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Original poster

How much money for 17yo?

51 replies

Dirtyslippers · 13/03/2023 09:17

Just wondering if I should be giving 17yo ds more money, he's studying for A levels so at school during the week and I give him £5 a week pocket money. He works 3 shifts at a local pub and during the summer holidays he'll work a 2nd job.
He was desperate for a car so it was his birthday present, nothing fancy, and he has covered everything else, insurance, tax etc. He's paid for this by saving all birthday and christmas money for the last 3 years and not spending his earnings.
I cover his clothes, toiletries and haircuts, but should I be giving him more pocket money? Is £5 a week stingy?

OP posts:

WhereAreTheChocButtons · 13/03/2023 13:01

I give dc17 £30 pm.
However i pay for clothes toiletries, bus fare etc.
Hes got a weekend job £60 a week and does a short shift on non college days for £25.
However he wastes money. That 60+earnings and pocket money will ALL be spent on crap., take aways, junk food etc.

latetothefisting · 13/03/2023 13:21

That's incredibly low. If you google pocket money average it says about £14 quid a week for a 16 year old and tbh that seems low - EMA is £30 and hasn't been updated for at least 20 years! Bless him he's done so well to save up so much from so little!

Lastnamedidntstick · 13/03/2023 13:24

you may want to read a recent thread where o/p’s 17 year old was working and she wanted to charge him rent!

many posters saying he should be paying his way or he can move out..

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families

Original poster

Dirtyslippers · 13/03/2023 13:30

I’ve upped the direct debit. Thinking about it I also cover his phone, Spotify and Xbox.
if I charged him rent he’d go and live with his dad so I won’t be doing that!
He’s def not hard up, his idea of a meal out isn’t McDonald’s it’s wagamamas but I want to be fair.

OP posts:

redskylight · 13/03/2023 13:45

Untrusting · 13/03/2023 13:00

I've stopped giving my dd pocket money now she has a part time job at 16. I'd probably have carried on if I was wealthy but am definitely not.

And I think that's different. Your 16 year old is presumably well aware of how far family finances will stretch and if you can't afford to give her more, you can't.

OP is in the position to have bought her 17 year old a car for his birthday, so I suspect a bit more pocket money is not so much of an issue here.

cocksstrideintheevening · 13/03/2023 13:56

I think I'd stop it to be hones. £5 is nothing, he's earning and you're covering the phone, Spotify etc.

Soontobe60 · 13/03/2023 14:01

I used to give DD £50 a month when she was in 6th form - this was 10 years ago and we could afford it. She also had a part time job.

3WildOnes · 13/03/2023 14:09

How much is he earning?

AngelsWithSilverWings · 13/03/2023 14:10

Our DS17 no longer gets any pocket money. He's at school doing a levels and does 16 hours a week at work earning £10p/h so he does ok!

We still subsidise him quite a bit though. We pay for his phone, clothes/shoes for school , haircuts and we helped him out when his car needed new tyres ( but he's paying us back monthly for those)

JE17 · 13/03/2023 14:39

I stopped getting pocket money once I got a weekend job. I probably had more disposable income than my DM at that point. It sounds like you can afford it though and he's sensible with money, so I think I would up the pocket money in your circumstances.

familyissues12345 · 13/03/2023 17:18

I stopped giving DS pocket money once he started a part time job at 17. Instead I put away what I normally gave (£15 pw) so when he went to Uni we had a nice pot to buy all the stuff he needed.

itsgettingweird · 13/03/2023 18:40

I would suggest at that age you give him his CB if you're entitled.

You whilst studying you cover basic expenses etc. his job covers the extras (so far and petrol) and you provide him the CB to cover other extras he may want/need and some fun money.

Tell him that when he finished college and starts employe,nt this will be reviewed and he will have to contribute to household.

Prochoice11 · 13/03/2023 18:42

£20 a week. Obv only if you can afford it. That’s only 2 McDonald’s as a comparison afterall. X

Whatisthisanyidea · 13/03/2023 18:50

Three teens
phone credit £10 a month each
DD Lucy money £15 a week as she’s in college
DD2 £50 a week as she’s at Uni and needs food and bus fare
DS not working so he needs to find a job and I’ll help with what ever he needs - he’ll need tools etc and petrol / lunch until he’s paid.

As he’s working even 7 and hour £28x3 - a week doesn’t pay tax - so should be able to manage.

DD1 does 15 hours a week plus extra shifts £11 and hour - that’s plenty to run her car and nights out.

Zanatdy · 13/03/2023 18:54

I gave my DD £50 a month before he went to Uni, now giving him £100 but his dad is paying for his accommodation and fee’s and he’s got savings to pay for the rest of his food etc. Plus he’s secured a job for the summer so that will replenish his savings I hope

mamaduckbone · 13/03/2023 20:22

I'm a bit baffled why a 17 year old still gets 'pocket money' tbh.
My ds17 has a job (a couple of shifts a week) which pays for his socialising, extra clothes and gym, we pay for his phone, basic clothes, lunches at school, toiletries and haircuts. He's also saving for a car and paying monthly for a festival ticket.

cestlavielife · 13/03/2023 20:25

He is 17
Give an allowsnce to cover clothes toiletries haircuts etc

5 is two coffees
Not even a cinema ticket

Ohthejoyous · 13/03/2023 20:29

My teenagers get £70 pm but that also includes clothes. I find it much easier to pay money once per month than weekly.

emmathedilemma · 13/03/2023 20:31

£20 a week pocket money for a 17yr old?? I earn a good wage and don’t spend that on myself most weeks once you take out essentials such as food, clothes and toiletries which parents are providing in this situation!

Lotsofthingstoconsider · 13/03/2023 21:05

Surely that's one of those impossible questions to answer ?

If you have ££££ excess at end of the month then it's fucking tight as anything.. if you are struggling to make ends meet then it's sufficient.

3WildOnes · 13/03/2023 21:14

cestlavielife · 13/03/2023 20:25

He is 17
Give an allowsnce to cover clothes toiletries haircuts etc

5 is two coffees
Not even a cinema ticket

But she already pays for his clothes and toiletries separately. He also works three shifts a week so could easily be making over £250pm. Surely that is more than enough to fund a social life?!

User47328976 · 13/03/2023 21:28

mamaduckbone · 13/03/2023 20:22

My DS never had pocket money when he worked supermarket shifts from 17, he had loads of spending money from that, it's not like he had to pay bills or food and stuff like that, he paid for his driving lessons which were additional to the ones we paid for Christmas and birthday. We paid for similar to you for other things. From 18 he volunteered at Glastonbury and a couple of other festivals, then he saw it for free.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 13/03/2023 22:09

I was given £50 a month 15 years ago....

Comefromaway · 13/03/2023 22:13

A 17 year old child in social services/foster care would get more pocket money than that. They would get approx £10-£12 per week plus have a mobile phone paid. If they were expected to buy their own clothes/toiletries etc they would get more.

Butterfly44 · 13/03/2023 23:04

£25 a week - covers college food for week and any snacks. We pay phone bill and bus pass. Saturday job for extras like clothes, toiletries, saving for festivals etc.

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