I’m considering revamping the teens pocket money, to a monthly allowance, to cover more stuff, so that they can learn to budget.
They are 13 and 16, about to start High School (we have a 3 tier first/middle/high school system) and Sixth Form/College.
They currently get £10/week each.
DD(13) earns a bit extra scoring cricket matches, is well organised, engaged in family life. I give her £100 a couple of times a year to go clothes shoppibg.
DS(16) is incredibly lazy, and would rather go without, than put himself out. He doesn’t care for fashion at all, and will wear his clothes until they are falling apart, and beyond!! He takes a lot of persuading to choose /get/wear new clothes..
We currently pay for them:
Gym membership
Sports club subs
Bus season ticket
School dinners
Music lessons
School trips
School stationery
School uniform & school shoes
Phones
Most other clothes - not sure how this is going to work for Sixth form now uniform is no longer required.
I’m thinking of upping their allowance to £120, for which they need to pay for:
Bus fares (bus pass is £41/month, but DD could walk home)
Going out with their friends
School stationery
Clothes
Their own discretionary spends - Sweets, fast food when they are out etc
I’m concerned that DS had a clothing budget, he’d spend it on Pokemon cards and choose to look like Mr Stink.
I don’t know what to do or what’s a appropriate amount. I’d really like DS to get a job, but there’s not a lot about. DD would manage this well though, but i don’t want to treat her more grown up than her older sibling.