# My niece is going to New York - how much spending money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [June 14, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523 "2023-06-14T19:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/1 "2023-06-14T19:09:51Z")
At the start of August my 16 year old niece is going on a 10 day holiday to New York, I did the same thing at her age and I’d like to give her some spending money. I don’t mind giving her a decent amount but I haven’t been keeping track of these things, what would be considered reasonable these days? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/2 "2023-06-14T19:13:36Z")
How much you got? ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/3 "2023-06-14T19:15:21Z")
New York as in the city? NY state is expensive (well, compared with SC where I am), but a lot of what she needs cash-wise will depend on what she is expected to pay for. I’m guessing her housing and transport will be covered? Will she be buying meals? Tickets for museums or theatre? If this is just money for clothes shopping or something that’s a little different. Sorry, that’s not much help … ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/4 "2023-06-14T19:16:09Z")
What do you mean by spending money? Pocket cash for the occasional dirty water dog or other impulse buy while the main expenses are covered by someone else, or enough money to pay for most activities over all ten days? ---
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/5 "2023-06-14T19:17:03Z")
Oh sorry, important stuff. She’s staying with one of my American cousins in one of the boroughs, so that’s all covered and she’s going with her dad, so basically it’s ‘bonus have fun money’. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/6 "2023-06-14T22:54:56Z")
My advice on vacation packing is to bring half the clothes and twice the money. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/7 "2023-06-14T23:02:39Z")
I’d say two or three hundred bucks if you can afford that. Enough to get some souvenirs but not too much. ---
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/8 "2023-06-16T17:23:06Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > My advice on vacation packing is to bring half the clothes and twice the money. I’ll tell her that, thanks! > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’d say two or three hundred bucks if you can afford that. Enough to get some souvenirs but not too much. Sounds reasonable, thank you! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-niece-is-going-to-new-york-how-much-spending-money/985523/9 "2023-06-16T18:45:37Z")
If she’s not feeding herself, then two or three hundred sounds good. If she has to feed herself, then at least double that.