Help! :) Chores and pocket money for year 12s

[tinylittlepiggy]

I've dug myself into a big hole by being super supportive pretty much doing everything for my 16 year old through GCSEs - she worked hard and did well and I leant toward letting her sleep off all the hard work over the summer. It's September and time to get on with next steps - college - being more responsible for herself - but she's now pushing back on having to help out and claims (and no I do not believe this for a second..) that none of her friends has to help around the house / get driven everywhere and get quite a bit of pocket money. I want to give her enough time to do all her school work - there already seems to be quite a step up - but I need some help and of course I want to teach her how to take responsibility and take care of herself ... so would appreciate anyone sharing what they ask of their college age teens and if you are happy to share how much pocket money they get weekly / monthly?? Thank you!

Don’t know the amounts sorry but I wouldn’t be linking money to chores. Chores should be an expectation that everyone contributes. And she needs to get a part time job.

We dialled back on expectations related to usefulness during GCSEs too as it felt so relentless. Both of mine did random bits of paid work in the summer before Y12 and DC2 did lots of volunteering related to their sport. During Y12, I think it's fair to say neither of them performed domestic tasks with any great regularity but they contributed e.g. by cleaning the kitchen, doing a bit of hoovering or sweeping, putting loads of laundry on, folding clean clothes etc. They both washed their own clothes and bedding, and have done for years.

We're in London and have lots of excellent public transport so lifts haven't been a huge issue. Neither DC receives pocket money - they never have done. If they want to spend money, they earn it through babysitting, pet-sitting or by teaching their sport/hobby,. Finding Saturday jobs is often easier said than done but there are plenty of volunteering opportunities out there so I'd be encouraging a Y12 to look into that if they had no luck with a paid job.

They all say that.

mine changed own beds, did own washing.

they did get pocket money but it was to cover school lunches and clothes etc as well.