For all those parents amongst you...
Discussion
I found this story on the news sites about UK kids being Europe's richest. I was just wondering if that was a fair representation at all. I remember when I was a kid (Gosh I sound like my dad now) I didn't get any pocket money unless I worked for it 
but it at least showed me the value of money. Just curious to see how true/untrue this story is. 
By DUNCAN LARCOMBE
BRITISH kids are the richest in Europe, a report reveals today.
Our “tweenagers” — aged ten to 13 — get an average £7.58 a week from pocket money and doing odd-jobs, compared to £4.79 on the continent.
Family break-ups and “guilt” presents from working parents have fuelled a huge handout culture for Britain’s 2.79million tweenagers.
The report for Datamonitor, written by Piers Berezai, says: “Parents feel guilty, or at least prepared to indulge their children more, as a result of being away from them.”
But he warned there would be only modest rises for kids over the next five years.
A poll of 3,384 kids for internet giants AOL found 15 per cent of kids spend their cash on CDs, 12 per cent use it for magazines and 12 per cent buy sweets.
A quarter save up — while 14 per cent said they get NO pocket money at all.
but it at least showed me the value of money. Just curious to see how true/untrue this story is. By DUNCAN LARCOMBE
BRITISH kids are the richest in Europe, a report reveals today.
Our “tweenagers” — aged ten to 13 — get an average £7.58 a week from pocket money and doing odd-jobs, compared to £4.79 on the continent.
Family break-ups and “guilt” presents from working parents have fuelled a huge handout culture for Britain’s 2.79million tweenagers.
The report for Datamonitor, written by Piers Berezai, says: “Parents feel guilty, or at least prepared to indulge their children more, as a result of being away from them.”
But he warned there would be only modest rises for kids over the next five years.
A poll of 3,384 kids for internet giants AOL found 15 per cent of kids spend their cash on CDs, 12 per cent use it for magazines and 12 per cent buy sweets.
A quarter save up — while 14 per cent said they get NO pocket money at all.
plotloss said: £7.58 a week!
Blimey!
No wonder kids have drug habits...
Matt.
Are you saying that this is too much or too little, I have three Kids (one old enough to fend for himself) two of which are still at home (13 y/o Daughter and 15 y/o Son), I give them each £20.00 a week Pocket money and I thought it to little .... Be interesting to hear what other parents give their children!
Don't know where they get the "richest in Europe" bit from as I regularly see kiddies (8-10 y.o.) using €50 notes to buy their sticky sweets in our village shop (thats around £30)........but who the hell really knows? It's probably some anally retentive bueropratt (fcuk it, cant spell today..... office wallah) in Brussels getting his knickers in a twist....
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 15th January 13:35
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 15th January 13:35
Richard, I don't suppose you'd like to adopt me?? (Just to give an idea of my age, I used to get a half crown a week)
Richard92c2 said: I have three Kids (one old enough to fend for himself) two of which are still at home (13 y/o Daughter and 15 y/o Son), I give them each £20.00 a week Pocket money and I thought it to little ....
Richard92c2 said:
plotloss said: £7.58 a week!
Blimey!
No wonder kids have drug habits...
Matt.
Are you saying that this is too much or too little, I have three Kids (one old enough to fend for himself) two of which are still at home (13 y/o Daughter and 15 y/o Son), I give them each £20.00 a week Pocket money and I thought it to little .... Be interesting to hear what other parents give their children!
I've gotta say that it seems rather a lot. I only have my own experiences of about 17 years ago to go on mind as my baby/foetus is only 13 weeks and 4 days old.
I am sure things will change in the next 13 years though!
Whats really worring me though is when the day to stump up for a house deposit comes, when the average house price will be about a million!
Matt.
plotloss said:
Richard92c2 said:
plotloss said: £7.58 a week!
Blimey!
No wonder kids have drug habits...
Matt.
