Allowance / pocket money for DS13

[FusionChefGeoff]

He’s a good kid and has asked if we can review his allowance now he’s turned 13 so I’m wondering what everyone else does?

He gets £25 a month at the moment.

Both in terms of how much they get - and then what they are expected to pay for out of that?

Also he’s currently expected to keep his room
vaguely tidy once a week, put his laundry away and empty the dishwasher. That’s about it really as he trains most nights at some sport or other so doesn’t have much time once that’s done, showered, homework etc.

We are definitely comfortable so could afford to
increase but don’t want him to get spoilt!!!

My 16 year old gets £120 a month and I pay for his phone bill and literally nothing else. If he goes out for lunch/ with friends/ gets the train/ goes to the cinema he pays for it. He buys odd bits like a new fan for his room or a new phone charger.
I do buy him new clothes and shoes mainly but he spent £80 on clothes himself this summer as well. He also has a job on a Sunday so mainly saves the money from that. He has been getting the £120 for a couple of years. I think it’s probably cheaper for me than £20 here and there.

In terms of jobs he is in charge of keeping his room tidy. Big job as he has a big room and he has friends over a lot. This summer we have agreed that I will cook when I’m at home but when I’m at work he cooks meals for himself from hello fresh. Previously I would have made him something and left it in the fridge for when I was at work but now I just leave him to it as I do 10 hr shifts so it’s too much. I don’t ask him to do anything else as that seems enough as I want him to relax this summer as he starts his A levels in September.

His dad doesnt give him pocket money but he pays child maintenance which we put into a savings account for driving lessons. That’s only started recently as prior to that I had to use it for bills.

My DC gets basically the same for similar level of chores.

They just pay for treats (eg sweets out) and any big extra things they want between bday/xmas eg a game for a games console but really that’s coming from money they get as presents.

£120! I don't get that much spending money a month and I am an adult with a job!

To be clear I meant similar to OP & DC similar age.

I think €80 to €100 a month

Are you paying for things on top of that? Clothes, phone bill, bus fairs, toiletries, activities with friends etc? £25 a month won’t get you far at all.

DSD just turned 15 and gets £250 a month but is pretty much expected to buy everything with it including her cats food etc, she has to think about budgeting and saving up if she has something she wants or trip planned. It’s also not connected to chores.

At the moment we pay for everything - but unusually we bought the phone but he is responsible for
his PAYG data - deliberately to restrict his usage / reduce the reliance on the phone. It’s working well so far and he spends around £10 a month on that on average. So the remaining £15 is basically for sweets and he gets quite a bit of birthday and Xmas money.

I like the idea of a bigger budget that includes EVERYTHING so he gets used to managing money.

I think people have identified the two approaches...

Small amount of "extra" money, but parents pay for everything/cover needs/buy bigger things if they need/want them..

Or

Bigger amount, but they have responsibility to cover all their needs.

Either approach is sound and sensible. The issue comes with mixing the two. It is the parents who give the large amount so that their children can "learn to budget" but then actually end up buying everything/adding to it anyway. Those are the ones who risk "spoiling". Personally, I prefer the former, but I think most teenagers would rather have the later.

I would increase and ask him to buy clothes out of it as well.

it helps him learn about managing money and reduces the demands for expensive clothes!

14 yo DS. Gets £60 but that’s for gym membership, treats and occasional train fares and lunch in town.
He earns a good amount for football reffing which he uses for fancy clothes or other items I can’t fund.
I pay his phone contract, clothes, trainers and other essentials.
it works although he could do more chores.