To think that 5 is not too young to get pocket money?

[Schnullerbacke]

Not that much of a AIBU I suppose but wanted to hear people's thoughts and opinions.

My DD will turn 5 in Sept and has a few big changes ahead of her in the next few months. First of all we are moving house / countries, she'll then share her room with sibling, due to move will have to make new friends etc, won't see grandparents as much anymore and will start school.

So I thought this would be a great start to give her more responsibilities and change a few of our routines ie insisting more she tidies away her toys and clothes at bedtime. I am aware that too much change is not a good thing but a few things can be tied up together I suppose. So, as she will be a big girl ie going to school, I think she should also get some pocket money. I thought of perhaps 50p a week.

Question is, when did you start giving pocket money, how much and how has it worked out for you?

We started giving DD1 pocket money when she was 5. It worked really well and wasn't reward-based (I think kids should tidy / help out without pocket money). We started with $2 (about 90p) a week. We've since changed and she gets a reading book a month (her preference) instead of pocket money. Costs us the same and pocket money kind of lost its attraction when she saved up and blew it all in Build a Bear, then went off Build a Bear a month later and couldn't afford the next "big thing"....

I was planning to start DD with a small amount when she starts school (she will only be 4.3 as she's a summer baby) and I think she can grasp the idea.

We were thinking of not tying it in with chores, as I also feel that should be done without payment, but I guess that it'd be docked if she did something really bad.

I think 5 is not too young to learn about spending and saving.

"You can have this now and buy sweets or I can hold onto it and in 4 weeks time therre will be enough to buy some lego" etc.

TBH I think this big change is entirely the wring time to encourage your dd to be more grown up. She will need reassurance, and may even regress a bit.

As for pocket money, we started when the dc had a bit of a grasp of addition and subtraction - end of Y1 or beginning of Y2.

My ds started with pocket money I think at 4. He really enjoyed that feeling of being able to buy something for himself, it's just one of the little steps of independence.

I have never tied jobs, etc to it. Each to their own, but I didn't like this approach. We all do things in the house because it's our home and it's what you do when living as a family to keep things nice for eachother. Not for money.

I also think if kids are paid to do their jobs it is almost you 'giving away' the power; they can just say "I don't care, I'd rather not have 50p than tidy my room". Then where do you go?!

I'd rather DS knew that helping out here and there is a basic life expectation, just like going to school etc.

DS had a £1 a week from the start, because he always wanted to save it and buy little figures, etc. If he was a sweetie obsessed child I probably would have gone for 50p as I wouldn't have wanted him to have £1 worth of sweets at a time, so I guess the amount depends on the child

Thank you all for your input. Ithinktoomuch - I totally agree that she will probably need more attention and cuddling as usual. She doesnt have to do much at home but putting away clothes in the evening should be one of the things she does and that is always a bit hit and miss with us. Largely my fault for not giving her enough time to do it.

Ok, since you all had good experiences, I think the pocket money will go ahead and I will also not tie it to chores. Great suggestions from everyone. Thank you.

DS1 (5) gets pocket money.
30p a week plus a 20p bonus if he does some basic jobs.

He has saved it ALL since last september and proudly tells us exactly how much he has :)

I like that there is one thing where he gets treated very differently to his little brother. We tend to lump them together and forget that he is 2 years older.

my kids have been given pocket money since they were 4 (DD youngest is almost 5 now) they get £1 per week, and they can earn extra by helping me with jobs around the house. They are expected to keep their own stuff tidy and clear toys away etc, but stuff like putting their clean clothes away, taking stuff upstairs for me (bad knees), helping unload the dishwasher earns 10p per job. They both know about spending and saving, ie, if you spend it now, you cant spend it again later!