General Chat

Thank you for all your answers, you've given me lots to think about :o) Harry, what a cunningly good idea! Helenxxx

I agree with Roy that they should be encouraged to save part of the pocket money. I encouraged (bribed) mine into saving by letting them bank with me and paying them a lot of interest once it had lain untouched for a year. Happy days

I always gave my children pocket money from a young age about 5 yrs and taught them how to save.I never bought them sweets they had to buy them out of their money.It seemed to work well as they are all very carefull with money now. My youngest who is nearly 17 saves for the things he wants and does extra jobs if he wants more cash. I think it teaches them the value of money. I think we have to bear in mind that each child is different though and some can handle it better than others. C x

I think that £2.00 as week seems fair. I would encourage saving some of it in a piggy bank or something to get them into that way of thinking from a young age.

at first it was just a few sweets and a cheap toy then they would save if they wanted something bigger but my youngest is 15 this year i give her £7.50 a week as she buys her own toileteries and mack up, it depends what your daughter wants to buy, she must realise that pocket money is for things she needs for the week a bit like wages once its gone you have to waite till next pay day, not spend it all in one go then mum buys whatever else she wants during the week. good luck you will do the right thing, its all trial and error

My son is 10. He gets £2 per week ... £1 he spends on sweets (20p night M-F) and the other £1 gets put to one side. Every 5 weeks he saves £5, this he either buys what he wants with, or I put it into his bank account. His Dad provides anything else that is requested. Dad puts £10 a month on his mobile, which we're pleased to say he only uses to phone me with !! ' can I stay out a bit longer please ?' ... I think his pocket money will go up to £3 on his birthday in August :-)

Megan tends to save hers up for something that she really wants, i should add that i pay for her fortnightly magazine (Tracey Beaker) so she really tends to spent it on whatever she wants. Megan is not into sweets much and i wouldnt allow her to spend it all on sweets anyway. Lisa xx

I think the important thing is not how much pocket money they get but that they do something to earn it, also with my children we made them save half their pocket money for the future, holidays and special days out and even some toy that they want, I feel it is very important to teach children that money has to be earned and does not grow on trees, my 9 year old gets £2 per week of granddad and £2 of me but she has to keep her bedroom tidy and she is now starting to help (in a small way) around the house or the £2 off me gets reduced. Just read my post and forgot to say, The £2 off granddad goes in the bank. Roy

Thank you Shirley, Lisa and Jess :o) That's the problem isn't it? Trying to make it realistic but not too much for somebody who hasn't got a clue about the value of money. Can I ask what your children use their pocket money for Shirley and Lisa? Helenxxx

9 is good , how much you give her, depends on what you want her to use it for. £1 a week for just sweets is okay, but if you expect her to buy her own ( whatever her thing would be) make the ammount realistic, My neice wanted a tennis racquet and was told she had to buy it with her pocket money, £2 a week made it impossible for her, which was a shame, because she did try, but the time span was just too great. In the end she saved £6 over 4 weeks , which i thought was good , and i gave her £8 for trying hard, so she got it. Jess

MY DAUGHTER IS ALSO 9 AND SHE HAS £2.50 A WEEK MUCH TO HER 12 YEAR OLD BROTHERS DISGUST. SHE DOES NOT HAVE A MOBILE PHONE AS I THINK SHE IS TOO YOUNG BUT SHE ALSO HAS THE OCCASIONAL TREAT AS HER BROTHER DOES HAVE A PHONE. LISA XX

hi i think 9 is a good age to start pocket money, it helps children understand the value of things, i woul personally start at £2 and increase it by £1 each birthday thats what i did with my 4 children. hope this helps.

My little girl will be 9 next week and we were wondering if we should give her some pocket money. What age do you think is right and how much would you suggest? Helenxxx