Page 6 | 18 year old 'pocket money' amount

MrsJa · 2024-04-23T21:32:37+00:00

How much should just turned 18 year old DS get as pocket money per month. Is still at college, works part time getting at least £600 per month before overtime added. No board to pay. Eats food from home but pays for own driving lessons and meals out with friends. We pay for holidays. What are peoples thoughts/ opinions?

becxw · 23/04/2024 23:31

No pocket money needed. But would live to know where he works so I can get my ds a job there!
In all seriousness most part time / student jobs are minimum wage so I'm guessing he's working about 20 hrs pw? That's a lot with studying as well.

Original poster

MrsJa · 23/04/2024 23:29

Thanks for the responses.
Yes its minimum wage job but college finishes next month.

I'm shocked to hear it's nothing to be given in most cases!

DS now 18 and leaving college means DH's CSA payments for him will stop so we thought we would now directly give him some money as it was money coming out anyway. DS lives with his mum as his friends are all there nearby but will stay with us and his siblings for a night or 2 in the half term breaks and comes on our caravan holiday.

It just feels like we should give him something.

OP posts:

DelurkingAJ · 23/04/2024 23:27

DM made me work out what I needed in a spreadsheet. Including transport to and from school, clothing, toiletries, presents etc. That became my allowance. I could earn money in the holidays (Saturday school so no weekend job) and get that or have £nil. Yes, DM and DDad were well off and could do so. I hope to do the same whilst DSs are in full time education. I’ve never been out of work, overspent my budget or any of the other terrible things Mumsnet thinks will happen if you do this.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 23/04/2024 23:26

They do better in exams in they have some work, apparently. Some research from about 7 years ago, I seem to remember.

Infinity234 · 23/04/2024 23:26

Pocket money?!!

Mine are 16 and 17, both work part time while still in full time education. Neither get pocket money…

RadRoach · 23/04/2024 23:25

Apparently, the average 18 year old gets about £50 in pocket money per month.

https://www.gohenry.com/uk/blog/pocket-money/how-much-pocket-money-should-we-give-our-kids

That sounds about fair, to me, and I wouldn’t want to stop giving pocket money because they’ve gotten themselves a job.

Generally, I’d prefer a child in full time study not to have a job during term time so they can focus on their education (I think summer jobs are better, although can be harder to get these days).

I’d also be paying for driving lessons.

Emmerald · 23/04/2024 23:22

When I got my first Saturday job (back in the mists of time!) I earned £8 a week. I had to pay my parents keep out of that of £2. I was 13! 😳

BabyBoyBeautiful · 23/04/2024 23:22

He's earning his own 'pocket money '.

Xmasbaby11 · 23/04/2024 23:17

I wouldn’t give an allowance but I’d pay for driving lessons. They are v expensive and can go on for months (years in my case!).

Titsywoo · 23/04/2024 23:04

My teens stopped getting pocket money as soon as they got jobs at 16.

ageratum1 · 23/04/2024 23:04

How many hours are they working though? Sounds like too many with a levels starting any time!

Yellowcakestand · 23/04/2024 23:03

I don't understand why a working adult needs pocket money..

ageratum1 · 23/04/2024 23:02

Pocket money!! she's 18! I would be paying for the driving lessons though as it is a life skill I would expect oarents to teach

SummerFeverVenice · 23/04/2024 23:00

ghostyslovesheets · 23/04/2024 22:53

And I think that's lovely if you can afford it - I was a single parent of 2 teens and a tween - they eat like locusts, mortgage to pay, uni to think about funding etc so it wasn't an option for us sadly

Show quote history

Yes, it has to be affordable. I had no pocket money growing up and so started paid work outside the home at age 12 (cash in hand). I was mowing lawns, weeding gardens, babysitting older (but younger than me) children. My parents couldn’t afford pocket money. We were on free school meals and often in free from the lost and found box uniforms … so I understand completely that being able to afford all this will make my DC privileged.

Maybeicanhelpyou · 23/04/2024 22:59

I wouldn’t call it pocket money, but I would agree to cover college expenses. I would also discuss that he’s living rent free, and all the real costs associated with that, so he’s aware. Try to get him to set up a regular savings account?

Moveoverdarlin · 23/04/2024 22:55

Nothing.

SabreIsMyFave · 23/04/2024 22:54

EH? Why would ANY 18 y.o. get 'pocket money' ??? Let alone an 18 y.o. who has a job that pays £150 a week! (And is still living with their parents!)

ghostyslovesheets · 23/04/2024 22:53

SummerFeverVenice · 23/04/2024 22:49

I like to make work pay, so I would keep up with the pocket money and encourage them to open a lifetime ISA and other savings towards long term goals- ie tuition for masters degree (as we are paying through bachelors degree).

We pay them Year # in school times £5 as a monthly pocket money.

So an 18yr old in Year 13 would get 13 times £5 or £65 per month in pocket money.

Stopping pocket money when they are in full time education is tempting, but I’d want them to have the flexibility for any work earnings to be put towards long term savings goals. I hope to have them brainwashed into good savings habits by then so they won’t view all their income as for daily living and disposable only.

And I think that's lovely if you can afford it - I was a single parent of 2 teens and a tween - they eat like locusts, mortgage to pay, uni to think about funding etc so it wasn't an option for us sadly

SleepySundaySloth · 23/04/2024 22:53

theonlygirl · 23/04/2024 22:48

Just turned 18 and earns £600 a month before overtime....what the hell is the job?

it’s £150 a week ish. The kid could be doing 15 ish hours at minimum wage for all you know. It could be any job. What do you mean by ‘what they hell is the job?’

Rookangaroo4 · 23/04/2024 22:53

My 17 and 18 year olds both at college and have part time jobs. We give them money every now and then if they’re short and buy some clothes every now and then. We pay for bus passes for college and put money on their college accounts for food. we don’t give them pocket money .

Bigearringsbigsmile · 23/04/2024 22:52

Nothing! He has 600 quid a month!

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 23/04/2024 22:50

DSS turns 18 in a few months and he's more than aware that any pocket money stops then! He's also in PT work whilst at college and has no expenditure apart from what he needs for his car.

ghostyslovesheets · 23/04/2024 22:50

theonlygirl · 23/04/2024 22:48

Just turned 18 and earns £600 a month before overtime....what the hell is the job?

DD1 worked in Morrisons during Covid (so she was 17/18) and at one point was bringing home double that! hence no pocket money!

SummerFeverVenice · 23/04/2024 22:49

I like to make work pay, so I would keep up with the pocket money and encourage them to open a lifetime ISA and other savings towards long term goals- ie tuition for masters degree (as we are paying through bachelors degree).

We pay them Year # in school times £5 as a monthly pocket money.

So an 18yr old in Year 13 would get 13 times £5 or £65 per month in pocket money.

Stopping pocket money when they are in full time education is tempting, but I’d want them to have the flexibility for any work earnings to be put towards long term savings goals. I hope to have them brainwashed into good savings habits by then so they won’t view all their income as for daily living and disposable only.

theonlygirl · 23/04/2024 22:48

Just turned 18 and earns £600 a month before overtime....what the hell is the job?