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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Pocket Money

51 replies

lovemyway · 13/11/2015 20:54

Interested to know how much you give and how often. We give our 15 yr old £20 per month. She was happy with this but has found out her friend gets £60 and now "It's not fair!"
She has started a paper round and gets £10 a week and we are really proud that she has started to earn and learn the value of money but feels miffed that her friend has no job and still gets more.

What do you think? How much , if any, do you give?

OP posts:
madwomanacrosstheroad · 13/11/2015 21:04

My teenagers (similar age) have paper rounds and earn between 10 and 15 each week. I don't give them pocket money. I pay for their phone contracts, clothes etc.

Original poster
lovemyway · 13/11/2015 21:07

Thanks mad We pay for her clothes and phone contract. Expect her to use her money to save up for things and for trips to cinema or shopping with friends. Do your dd's ever moan that others get more or is it only mine that's whingeing?

OP posts:
madwomanacrosstheroad · 13/11/2015 21:23

Oh mine is having a seriously deprived childhood. According to her everybody else gets much more, doesn't have to help in the house and has much better things than her.

Original poster
lovemyway · 13/11/2015 21:40

Yep, sounds familiar. Think I need to stick to my guns. They'll always be someone getting more and someone getting less.

OP posts:
Ravingloony · 14/11/2015 11:15

I only give dd16 £5 a week. Yes everyone else gets more but she does nothing around the house and she's lucky she gets that tbh. I pay for phone contract, lunches, essentials though. If she helped out at home she would get more but she would rather sit on her behind doing nothing!

snozzlemaid · 14/11/2015 11:29

£20 a month here for dd14. Plus I top her phone up no more than £10 a month.

Sparklingbrook · 14/11/2015 11:34

DS1 (16) gets a fiver a week and his phone paid for which is £18 a month. He got a Saturday job as soon as he turned 16 though which means he doesn't need pocket money really.

BackforGood · 15/11/2015 00:47

my teen dc get £1 per year of their age, per month - so dd1 (17) gets £17per month and dd2 (14) gets £14 pm. They pay their own phones when they choose to put credit on, and we pay subs for anything they belong to.

dd1 also has a job (well, 2 jobs)

notmycup · 15/11/2015 01:13

DS 16 gets £30 per month but we pay most of his expenses - phone, clothes, toiletries, travel. His spending is mostly on games and snacks. When he turns 17 I'll increase it to £50 a month but he'll have more responsibility for his own expenses.

madmother1 · 15/11/2015 01:20

My 15 year old DD gets £55 per month plus I pay for her phone. She has a job that pays £20 per week. I only buy her a coat, school uniform and school shoes. She has to buy all her clothes and pay for her own socialising. I find this works well, as she has to budget herself.

Original poster
lovemyway · 15/11/2015 09:52

Wow madmother1 that's interesting. Does she manage to get everything? Or is there still moaning?

OP posts:
Indulgingmum · 15/11/2015 10:02

Madmother1
What kind of job does a 15 ur old do?

Original poster
lovemyway · 15/11/2015 10:03

Yeah I was wondering that too!

OP posts:
Original poster
lovemyway · 15/11/2015 10:04

Mine does a paper round for £10 a week as she can't get a proper part time job until 16.

OP posts:
Donge13 · 15/11/2015 11:18

Mine had evening and weekend jobs at that age earning around £100 a month,I paid for phones and they got £20 a month of us for doing there jobs around the house

gingerdad · 15/11/2015 11:23

My 14 and 13 DD both have jobs earn between 30-40 a Saturday pot washing. We give them a £10 a month and they have a monthly paper round.

Katedotness1963 · 15/11/2015 15:58

Ours get about £100 a month and we pay for their phones. They're 14 & 16.

aginghippy · 15/11/2015 16:18

Mine gets 50 per month. I have a standing order from my account to hers. She pays for her own clothes and toiletries. I pay for her phone and anything school related. Yes, she manages to budget and even save up for big things.

Original poster
lovemyway · 15/11/2015 18:52

Well there certainly is some variation. With regard to jobs under 16 I have been told is now illegal apart from paper round?! Pot washing? For £30/40 a day sounds amazingly well paid. At The Ritz? Do tell.

OP posts:
Donge13 · 15/11/2015 19:49

It's not illegal, just very restricted

TurnOffTheTv · 15/11/2015 19:54

My DD gets £50 a month and has to buy everything from that. Clothes/toiletries/make up/socialising/presents etc. I get her a winter coat and boots and school uniform. She also gets a bulk amount every 6 months to buy a winter/summer wardrobe. If she blows that she gets nothing else till the next one rolls around.

bigTillyMint · 15/11/2015 19:56

DD(16) started coaching gymnastics at 14. Whwn she stopped competing/training. It gives her a lot of extra cash to put to the £25 a month we give her.

DS(14) would like a job but not a paper round/pot washing. He could train as a football ref, but he doesn't have much time to spare with at least 2 training evenings and 2 matches a week, so he only really has £25 a month. I do buy essential clothes for him.

gingerdad · 15/11/2015 20:12

No just a local cafe. Get a bonus if it's busy and tips. Record was £55 one day. Did offer to work for dd1. She said no.

gingerdad · 15/11/2015 20:14

Here's the law on it.

www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

Ragwort · 15/11/2015 20:20

14 year old DS gets £15 a month (straight to bank account) - we do pay for phone and perhaps a pair of Primark jeans and a hoody a couple of times a year - anything else - Nike trainers or similar Hmm he has to pay for himself. He has to learn to budget if he wants to go to the cinema etc