clothing Allwance for Teen?

rachbc

My son is 13 - I buy him his clothes but he is developing expensive tastes - we have previously said that if he wants something ££ I'll pay the amount the item would be in M&S/ H&M etc and he makes up the difference wih pocket money/ birthday money/ money from selling stuff etc. however I am now wondering about starting a seperate clothing allowance for him so he can budget for what he wants. I have no idea how often and how much though - anyone else do this with their kids?

Badger_Lady

It sounds like you and he have a very sensible arrangement

At 13 he needs to start being budget-aware and responsible for his own 'luxuries' - if I were you I wouldn't increase his clothing funds but just continue as you are... those designer brands can be bought from earning money himself (whether something formal like a paper round or something informal like washing the car), or saved for birthdays / Christmas.

You obviously have a really good attitude to this stuff - make sure it doesn't creep out of control and that he doesn't grow up thinking he can afford expensive things without working towards them

victory

We always did that with designer stuff, we would pay half and he would raise half, or he would wait for the sales and get it that way which would be half of the original cost or he would look on ebay or compare price comparison sites and whatever it was we would put towards and he would pay the rest from birthday money odd jobs etc just like you say perfect arrangement

balletshoes

I agree, OP I don't think theres anything wrong with what you're doing now.

If you want to give him a budget, give him what you already spend on him.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I pay mine an enhanced amount of pocket money each week direct into her bank account (which gets stopped if she doesn't do her chores/gets lippy/etc) and as a consequence, she has to fund her entire lifestyle, with the exception of school uniform that is worn out or outgrown and Christmas/Birthday presents. Carelessly ruined or lost uniform has to come out of her funds as does takeaway food, sweets, days out, everything that isn't 'official parenting stuff'.

She still ends up with things on occasion, for example if she has a good report or has been unwell (or I just feel like being nice), but there is none of the 'I want! I want!' that I have seen with other kids.

rachbc

Not really thinking of increasing the overall amount just having a set budget - at the mo if he needs trousers I will either take him to H&M and buy a pair for £15 or he'll decide he wants £30 ones and cough up the etxra - the problem comes when he thinks he needs more and I think he doesn't - ie they all fit and there are enough pairs for him to be clean and presentable!

However I'm wondering about saying 'you have £x for all the clothes you need for this winter spend it wisely and when its gone its gone! This way he can see if he wants 5 different colours of chinos (I kid you not) he can either get them all from primark, 2 from top man or 1 leg from jack wills!

HappyMJ

I just give them the child benefit and let them buy everything they want with that and tell them quite clearly there is no more. That's the set budget. £20.30 per week. Sounds a lot but when it gets spent on clothes, days out, takeaways, mobiles, presents for friends etc it doesn't really go that far and they learn to live within a budget. At what age you do that and whether you want to is up to you.

RedFraggle

HappyMJ wrote: »

I just give them the child benefit and let them buy everything they want with that and tell them quite clearly there is no more. That's the set budget. £20.30 per week. Sounds a lot but when it gets spent on clothes, days out, takeaways, mobiles, presents for friends etc it doesn't really go that far and they learn to live within a budget. At what age you do that and whether you want to is up to you.

My Mum did exactly that with me from about the age of 13 and I also had a part time job. I think it did make me appreciate that you can't always have what you want and if you really really want something you may have to sacrifice something else. I'm a relatively debt free adult (mortgage plus 4 k on a 0% HP car deal)

glasgowsaver2011

HappyMJ wrote: »

I just give them the child benefit and let them buy everything they want with that and tell them quite clearly there is no more. That's the set budget. £20.30 per week. Sounds a lot but when it gets spent on clothes, days out, takeaways, mobiles, presents for friends etc it doesn't really go that far and they learn to live within a budget. At what age you do that and whether you want to is up to you.

A grand pocket money a year for teenagers

My goodness

changed days

Seanymph

Ours get an allowance (£10 a week actually) and they have to self fund from that.

I pay for school lunches, school uniform and shoes, hobbies (football subscription) and clothing for hobbies (boots, trainers etc), school trips, and supermarket type purchases (deodarant etc), and £10 phone credit a month. If I ask them to come to the pictures or swimming or whatever and I go I pay for that too.

They have to buy all sweets, trips out with mates, and clothing.

I tend to buy them pj's for christmas, socks and underwear in stocking - and maybe a jumper or t shirt.

It's amazing how quickly my daughters found charity shops and my son lost his need for Hollister!

We've done it for years, my eldest goes off to Uni in Sepetmber and she's grateful now that we did this when she was a young teen..... oh, we paid half of all driving lessons and provided and insured a first car......... and everything they earn is theirs - they have all had paperounds since they were 13 and gone on to proper part time jobs. All my kids work.

I think an allowance works well and teaches them a lot.

19lottie82

glasgowsaver2011 wrote: »

A grand pocket money a year for teenagers

My goodness

changed days

£20 a week is not an extortionate amount for a well behaved, cooperative, helpful teenager.

I take it you haven't priced the costs of public transport, trips to the cinema, basic clothing, and odd "treats" recently?