Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Chucky Mama]

ES came home from school and told me how much pocket money other people in his class got from parents. To give him credit he didn't even think of complaining about how much he got. He gets £18 a month and is 16. We pay for pretty much all of his clothes, and give him a sub during holidays and at Christmas as he is generous with presents. Until Christmas he had a PAYG phone which we would put £10 on once every couple of months but got a Sim only contract as a Christmas present. He got the least by quite some way. Others were getting from £50 to £150 a month - plus most had contract phones. Is it me or does this seem like an awful lot.

[docsquid]

I got 5/- a week in 1970, when I was 12. Converted to today's purchasing power, after adjusting for inflation, this is £2.57. I could add a further 5/- by doing jobs, such as cleaning the house, washing the car, doing some weeding in the garden, helping on the allotment and so on. I was expected to save 2/6d from this money every week towards something special. I used most of the money that I spent to buy sweets, or an occasional cone of chips from the chippy. The money I saved for several years to buy a bicycle.

 

I was, however, given my bus fare (6d, went up to 9d) to school every day as well, but only just enough money for that, not enough for anything else. I also had my school meals pre-paid, so I didn't have to carry dinner money with me. Most of my toys were home made, by me or my Dad - we made all sorts of things together - a sled, a kite, a pair of starting blocks (I did athletics), a hurdle and so on.

 

It depends what has to come out of that money, but I'd say you are being pretty fair. I think it is a good idea to instil the idea that money has to be earned, and also has to be saved, not that you can just go to your parents for whatever you want.

 

I would think a max of £5 a week would be sufficient for any child without doing any work for it!

[debbier]

My two get £60 a month each.

 

That covers them buying their "normal" clothes. I pay for specials such as prom dresses etc., and I often relent and get shoes, too, but this isn't that often.

 

I used to give them less and pay for clothes myself, but my DD thought she'd get more clothes if she paid for them rather than me

 

Once she realised her mistake, a couple of weeks later, she wanted to go back to the old way. No chance, matey!

 

I pay for things like my son's bus pass, and their gym membership, and something towards christmas presents etc. They pay for things like cinema, meals out with friends, magazines etc.

 

Edit: I forgot to say, it probably does depend a lot on their ages. Mine are 17+15.

[C&T]

Without being really harsh.... At 16 they can start working can't they? Weekend jobs etc.

 

£150 sounds way over the top - sounds like guilt or compensation maybe?? Money for doing nothing... hmmmm doesn't sound like a great life lesson.

 

I remember from 12 or so being very firmly encouraged to have a paper round for extra money, and down to the local supermarket to apply for a weekend/evening job as soon as possible!! This also meant I could buy my own first car.

 

My parent were not hard up in any way - but wanted to teach me the value of money - something I still benefit from!

[Cinnamon]

My eldest is 16 & has a part time job at Waitrose while she is at collecge, which gives her a couple of hundered pounds a month,so she doesn't get pocket money.

She also pays for her own phone - £15 a month,but I cover her contact lenses - £20 a month.

 

My youngest gets between £8 & £10 a week,depending on how revolting her bedroom is

 

Neither of mine,when they both got pocket money,got it for nothing.They both had weekly tasks - emptying the waste paper bins,polishing the mirrors etc, which had to be done before they got anything. This is on top of what I think is normal responsibility jobs like putting clothes away,stripping sheets & remaking the bed & so forth.

 

I don't believe in dishing out money without them knowing that they have to earn it by helping out around the house a bit

[docsquid]

I used to give them less and pay for clothes myself, but my DD thought she'd get more clothes if she paid for them rather than me

 

- yes, I remember making that mistake when I informed my Mum that I'd buy my own clothes from now on! By that time I had a Saturday job at an art shop, and so put that money to buying clothes. I wasn't very good at it for a long time!

[chickenanne]

£150 seems like a huge amount for a 16 year old, assuming that it is solely pocket money. If out of that they are expected to buy all clothes, lunch at school, school books/trips, transport, and all other cash-based stuff then is more reasonable though still generous.

 

I reckon it's good to teach kids to manage money and to budget such that if they want that new top then they have to do without something else in order to be able to save up to buy it: to do that though they need to only receive an allowance and nothing more, or better still, get a Saturday job if possible.

[debbier]

I wouldn't necessarily believe the £150 per month claims from their friends, by the way!

[kitbag]

Im 16 I get £40 a month, but have to do chores around the house for it. I also have to pay for my own clothes and other things that I don't 'need', however I also have a saturday job but that goes into savings.

[BarbaraJ]

sorry i don't see the need for pocket money at 16, if they need anything (obviously we paid for school/college stuff and essential clothes) they got a job! Same with phones mine didnt get them until secondary school and got top ups when needed once they got to working age they paid themselves. £150 is a rediculous amount of money for nothing.

 

 

Mind you all my kids tried the 'so and so gets this much money' i always took it with a pinch of salt.

 

My dd's 18yr old friend is on the dole, bought everything including a car soon and has no intention of working, DD used to think her dad was great but now she thinks hes stupid lol

[Chucky Mama]

ES who gets the most (£18 a month) at 16 has to feed to dog every day, do his own laundry and has to share clearing up after the evening meal. DD who is 14 gets less (£15 a month) does her own laundry, puts the chickens away & shares supper clear up. YS 12 gets £8 (a month) and does bins, own laundry & makes sure loo rolls are topped up. YS has only just started to get pocket money as doesn't really manage his money particularly well so we waited until he was old enough to have a bank account and solo card. Now that his money is out of sight he manages it much better. Having to use a card makes him think about his purchases more carefully.

