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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Do you give your teenager an allowance?

12 replies

Espeon · 22/02/2015 06:27

My DD is 18 and at college. Is it normal that I still give her a small allowance every month and buy most of her clothes/shoes/chemist stuff?

We are not well off by any means, but as she hasn't got a part-time job (mostly because she has Aspergers and tends to say things that offend people...) I still do it.

Should I push her to find a job instead?

OP posts:
Blush12 · 22/02/2015 06:47

I still give my DS17 an allowance he gets £180 per month plus he also has a part time job.

SecretSquirrels · 22/02/2015 10:13

My 16 year old gets £80 a month to cover clothes, entertainment and travel. I pay for his college bus pass and lunches. I will also be paying for driving lessons soon. He has a casual job a few hours a month mostly in summer.

BackforGood · 22/02/2015 14:14

Mine only get 'pocket money', and then, up until the end of the school year after they turn 18.
If they want more to spend then they have to get a job.
Clearly your dd might need more support with that, but supporting her to overcome the things that make it difficult for her to hold a job will help her more, long term, than giving her money.
It's going to depend a lot on your finances though, and how many other dc you have to support.
I am like this --> Shock at the amounts some teens are given by their parents, but clearly we all live in such different circumstances, there's going to be a HUUUUUUUUGE difference between what people give their dc.

stripeyonesie · 22/02/2015 14:35

DS 17 has AS and gets an allowance of £150 a month, but I buy most of his essentials - clothes, toiletries etc. It's only a small chunk of his DLA so it's pretty affordable, and I think he needs to get used to spending it and making financial decisions for himself. I still get child benefit and tax credits for him as he's at college, so I see that as going towards his essential living costs. He gets a free bus pass due to his AS so no travel costs, and we've had funding for driving lessons from the Family Fund. He wouldn't be capable of a part-time job yet due to his AS.

bigTillyMint · 22/02/2015 17:57

Yes.

DD is 15 and gets £25 a month plus phone. She works too.

DS is nearly 14 and will also get £25 a month plus phone (gets £20 ATM)

MrsGuyGarvey · 22/02/2015 18:09

My three (between 12 - 15) all get £40 per month, plus their phones paid for and all clothes, haircuts etc. if they want an item of clothing rather than need it they might buy it themselves.

None have a part time job, rather annoyingly dd1 isn't 16 until August so even though she'll finish school after gcse's she's not likely to be able to get a job. I think once they're 18 pocket money will stop.

bigTillyMint · 22/02/2015 18:52

Oh dear, reading your posts, it looks like we are very stingy. I do give a fiver here and there if they are getting lunch out. And I buy essentials.

Original poster
Espeon · 22/02/2015 18:54

Wow, some people do give a lot! I don't feel weird any more.

She doesn't get DLA, they said no. I would love her to get a part-time job, to start off her CV and learn social skills. I, too, have Aspergers, and though I hated it at the time, it helped that I have worked since I was 11 to build social skills.

OP posts:
Original poster
Espeon · 22/02/2015 18:57

Tilly, not at all! I've four siblings and my Dad would only hand over a fiver after I had mowed the grass/hoovered the entire 4 bed house or washed the car every Saturday morning :)

I'm in my mid thirties, so not too long ago :)

OP posts:
abitwrong123 · 23/02/2015 10:57

DD is almost 15 and I give her £10 per week if she does her chores, she has to do the dishwasher each evening after I've cooked tea and hoover twice a week.

I do give her extra in the holidays for sundries like bus fare etc if she is seeing friends and I can afford it.

SecretSquirrels · 23/02/2015 12:59

There is a big difference between an 18 year old and a 14 year old.
Mine got £20 a month at 14 but I bought all their clothes etc.

I think there comes a point when you want to teach them an element of budgeting and managing money.

I decided that the start of sixth form was a good time and increased their allowance to £80 a month. This has to cover all entertainment, clothes, haircuts, phone (giff gaff) and gift buying.

I think it's likely that most girls spend more on clothes than boys. DS rarely spends much of his allowance but I worked out how roughly much I spent over a year on clothes and haircuts so it seemed fair. DS2 gets exactly what DS1 got at the same age I have a spreadsheet.

pepsikat · 23/02/2015 16:47

give her bus money, pay half of her phone bill and basic essentials (deodorant) but that's it she earns her own money from a part time job

she's 17

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