pocket money for 13 yr old

[ucannotbserious]

How much pocket money do you think is reasonable for a 13 yr old girl? She's currently getting £10 a month but I find I am having to give her handouts as well because it doesn't seem to be enough. On the one hand, I don't want her to think that there is a never ending supply so that she learns to be sensible with it and on the other I don't want to be too stingy either. The money is just for bits and pieces when she is in town with her friends, so she doesn't need to buy anything big!

[BelligerentGhoul]

There's a massive spread on MN re: this, as would be expected.

My two girls are 15 and 13 and get 30 pounds each a month. It's more than enough for the 13 year old, who is very sensible with her money - and not enough for the 15 year old, who isn't as sensible and has a bit of a Starbucks obsession!

[Lynli]

I gave mine £15 a week, mainly used for phone credit and cosmetics.

The main thing is what is affordable for you.

You could try to estimate what you are giving her in hand outs, you are obviously happy to pay for these things, and give her that.

Then you need to not give more.

[GrungeBlobPrimpants]

£30 a month. We have a 'contract' saying what I buy and what she pays for though there are some grey areas. We've also set up a bank account with a cashcard so she can get used to the world of budget management.

[Acanthus]

Definitely pay it into a bank account. Definitely make them budget. How much really depends on what you expect them to buy.

[Simbacatlives]

Mine get a bank account and allowance for 13th birthday. Meant to include some clothes (which is a joke)

Phones are all on contract so they dont pay those. They get £60 a month.

[MentalFloss]

DD 14 gets £70 a month but that is for everything, and she knows that once it is gone there will be no more for the rest of the month.

However, for this she must do a lot. Her chores involve babysitting whilst I work from home, doing her own washing and ironing, does the washing up/setting of table when it is her allocated day and also works hard at school and receives good reports.

The loss of allowance is a punishment that can be used and has been used for bad behaviour.

She must buy: non essential clothes, make up, phone top up, any birthday presents for friends, trips out with friends etc.

[jooseyfruit]

£30 per month plus £8.50 phone contract.

this is not enough for my fashion hungry 13yo boy. so he has his name down for a paper round.

[BelligerentGhoul]

Out of their 30 pound a month mine buy -

none-essential fashion items, such as more necklaces to make Accessorise richer and daft t-shirts;

CDs

Non-essential toiletries - ie make up (the 13 year old doesn't use it)

coffees etc if wished in town

stuff that they want but don't need - more notebooks, more art stuff etc etc.

I buy:

uniform; essential clothes ie: winter coat and boots, jeans when too small etc; toiletries and sanitary towels etc. I will also give them a bit extra if they are going to the cinema or for lunch with friends.

[BelligerentGhoul]

They have PAYG phones which I pay to top up - probably a tenner every six weeks or so.

[ucannotbserious]

belligerent ghost, it sounds like you pay for about the same thing as I'm prepared to but yours get more!

Looking at what theotehrs are getting it looks like I am being a bit mean!

[BelligerentGhoul]

It's a nightmare ucannotbeserious - Their friends seem to get MUCH more, so I often feel mean but we can't really afford to give them more AND put money into savings for them and tbh, we think the savings are more important than having lots to spend in Topshop each month, as some of their friends do.

[cory]

My 14yo gets £12 a month.

For this she has to get about the same things as Belligerent's dd, that is non-essential toiletry items, non-essential clothes, trips into town (though I will occasionally pay a bus ticket, particularly if she is taking little brother), DCs etc, non-essential stationery.

I don't particularly want her to develop expensive habits like frequenting coffee shops or going for lunch with friends- tbh in our circles this is something you do for your birthday, not as part of everyday life, and it is not going to make her life easier at uni if she thinks of this as something you just have to be able to do.

[BelligerentGhoul]

They probably go for lunch once a month Cory - and I only mean a salad and a coke in somewhere like Eat. Tbh, they usually share a salad and a drink. Feel as if I have to justify myself now, as I always try to be really careful to teach them the value of things - tight Yorkshire roots etc!

[cory]

Sorry, didn't mean it as criticism of you, Belligerent, just feeling a bit tight-fisted that's all. It is about what you can afford after all, and I can't double dd's allowance just now.

[ragged]

On our current scheme ours would get 13 quid a month at age 13. That's a basic no-strings allowance, they can top it up if they do jobs for me. If they don't do the jobs, they must not want those non-essentials very much!

[BelligerentGhoul]

It's okay Cory - I didn't feel criticised. As I said down the thread, the range on here is huge!

[marriednotmulled]

Have only recently started giving regular pocket money to our 13 yo boys. They are getting £10 per week, already had/have chores on a rota. Both saving to add to our budget for their main Christmas present of new mobiles.

Had a few issues with behaviour so if we get a negative letter or call from school then they get half the money. If they don't tell us before school does (despite having the opportunity) then no pocket money that week.

Have also explained that if DH isn't working (sometimes erratic self-employment), pocket money is a luxury we can't afford.