Do you give your DC 'emergency money'? How much?

[seventysevenpercent]

From the age of about seven my dad used to make sure I had a fiver in loose change in a purse in my school bag, just in case I had to get the bus home. It was drilled into me not to spend it on crap, although I was precociously sensible.

My DC really don't carry money at all. I'm beginning to think they really should, although they have far less independence.

A fiver wouldn't go far these days though!

I had one of the emergency £5 key ring capsules. Mum ensured I had one for similar reasons

When I was a child, we used to have a 2p piece in our Brownie purse, to make a phonecall in an emergency A fiver would be plenty!

I think it is a very different scenario now, as by the time dc are old enough to be out and about without parents, then they would generally have a phone to be able to call in and get help, or advice.

I do try and impress on my (older) dc that they should always have a few £ on them when they go out, but they rarely do - they just use their phones to pay for everything contactless-ly.

I always make sure DS(12) has some cash on him, probably about £5ish in change whenever he goes out and to school. He has a bus pass and a card for school dinner, and his phone is on a contract but I always feel better knowing he has money with him.

He’s generally good with it, usually only buys a drink or he and his friends go to the local sweet shop on a Friday after school.

Mine are early primary school and would never ever need emergency money unless hotdog day at school was classed as an emergency (I’m certain it would be in their eyes). I can’t imagine them needing this for a good few years. Possibly not until secondary school.

I think it's a good idea although have the opposite problem with mine in that I often put money in her school bag for treats, events, etc and she forgets it's there...

Phones have really changed things, haven't they?

Public transport is woeful around here so my DC are really unused to going anywhere if it isn't walking or in the car. I need to start looking at secondaries so it doesn't all come as a complete shock down the line.

In our family it’s called “bus fare home”. Probably £10 or £20 quid depending on were they are going.

Didn't do the money, but made sure we had a phone deal with fifty billion texts on it, so even if call time had been used, there was a way of them getting in touch.

ds(15) has had emergency money in his school wallet since starting secondary school. It has been used for things that come up at school, or if a close friend has forgotten (or a specific friends feckless parent hasn't given them) their lunch money.

If he is out with friends he takes enough money for most eventualities.

I haven't really with my children (DS is 19 and just uses his card to pay for everything now) but I always have a fiver or so in each of my bags for 'just in case'.
Think I might have to give DD (14) some spare money now

Mine has £20 - enough to get her home in case of emergencies/lost phone/card.

When did you all get your older children a debit card?

Mine was 11. She has an account at Nationwide. Lots of people do a pre loaded card, but I wanted mine to understand saving and spending of her own money and how to manage that herself.

Mine got debit cards when they got their part time jobs, and therefore had some money to withdraw!

I didn't give mine 'emergency money' when they are just round and about - they could generally walk home. I used to give them some when they were away (Scout Camps etc), but even then it was just for a meal if they got delayed or something - they would always be looked after by the Leaders in a real emergency situation.