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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

How much pocket money for a 6 year old?

30 replies

RubberDuck · 11/04/2007 14:59

Ds1 will be 6 in May and we're planning on starting regular pocket money from then on. The only problem is I seem completely out of touch as to what "reasonable" pocket money is (and without breaking our bank too!)

I was planning on working on a 10p per year of age (so 60p a week pocket money), but then thinking about it that means it'll take ages for him to save up for a small toy or a wanted DVD, so I'm wondering if I'm being a bit tight.

Then again, it's more about practising with money... it's not like he really needs anything, just an easier way for us to deal with his many whims and wants ... "well save up for it then"

I'm interested to know what other mumsnetters give their 6 year olds and what they think is reasonable.

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princesscc · 11/04/2007 15:03

None! My dd is 11 and I really should try to give her money on a regular basis, but I start with good intensions for a few weeks, then I forget and she forgets! I think when she was as young a six, we didn't bother at all though. Of course, I'm probably in the minority though.

Marne · 11/04/2007 15:05

Could you get him to help with housework to earn pocket money then the amount could depend on how much he has helped? 20p for putting his toys away, 20p for helping wash up etc...

beanie2bump · 11/04/2007 15:06

i would say £1 - 1.50 as this would allow them to save for desired items, and then u could always offer more money if jobs are done, etc

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bozza · 11/04/2007 15:06

I give my 6yo £1 per week largely because it is an easy round number. And sometimes he has saved up £££ to buy a £10-15 item.

shouldbedoingsomethingelse · 11/04/2007 15:07

My kids dont get pocket money as such, I pay for things if we are going out. If they are going out with friends to cinema/disco etc I give them money for that and i treat them to the occassional sweet etc

my 6 yo hasnt got any money sense with regards how much things cost. I did give him pocket money as part of a start chart system used for older kids, he held on to it for hours then gave it back saying he didnt want it. Once he even gave it to DH!

bozza · 11/04/2007 15:08

DS is not allowed to buy sweets with his and I buy things like ice-creams, pay for trips out etc.

seeker · 11/04/2007 15:25

The system round here is 10p per year of age times 2. So my 6 year old gets 1.20 In our family pocket money is a right - they don't have to earn it. But they can earn more money by doing extra jobs (car washing, gardening - stuff like that) They don't get paid for tidying their rooms, setting the table or the sort of jobs that I think of as their contribution to our family community. They can spend their pocket money on anything at all - including sweets, but they are not expected to pay for anything like trips or cinema tickets or anything like that.

JackieNo · 11/04/2007 15:30

We combine pocket money with the famous Mumsnet Pasta Jar, as an incentive for good behaviour. She starts each week off with 10 pieces of pasta in the jar (each piece of pasta equals 10p) and through the week she can gain bits for extra good behaviour, or lose them for particularly awful behaviour (happens very, very rarely, though - would have to be something really dreadful). Works for us, though more often than not it's just the £1 at the end of the week, which is fine.

Original poster

RubberDuck · 12/04/2007 08:32

Thanks for these - does seem like I'm quite a way under with 60p then!!

Wasn't planning on linking it with chores (mainly because I remember me being stubborn as a kid and unless I was actually saving up for something never bothering to do the chores! Slightly counter-productive).

I also like the idea of natural increase with age... so maybe 20p per year of age would be the way to go...

OP posts:

Twiglett · 12/04/2007 08:34

I'd say none personally

Twiglett · 12/04/2007 08:35

I don't recall EVER getting pocket money

I DO remember getting 2 jobs at the age of 13 though

Biglips · 12/04/2007 08:37

pocket money for a 6 yr old!!!!!!

Wow i wish i had pocket money too. From the age of 8, i used to wash the dishes every night to earn my pocket money.

Original poster

RubberDuck · 12/04/2007 09:04

TBH it's for selfish reasons too - far easier to respond to the constant "I want that"s by saying "well save up for it then"

OP posts:

emat · 12/04/2007 09:52

dd is 6 and she gets 1 Euro (70p) a week. She can earn extra for car washing, clearing up after my neice who I mind and anything else I can find for her to do.

chocorange · 12/04/2007 09:55

My ds (age 6) only gets 50 pence a week - at this stage I think it just gets him used to the concept of money - he isnt bothered if it takes him ages to save up.

He likes putting anything more than a pound in his savings account anyway since I told him he will get paid interest on it - dont think he has realised yet it stops him wasting it on tat in the toy shop.

juuule · 12/04/2007 09:59

We've never given pocket money.

custy · 12/04/2007 10:00

NONE

pocket money = set chores.

why would you just give your kid money for no reason - it constantly baffles me this subject.

work ethic - you work - i pay you.

mum ethic - help me do .... - doesn't negate set chores for pocket money,.

fennel · 12/04/2007 10:03

My 7 and 5 yo get 70p a week if (and only if) they clear up their bedrooms and their clothes. (it was 10p per year of age but the 5yo is better at that than the 7yo so it seemed unfair that she earned less for doing more work). They get pasta "treats" too, one treat for 10 pieces of pasta, which takes them about a week to earn, and the treat is something small, might cost 50p or £1. It's mostly about practising with money though, we get them to buy things with the pocket money we'd probably have bought them anyway - an ice cream, or a small toy.

Original poster

RubberDuck · 12/04/2007 10:03

Oh he'll have set chores that he'll have to do, it just won't be linked to money.

As I say, mine was linked to money so I just didn't bother to do the chores because I wasn't fussed about the money.

I want him to learn about money, be able to save up for things he wants rather than expecting them to be given to him. Know how to handle money, what change to expect, etc etc.

Read somewhere recently (was it elsewhere or mumsnet, I forget?) that primary school teachers are finding that children are far more likely to struggle with the concept of change and coins in class as fewer children have pocket money these days.

Mainly though, I want him to buy his own sodding tat and not expect me to do so

OP posts:

Original poster

RubberDuck · 12/04/2007 10:05

(Clarifying the chores thing.... my viewpoint is that you should help out in the house because you're a part of the family and that's what we do - all pull together. Not just because you're paid to do it)

OP posts:

juuule · 12/04/2007 10:06

Don't do money for everyday chores either. If we all live in the house then we should all help out in the house. Otherwise they would learn only to do things for payment and not because it's easier if we all co-operate.

JackieNo · 12/04/2007 10:49

Absolutely agree - we all live in the house, and so need to contribute to the running of it. Pocket money is so that, as you say, we can say - I'm not buying that [insert name of bit of tat] - save up for it yourself.

Twiglett · 12/04/2007 11:05

here's a story for you

DS has a little money (tooth fairy .. bits of change) .. he can count it very well

we went out about a month ago and he insisted on taking his money .. he had taken 26 pence out

we went to a farm .. the whole way there he was saying he wanted to buy an ice cream so I explained that they were more money than 26 pence but that I would give him the difference

so we went to buy an ice cream

he didn't want to give me his money to pay for the ice cream .. he gave me his money eventually and I paid the difference

cue 20 mins of distraught tears because "Mummy took my money" even though he'd just gobbled his ice cream he'd been talking about buying for the 25 min journey there

Twiglett · 12/04/2007 11:06

and may I just add ...

seeker · 12/04/2007 11:09

I think it's really important that pocket money is completely separate from "we're all part of this community jobs" which are done as a matter of course and "OK, wash the car and I'll give you two pounds jobs" Pocket money is just that - it gives them a bit of independence. It's not wages!

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