Discretionary Money

Sloan66

Parent Basic Cadet
5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Messages
3
Can anyone give me an idea what is best on the discretionary money they advise the basic cadets to bring. Do we need to give them cash, put money in his account he has now and tell him to use his debit? Do they carry a wallet during BCT?
 
We gave our son $150 in cash. Yes, they can have a wallet. I think $100-$150 is the recommended amount.
 
I'm giving my son about $250.00 for two reasons:
1. He is traveling to I-Day by himself
2. I want him to have more money than CCs son did
:biggrin:
 
LOL, we gave our sons each $200 and then both my husband and I each sneaked an extra $20 to each guy. So, they both wound up with $240. One is so cheap, he probably still has $235 of it; the other probably had it all spent by the end of BCT. haha
 
Fencer you forgot to add the money the grandparents probably slipped them too!:shake:

My Mom is infamous for slipping money on the sly so I don't find out. She has hid it everywhere from the inside of their shoes (with a post it) to inside the battery part of the game controller.

The funny thing is she is so good at this, that for the kids it may take them months before they find it. Of course, to them that's the best part because it is new found money they never expected:shake:

Not joking or lying! One time she put it in an Xbox game case for DS1, assuming he would put the game back in as soon as he was done playing the game. WRONG! He placed the game on top of the shelf, packed up the games, without putting them back in the container and it was @ 4-5 months before he opened the container up. Would have been longer, but because he was lending the game out to a friend he opened the case!:rolleyes:

Pming you!
 
Two years ago there was some conflict in the instructions to incoming Basics as to whether to bring $150 or $250. To be safe we sent our daughter with $150 in cash and put the rest on her debit card. The $150 was more than enough to purchase the required items (an iron, ironing board, vacumn, etc. -- shared with room mates, etc.) and toiletries, etc. during Basic. They aren't leaving campus or eating out like they would at a regular college -- so the costs are pretty controlled. Our daughter has used her Wells Fargo (home account) debit card and her Armed Forces Bank debit card for two years at the Academy and in Colorado Springs -- debit cards work just fine. She carried her money and debit card in her wallet to Basic -- Basics will have access to their wallets, money, debit cards, etc. -- girls (who tend to carry a larger wallet) will be able to take their wallet, etc. with them when needed. My daughter has since purchased a smaller, zipped wallet -- more like a guy's -- that is easy to carry in an ABU pocket but that is not necessary during Basic.
 
There were 3 things I figured.

1. He's in BCT. I've been through basic. Except for shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc... there isn't that much to really spend money on during those first 5 weeks. Anything that's actually IMPORTANT, will be provided to you.

2. If my son really started running low on discretionary cash, we were sending him letters literally EVERY DAY. If he mentioned needing money, I can slip $20 in a few of the envelopes. "I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket in case it was lost; e.g. I wouldn't put $100 in cash in one envelope". But I have absolutely no problem sending $20 in cash in an envelope.

3. We live 2 hours from the academy. If my son was still having financial issues come "A-Day" because there's something he really needed; such as a new printer, watch, glasses, etc... and his pay wasn't going to cover it; we'd be seeing him on A-Day. Just give him more money then.

Now; because our daughter got a full ride to college, and saved us a lot of money, my wife and I figured we would give her a monthly allowance in college. This way she wouldn't need to get a part time job for spending money. Least we could do considering college didn't cost us anything. Well, my wife figured our son did the same thing by going to the academy. "She doesn't understand the military is paying him". (Actually she understands, but thinks it's fair to give him money every month for spending. Just like his sister.)

Between my son at the academy and my daughter who graduated college 2 years ago; even at an inexpensive state college, they've saved us over $100,000. We don't mind giving them extra spending money.

But whether you give your kid $100 or $300, realize that it's basically to cover them until they start getting a paycheck. But remember: It's not like they are going to go out and order a pizza or going to the mall. They really don't need that much money.
 
Two years ago there was some conflict in the instructions to incoming Basics as to whether to bring $150 or $250. To be safe we sent our daughter with $150 in cash and put the rest on her debit card.

Same thing this year: Instructions to Appointees booklet says $250 cash while the email from the BCT team a couple weeks back said $150 on an ATM card. DS will take about $100 in cash with another $150 available via his debit/ATM card.
 
Money

Thanks for all the feedback, and the humor! Great info. Our son is a spendarella, so it will be interesting to see him mature in his sepnding habits. Great thing is he will not have opportunity to spend said money!
 
The letter from the bank says to call the bank for a pin number. Better to call now or wait until next week? any suggestions?
 
If they go to Rodeo Day I think they will need cash for the concession stand food they will devour, so don't do all money on debit/ATM card
 
The letter from the bank says to call the bank for a pin number. Better to call now or wait until next week? any suggestions?

It is probably better to call now. I called a few weeks ago and got into my new Armed Forces Bank account without a problem. Call while you are in front of your computer if you can.
 
The cadre will give everyone fair warning to get their money before they go to the C-store.

Basic purchases (shared between roommates) are cleaning supplies (409, paper towels, pledge), an iron and ironing board, vacuum cleaner, tape, soap, shampoo/conditioner, personal stuff, etc. Basics are not allowed to purchase any food, magazines, medicine, pointy objects, ect. They will be contraband checked by cadre before they are allowed to leave the C-Store.

Cash or credit will work in the C-Store.

On rodeo day, basics will need cash. Understand, the rodeo is not the main attraction, the overpriced food is. I'm pretty sure I spent about 20 dollars and 90% of my time last year on food such as turkey legs, smoothies, chocolate covered fruit, carmel apples... :thumb:
 
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