MUMSNET 19 How much pocket money do you give your children? MUM KNOWS BEST
What Mumsnet users had to say about pocket money...
“DD got £2 per week from age six, linked to being helpful and well mannered. Age 7 it went to £3 per week linked to being helpful, well mannered and keeping her bedroom tidy. Don’t think she’s had any money since.” DharmaBumpkin
£5.01 - £6.00 – 4% Do your children have to do chores to earn their pocket money?
“Restrictions are only that they can’t try to get anything that is not age appropriate. Other than that, it’s their money and their choice. They can buy what they like but they cannot whinge at me that they don’t like what they bought. I don’t want to hear it. Learn
from it and think more carefully in future.” HecateTrivia
“DS spends his on football magazines. DD is hoarding
hers.” Wizzler
“They spend it on whatever they want, but because there are no shops in walking distance it doesn’t tend to be comics/sweets, but rather is saved up for bigger things. He did request pocket money for chores, which made me nearly collapse. I don’t remember being paid
a thing when I was a kid to wash dishes, etc.” Stealthsquiggle
“They love going to the bank during the holidays to withdraw some cash and they are actually pretty good at saving up for things they want. They’re ten and 11
and have had this system for about three years.” ILikeTrains
Yes 65% No 35%
HecateTrivia tells ToyNews: “They can spend it on whatever they like, but the rule is ‘spend a little save a little’.” So with little constraints on what they can spend their money on, what are the purchases of choice? The most common items were sweets, toys and magazines. Tantrumsandballoons says: “My DD spends hers on all manner of girly stuff, perfume, hair stuff, or going out with friends. DS2 [darling son] gets £2-3 per week. He buys sweets or magazines.” SuePurblybilt continues: “I pay for all her activities and she spends all of what she is allowed to spend on toys.” What did split opinion among the Mumsnetters we spoke to, was whether children should have to do chores to earn their pocket money. 65 per cent said they
didn’t ask their kids to earn their money. Iseenodust comments: “No chores related to pocket money but expected to help load/empty dishwasher and wash car.” However, 35 per cent of the
respondents said they did ask for chores to be done in return for pocket money. Adversecamber explains: “Pocket money for chores here. I must admit I would never just give pocket money, he has to earn it. He is 11. I always let him have the quid from the shopping trolley as he helps with the bags. It means the amount he earns is really up to him. The most he has had is about £3.” Perhaps the generosity of parents is pushing sales of collectables and blind bag toys as the economic downturn continues and belts are constantly being tightened.
“DS [darling son] seven gets £1 per week. Usually he spends half on sweets in the village shop at the weekend and saves half. Has just bought himself a
game for his DS.” Iseenodust
“Not yet, DDs are 3.5 and 4.5. Not sure when we might start, as they’re quite close in age, I think we’ll probably wait until DD2 is big enough to understand the concept. Once I start giving them money, I’d expect them to buy all sweets/ice creams/crappy magazines, etc they want, but I wouldn’t restrict it I don’t think. Would probably give about £2 a week. I’d encourage them to save some, that’s one of the points in giving
them it in the first place.” Plipplops
“Dishwasher, cleaning, hovering can all earn more
money.” HarrietJ0nes
“5yo DD gets pocket money at random. I kind of pretend there is a system, but there really isn’t.” BrittaPerry