Daughter going on holiday with her friend

Loopy_Lobes

my 11 year old daughter has been asked to go camping with a friends family in the holidays for 4 days. They are best friends and she often stays over with her friend and goes to tea, cinema, swimming etc and vice versa her friend comes here. So far each time the respective 'hosting' parent pays any costs. Just wondering about this holiday though as it's for 4 days and will obviously cost a bit with food etc. I plan to give my daughter some 'spending money' but should I offer to give the parents some money towards her food? We are friendly with the parents but not close friends if you get what I mean so not sure how to approch it. What do you think?

shellsuit

I would offer to give some cash for food if it were my daughter.

Why don't you just ask the parents how much they want you to contribute for the food?

jetcat

when my daughter's friend came away with us, just for an overnight stay (and two full days in Blackpool), her parents gave me £20 (which was a lovely surprise, as i hadnt asked for anything).

Maybe just add a little something in an envelope, to be dished out at the time of departure, at the same time you are giving DD her spending money?

choccyface2006

If I was taking another child away for a few days I wouldn't expect or accept any money for food, but at the same time if my daughter was going away I would always try to give them some!

I would ask how much they would like for food but if they refused maybe make up a bag of treats/healthy snacks that they would find hard to refuse and/or give both children some spending money, I think they would find that harder to say no to.

Sarah x

Amanda65

I think I would ahve a quick chat with the parents and offer some money for food etc., making it clear that your DD will have her own spends for ice creams, drinks and the like.

As Sarah says, I wouldn't expect it if I were taking a child away but think it only good mannered to offer. I also like the idea of a goody bag of treats for the girls if they say no - and maybe a bottle of wine for the parents.

robnye

tis always better to offer....... than not......

richardw

Perhaps consider reciprocating by inviting their daughter on a trip with your family, but if this is unlikely then offering a contribution would be good.

SandC

They will probably say no but it would be polite to offer, just ask them how much they would like you to contribute for food and let them know that you have given your daughter some spends.

I remember going away with a friend when I was about 14 and they wouldn't have any money from my folks so they gave me some spends and told me to offer to buy them an afternoon tea or lunch or something. They still didn't accept but the thought was there.

MrsAnnie

I once gave my brother £100 when he took my daughters for a weekend, for any 'just incases', I stupidly expected at least some change!! He said it was all spent when I collected them at the end of the weekend :eek: . Never again!!!!



Offer what you think you can afford and what is reasonable. As Toots said they probably are not expecting you to contribute anything.

A liitle box of goodies for the girls and a bottle of wine for the parents sounds like a fab idea if they will not accept a monetary contribution.

Nicki

We took a friend of mine on holiday with us (also camping) when I was about this age. Her parents offered mine some money for food, and my parents were mortified and refused. So the parents of the other little girl bought some food for the trip and gave that to my parents instead, which was accepted with thanks.

If you know, they'd be bound to refuse money, I'd go straight to giving food. If you are unsure whether they'd take the money or not, as others have said I'd offer it up front, and if refused resort to Plan B of either a contribution of food for the trip, or a reciprocal offer of a treat for their child. If they refuse money from you though, there's no way they'll let your child pay for tea out while she's away, so I wouldn't put your child through the embarrassment of trying to pay and not succeeding.

bestpud

We haven't asked for money when we have invited a friend to holiday with us as I wouldn't ask if I wasn't able to afford to take them along.

The other parent has always asked us though and we say just to provide them with spending money.

In some ways it costs less as they entertain each other rather than asking for money for this and that.