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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask about pocket money...

54 replies

QueenArnica · 15/02/2017 17:11

Hi posting for traffic really...
I currently give dd (13) £10 per month and ds (10) £5 per month pocket money.

They have to do jobs (make beds, empty and load dishwasher, sort recycling and laundry and dd brings me tea in bed every morning Wink)
although I've never taken money away for not doing things)

Dd in particular is starting to spread her wings and go shopping with her friends. I tend to buy her essentials (toiletries and clothes included) and she uses her money to buy extras such as more clothes and toiletries!!

Her friends all get about £25 per month and I just want to see what the average is. She hasn't asked for more but I think maybe I'm being a bit tight.

So question is how much do you give your kids as pocket money? Thanks in advance Smile

OP posts:
HighwayDragon1 · 15/02/2017 19:05

A pound per year per week. So your 13yo would get £13per week your 10yo £10. I actually think you're being very stingy, what you're offering wouldn't even cover a trip to the cinema!!

PurpleTraitor · 15/02/2017 19:07

According to this I am desperately stingy - at 10, in the 90s, I got 20p a week pocket money, after school on a Wednesday, to spend on sweets in the corner shop.

Currently my now 10yo gets nothing but I was considering starting and I was considering £1/week which is why I clicked on this thread.....now I am apparently ridiculously cheap.

CantSleepClownsWillEatMe · 15/02/2017 20:01

It obviously depends on what is affordable and that will vary hugely between families. Assuming you can afford more then imo Op the current amount being given is on the low side in that it's not enough to cover the things she might want to do through the month with friends at that age e.g. Cinema trip or whatever.

I suppose though lots of parents would give money separately as and when these things come up but I think I'd prefer to do as some pps have outlined ie agree what they and you will be responsible for and give a sum each month that they need to manage. I think that gives them a sense of independence as well as confidence that you trust their judgement plus helps them learn how to budget. And hopefully the parent doesn't have to have all those "money doesn't grow on trees" conversations!

MsJamieFraser · 15/02/2017 20:06

Ds1 11 gets £40 pm, he also gets £5 for every goal he scores.

Ds2 7 gets £20 pm and he also gets £5 for an achievement.

They both have chores to complete in order to get this.

Ds2 is currently saving up for a new raspberry PI part and ds1 is currently saving up for a trip with his football academy.

Anotherdayanotherscreenname · 15/02/2017 20:14

AIBU to ask if anyone helps their child to keep their 'accounts'? A written record of what they spend their pocket money on to refer back to and develop good habits?

ShelaghTurner · 15/02/2017 20:17

DD1 is 9 and gets £10 a month on her Osper card. Obviously at that age we buy everything else for her but if she wants a magazine or a toy she has to pay for it.

Gatehouse77 · 15/02/2017 20:18

At 13 mine got a bank account and £10pm. We paid for all necessities, toiletries, clothes, etc.

At 16 they got £100pm. We pay for anything school related, smart clothes for special occasions (weddings, graduation, bar mitzvahs, etc.).

We also pay for their phone contracts up to a certain amount and they pay the difference if they want an upgraded package.

ShelaghTurner · 15/02/2017 20:18

Should add that my dad often gives her money so she's probably got more than me!

OrangeIsTheNewPop · 15/02/2017 20:25

I help my kids with the accounting side. It's all on a spreadsheet which we update weekly.

DD9 gets £5 a week, DS5 gets £3. Atm it's split into savings (Christmas etc) spendables and holiday spends.

Original poster
QueenArnica · 15/02/2017 20:40

Thanks everyone for your responses, lots of food for thought.

Not sure it was necessary to call me stingy but hey ho Hmm

I actually pay her phone charges and if she has lunches out or cinema trips I pay those separately too. Have had a chat with dd and think I might increase it to £20/25 but she then needs to pay for the little extras herself. She needs help with budgeting as the cash burns a hole in her pocket!

