Anonymous wrote:We'll have a yard sale next weekend (I know, tacky!) and the kids want to have a lemonade stand.
Are we morally obligated to give it to charity? Do people expect that? Is it tacky if we leave the money jar out by the price list with a sign saying "college savings" or something like that? Or people just give the quarters and walk away?
Sorry I never experienced the whole lemonade stand thing. We the parents are not American. Kids are 3 and 5 and LOVE interacting with people.
Thanks for your honesty.

Make sure it is legal. HOA may not allow.

Anonymous wrote:I think neither a yard sale nor a lemonade stand is tacky. It's weird to me that someone would feel this way. Now, if you sold stuff on your front lawn every weekend, then that's tacky. But once or twice in the summer, totally normal activity.

I agree! OP, you really truly don't need to worry about what is or isn't "tacky!"

My advice, I would NOT put a sign out saying what the money is going towards. I'd roll my eyes if I saw a sign that said "college fund."

Once at a garage sale, a little girl kept saying her bake sale was "for a good cause," (as did her sign), but when somebody asked her about the good cause, she said it was so she could get a pool pass this summer. The little sneak. I'd gladly buy her wares for whatever reason. But I didn't like that she was being purposefully misleading. So if you said it was a "college fund," I'd think to myself "yeah right," and also "buy yourself a toy or something, kid!"

Neither a yardsale nor a lemonade stand are tacky. Have the kids involved in setting everything up and they will learn a huge deal about working for money. Sell at 25 cents a cup and many will give more which will also be a nice experience in modest expectations being superseded for your kids. And yes, your 3 year old is too young to be at the stand without an adult it most likely won't work out - so be ready to hop over there every few minutes or so. The 5 year old should be just fine. Make sure the 5 year old knows how to give out correct change if you don't plan on being next to her!!!

No it's not tacky at all. I think it's cute!

Anonymous wrote:No, I affirmatively think you should not give it to charity. The point of the exercise is for kids to learn about how to operate a business and how to make money. You'd defeat part of the point if they don't get to keep and decide how to invest the money.

Now, you SHOULD recognize that this is a learning exercise for your kids and not charity for them. So no pressuring friends and family to buy the lemonade and no being annoyed at people who walk by without purchasing. But unless you do either of those two things, there's nothing tacky about it.

This. My son just did it at my mom's garage sale. He learned the cost of supplies, labor, making change, and profit.

They also need to know how to make a profit. Give them 10 bucks, let them go to the store and purchase what they'll needowdered mix and paper cups. Poster board/supplies for advertising. (What brand lemonade mix will they buy? What size cup (can't be too small or people will feel cheated, can't be too big or you won't make any money). How will they advertise their stand? What will they charge....

No, I affirmatively think you should not give it to charity. The point of the exercise is for kids to learn about how to operate a business and how to make money. You'd defeat part of the point if they don't get to keep and decide how to invest the money.

Now, you SHOULD recognize that this is a learning exercise for your kids and not charity for them. So no pressuring friends and family to buy the lemonade and no being annoyed at people who walk by without purchasing. But unless you do either of those two things, there's nothing tacky about it.

No, not tacky at all. My kids did that once or twice and got quite a few customers.

I think neither a yard sale nor a lemonade stand is tacky. It's weird to me that someone would feel this way. Now, if you sold stuff on your front lawn every weekend, then that's tacky. But once or twice in the summer, totally normal activity.

Anonymous wrote:Charge a quarter and I bet lots will give more. My husband just gave $5 to a kid doing a lemonade stand the other day and told her to keep the change and she beamed. (We threw out the dixie cup of homemade lemonade when we got out of sight, it was nasty!)

+1. This is what we do - give extra because we admire their pluck and willingness to sit outside in the heat for a couple of bucks. It's cute! Go for it, OP.

Charge a quarter and I bet lots will give more. My husband just gave $5 to a kid doing a lemonade stand the other day and told her to keep the change and she beamed. (We threw out the dixie cup of homemade lemonade when we got out of sight, it was nasty!)

Not tacky! It's abojt the kids

No it's not tacky and you don't have to give to charity. I'd charge more than a quarter though.

You don't have to say what the money is for at all. Just have a sign that says 25 cents and leave it at that. Your 3 yr old might be kinda young though.

We'll have a yard sale next weekend (I know, tacky!) and the kids want to have a lemonade stand.
Are we morally obligated to give it to charity? Do people expect that? Is it tacky if we leave the money jar out by the price list with a sign saying "college savings" or something like that? Or people just give the quarters and walk away?
Sorry I never experienced the whole lemonade stand thing. We the parents are not American. Kids are 3 and 5 and LOVE interacting with people.
Thanks for your honesty.