ILs watching DC & Leaving $

I'm very lucky to have ILs watch DC so DH and I can take a vacation. We'll be gone for 5 nights. Of course, I'm going to leave the house stocked with food, paper goods, etc. but I would also like to leave some cash for incidentals (pizza, ice cream, etc.) I doubt they will spend it but I don't want to come across like a freeloader when they doing us such an amazing favor.

How much cash would you leave? Kids are 3 and 6.

Re: ILs watching DC & Leaving $

$200

Re: ILs watching DC & Leaving $

Not sure your relationship with your IL's, but I don't think I'd leave money for them to take the kids out. That's their grandparents and I'm sure they're more than happy to be able to spend that time with the kids and also love the fact that you trust them to watch them.

I'd definitely leave lots of food and ideas for them to keep them busy, but not money. Maybe leave a nice bottle of wine for them to have and I'd buy them something real nice while I'm away or get them a GC to a nice restaurant as a thank you gift and give it to them when you get home.

ILs watching DC & Leaving $

I personally would leave $50-$100 a day...I wouldnt expect any parent (even a grandparent) to pay for their meals. I think its also nice to treat the grandparents to meals as they are doing a favor. I would leave some petty cash even if they dont decide to use it.

Re: ILs watching DC & Leaving $

I think $200 cash in the house is good, for ice cream, pizza, something special for the kids.

My parents probably wouldn't touch it. Maybe they'd use it if the ice cream man was coming by or if they took the kids out to dinner. But they watch my kids full time during the week, and they don't take money from me then, so I don't think they'd use the money I left for them.

My father-in-law is so cheap, he'd definitely use it. He'd more than likely ask how much we planned on leaving him before we left and then question if $200 would be enough for 5 days. My MIL would be giddy with that amount of cash lying around.

Re: ILs watching DC & Leaving $

We just left our kids with my parents for a week and left them $200

Re: ILs watching DC & Leaving $

Yeah, I think I would leave like $200 in cash in case they need to buy anything for the house or to order a pizza in. I would, but I also know there's no way my parents would use it.

ILs watching DC & Leaving $

My parents fly my boys down every year to.Florida for a week. It's an amazing thing they do for them and honestly they love it and enjoy every second. I always send the boys with cash...I joke with my parents that they like to feel grown up and treat their grandparents to pizza or ice cream but really it just makes me feel better bc my parents spend so much on them. Usually my parents let them use some of it for ice cream one night.

Re: ILs watching DC & Leaving $

Watching At your house????
I'd order some food to be delivered on a few days & pay for that.
Leave $200 on top of that... Yes, my parents wouldn't use it.

ILs watching DC & Leaving $

We've done this for the same amount of time in the past and didn't leave any money but only because it didn't even enter my mind. My mom was babysitting at our house for 5 days. We left more than enough food but she brought even more with her plus took them out a few times.

In the future I will leave $200 though, I think that's a good amount, although I know she'd never touch it.