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Original poster

Children's pocket money

20 replies

annie987 · 22/08/2017 22:20

My twins are 10 and we really need to start giving them regular pocket money (I know we are a bit late to the party!)
I think money each week should be linked to chores. £3 per week for washing up every night and £1 for feeding and cleaning the pets at least 5 days in 7.
My H says I should just give them the £4 and expect the chores to be done as an expected contribution to the household.
How does pocket money work on your house? How old are your children and how much do they get?

OP posts:
Sunshinegirls · 22/08/2017 22:24

I agree with your DH. Chores should be done anyway. Having said this, I will pay the odd extra £1 or so for chores which are above and beyond the normal day to day. I think £4 a week for 10 years old is also at the top end of plenty

Nuttynoo · 22/08/2017 22:25

I give no regular pocket money, expect chores to be done when asked.

BusterGonad · 22/08/2017 22:26

My son who likes to come into our bed at night (which is hell) gets a set amount for each night he stays in his own bed! It's an unusual arrangement but you set the rules for what works for you!

SavoyCabbage · 22/08/2017 22:26

I wouldn't pay them for looking after their own pets. Especially not even every day. Either you are trying to teach them that their income is related to work or you,aren't.

If you want to link the two I think it has to be a job they should not already be involved in. Like hoovering the car or dusting the skirting boards.

travis45 · 22/08/2017 22:28

We have started doing £5 on a Monday, if the misbehave £1 will get took away and they can earn it back etc for the week.

Trying this out to see if it will improve behaviour.

Downyonder · 22/08/2017 22:33

Didn't start pocket money until senior school as DS didn't have need for it before. We set up a bank account, with a debit card, put £10 per week in and he was left to budget by himself. It's funny what changes from what they want to what they need when it's from there own money. He's nearby 19 now and he's so good with money. There was no extra top ups and if he didn't do his but around the house I'd reduce it to £1 for that week. That was only so I didn't have to cancel and then set up the standing order again.

nutbrownhare15 · 22/08/2017 22:36

Agree with your dh. They shouldn't be paid for doing chores they should be doing anyway.

Ellisandra · 22/08/2017 22:41

I don't like the idea of money for chores either.
I told my 8yo - you're a part of this household, you pitch in.

Even if you do believe in money for chores, definitely not for looking after their own pets!

I think it sends the wrong message that they shouldn't just be doing them anyway. I also think you need to look ahead - if you have to pay them £4 now, how do you think you'll ever get them to wash up when they're 14 and mouthy and £4 doesn't seem like a lot any more?

My 8yo gets £3 a week, but she doesn't really spend it weekly. It was to give her a reference point for the value of money, and to learn to enjoy the feeling of having savings. She loves that she can buy a £12 top because she didn't buy stuff she wasn't that bothered about for 4 weeks.

I find it helps when she wants something, to not say no but be able to say "yeah if you like - how many weeks is that?" and I love seeing her face when she realises the 10th pencil case she wants is 5 weeks money - and chooses to put it back!

Grimmfebruary · 22/08/2017 22:43

Look into go Henry, it's excellent and chore/task driven if you want it to be.

OnlyHereForTheFeminists · 22/08/2017 22:45

DS has jobs which he is expected to do for no pay, such as putting away his own toys, but he gets pocket money for tidying up his baby sister's toys. Basically anything where he's cleaning up after himself is unpaid, but cleaning up after other people earns him money.

SheepyFun · 22/08/2017 22:49

My DD is only 4, so a bit young to understand pocket money yet.

However friends of ours with teens/tweens have some pocket money which is given anyway, and some chores which have to be done anyway. Pocket money can be topped up by doing additional tasks (each of which have a price), e.g. washing the car, taking the bins out etc. There's a limit to the additional money which can be earned each week, and the car can only be washed at a certain frequency! Hope that gives you some ideas.

Oddsocksforeveryone · 22/08/2017 22:53

I've had this argument discussion with my mother so many times. We don't give our children money as a reward for doing chores because at some point they might realise the effort isn't worth the money or something similar. I don't want them to help because they want/need money, I want them to understand what is involved in the running of a household and play their part.

Laniakea · 22/08/2017 22:53

we're with your dh - pocket is given & separate from the expectation that they will do 'chores' as and when I ask them too.

The only thing I pay extra for is for my eldest to babysit the younger children so dh & I can go out (as opposed to keeping an eye on them while I have an errand to run which is just part of being a family & helping each other).

AnathemaPulsifer · 22/08/2017 22:55

Yup, as above. They get money because learning to control your own budget is an important part of growing up. They do chores because chores have to be done and leaving everything to the grown ups isn't an option.

Katedotness1963 · 22/08/2017 22:55

We gave pocket money but didn't tie it to chores. We all do stuff around the house because we all live in and mess it up, so we all have to make sure it's clean and tidy.

Ellisandra · 22/08/2017 23:00

I'm so glad to read a thread full of non chore linkers... I'm usually the odd one out when this comes up in real life!

Toadinthehole · 23/08/2017 11:05

Regular pocket money here; not dependant on chores. The children are part of the family and therefore entitled to a bit of its money, and for the same reason are obliged to muck in with house stuff. I will pay them extra for other jobs, wage negotiable.

I'm not keen on the idea of "paying" kids for basic chores.

Peachyking000 · 23/08/2017 11:07

My DS10 gets £10 a week, and is expected to do certain chores e.g. Help feed the pets, change his bedding, empty the dishwasher. He saves most of it but will sometimes put it towards a branded t-shirt or similar

hels71 · 23/08/2017 11:20

DD is 9 and gets £1 a week regardless. She recently asked if she could earn some extra money for something she wants, so there are a few jobs she can do such as the washing and digging up vegetables (her choices!) that she can get paid for.

WhooooAmI24601 · 23/08/2017 11:34

I put £10 a week into DS1's bank account (he's 11 and has one of those Lloyds junior accounts with a debit card so he can be in control of his money a little more). From that money I expect him to pay for his own treats and tat, but I don't pay for specific chores. They're expected to empty and sort their own laundry baskets, put away their clean clothes and take care of their rooms. They also clean out their rabbits twice a week.

DS2 is 6 so isn't at that stage yet, but if we're out he'll have a magazine or book from a supermarket while DS1 has to decide wether to spend his own money on it.

When it's term-time we have a rule that for the first 15 minutes after we get home everyone has to help about the house; they might hoover while I chuck tea on, or clean the windows while I put the laundry on. It means we all have a quick burst then can sit down together and do homework or watch a movie or take the dog out without anything needing sorting later in the evening. It works well for us so far.

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