pocket moneyt

[SlartyBartFast]

is probably a little late in the day to start this,
but hey ho

ds is 14 and has just started a paper round,
he previously had 15. per month pocket money.
dh wants to stop that.
ds can see the pound signs and is plannign what he is going to buy includign his pocket money.
what do others do?

[ilove]

I carry on with the pocket money till they are 18...what's the point in them trying to earn extra if you're going to penalise them??

[SlartyBartFast]

good point.

[GlastonburyGoddess]

Although i was in care so maybe different. i got £10 every saturday, after tidying and cleaning my room, doing my laundry and washing my bedsheets(if not done I wouldnt get pocket money). i then did extra jobs to pay for a particular interest that i had. eg £5 to mow back and front lawns, £2 for sweeping the leaves etc

personally i would carry the pocket money on, hes making an effort by doing the paper round, so taking away his pocket money would be like penilising him iyswim

[nickschick]

Its less than £4 a week Id carry it on.

[SlartyBartFast]

i want to keep it but dh didnt. will have to persuade him, using the word penalise for a start

[seeker]

Of course you should keep on giving him pocket money - he's child! Is your dp intending to start charging him rent?????

[SlartyBartFast]

hmph,
dh did mention that he had to give some of his paper round money to his mum

[nickschick]

My stepfather used to take most of what I earnt plus my student grant.

[Uriel]

I think it's so mean to take away pocket money once a child starts earning a little extra from a paper round. My parents threatened to do this, whilst not paying for my hobby and expecting me to buy family birthday presents out of my money.

[UniS]

it has to depend on family finances. If you can afford to continue with pocket money fine, if you can;t you can;t and he has now to earn his spending money.. BUT don;t go back to pocket money if he jacks in teh paper round.
I had pocket money + my earnings from 14ish, Dh had only his earnings, but my parents were both working and neither of his were at that point.

[SlartyBartFast]

thanks for the differy view point unis.
well, that is the point, we are having to tighten our belts, but of coruse he has younger siblings so it woudl be unfair in that respect

[UniS]

SBF does your lad KNOW how tight money is ? if he does he may be mature enough to understand and negotiate a solution with you. perhaps a compromise on what he is expected to pay for him self, or a top up to an agreed level rather than what he has been having + wages.
Is there anything in his control to save on, ie can he cycle rather than spend money on buses to get about?

[SlartyBartFast]

no buses just mumthetaxi!
but good idea, otherwise, not so harsh.

[nickschick]

Slarty what about a £10 fone top up instead of his allowance - the money isnt frittered on whatever he will fritter and you know he has fone credit.

[ICANDOTHAT]

It's like his having your 'benefits' taken away because your earning elsewhere iyswim. I would continue with pocket money and praise his efforts for working independently too.

[SlartyBartFast]

thanks for all your advice folks.
he does have plans which is great, and it doesnt involve clothes shopping - which is even better