Pocket money (merged)

babymoo

When I was growing up me and my brother, there are 2 years between us, had chore charts and each chore was worth a certain amount. If we completed without being asked then the money went into our individual pots and on saturdays we were allowed whatever was in the pot. The older we got the more the chores were worth but also the more chores we had to complete if this makes sense?

For example when I was 9 I would get somet like 25p for washing the dishes in the evening, my brother got the same for drying them or vice versa, if they were done properly and with no whinging/arguing.

As we got older, valeting the car was worth £1.50 etc. I cant remember every rule and price per chore we had but you get the general idea. the money we got on saturdays we got to spend on anything we wanted but if it was sweets then we had to make them last us all week, same with magazines and we were encouraged to save if we wanted something big or expensive.

My brother loved his sports labels so mum and dad would match whatever he saved, so a pair of trainers cost £60, if bro could save £30 then mum and dad would match it, it encouraged him to save over a period of time and showed him that you have to work for what you want etc. Same went with me, I wanted a new top or a new dress and it wasnt a neccessity then I would save half and they would match it. It worked very well and we both learnt the lesson that we can have what we want if we work hard and save for it.

gratefulforhelp_2

Just started DDs with pocket money - DD1 £8 per month, she's 8. She has to do maths/piano/open her curtains/put clean water out for dog every day and bring down her washing as and when. DD2 gets £3, she's 3. She has to bring her washing down (!) she is nearly 4 and starts school in Sept.

Owain_Moneysaver

I started getting pocket money at kindergarten, so about 3.

It was only tuppence though, then it got put up to fivepence so I could get 'two ounces' of sweeties from the corner shop.

I also had a bank account for putting present money in - but my parents never let on you could take money out of the account. AFAIK it just sat there as 'savings'.

If you give DS2 money daily he can choose whether to spend it on sweets or save it till the weekend for a comic.

bluenoseam

pft, 8 years old - send him up the chimneys!

nah i do think it's a bit young (although for all i know he's a super responsible 8 year old), but if you do decide to give him pocket money perhaps £1 a week basic maybe add "bonuses" for things like keeping his room tidy, helping out around the house etc - i know comics & sweets are pricey these days, but any more than a couple of quid a week to an 8 year old is giving them more money than they'd realistically need.

jenjade

my dd has just turned 9 years old she get £1.00 a week then if she keeps her room tidy, lets the hamster out daily, cleans hime weekly and has a good attitude she get a further £2.50 if she doesnt do the job or has a huge tatrum after i have warned her once she will lose her pocket money but she still get the £1

It has worked well for her but each to there own. i also dont buy her treats anymore as she gets money

jenjade

i was wary of ending up paying her to do stuff as she does as i ask for free so didnt want to start the whole 50p for that etc incase she refuesed to do stuff without pay

Kimberley82

I am thinking £5 a week for my children they are 7 and 8

4nnabella

I first remember getting pocket money around 8-9ish. My brother (3 yrs older) and I got 10p per year of our age per week, so 80p a week at 8, 90p a week at 9 etc etc, *although* I am now 30 so this was some time ago! I remember being jealous of my friends when I was 14-15ish as they got £5 per week, but I don't know if they had to do chores etc. I got extra if I washed the car, stuff like that. I think my parents gave up on trying to get me to keep my room tidy (I'm rather messy by nature...)

mirrorimage0

my children have had chores to do from an early age 4ish starting from making the bed (just placing quilt on top ) bringing washing down and tidy room to present day (they are 9 and almost 12) and they have to between them, do the dishwasher everyday unload and load. keep bedrooms tidy through week and change bedsheets of a weekend. hoover and polish every other day. and hwen we have a big clean they have to chip in more it is not an option,

they do not get pocket money for this as they both make mess so they have to help out, hubby and i both work full time. and at one point about a yr ago the boys did negoitiate pocket money but were told in no uncedrtain terms that if they have pocket money they would not get additional extra money or treats during the week. so were given £3 per week on a fri. after a month they soon realised they were given a lot more without pocket money.

they aslo both like saving for things so will do additional chores for money or ask nan for things to do for money.

gunsandbanjos

Kimberley82 wrote: »

I am thinking £5 a week for my children they are 7 and 8

That is a lot for a 7/8 year old in my opinion. My DD is 7 and doesn't get pocket money yet.
Will start soonish at about £1/£2 a week.