Pocket-money/pasta jar/treats Question

[jodee]

DS is 5 and we have been doing the pasta jar pocket-money reward/punishment thing for a couple of months (are you around, Soupy?).

This is working well, but obviously taking a while to build up to a decent amount of 10 pences that are worth spending without me adding to them.

I think my question really is, how often do you treat your kids when you a) give pocket money b) don't give pocket money? Do you have a system where they get, say, a comic every Sat or every fortnight? Is this out of their own pocket-money or yours? DS doesn't really care for sweets as a treat and likes a toy, but of course these are more expensive.

I want ds to 'earn' a toy, but on the other hand i do like to treat him occasionally. He isn't spoilt (only child!!!), I don't give in to pester power, but he finds it hard if, e.g. we are buying a present in Woolworths for a classmate's birthday, why it isn't his 'turn' for a present, IYSWIM?

Do you know what - just getting the money is enough for DSs! They like counting it up and seeing how much they've got.

When it gets to about £5, I did plan to take them to spend it but it's realy not come to that - they don't worry about ctually spending it.

Treat wise, it's not a regular thing. If htey're with me and have been really good we'll maybe buy something small like a magazine or if we've been out for the day we'll get something.

Thanks Soupy, ds likes counting the money too!