when to give pocket money and how much

[B8]

My five year old is just about to start school. He seems at the mo to be constantly demanding to be bought things wherever we are(the highlight for the zoo was the shopeven though he loves animals. I've been thinking about starting pocket money and linking it to him doing things like keeping room tidy etc to try and help him appreciate things a bit more- any one got any ideas and what are people rouhgly giving 5yr olds and should they have a savings account for them to put some pocket money in each week/month?

i have a savings account for him but he also gets a pound from my mum to spend in town. i have a good boy sticker chart if he does somat good he puts a sticker on and when its filled ha gets a gift and a special day out.another good one is to collect copper in a bowl then take him to the bank to exchange it then he spends it.

we start pocket money at 5 - 50p a week (and it goes up 10p a year so dd, who has just turned 6, now gets 60p).

Thanks for help. Love the idea of increments Foxinsocks!

We have the pasta jar "scheme" as suggested by Mumsnet (we wrote a list of actions that will get him a piece of pasta, and another of the things that will make him to loose one). We put five pasta pieces in the jar at the beginning of the week and exchange the pasta pieces for 5 pence coins at the end of the week. That's his pocket money, whatever he earns through good behaviour (bonus is that you will end up with an angelically expensive child)

mine don't get pocket money until they are 7 and they get a pound. and then it goes up slowly

well my 2 eldest who are 9 and 11 yrs old, have to earn pocket money. We have a list of chores that they can earn money from eg setting the dinner table, keeping room tidy , putting away clothes, washing up a few plates and each chore earns them from 20p to 80p. We have a list and we write down what they have done within the week and i tot up at the end of the week. This week they have earned "zilch" cos they're all to flippin lazy and expect me to do it! So this week i have earned about 50 quid!

We have exactly the same thing as our dd1 is starting school in Sept. We are giving her 40p (10p for each year) plus 10p from Grandma to make it 50p. It will go up by 10p a yr, probably until she's ten or so. We already have a savings account for dd1 but will give her a piggy bank for her pocket money - it doesn't seem worth putting such a small amount in the bank. The savings account is a good idea though, I think we will get her one when she is a bit older - the one we've been putting money into is a high interest net account so not appropriate for her own use for a while!

Re money for chores, I'm not a huge fan of this myself as I think there are certain things they should do without being bribed e.g. tidying toys, keeping rooms neat, and, when older, washing up, helping with housework etc. After all, we don't get paid for doing it! However, there are extra jobs like cleaning the car which you could give pocket money for.

I agree Sobernow, a decent allowance is essential for ten plus as they have so many things they need to buy, and that they would rather keep private!

well i dont exactly "bribe" my kids!!! if they dont help around the house, they dont get extra money. makes no odds to me !! they are helpful in some ways and they are bought things when i have enough money but if they want something that i cant afford at the time, if they do some extra chores, they get to get whatever it is they wanted. i dont think it does any harm for kids to learn they cant have everything they want when they want it and it doesnt do them any harm to help out with extra chores to get a bit of extra cash.

Sorry, wasn't having a dig. And I definitely agree that children need to learn they don't always get what they want and have to wait a while, that is why we are giving dd1 pocket money in the first place as she has got well used to presents left, right and centre! And I must admit we do use bribery for good behaviour i.e. the dreaded sticker chart!

My kids get pocket money aged 5 and 7, but they have to clean their rooms for this. This is not 'keeping room tidy' I do expect them to properly 'clean'.

Actually this week they earnt an extra £1 each as DD7 cleaned teh living room and DD5 did teh hall and stairs.

I admit I bribe them, but I am trying to teach them that we ALL have to do the cleaning. Sometimes they will do extra stuff like washing up, feeding the dog etc, BUT they only get teh money if they do the chores without being nagged, I do help as well.

i didnt think for one minute u were having a dig hun! we all do things different. Thing is, its really hard as my 11yr old goes out with his friends and i always feel i have to give him a few quid case he wants a drink or summat to eat as they quite often go to Priory Park to play footie). I spose thats why he gets lazy indoors as he only has to say he's off out with his friends and i go a dippin in my purse! that then starts my 9 yr old off as she isnt allowed out with her friends like my 11yr old is so she feels he gets more than her! its so hard trying to be fair isnt it.

I can imagine, I find it hard enough sorting out who gets the Thomas the Tank Engine spoon and who gets the Teletubby one!

hehe. my 4 yr old is funny, we give him a grown up fork and spoon as he doesnt like the small ones cos he feels left out! but he still insists on using his fingers. the thing is, he starts full time in sept and they expect them to have table manners!!! i spend all meal times saying "use your cutlery" !!!!!

this is my 1st time on here and i have to say i am totally addicted!!! i may never need to speak to my husband agen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!