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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No pocket money for teen

56 replies

WatermelonWaveclub · 30/07/2022 12:41

Just interested to hear what you do with your teens and different opinions.

Myself and my DBF (best friend) both have 15yos. Mine gets an allowance from me and pocket money from my DF. It totals £70 per month. DBF's teen doesn't get any allowance or pocket money. She obviously gets her clothes/toiletries bought for her and a fiver here and there when she asks. DBF and I were discussing it and she doesn't want to give her any money as she wants her to get a job and thinks if she gets pocket money it will discourage her.

I can see her thinking but firstly I don't think there are many jobs going for their age group and I also think a small amount of money wouldn't discourage them if they could get more money on top by working. I actually think my DS gets too much. Before they broke up from college he was also getting money for transport/food too and I know he would treat her as she was the only one that had no money for food - her DM made her a very nice packed lunch.

So overall, I feel I've gone too far in one direction (give too much money) but I feel she is too far in the other direction (not enough money). What do you think?

OP posts:
avamiah · 31/07/2022 02:21

My Daughter is nearly 13 and a only child.
Her Dad gives her £40 a week and has done since she started secondary school.
She has a Go Henry card for travel expenses and refreshments and emergencies if any were to occur ( hopefully not)which I top up £15 a week minimum, so £60 a month.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 31/07/2022 02:42

Depends on what you can afford. Dd3 is our youngest and gets £60 per month. Her older sisters (10/12 year age gap) got £40 so the same amount. I buy toiletries etc. She uses it on the odd Costa trip or at Primark. Sometimes a trip to the pictures. As with her sisters, there is no sign of it ruining her work ethic. In fact when DD1 got a cleaning job at 16, I carried on giving her the pocket money.

RockinHorseShit · 31/07/2022 02:53

She's very short sighted, how does she expect her DCs to learn to manage money without trusting them to do so.

My DD has probably been spoilt allowance wise as we wanted her to concentrate on her education rather than look for jobs. She's was out there looking & now has 2 jobs that she's worked really hard at to save up for university. She has never presumed we will help her & is fiercely independent & excellent at managing her money

CeeceeBloomingdale · 31/07/2022 02:57

My 15yo doesn't have set pocket money. I've offered her an allowance but she doesn't want one, she prefers me to buy her clothes, pay for her phone, food out etc. She has access to cash and there's at least £100 on her debit card for incidentals so she doesn't have to ask. for anything. She's not bothered about getting a part time job as she isn't motivated by money and I'm OK with that as she has her GCSEs this year.

2pinkginsplease · 31/07/2022 03:10

avamiah · 31/07/2022 02:21

My Daughter is nearly 13 and a only child.
Her Dad gives her £40 a week and has done since she started secondary school.
She has a Go Henry card for travel expenses and refreshments and emergencies if any were to occur ( hopefully not)which I top up £15 a week minimum, so £60 a month.

So your 12 year old gets £55 a week? Wow!

what does she spend it on?

Musti · 31/07/2022 03:38

I don’t think £70 is a huge amount. £15 a week by the time they’ve bought a fast food and 1 but if make up/clothes it is gone.

My 2 eldest kids had jobs at that age though.But one got a job through a friend of mine and another through a friend of hers. It’s not that easy to find a job at that age.

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