Pocket Money

[agamad]

What do you think is a reasonable amount of pocket money for a 12 yo boy in this day and age?

[ummmm]

It depends what you expect him to do with it. Do you want him to save some? Buy his own things with it?

[ChuckFickens]

Are you going to make him do anything to earn it?

[agamad]

He has daily and weekly jobs to do like empty dishwasher, take out recycling and pushing the vac around(!) but I suppose its for spends. Since moving up to senior school his leisure time has been greatly reduced by the daily homework tasks so I do feel its nice to reward his hard work and his helping around the house albeit with come coaxing.

[ummmm]

Coaxing...is that what you call it? In this house it's shouting threats :-)

I din't actually give mine a set amount of pocket money. More a case of when it's needed and I decide how much they get on how well they have behaved. I suppose it would average out at about £10 per week.

[annie0000]

At 12, I think it is probably time he was learning to manage his own money, so i would fix the amount in relation to what you expect him to buy for himself out of it. For example, you could give him £20-30 a week, but he would have to pay his own busfares, entertainment, snacks, hair cuts and comics/books, or up it a bit and he has to buy his own clothes and trainers and fund his savings for holidays and presents for others. Then he sees the choices he needs to make between designer gear and walking to school or going to the cinema with his friends. Obviously, you need to budget it in relation to what you would normally spend on him and you may want to link in the amount to what he does round the house. My kids are a bit younger (8 & 9), but we give them a fixed amount (£5) as long as they keep their own spaces tidy, but if they do extra chores, e.g bins and dishwasher etc. they get a bit extra on top (up to another £5). But, i don't buy them treats at the supermarket on a regular basis, I expect them to buy their own comics and treats and presents for their friends birthdays etc and pay for any extra things they want to do, over and above the trips and classes we already pay for.

[agamad]

Ummmm, I coax and my wife shouts ;)
Annie, wow i don't think he's quite ready for that amount of responsibility yet but you've got me thinking on the way forward.
It's always difficult in isolation and its good to get independant views.
Many thanks to you both for your replies.

[sherrardk]

Ours are allowed 50p for every year of their age and get extra if they are particularly good/helpful, etc without being asked or if someone makes a comment to us about how polite they are, etc. This is money for them to spend when they like on what they like (of it is mounting up we take a trip to Toys R Us).

[annie0000]

agamad - never to young to start - we've been doing this for a couple of years now - since they were about 7 - we just up the money and they things they need to buy with it as they get older. There is no way I am ever going to bail my two out because they don't know the value of money or can't budget. Apparently, when they are teenagers, it stops them asking for really expensive stuff as they realise that in order to have designer things they need to give up on other things, however if they are happy to walk instead of taking the bus, they can buy the things they want more quickly - it makes them value things more when they dont have everything handed to them on a plate.

Good luck with it!

[annie0000]

Hi goodbyegirl - that was just a suggestion, I don't know what amagad's financial circumstances are, but I bet if the average parent adds up what they spend on their teenager over a week, excluding food and basics, that wont be too shy of the mark e.g bus to school, lunches, trips, treats, mobile top ups, cinema, barbers, if you then add up what you spend on clothing, shoes etc it will work out more than that, People using this system have found that they have saved money rather than spent more, it just sounds a lot when you hand it out in one go.

[ummmm]

I agree.....the little extras cost a bomb.

[annie0000]

Hi goodbyegirl - You need to cut your cloth accordingly, but it is a really good way to get your kids to appreciate the value of things - it also stops the whinging about money for this and that and the "i wants" at the supermarket. The answer is (and you need to be tough here) if you have the money then you can do or buy whatever you want with it (not drugs and stuff obviously) but if you have left yourself short for your school lunch, then tough. If you are inclined to let them borrow from next weeks allowance, then charge them exorbatant interest. They wont be inclined to borrow again! As for your position with your son - I am not at that stage of dealing with a stroppy teenager yet. Mine still jump if the teacher so much as looks in their direction! But I remember feeling as a teenager that everyone was out to get me and everything was so personal so maybe trying to find something positive to reward just as you do with toddlers - even as far as having a chart and he gets a certain amount for good reports from school - could his form teacher give you some weekly feedback on how his behavious has been?