Pocket Money - How much? What age? On what terms?

[Katnewman]

Hiya, I'm new on here. I don't have kids of my own but my partner has 2 kids, a 7 year old boy and 11 year old girl. He is considering giving his daughter an allowance in return for completing basic chores including cleaning out her fish tank, tidying her room, doing piano practice, doing homework. Whilst I don't disagree with her having an allowance, I don't feel it should be given in return for what I consider basic responsibilities. His daughter has only recently been asked to do any chores (clearing the table, tidying up after herself etc) so I'm reluctant to switch to another approach so quickly. I feel giving both kids real responsibilities fuels an intrinsic sense of place and belonging and makes them contributors to a family unit. I'd rather see them both do basic chores as standard ( the fish tank, tidying bedrooms, piano practice, homework) and allowances are given for achievements (passing a piano grade, washing car, helping in the garden). I never had pocket money so I am clearly biased so would love to know others views. What has worked with your kids?
How did you introduce your system and at what age? Ultimately it is my partners decision but he has asked for my view. Thanks all! x

I have 3 dc (youngest now 16, so have been through this stage). We never linked pocket money to 'Chores'. Like you, I think every family member should take some (age related) responsibility for looking after themselves, their pets, and contributing to the whole family, and I think they should do that because they are a member of the family and they live as part of the family, in the house. It shouldn't be something they are able to 'opt out of' if they decide they don't want the money - which is what it suggests if they are linked to jobs.

Aside from that, we gave our dc pocket money from age 7. It seemed a good time as their maths was up to the idea of 'how much change will I have if I spend X amount' or 'how long it will take to save for Y if I save this much per week' etc. We only ever gave small amounts.... 70p a week to start with, but it gave the general idea of choosing how to spend own money, and the concept of 'when it's gone, it's gone', so really early budgeting skills.
Once they went to secondary, it moved to monthly amounts, - £11 per month at aged 11.
This question is asked a LOT on MN, and the amounts people give vary HUGELY. Some poeple can't believe how much some dc have to spend, and others profess not to believe how any youth can survive on so little but the vast majority usually say it shouldn't be linked to doing jobs around the home, except sometimes later when older dc want to 'earn some more' and negotiate extra jobs such as mowing the lawn / washing the car etc for extra spends.

We don’t link pocket money with chores either. The youngest is 10 and gets £10 but She does get more from her DGPs. Have you thought about opening a bank account for the eldest so that she can check her balance online and use a debit card?

DD also has this book from Paperchase where she logs money coming in or out.

Thanks BackForGood, really helpful and I agree with your approach. Interesting to know a majority also share a similar view. I feel this is such a crucial point in her life to establish some important values that, for various reasons, haven't been talked about.

That's a good idea re bank account and setting some parameters around what to.do with the money. Ultimately I think the most important thing here is her growing confidence by seeing she has something to contribute and being part of something that is bigger than her world alone.

My 10 yr old gets £3 and my 12 yr old gets £4 each week. We have some basic expectations for that e.g keeping room tidy, good behaviour etc but occasionally we give them opportunities to earn more. From that they have to save 50p and give 50p to a charity of their choice. The rest is theirs to do with as they wish. I think, having spoken to other parents, the amount is lower than average however it is purely frivolous for them so we pay clothes, activities etc and they use to mostly buy slime or Lego figures.

Thanks Srappydappydoo. Good shout on giving to charity - there needs to be a parameter in there that encourages her consider other people so that could work! Cheers all