed to spend more than £15' so don't bring it etc.

Lots of people said the same thing about what would she buy and you're right - she would only buy crap that she wouldn't really want and was just buying because everyone else was.

I am going to stick to the £15 and hope the other parents do not find out it was me who shopped them to the teacher as I don't think i'd be very welcome in the group anymore!

(btw, I never intended to suggest I wouldn't want my kids buying sweets/ice cream on a school trip - just not £40 worth)

I never meant to direct it to anyone directly if this is in reply to my post), the candy statement was more a general one. I wouldn't want anyone to pay 40 pounds on candy either.

wellie, knowing how the school trip works now I think it's fair enough you won't give her more than 15 pounds. Talk to the teacher but tell her that you don't want this to be traced back to you. I think she would say something in general, not "welliebootsgalore" told me that...." but more a "we have experienced that children often bring more money so I wanted to ephasize that..."

I am sort of wondering how many novelty rubbers and fridge magnets you can buy with £40

IME stick with the buget, the school will probabaly have done a reccy of the retail opportunities anyway.

We lead on an activity camp for 11-15 year olds and set a limit of £15 as there's really not much to buy - one theme park trip, bookshop and a tuckshop. We operate a bank system so kids don't lose their money and it's a real pain when quite a few arrive with £40+ as we end up with thousands (!) in cash in a safe onsite.

Would probably be helpful to send her with some change or 3x £5 notes rather than anything larger too.

My dd is going on a school trip for 5 days in September, when she'll be 10.

The spending money limit is...wait for it.... £1.50, total. Yes, one pound and fifty pence.

The school has done this trip for more than ten years, and this is their experience talking.

The reasoning is that they are going to an activity venter in the middle of nowhere, and the only thing they can spend money on is a vending machine for chocolate, so the £1.50 will be doled out at 50p a day on the middle three days, so they can spend it, if they actually want, during the free time of one hour they'll get just before evening dinner.

They'll be able to eat as much as they want at mealtimes, and this place has a good reputation, and very good cooks, there's a lot of variety.

And for the rest of the day, they'll be with someone at all times, no sneaking off, no mobile phones, just a lot of good, healthy, physical activities. Swimming, archery, biking, high ropes, kayaking, the lot and more.

In fact, I expect dd to come home skinnier, while I also expect she'll be eating like a horse the whole week.

That sounds like a great trip. I wish they would do these camps for adults, I would be the first one in line. Oh to go to camps again sigh

How old is she, I remember going to the lake district and it was a sport/adventure packed stay and we were only allowed £5 for the tuckshop that we bought for that evening after evening meal.

If its like that I would not give extra money tbh, as it will just be sitting in her suit case.

stick to the limit and mention it to the teacher, on my dc year 6 trip the money had to be handed to staff for them to dish out as required.And yes some kids also smuggled phones as well, I'm amazed how stupid some parents can be.But then I have never liked getting told off !!