Teenagers Allowance

moomoomama27

I pay my Daughters mobile phone contract.
Monthly bus pass for college/work.
All clothes (needs).
All toiletries. (not makeup)
Any college expenses/trips
Plus a small amount of monthly pocket money for extras.
Help towards the cost driving lessons

She is almost 18 and doing A levels, she also has a weekend job working approx 12-15 hours, and through the holidays she also works daily for extra money.

She has had a job since she was 16, and we have always encouraged financial independance (that is appropriate) and encouraged good budgeting. We have a strong work ethic and believe that as long as study is not compromised then its a good balance to get used to.

She enjoys this agreement, but knows should she need it she can always ask for money to help out should there be an unexpected cost., or drop work hours should she need to (exams). Thankfully her work is VERY flexible and she can opt in/out of shifts depending on her college commitments, her employer is aware and encourages school/college as the priority.

Lunar_Eclipse

zagfles wrote: »

DD's college want her to apply to Oxford, they gave us loads of advice none of which was for her to get a job!

I'm surprised. We've been told a similar thing, except I think it's only because it's next to impossible to get relevant experience (which is what we've been told) that is paid.

General advice seems to be: top grades, passion for subject, deep subject knowledge extended from curriculum, hobbies and relevant experience. They want it all.

jemb

Are you wanting your child to go to Uni? On their application alot of courses now go on work ethic out of School/ college and out of school activities. My Cousin was turned down for a Science based degree as he didnt show any initiative out of School.

PurplePow

Homeownertobe wrote: »

I didn't get an allowance when I was in school, but I did get one at sixth form college.

We're going back a decade but it was £250 a month then, and that was only because we were in an EMA pilot area and my parents felt very strongly that I shouldn't be disadvantaged because they worked and didn't sit on their backsides and claim benefits.

...had the Government not started handing out £40 a week to all and sundry with lazy parents.

Sorry but this is not a fair statement. I received the full £30 a week EMA pilot when I was in college. My Mam worked all hours full-time, along with her then boyfriend. So not 'lazy' or sitting on their backsides! She couldn't afford to give me any money, I paid her £50 a month board. I worked a part-time job in a supermarket for minimum wage. I got good grades in college.

warehouse

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

I don't really understand parents who say they don't want their kids to work while they're studying. I don't know any kids that would voluntarily study on a Saturday so they could easily work then. Also you're disadvantaging them when they do come to get a job, as there will be others their age with work experience and references.

You don't know my daughter who studies every weekend. She got a part time job and it affected her studies massively so she had to give it up.

UK0106

This is all really interesting to read!

I'm 29 now and I'm trying to think back to when I was at college and uni.

When I left school at 16, I got an evening cleaning job that paid £70 per week. I also worked the odd weekend at catering events for about £15-25 per shift and got £30 per week EMA. The rule in my house was once you left school, you got a job and mum didn't pay for anything, literally nothing. I bought everything myself, paid for all of my clothes, toiletries, makeup, nights out, entertainment, pets, etc. (except food at home) but didn't have to pay board until I turned 18 (or was working full time - whichever came sooner).

About halfway through college, I left the cleaning and catering jobs and worked at a call centre on Thursdays and Saturdays (plus evening and bank holiday overtime) and think I averaged about £150 per week). I worked at the same call centre all the way through a gap year and uni and got a student loan. I financed my own driving lessons, car and insurance plus any holidays I went on.

By the time I was 19, I had moved out (I went to uni in my home town), was living with my friends and was an independent adult anyway.

Even though I resented it sometimes and wished I was one of the lucky teenagers who got everything bought for them, I'm grateful that my parents forced me to get a job and learn to budget and fund my lifestyle.

That said, I don't think there's anything wrong with parents funding their teenagers as long if they can afford it. Each to their own...

Mrs_Optimist

Many thanks for all who have posted - I have found it interesting to read different perspectives. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer after much thought - as parents we try our best to do what is right for our children with the financial/time restraints that we have.


I think I will sit down with DD and increase her Allowance to her Child Benefit which I think is £80 per month - so a 100% increase on what she currently get (£40)


I will continue to pay her Mobile Contract and buy her toiletries, necessary clothes & shoes. From her increased allowance I will expect her to continue to budget for make-up, additional toiletries outside the "family needs" necessary clothes & shoes (as opposed to wanted clothes & shoes) and going out. If she wants any more money she can get a part-time job (which she is keen to do after her GCSE's are finished in June anyway)


She is good at budgeting and I want to help her out where I can without spoiling her, as I guess my work ethic came from my parents who made me earn my own money, and it didn't do me any harm but I did feel resentful at times to be honest, so this is hopefully a happy medium.

Mrs_Optimist

God another though has just occurred - do I start charging her nominal rent when she gets a part-time job?! This parent thing is a minefield!

Buzzybee90

zagfles wrote: »

As is a lot of other stuff, for instance D of E, NCS, volunteering to help in the local school, even hobbies etc. It doesn't have to be a paid job.

I don't dispute that, a job doesn't have to be paid to be appealing to employers, but the vast majority of children would rather work for money.

Re: working changing results etc, it doesn't. Working a couple of hours in a weekend is not going to change anything.

FYI my only unemployed friend went to Oxford therefore didn't work when studying..... You can find an example to back up everything if you try hard enough.

Ziggazee

Wow......I can't believe the amount of parents on here that needlessly indulge their teenagers. Goes some way to explain why we have a society of selfish teenagers who expect the world at their feet.


I stopped my son's 'pocket money' at 17. I pay his college bus pass, his lunch money and his mobile phone (purely for my own peace of mind). Of course I buy essential clothing and toiletries, but anything else he has to fund himself (tho I sometimes go halves on non-essential clothing). This pushed him from sitting around in his room all weekend to finding a part time job. He currently only does around 7 hours over a weekend, but it's enough to give him a bit of financial independence. He's managed to save enough money to go on holiday abroad at easter with his girlfriend and her family (it was a condition of him going that he funded it himself). Of course I'll treat him to some spends, but he doesn't know that.


I think it's really important that he learns that luxuries don't come for free and parents are not there to be taken the p*ss out of.