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Original poster

About pocket money

28 replies

bonnieslilsister · 10/08/2012 22:28

You know when a 15 year old has pocket money/allowance and she starts to earn a bit of money by baby sitting do you still give her her normal amount of pocket money?

My dd went almost apoplectic when I suggested she shouldn't get her usual pocket money because of this.

Then I thought, if I didnt give her the money there would be no incentive for her to do any work at all. She has had a flurry of babysitting requests in the last few weeks and has earned £80!!

The problem is it is not regular and she might not be asked for months.

OP posts:
Original poster
bonnieslilsister · 10/08/2012 22:29

Oh and in case any one suggests she saves the money it is too late Sad

OP posts:
daisydoodoo · 10/08/2012 22:29

I'd still give pocket money as long as they still did the jobs that they are supposed to do to earn it.

WorraLiberty · 10/08/2012 22:31

I'd still give it to her as the work isn't regular

I got a job in my local general store when I was 12yrs old...3hrs per evening and 3hrs on Saturday mornings.

I was fine with my Mum not giving me pocket money because the work was regular and I earned in one session what she'd give me for a week anyway.

daisydoodoo · 10/08/2012 22:32

Oh and I'm mum to 15 ye old ds. I'd gladly pay him a bit more picket money if he had a job as well. I hardly pay him anything at the moment as he doesn't donhis chores and hasn't got a job just expects me to give him cash all the time.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 10/08/2012 22:35

If you giving her pocket money is dependent on her not working, that's hardly giving her the right message so to speak. Just tell her how pleased you are that people find her trustworthy enough to ask her to babysit, and maybe suggest some savings, or perhaps suggest saving her pocket money while she has babysitting money.

Original poster
bonnieslilsister · 10/08/2012 22:35

I must admit she is brilliant in the house and with helping with little ones. I just dont want her to be loaded with cash when I am not and she is useless at saving.

OP posts:
Original poster
bonnieslilsister · 10/08/2012 22:37

Worra I am just sending my 12 yr old down to our general store...

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Molehillmountain · 10/08/2012 22:40

I think it depends a bit on your financial situation. If it were me, I would give it of I could afford it but if my kids ended up with loads more disposable income than I had then it would seem a bit wrong.

Trioofprinces · 10/08/2012 22:46

My parents always said they would not penalise me for working hard, so didn't reduce my allowance when I earned my own money. I agree with that message and will continue to pay my kids heir allowances when they hopefully get a part time job in the future.

Original poster
bonnieslilsister · 10/08/2012 23:45

Ok, I will go with that. I want her to see the benefits of working of course. I think PomBear is right in encouraging her to save but am finding that hard at the moment.

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BackforGood · 11/08/2012 00:04

I'd keep up the pocket money - in fact I do, my ds and my dd have paper rounds - otherwise what is the incentive to work, if they get docked from pocket money the money they earn from working ? Confused.
That said, my dcs seem to get a lot less pocket money than a lot of people on here, according to the regular threads on the matter.

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2012 00:06

Worra I am just sending my 12 yr old down to our general store...

Ahh but I'm a 43yr old fart and worked at a time when 12yr olds were allowed to work on tills!

Original poster
bonnieslilsister · 11/08/2012 00:16

Ahh gone are the days says an older fart than you

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Krumbum · 11/08/2012 02:51

You should Still give her pocket money..

omfgkillmenow · 11/08/2012 03:44

When my girl started getting EMA I stopped her allowance, she still had a generous allowance from dad tho. But I will still give her money for special items such as concerts and stuff. You could put the pocket money you would have given her into a bank account for driving lessons when the time comes, and tell her that you are doing so. She would probably appreciate that.

bumbleymummy · 11/08/2012 08:13

Could you come to some arrangement if the babysitting becomes a regular things where you either put half her pocket money or half her babysitting money into savings and she gets to keep the rest?

Gingerodgers · 11/08/2012 08:16

Maybe suggest that she can have pocket money as usual until her 16th birthday, and after that, she will have to find ways to make regular income...

JumpingThroughHoops · 11/08/2012 08:19

I must admit she is brilliant in the house and with helping with little ones

So you have a nice helpful teenager ? Bit harsh to stop her pocket money.

What I would say is: she becomes responsible for things that you may be still buying: toiletries, make up, phone top up and smaller items of clothing.

It would annoy me if it were all spunked on fags, fast food and cinema tickets - I say this gazing at the lummox on the sofa, about to go to (casual) work and will undoubtedly tab me for a fiver by Tuesday!

danteV · 11/08/2012 08:22

I would still give her it. Especially as she is good around the house. I would set a cut off point though. you don't want to be paying it when she is 23 and has a fulltime job. :)
Wish I knew a local teen who would babysit.

BellaVita · 11/08/2012 08:24

I would still give the pocket money.

danteV · 11/08/2012 08:25

I would also speak to her and help her save etc. At 15 she is old enough. I believe you need to I still good money management from an early age.
My dd is better at saving than me. She does jobs for me and my mum around our houses and saves it for our holiday, saves birthday money etc
Last time she £350, which was more spending money than me. She didn't even spend all that and when we got home she chose to put it away for next year.
I wish I was as good as her.

SmellsLikeWhiteSpirit · 11/08/2012 08:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bonnieslilsister · 11/08/2012 09:22

I give her £12.50 per week. It might not sound a lot for a 15 yr old (it is apparently the lowest amongst all her friends Wink ) but then I still pay for dancing lessons and more but she is incredibly good and lovely.

OP posts:
SmellsLikeWhiteSpirit · 11/08/2012 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tuppence2 · 11/08/2012 12:05

When I was your dd's age, I didn't get pocket money, but my mum did give me money for cinema trips with friends, etc.
I think I would've been gutted if she stopped that once I started babysitting, as the babysitting money then went on popcorn or a McDonald's after the cinema trip she had given me money for.

So I guess I would say continue with the pocket money, as she hasn't done anything wrong to warrant having it stopped. She's doing something good in babysitting and getting herself some extra money in the process