Pocket money for 13 year olds (year 8)

[posey]

Just wondering how much is the going rate, what they have to do with it, (eg phone top ups, clothes,etc) and do they have to earn it.
Thanks

[ScaryFucker]

my dd is in yr 9 but we had the same arrangement last year

she gets a tenner a week which she earns by doing chores around the house (proper ones like vaccing and cleaning the bathrooms etc)

I buy her essential clothes, uniform etc and toiletries

She uses her money for music downloads, going to cinema with friends, MaccyD's, extra makeup and non-essential clothes etc

[ADifferentMe]

Mine is Y9, only gets £20 a month but I constantly top up because buses round here are expensive and it wouldn't go far. Can't give her more because it would all go on the 1st day of the month.

Will occasionally pay her to do something I hate

[posey]

Thanks for replying
Anyone else, to give me a very balanced view!

[janeite]

Dd2 is 12 and in Yr 8. She gets 30 pound a month (as does her sister in Yr 10) then we pay top up separately. Their mobiles are only for emergencies and texting us though: they don't text friends with them, so the credit lasts quite a while.

They have to keep their rooms tidy, help with the washing up etc etc and be good in order to get it and they get it on the first of each month.

DD1 blows hers on clothes (non-essentials), jewellery, make up and in Eat / dd2 saves hers up and then buys 'big' things - digital camera, DS, DS games etc.

[pointyhat]

We are rubbish at pocket money. We don't give any, we just pay for the odd thing that they want. And we fund dd1's riding lessons which are pricey, natch.

Must start it up

[NancyBotwin]

Have just started again with dd (12) - have decided to do weekly amount for now to see how she gets on - she has £5. That mainly gets spent on magazines and sweets. In theory she is supposed to save up for non-essential clothes (eg if she fancies a new top because she is going to a school disco but has plenty she could wear) and birthday & Christmas presents for immediate family. Too early yet to say if that will work out!

[frogs]

dd1 (14) gets £10 a week, and has done since the start of secondary school.

This has to fund anything she wants to buy that isn't essential. I will put £10 credit a month on her phone, and buy her clothes that she can convince me she actually needs. She's supposed to make her own packed lunches, if she forgets it she has to buy a canteen lunch out of her own money. She also has to fund presents for her friends, and trips to cinema/pizza hut etc.

I expect her to do reasonable chores round the house as part of being a member of the family, and this might well include one largish job at the weekend such as hoovering the house or cleaning the bathroom. Jobs that are really beyond the call of duty (defrosting and cleaning the fridge and freezer, cleaning out all the kitchen cupboards) I pay extra for.

She's doing a first aid certificate at half term so that she can start babysitting for neighbours to earn extra cash.

[Slambang]

Ds gets £20 a month paid in to his bank. Seems to be less tempted to spend it all on sweets if it doesn't actually go in to his hands.

We still by him a basic wardrobe, top up his phone, magazines and unlimited boooks. He tends to spend it on music and increasingly on weird fashion items.

[pointyhat]

You need to be careful you don't give them more pocket money than a small job would pay them. I think.

[Slambang]

Oh forgot to say - ds has to do a weekly job (hoovering) to 'earn' his allowance.

[Surfermum]

Interesting thread for me as I was wondering whether what dsd is getting is about right or not, or the norm.

We put £20 a month into her bank account. Her mum gives her her child benefit, so in total she gets about £80 a month.

Her mum buys her uniform and sanitary products, anything else comes out of her money.

[ScaryFucker]

my dd does chores every day-cleaning, mopping, vaccing, emptying dishwasher etc etc

and her own ironing

we call her Cinders !

[Slambang]

I find the advantage of an allowance/pocket money is that there is a lot less 'Can you get me a ... every body at school has a ... why can't I have a... because I can smile sweetly and say yes darling you can get one yourself with your own money. (Ds still hasn't cottoned on that he probably gets less than he used to before his allowance.)

[mmrred]

DD (just 15) gets £10 a week and is expected to buy all her own clothes except uniform - I think it has worked out really well - she budgets and is very responsible with her money.

She's expected to do her own chores and some household chores to 'earn' her pocket money.

[Surfermum]

I am clearly not getting value for money out of my step-daughter .

[ScaryFucker]

surfermum, she should certainly be doing chores for that rather large amount of allowance !

[Surfermum]

I think she does at her mums. If she lived with us I'd definitely expect her to. It just seems a bit mean for her to come and do chores here when she's only here for the weekend.

[janeite]

80 pounds a month seems an awful lot to me.

[rosieposey]

DD2 is in year 10 and is 14 - she gets 45 per month, out of that she buys concert tickets, stuff for her guitar and cosplay costumes. I buy her clothing, pay for haircuts, makeup and that kind of thing.

In return she is a great help around the house and since i had my lo really helps out with him too

[Surfermum]

It seems a lot to me too, but it's not my decision to make, I'm only her step-mum .

[purpleduck]

cat how on earth did you come up with £1.30????

[ScaryFucker]

oi, chores still need doing at the weekend

seriously, she is not on her holidays when she comes to your place is she ???

slippery slope, sorry

she should contribute to the running of the household if she partakes of its comforts

are you her skivvy or what ?