OP posts:
SparklyUnicornPoo · 15/02/2017 20:40

I give both of mine (8 and 12) £5 a week. I pay for toiletries, clothes, DS's phone etc, so that's just for treats/going out.

They have both had the same amount since they were born, when they were small it was put into an account for them, now they are bigger they pay left over pocket money in at the end of the month, they can have money out the account if they ask me and do extra chores, depending on what its for/how much.

fannydaggerz · 15/02/2017 20:44

My 5 year old gets £5 a week.

user1484394242 · 15/02/2017 20:57

Anotherdayanotherscreenname, DD has a chart we made in Word with columns. She fills in how much left from last month for each category and how much she got for the new month. I don't understand it myself, my husband does it with her. Ill be watching the thread for a better way

PP earlier said a pound per year per week. It sounds a lot but when I calculate the pocket monet and include the clothing allowance it's approx what we pay DD.

Longislandicetee · 15/02/2017 20:59

Don't worry OP, I think i am the "stingy" one- my dcs are 6 and 8 and don't get any pocket money.Grin

justlikekatycarr · 15/02/2017 21:02

Blimey, that is tight! I got £5 s week in the 90s and to be honest that didn't go far then.

I appreciate it might not be easy if you're on a tight budget though, but nonetheless £2.50 a week is nothing really.

DrivingMeBonkers · 15/02/2017 21:06

Now 16yo -

Packed lunch provided daily
£10 per week given for break time snacks (hot chocolate, warm food)
£10 given on a Friday in case they want to go out to the mall
Within reason, money is given on request for pictures, bowling, general meeting up. These are few and far between though. Gets to keep the change if sent on errands to the corner shop.

I do not expect my child to provide his own clothes or toiletries out of that.

Mulberry72 · 15/02/2017 21:08

DS is 10, and an only child.

He gets £20 per month paid into his bank account and his mobile phone contract paid at £13 per month.

He also has £90 per month for football training (team and also personal 121 goalkeeping sessions).

If there is something specific like an Xbox game he wants then he will use his spends but he's quite good and doesn't tend to fritter it away.

RainbowsAndUnicorn · 15/02/2017 21:10

Mine get £25, it's for fun stuff. Any clothes, school stuff, lunches etc I pay for. It's not linked to chores as they don't really have any.

Love51 · 15/02/2017 21:12

I think consider your own expenditure. If you can't afford the cinema every week / month, can't afford the nice clothes you want, or a £4 magazine, then its not a problem if your child can't either. Nice if they can afford a half term treat, but not essential.
Mine are little. Do schools really have coffee shops? That seems wrong, isn't caffeine crap for kids bones?

BusyBeez99 · 15/02/2017 21:13

11 year old. £10 a month plus mobile phone contract

kissingJustForPractice · 15/02/2017 21:24

My two (13 and 11) get £5 a week, but they also have to cover their mobile bills themselves (£7.50 each per month). We give them money for school lunches as and when they need them and buy all their clothes. I am thinking that they'll need clothes allowances soon, but separate to pocket money, because I'm not sure DS would ever get round to buying any...

EmeraldScorn · 15/02/2017 21:37

£10 a month won't buy her much, I personally would increase it.

rainbowunicorn · 15/02/2017 21:39

£10 would not even cover a trip to the cinema and bus fare to get there. I think if you can afford to increase it you should.

BeingMePls · 15/02/2017 22:13

11 yo, gets £40 a month. We generally pay for everything, food, outings etc so it's his to do as he pleases

TheProf · 15/02/2017 22:14

My dd age 12 gets £90 in her account every month. That covers her bus and lunches as well as her pocket money. I always have packed lunch stuff in though and I'm trying to get her to realise that buying water/crisps at school is silly when she can take it with her.

£50 goes in at the start of the month and another £40 halfway through. She's turning out to be quite sensible and now does her own xmas shopping etc. I still buy her basic clothes but she will contribute if I think trainers/jeans are a silly price. It works well for us.