AIBU to spend on my ‘step’ daughters?

[sohappens]

Genuinely not sure if I’m in the wrong or not! Brief backstory - met my boyfriend 18 months ago. All good and very happy. We introduced our kids into it about 4 months ago. Again all good, we all get along. I have two boys aged 10 and 13, he has 2 girls similiar ages. I’m a high earner, he isn’t. This isn’t an issue, he pays his way and works hard in a job he loves- it’s a role that serves vulnerable people and he’s amazing at it. Anyway the issue is his ex (the girls’ mum). I give my boys £20 each a week pocket money. Once we all started spending time together as a family, I started giving the same to the girls. They’re all sensible ish with the money. They spend it on shit on Roblox but they all save too. The mum only found out when the girls brought her a £50 birthday present and she asked where they got the money from. She’s gone mad about it- saying I’m trying to buy their love and that it’s too much money for their ages. She has demanded that I stop. What do you think?

No one is saying you are, but that is the sort of thing, as parents, we are taught to watch out for.

You are hilarious. My parents were giving my tween sister and I £20 a week back in 1990. We saved most of it, used it at holidays, and to buy souvenirs when we would go on Holiday to places like Disney. Or if we wanted to go do something with our friends, like go to the movies, buy some books at a bookfair.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/08/a-third-of-uk-parents-cutting-back-on-childrens-pocket-money

Average weekly pocket money in the early 90s was under £2. Your either a huge outlier, misrembering, are the OP under a different user name, or being a prat for fun.

😂

It’s keeping up with inflation. You really can’t even buy a birthday card for less than 5.95 now. Wrapping paper is crazy and so is McDonalds and Burger King. 20 doesn’t far in this economy. It’s generous but reasonable even if she disagrees. What does the father say about it?

Not lying. My parents were firmly middle class, and that's what we got. Sorry if other parents were cheap.

£20 a week in the 90s is the equivalent of £50-60 a week now. Lovely for you @TheCheekyCyanHelper that your parents could afford today’s equivalent of £500 a month in pocket money for two kids, but I’m sure you realise that is well above average.

Notice how you're all arguing about what your parents gave you/should give you, not a stranger who's calling herself a step mum after dating dad a few weeks 🤔

Because it's all relative - it may not be a lot to you, but for most/many people, it is (as evidenced in the replies you're getting here).
The mum might be feeling either/both jealous or inadequate, in that she can't provide them with that amount of spending money. You could argue that those feelings are for her to deal with, but you could also choose to not rock the boat by not introducing a variable that only you can control.

Give it to him and let him give it them - that's the way to do it..