talk to me about pocket money.

[ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo]

ds is 5.5 and i did start giving pocket money before but it wasn't for anything specific, just given to him on a friday (40p because he was 4) for him to spend on what he wanted.

so now he has started asking loads for things like kids magazines and sweets when we go to the shop. i wont buy them for him but i think i ought to let him eran his money and then get to choose himself what it goes on.

so how much would you give a 5 year old and how should he earn it? he makes his own bed anyway, helps with dishes, tidies his own toys and any mess he makes. i don't want to start rewarding him for looking after himself and his own things, and also, i dont really want to reward him when he does things in the house like helping with dinner and hoovering etc because i think that should be a given that all members of the house pitch in. so now i am struggling with what he can actually do that doesn't fall under those categories so he can earn money.

We gave our boys the same sort of amount as you 50p a week when 5 80p a week when 8 until they went to senior school when, if I remember, it changed to quite a bit more - as they need more. Think it was £40 a month when 14 £60 a month when 16 etc. Sadly, and maybe stupidly we never made them do jobs and now, at 20 and 18, they are not inclined so I would start with your DS now and you may be more lucky when he is older. Still love mine to bits but they are messy pups. Having said that, since DS1 started Uni and lives away he seems a whole lot more domesticated. hope for the younger one yet -he goes this year (if he gets a place).

well so far ds1 is very good about taking care of his own personal chores, bed making etc. ds2 is too small (18 months)to understand the money but knows to put rubbish in the bin, and wipe messes up, tidy toys etc. i just don't want to fall into the habit of paying them for doing jobs that i think they should be doing nyway, like putting washing in the machine and hoovering the living room (stuff that isn't necessarily for them IYSWIM) my mum had to bargain with my 23 year old sister during the summer to get her to hoover every few days as Dsis was unemployed and just not doing anything at all in the house, not even making her own bed, so mum agreed to pay her to do this stuff!! i will NOT be that mum!

We started pocket money at 5, £1 a week. They get a pay rise on birthdays .

I don't believe they should do chores to earn their pocket money.

They do have their own chores to do around the house though, again this increases around their birthdays .

They have to keep own rooms tidy (5yo ds gets help). Put away cutlery/polish/put away own clothes are the regular jobs. Additions can be vacuuming, clean bath, putting other clothes upstairs.

When dd was saving for something she did extra 'chores' for which I payed 50p each for. Whatever you're happy to do really - 50p to save me having to sort socks out was a bargain imo .

ok, i will have a think about all those little jobs I'm not so keen on and then see what he thinks. thanks.