When we went on a 10 days vacation in September, we allowed our son to take $30 out of the bank plus what he had in his wallet. He had about $45 in total for spending money. We believed for a 5-year-old, that was plenty for where we were going. He was allowed to take up to $5 in quarters for the arcade which was separate but daddy ended up buying the pass so that was added to his spending money. Not to mention his Gaga came along so of course, she spoiled him rotten as per usual. I think he came back home with most of his money because he didn't find much he wanted.
For Disney, I'll probably allow him $100 for the parks in small increments at each park. We buy all meals, most snacks & treats (if he just wasted the treat he asked for & wants another, he is buying. Same if he decides he wants a treat instead of eating the lunch we provide.) so I don't really see any reason for him to have any more than that at 6 years old. However, we might only tell him about $50 so he works at spending it better. Also so it won't be a hassle to put the rest back if he doesn't spend it.
My guy spends his own money at home all the time (& has been calculating tax in his head for about 1 1/2 years - he's six - which still cracks me up when he asks me how much Z X's Y is when he's figuring out if he has enough) so we're always talking about how much things cost & about advertising, etc. My favorites are when we allow him to buy something that we know is junk for the lesson learned. I love it when he realizes "I should NEVER have spent my money on this! That was a waste of $6!". But like you said, we still have a long way to go because he is STILL buying junk at times. We chalk it up to lessons learned at this point.
For Disney, I'll probably allow him $100 for the parks in small increments at each park. We buy all meals, most snacks & treats (if he just wasted the treat he asked for & wants another, he is buying. Same if he decides he wants a treat instead of eating the lunch we provide.) so I don't really see any reason for him to have any more than that at 6 years old. However, we might only tell him about $50 so he works at spending it better. Also so it won't be a hassle to put the rest back if he doesn't spend it.
OT, but a funny story: My younger son is 12. He had a Scout camping trip this past weekend, and stopped at Panera for lunch on the way home. He bought mac and cheese for $8.20, and texted me to ask why we don't eat at Panera. Um, because the mac and cheese is $8.20 for one person! We're a family of 6--we'd go broke eating that on a regular basis! It did lead to a discussion on food costs, and the value of making things yourself. And I don't mind him having the occasional treat, but geez! So, clearly, I still have some work ahead of me here...
My guy spends his own money at home all the time (& has been calculating tax in his head for about 1 1/2 years - he's six - which still cracks me up when he asks me how much Z X's Y is when he's figuring out if he has enough) so we're always talking about how much things cost & about advertising, etc. My favorites are when we allow him to buy something that we know is junk for the lesson learned. I love it when he realizes "I should NEVER have spent my money on this! That was a waste of $6!". But like you said, we still have a long way to go because he is STILL buying junk at times. We chalk it up to lessons learned at this point.