 

These children getting £50 - £150 don't 'earn' their money and I wonder if it is money that guilty career parents are giving their children in lieu of time spent with them

[Cooks]

I have a 12 and 14 year old who get £5 each a week but we pay for clothes, cinema, swimming etc etc this is just play money for them.

[Egluntyne]

My lot had to earn their pocket money, and if certain obligations weren't fulfilled, deductions were made.

 

They soon learned.

 

They also all found Saturday jobs at 16. My daughter also made quite a bit by babysitting.

 

£10 a month seems a bit OTT.

 

I wouldn't mind £150 a month spending money myself!

[Cooks]

yes I forgot to add mine can lose their if they are not helpful, or rude etc etc etc.... I have yet to set them up their own bank account, even though I keep saying I will but they have their own building society account.

They have only just gvone to £5 though as we used to be REALLY tight..

[The Dogmother]

I don't believe in dishing out money without them knowing that they have to earn it by helping out around the house a bit

 

I agree

 

Stingy mum here!

 

Rosie gets a basic of £2 per week, which can rise to a max of £5 (never has managed to reach this!) by doing various jobs like taking the bins out, clearing her room, changing her bed, putting the chickens in, emptying the tumble dryer... I have to say that she never gets above £3 a week She also gets paid if she helps out with my courses.

 

This is just 'play money' as I buy all her clothing, shoes, swimming training, trips out with friends and other essentials. She's good at saving provided it is in her savings account (I have the passbook) any cash seems to burn a hole in her pocket!

 

I have promised £5 straight is she clears her room - it hasn't worked!

[jlo]

DS is 15 and DD 12 (going on 26). They both get £50 per month but this is to buy clothes (other than school clothes) and pay for days out, movies, books etc. They are expected to do chores around the house for this and they mostly do this (with some gentle persuasion!)

 

DS has more money in his bank account than we do and DD spends hers within about a nano second of getting it. She is the one that I have to nag to do the chores - DS does them without being asked.

 

A year or so ago we bought a TV for their room. On the way back from the shop DS said, "Mum. Don't give us our allowance for the next couple of months because it is only right that we pay towards the TV. It is for us after all." At this point, DD held her heads in her hand and groaned, "I honestly don't believe that I am related to you!"

 

I know what she means!

[missuscluck]

Mine get £5.00 per week. This is only a recent thing. They are 14 and 12. It gets transfered into their bank accounts which they have a RBS revolve account each with a switch card for so they can learn to use an account. They use it to buy stuff on line or in shops and to withdraw cash from the machine and check their balances.

 

I thought it was a valuable thing to do, to learn to manage their cash via an account.

My husband didnt agree and thought they should just get 'cash in hand'. I thought seeing as when they earn eventually they wont get 'cash in hand' it might be better to give it a go.

 

They get their clothes bought for them ect and they each have music lessons and my son has kick boxing lessons and my daughter dance lessons paid for by us so we never really bothered with pocket money other than irregular odd pounds here and there. My mum always gives them £20 each every school holiday in cash which they spend as they like.

 

All going well so far. Been doing it for about 6 months now. My son is a saver and my daughter a spender. She cant resist girlie stuff when we are shopping, extra clothes, bags hair bobbles, scarfs etc etc....Its really helped her learn the value of cash though giving her some responsibilty rather than just thinking she wants it and asking me for it

 

Funnily enough, they are both thrilled with £5 per wek and asked me if I was sure it was ok I realise one day soon they might ask for a raise.

[Valkyrie]

Ours used to get pocket money - but £5 per week as long as they did jobs. Well that fizzled out pretty soon and then payments were sporadic. We said at 16 no more pocket money, and that has been pretty much it - dragonmother signing out!

[The Dogmother]

Not just you Koojie; Rosie is looking forward to getting a saturday/holiday job when she's older, little does she know that I will stop paying pocket money when she's earning.

[alexsamp]

I'm 13 and I get £25 a month

[Geoid]

I get quite a bit (not saying how much..) But I have to pay for everything: school textbooks, equipment, new trainers, new school shoes, new school clothes, lunch, train tickets etc.

[Old Speckled Hen]

My daughter is 24, living in her own flat 300 miles away from me and still gets pocket money

At least I don't have to do her washing for her

[Valkyrie]

I wonder if it will work if I ask my mum?

[Lewis]

I'm 18 ( I wanted to put 17!) and get £30 a month ... parentals pay for clothes -hate clothes shopping anyway but I think I pay for pretty much anything else, going out, want to buy something And top up £10 a month which gives me 300 free texts

We get a bit more when its the holidays if we're out a lot though and a proper (away from home) holiday our grandad gives us a bit of spending money.

 

I do odd jobs like backstage work, the farm, painting scenery, stage lighting stuff, working for a friend so thats a bit of money which I save up and use if I want to buy something, and I used to work at the farm and have a paper round but that all went straight into a separate account for savings/Uni

At home I have to look after all the animals, vacuum, do the lawns and dishwasher + then bins if can't get out of it

 

 

Its the opposite with me, I have a load of cash and won't really touch it because I can see exactly what I'm spending, but if its in my current account I'll just want to spend it online!

[bigmommasally]

When my 2 went to Senior School I started giving them the family allowance with this they had to buy all their clothes except school uniform and special occassion clothes, they managed quite well on this however this was pre the time when mobile phones were a "necessity" for children