Pocket money for a 12yr old?

[NettoSuperstar]

How much do you give, and what are they expected to buy with it?

My 13yo gets £50 a month paid into her bank. She has had an cash card for the last two two years so she can use it in town/buy things online/go to the cashpoint. She buts her own clothes/toiletries with this, and it normally covers trips to town/costa with friends. She knows she has to budget for the month, as I won't give her extra, she knows this, and it's never happened in 18 months.

£10 a month and her PAYG phone (prob another £5, I top up £10, get free texts she uses them, then the credit the next month)
However, she is a massive blagger of money and forgetter of purse, so she's always in the black.

Ds2 is 12, nearly 13. I give him £25 a month, which is paid directly into his bank account (I setup a standing order, otherwise I would forget).
He has a debit card with that account.
I still pay for pretty much everything though - clothes, mobile, lunches, clubs....his pocket money is for the stuff I don't want to pay for - like Microsoft points on his Xbox, or junk snacks, and he knows once he's spent it, there will be no more forthcoming til the next month

Turn of I'm debating allowances, but until both DDs can only wear adult clothes, they are massively unfair, unless DD1 dresses entirely at Primark and DD2 at M&S and that's the poor site of their styles.

Opposite, DD1 does nice coloured jeans, jumpers and expensive denim jacket, nice dresses, leggings and long leather boots. She has a horrid tendency to like more expensive things.

DD2 does 'rock chick' leggings, denim shorts, a fun Tshirt and pumps.

DD1 also has a terrible book habit, she will never be rich.

£11/month (her age), purely for her pleasure spending. I pay for phone, ordinary clothes, food, etc.

My DD (12) gets £50 a month paid into a current account for which she has a debit card. I pay for absolutely nothing else - except food and clothes - and if she wants something expensive, she has to save up for it. It's saved me a fortune.

Yes, that sounds a good ploy. Do you find that they leave it in there and tend to get it out to buy bigger things? I don't mind them spending it, as long as a bit is saved, and it isn't spent all on sweets!

My daughter had a very quiet summer friends wise, they were all busy with family holidays, days out etc so barely saw each other, so she has saved quite a bit, plus her odd bits of birthday money, means she has about £200 saved for a winter wardrobe, which sounds like loads, but spending online in top shop doesn't go far!

She hates spending her own money and it's amazing how that "got to have it" thing doesn't seem so appealing anymore when she's paying herself! Means the house isn't so full of junk anymore either!

My dd is 12 and we give her £15 per month. We pay for clothes, school essentials, phone (£7.50/month) and clubs she goes to.

She mainly uses her money for snacks at school, music etc from iTunes and small bits of jewellery and the like. I want her to learn to budget and encourage her to save some till the next month so she builds up a reserve.

DD (11) gets £2.50/week as long as she tidies up some pre-agreed part of her room each week (used to be her whole room: I've mostly eased up on that since the change to secondary) and helps out a bit, nothing major. We used to get her to earn it all, but she simply seemed to get used to having no money and persuading DH or me to get her what she wanted instead. I'd like to go over to £10/month, but am concerned she'll just blow it. I pay for the phone (mislaid, therefore very cheap to run ), lunches, travelcard, any basic clothing needs and gifts, she pays for everything else. Cinema trips are rare and I pay for those when they happen. Price rises and increasing social life mean I think I'll probably have to shell more when she's 12, but I haven't got to putting a figure on it yet. Netto, we're on the same track in terms of wanting a sensible sum that requires budgeting, but enough to avoid extra handouts, but I don't think I could run to £15/week. I struggle a bit sometimes with £2.50!

My DD12 gets £10 a week. However, just over £5 of that is accounted for in one weekly train journey and weekly subs to a club she goes to. I pay for her phone and buy most of her clothes. We also pay for / contribute to outings. The £4.50 covers magazines / sweets / drinks out / other crap like bits of make-up and hair things

My DS (12) gets £10 a month (direct into bank account). We pay his phone (£7 a month).

As others have said, it really depends on what is the 'norm' for your teenager, we live in quite a rural area and my DS has never been to the cinema/bowling etc unless we go as a family. The most he really spends is on the odd can of coke or something from Greggs a snack if he is out and about with his friends on a Saturday, which doesn't happen every week. Can't think when he last had any new clothes, they would probably be a birthday or Christmas present. He tends to save up most of his pocket money and use it for PS3 games as he knows we would never buy anything like that for him .

BackforGood has expressed it far better than me . We have also always encouraged our DS to save & we set up his first savings account when he was born with the monetary gifts he was given, he is also usually given cash gifts at Christmas and birthdays and puts nearly all of it into his savings accounts. He already talks about his 'university fund' .

Hmm hard one, well I had to think about this the same way not long ago with my 11 year old DD. Personally I think five pound a week is more than enough (Call me old fashioned) but in my opinion kids end up wasting their money anyway. Although I strongly encourage social outings as kids become older and more independent.

DD in year 7 has £25 per month paid into her bank account with a debit card for sweets, Claire's Accessories, iPod top ups etc. I was ruthless last night at a service station when she only had 25p available & told her she needed to plan a bit better! I still buy books & clothes along with the odd essential phone top up (£10 since June, so she can text to say she's got home safely from school).

Thanks, this is all really helpful and I'm keeping an eye on the thread.
So far it seems to be ok with the money I've agreed.
I don't expect her to save, any large purchases I will buy, within reason and for birthday or Christmas.
She's not interested in clothes yet, but my thinking was I'd buy a few basics from Primark/Asda, anything else will be up to her, or for her to put onto birthday/Christmas list. I'll buy underwear though, obviously, and school clothes.

I don't expect her to save - actually I think that's a mistake, I have always encouraged my DS to save (obviously not much, but just to learn the value of money and how important it is to save up for 'big purchases). If children think they can always run to the Bank of Mum and Dad you are not helping them with financial management in the future.