PSA: when sending your kid with another parent to do an activity, please send more than $20.

[Anonymous]

$20 is not enough for a water park, amusement park, or even the zoo.

If you're afraid your kid might lose the money, just ask the parent to hold most of it for the kid.

Food and drinks are astronomical right now. Even if your kid brings a reusable bottle, $20 is not enough.

[Anonymous]

If you can't afford to pay for the friend don't invite him along.

[Anonymous]

We usually pay for the other kid anyway. But I also agree with you. Emergency funds are important.

[Anonymous]

Very seriously, thanks for this. I hadn’t thought about it, even though I know it’s true a day with my kid would cost a lot more, you just sorta get anchored at one pocket money amount.

[Anonymous]

I can’t imagine not paying for the friend. Why invite along another kid if you’re going to nickel and dime things? It may be that the trip is out of the friend’s family budget but if I invite the friend, I’m paying. Any $$ they send along can be for extras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can't afford to pay for the friend don't invite him along.

Yrs...you invite you pay. Parents c are sending extra cash only.

[Anonymous]

If you are inviting someone why aren’t you being clear on the amount needed? Just tell them what you expect. I take kids with us all the time and my kids get invited places. This just isn’t hard. Not everyone has experience with places others take their kids.

[Anonymous]

Now you know that next time you need to clearly state the expectations for an outing.

Easy to do over text-- Hey there! Just a reminder we'll pick up X at 9. If you send along $40, that should cover food and a couple games.

Maybe your invitation implied you were covering the costs and the $20 was just extra spending money if the kid wanted some candy or light-up crap.

[Anonymous]

I do not expect a minor to bring money, unless my kids and their friends are old enough to go by themselves.

But it's always nice for the parent of the guest to offer.

[Anonymous]

I would never expect my guest to pay for anything.

If you aren’t prepared to treat, make that clear ahead of time and you and the parent can discuss whether they will Venmo you back, have you hold the money, etc.

[Anonymous]

DD had a friend who I watched once a week all summer. Her mother gave her money and the little girl just kept it. Was hard not to get annoyed.

[Anonymous]

I would never let a kid pay if I was taking the kid out for an activity. I would expect to pay for his food and activity.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. Please be clear with the other parents about your plans and don't assume they know what you're thinking. We are the types who will look up the actual cost of the activity, and pack a bunch of reusable water bottles with ice water and snacks/sandwiches, because we don't have a massive budget and usually try to avoid buying the very expensive food and water at these places. If your outing is going to cost $50 because you want to live it up and not worry that a bottle of water is $5, I'll cringe and cough it up if you tell me, but dont be annoyed with me that I didn't read your mind if you didn't say your expectations out loud.

[Anonymous]

Stop using the term PSA when it’s really just your cheap ass spouting off about something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop using the term PSA when it’s really just your cheap ass spouting off about something.

+1

What are you talking about OP? If you invite a child to the zoo, pay for their stuff.

Also who uses cash?!?