How Much Pocket Money!?

[Smowball]

Was talking to my friend on the fone an hour ago, and she was saying how her new plan of holding back part of her 15yr old sons pocket money if he plays up during the week was going well. And he has to do a few chores etc . But this week hasn't been so good so she's holding a bit back. So I asked how much she was holding back & she said £5. Then I said how much does he get a week then?? And she said £25. I thought that was an awful lot for a 15 yr old per week - she said it prob was but she gives him £10 & his dad gives him £15 (they aren't together). 
So just curious - is £25 per week a lot for a 15 yr old these days? Or is it the going rate?

[Redhelen72]

Doesn't it depend on individual circumstances.

I think there is an average but don't know how much it is.

I know my nieces and nephews all get £20 each

[naomi24]

It depends what he's expected to do with it.  Does he buy some of his clothes or saving a bit?  If so, it seems ok. 

[Smowball]

No he doesn't have to pay for a thing for himself - she buys all clothes, haircuts, absolutely everything. It's purely to spend on himself.

[ToraToraTora]

Yes, a lot! I used to get burger all, I had to earn it. At 15 I had 3 jobs!

[Redhelen72]

We didn't get pocket money - my mother did not believe in it!

Living on the base there was always ways to earn money.

My advise is don't get involved with how another family deals with money or their children  - it will always come back to bite you one the backside

 

[choux]

Cheers, Smow - this thread has made me feel extremely old ;)

I can remember (just about) getting to the heady height of 1/6 (equivalent to 7½p now) pocket money. This could be augmented by being given the change of 1d (a single penny) when buying my father's magazine - Popular Gardener or Amateur Gardener - the choice of which was dependent on an enclosure of a packet of free seeds.

Back in the day every child would scour pavements and roads for the odd coin. Of course, there was fewer motors about so one could dilly dally with less risk of accident. 

I am going to stop right there before my dotage is complete :)

[Countrylover]

We never gave out pocket money as such. Neither Mr L or I ever received pocket money.  

[choux]

^ were, not was, doh.

[Rosetta]

I would be encouraging mine to save if they were getting that amount, particularly if its just for spends

[Countrylover]

When my son got to an age where he could work for a bit of money, he did work for it.  There's plenty of ways kids can work for money even in the home.  He never went without.  Far from it.  

[brainiac]

In Scotland when I was growing up, after a church wedding there would be a 'scramble', when the bride and groom would throw a large handful of change towards the watching crowd as they left the church.  My friends and I would eagerly await each ceremony!

May well happen, but haven't been near a Scottish church for decades  :)

[Ken4155]

I used to 'run errands' for some of the elderly folk on my street to earn a few shillings. Had two paper rounds, too. And one year, a friend and i headed up to the Edith Watson Maternity suite at BGH, where we both chose one of the lifts and sort of 'acted' as unofficial lift attendants. Some generous folk tipped us, some didn't, but it certainly saw us both through that Christmas.

[Countrylover]

Red is right.  Its wrong to compare with others, but I believe that kids should be taught about money from a very early age.  My kid would be included if we ever discussed our finances or what we earned.  He's now far more well off than we are!

[Ken4155]

RedHelen @ 11.45; "Living on the base there was always wa\ys to earn money."

You may wish to elucidate, Helen, in case folk (me, for instance) get the wrong idea. 😉

[nicebloke1]

I used to call it wages, my 2 daughts had to work in the home and garden for any funds. No work no funds, it worked well. Neither of them up to date have ever been out of work. ( full time) 

[Smowball]

Sorry Choux - you're not old! : )

Well my youngest isn't much older tbh - 23, and I can't remember exactly what I gave him but it certainly wasn't that!! Would have been £10 at the absolute most, and then he would save up for his favourite trainers etc that he really wanted, as I just wouldn't buy all the designer/named stuff. 

[Redhelen72]

Ken!

LMAO - babysitting children, washing cars, dog walking etc

thanks for the laugh

[ladybirder]

I had to scrub our kitchen floor to get my pocket money.  So long ago I can't remember how much it was but it wasn't a lot.

[pastafreak]

I think I got about $1 when I was 12...buying power now $10. I did special jobs for extra. I can remember hand clipping the grass borders in my parents fairly large garden...it took ages for the sum of $1.50.

By 15 or so I was baby sitting...for a lot more 😊

I think daughter...now 38...got £5.

[davebro3]

I must have had some pocket money but I don't think it was very much. Used to get money to buy lunch at the pie shop in school holidays. Worked part time for a friend's dad from early teens. 

£25 seems a lot - I'd have thought maybe a tenner nowadays.