Don't invite 7 kids if you can't afford to feed them OP. Only invite 2. It's embarrassing you invited them all then thinking about how to recoup some of your costs for food!

And yes you are well off.

OP is thinking about this as asking the parents. The kid should be asking his friends to bring something. I host in the summers and I love it when my friend makes her delicious dinners, but I would never accept her money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s tacky to ask. If it were just one or two friends, it would be. But seven 17 year olds for five nights? That’s a lot of food.

Then don't invite 7!

I don’t know, it sounds more like 8 kids are lucky to have a free beach house to use for their own trip. Not so much that they’re invited guests of the OP. (Even though she worded it that way. I have a 17 year old and that’s how I’d see it.)

Nope. You don't get to play dumb. If you didn't want 7 teenagers there, you should have told your 17 year old not to invite them.

PP here. My 17 year old was invited to a friend’s parents’ beach house with 8 other girls last summer specifically to celebrate the host child’s birthday. Would have been tacky in that instance to ask for money, in my opinion. They covered everything.

This summer, my teen is going to the beach with the exact same group of girls to a different family’s beach house to celebrate high school graduation. It’s a group trip and they’re all incredibly lucky to have a house to use. I will of course insist on contributing money towards meals, but I wouldn’t be offended in the least if the parents asked first. They’re doing the kids a favor.

Yes, it’s rude to ask for money. But it would also be rude for the parents to not send money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is tacky to ask.

Here's what I would do: Keep your meals simple and basic. Know that they will probably go out A LOT. (My kids are this age and it drives me crazy, but this is what they do.)

At least a few of the families will probably ask you if they can send something. Say yes. Suggest snacks, or a case of water, or a couple of boxes of cereal. Protein bars.

They go out a lot as you allow it and pay for it. Mine don't go out that much. Do a taco night, spaghetti night, Mac and cheese night, baked potato night, cereal, eggs, pancakes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch.

They all have jobs, sis ... AND we have many nice dinners at home as well.

Anonymous wrote:BTDT. These comments are ridiculous. 7 teens is a lot. This is a very different scenario than inviting one friend. If someone has a beach house, they are going to end up hosting a lot and never have it reciprocated.

However, I would have your son ask his friends to bring money and send them all on a grocery run together when there. This is also nice bc they get to pick out snacks or drinks they like. If theY want or need to have parents reimburse them they can ask. That way you aren’t the one requesting $ from parents. I have a beach house and I’ve done it this way and then had parents reaching out asking to Venmo me directly.

funny i read it as OP invited all 7. Does she not have control over who comes to the beach house?

I think it's tacky but I also think it's equally tacky if none of the parents send you money to cover some of the food expense. Teenage boys eat a lot!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s tacky to ask. If it were just one or two friends, it would be. But seven 17 year olds for five nights? That’s a lot of food.

Then don't invite 7!

+100 this is my thought exactly. Very tacky. PP wants her son to be Mr. Popular obviously so is allowing a crazy amount of kids, but then wants to ask for money?! Tacky AF.

BTDT. These comments are ridiculous. 7 teens is a lot. This is a very different scenario than inviting one friend. If someone has a beach house, they are going to end up hosting a lot and never have it reciprocated.

However, I would have your son ask his friends to bring money and send them all on a grocery run together when there. This is also nice bc they get to pick out snacks or drinks they like. If theY want or need to have parents reimburse them they can ask. That way you aren’t the one requesting $ from parents. I have a beach house and I’ve done it this way and then had parents reaching out asking to Venmo me directly.

Anonymous wrote:I would just remind the parents that their kids should bring things like sunscreen, money for when they grab lunch out or go shopping, pack snacks that they particularly like and want to share with the other kids, etc.

I think this is the way to go. I think you could write it up based on past experience, here are things the kids should think about as they’re packing and then you can cover what is included and what they need to bring. Especially if anyone hasn’t been there before. So things like:

The house is stocked with beach towels, linens, beach chairs, (or whatever is there). There is/isn’t a washer/dryer available. We’ll have breakfast and basic lunch foods in the house, and plan to grill or make simple dinners 2 or 3 nights.

Please be sure your teen packs: bathing suits, sunscreen, money for eating out or other activities, etc. If there are specific food items they would like to have available, please send them along.

We welcome contributions of snacks, drinks, etc. as you can imagine, it’s hard to keep the kitchen stocked with seven teenage boys!

I grew up in a big family so cooking for 10 is almost a regular night. For family vacations, we would do things like cereal, breakfast for dinner, taco night, spaghetti, pizza as others have suggested. I think it is crazy that 7 kids could assume they are going to your beach house for 5 days (and maybe some other weekends)and not contribute. Maybe you could do a sign up genius? Ask for things like paper plates, bulk snacks, boxes of spaghetti if you aren't picky? Or ask your son how they plan to handle food - if he thinks they are eating out all the time, no need to plan. Or if he thinks lunch and dinner are at home every day, he is old enough to come up with some ideas.

I wouldn't judge you if you asked, OP! And I probably wouldn't think to offer either, but now I've read this thread, I might remember for next time

However, all that being said, I don't think I could bring myself to ask for money as a host.

I would say no to asking for money.

I would tell the parents to send their kids with money if they want snacks or ice cream out.

Anonymous wrote:OP and her husband are graciously hosting. No parent would blink twice at this request. I would keep it $100 and under. Just enough to offset things. I promise parents are thrilled you are willing to take this on. Godspeed, and have fun!

For what, that’s still a money grab.

OP asking for money is beyond tacky. I feel that if you are rich enough to have a beach house then you are rich enough to buy food in bulk from Costco. Also, ugh, ugh, ugh!! How will you ask for money? So low class.

DH and I would cover it and have done for many occasions. No problem. (BTW - I think feeding people is still super inexpensive in the US, if you can buy in bulk, know how to cook, or visit ethnic stores etc.)

BUT
- it is a-ok for you to have rules of living in your beach house for all guests (in your absence), which includes leaving the place as you found it - cleaning up, taking trash out, not letting food/fruit on the counters, stripping the beds etc. Also, they should do a check before they leave to prevent fire, plumbing, pest or safety issues. Check the stove, faucets, windows, doors, locks, plugged in appliances etc.

- It is a-ok for your kid and his friends to agree on what beverages, breakfast foods, snacks. frozen food they would like, and go and buy it all together and divvy up the cost.

- Your kids and their friends need menus that they can agree on, and at least some meals that they can put together.