My 16 year old has just told me...

[itwasadarkandstormy]

... that all his friends are given £200 a week by their parents as spending money. I'm calling bullshit.

Actually, I feel like I've had the stuffing knocked out of me. I thought I was generous at about £80 a week.

So, AIBU?

I think he needs to learn better money management if he doesn't have to pay for rent, bills, food, clothes or toiletries but can't make £80 a week last.

It's possible his mates don't as much (very possible) and they're bluffing

We give our 16-year-old $40 every two weeks. If he wants more, he can get a job. Once he gets his driver's license, he will have to get a job, because he does have a car, and the insurance will cost more than what we give him.

💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

There’s a lot more bullshit on this thread than just the OP! Whoever said their DD is expected to pay all the running costs of a car and buy all clothes on £20 a month - yeah right. And @chitofftheshovel there is no way on earth your kids are basically supporting themselves on £10 a week - school dinners cost more than that alone.

These threads bring out such shite. People who are banging on about when they were kids, you do realise that’s probably 20 years ago? Jobs aren’t as easy to get now. Most places would rather give jobs to adults. 30 years ago, I was earning a higher hourly rate in my Saturday job, than minimum wage is now for under 18s.

Well done OP, you suckered everyone in, but you knew you would with a post like that. It's pure, unadulterated BS and you know it. £80 a week? Yeah right, I'm marrying Prince Harry next week.

No wonder society is going to shit...
OP, there are adults having to pay bills and support themselves on £80 per week or less. What on earth sort of example do you think you are setting your child and what sort of adult do you think you will turn him into by giving him that obscene amount of money? He has already proved himself to be an ungrateful brat by demanding even more money from you. Well done

Calm down, Papafran. It's an OP of dubious veracity. Not the decline of Western civilization.

Tomorrow, the world will turn, the sun will rise and there will be something equally unlikely in Active Conversations.

Is this a joke? Is this seriously what is expected these days? I’m shitting myself at the thought of giving my now 10 month old that kind of money at 16. When I was 16 my parents didn’t give me any money, not even for clothes, I was told to buy everything myself apart from food and the roof over my head- Didn’t do me any harm whatsoever!

Stop the payments then miraculously he might actually get a job! That’s £4,160 a year.

My 16 yr old gets £10 a week! I'm so mean...

No wonder society is going to shit...

Nonsense. If OP truly pays this ridiculous amount she is alone in doing so on this thread. Over 200 others have said they pay much less. One extremely spoiled brat isn't going to send society down the pan.

Mine was getting £80 per month at 16 when we sent him back to the UK to board for sixth form in 2012. He has just started his MA, and gets £500 per month during term time for food, books, clothes, transport costs and entertainment.

My 16 year old had £20 a month and got a job when he wanted more!!

At 16 I was give the option of going to college while holding down a part time job and putting money towards the household bills or being kicked out.

Remove your daughter from your little finger and at least attempt to encourage her to be a functional member of society.

Why the hell does a teenager need to spend £80 a week on clothes and toiletries? I dont spend that a months on 3 of us!

Seriously why are you giving him so much have you got money to burn?

How the he'll is he ever going to learn the value of money if you are throwing that amount at him each week to fritter away?

Mine get money for doing thier chores and no chores = no money.

There is no incentive to get a job at 16yo if you are being handed £80 each week! Plus, clothes and toiletries don't have to be budgeted for...

He wants more?

Maybe the other friends get told that £200 per week - covers, their share of rent/food/electric/gas/parents taxi service/clothes/entertainment - but, they aren't handed it in actual cash?

My 15 year old gets approx £50 a month, that's from us and his Nan combined!

I don't have a spare £80 a week for myself, really can't imagine giving a teen that much. £200 is ridiculous, I can't imagine his friends actually get that much.

Mine gets about £20 a month, more or less - I will bung him a tenner if he's going to meet his mates and go out for food, but it's only every other week or so.

(I pay for clothes, his mobile plan, etc.)

I'd be inclined to say he is welcome to find a job to finance his lifestyle and given that your £80 is not good enough, you will now be treating yourself.

I suspect he is chancing his arm with regard to the claims about his friends. A bit of emotional blackmail wheedling to get what he wants? That is how grateful he is for getting a bloody generous allowance. Nice that.

£200 pw is more than an elderly person gets on pension credit!

C'mon everybody.....

I live in a reasonably affluent area, where there are parents who give their DC stupid amounts of money (like £80 a week)

These DC go out and buy drink and drugs.

I can't believe you would give a child £80 a week and still buy all of their clothes and toiletries. DS1 is only 14, he gets £20 a month, and is expected to save for fancy clothing items from that, or wait until Christmas/birthday. I will buy needed clothing.

Yawn....

£80 a week is crazy! I was lucky if I got £10!