Are you saying that this is too much or too little, I have three Kids (one old enough to fend for himself) two of which are still at home (13 y/o Daughter and 15 y/o Son), I give them each £20.00 a week Pocket money and I thought it to little .... Be interesting to hear what other parents give their children!
I've gotta say that it seems rather a lot. I only have my own experiences of about 17 years ago to go on mind as my baby/foetus is only 13 weeks and 4 days old.
I am sure things will change in the next 13 years though!
Whats really worring me though is when the day to stump up for a house deposit comes, when the average house price will be about a million!
Matt.
I thought about this long and hard when trying to decide what a reasonable amount would be.... There are loads of contributing factors to take into account
1 Average cost of a Movie ticket is about £3.00
2 Mobile phone credit is £10.00 a month
3 Cost of a TV Game are about £39.00 - £45.00 (therfore they need to save for a couple of months in order to by new ones)
4 Bus ticket to visit friends are about £2.00 a weekend
5 Hopefully they save about £5.00 a week (Daughter does most weeks but son a little erratic with spendature, I thought it would be the other way around ... Her mother spends everything I earn before I have even earned it
) There are obviously considerations, but not really as important as the peace of mind in knowing that they wont have to do anything illegal to get the money, I know its going to be argued that I'm also making it easy for them ... BUT I would rather that than having kids that roam the streets looking for crime to get stuff they want!
The above is obviously just my perception of the issue!
Richard92c2 said:
...to do anything illegal to get the money, I know its going to be argued that I'm also making it easy for them ... BUT I would rather that than having kids that roam the streets looking for crime to get stuff they want!
I encourage my hoard of urchins to beg, steal and borrow from everyone. Get out there and get daddy a new video!
Fagin.
You gotta pick a pocket or two
Terminator said:Richard, I don't suppose you'd like to adopt me?? (Just to give an idea of my age, I used to get a half crown a week)
Richard92c2 said: I have three Kids (one old enough to fend for himself) two of which are still at home (13 y/o Daughter and 15 y/o Son), I give them each £20.00 a week Pocket money and I thought it to little ....
Half a crown! You rich B******s make me sick. Sixpence was the max when I was a boy and we were bloody grateful.
(My kids think I'm a tight git for some reason).
Richard92c2 said:
1 Average cost of a Movie ticket is about £3.00
2 Mobile phone credit is £10.00 a month
3 Cost of a TV Game are about £39.00 - £45.00 (therfore they need to save for a couple of months in order to by new ones)
4 Bus ticket to visit friends are about £2.00 a weekend
5 Hopefully they save about £5.00 a week (Daughter does most weeks but son a little erratic with spendature, I thought it would be the other way around ... Her mother spends everything I earn before I have even earned it
We give our 12 year-old £5 per week. So if he wants a new PS2 game, he has to save. He can earn extra if he does jobs around the house/garden.
Richard - The other stuff you mention (Cinema, Mobile Phone, etc) just gets paid as needed. That way we KNOW what he's spending it on...
...Probably.
My barsteward of a tightfisted father used to pay me to wash his terracota plant pots annually. These things would have 12 months of green slime encrusted on them and were a bloody nightmare to get clean. Each one used to take 10 minutes in blinking hot soap and water with a scrubbing brush. There were usually about 500 of them I think. The reason he paid at all was because the Groundsman pointblank refused to do it.
Going rate? 1p/pot.........
Going rate? 1p/pot.........
I only get a fiver a week at most, and *only* if I do jobs around the house??!!!!!!! - Time to get money by other means I think 
Bah, need job.
Infact, up until two years ago it was a fiver a month.
Although years of this level of pocket money has finally paid off as Dad has kindly offered to sort me out with a first car and insurance
Bah, need job.
Infact, up until two years ago it was a fiver a month.
Although years of this level of pocket money has finally paid off as Dad has kindly offered to sort me out with a first car and insurance
I give Tyke junior about £5 week, but he also gets a 'bonus payment' for producing the goods in the classroom. Depending on how good this is from another £5, last week for example I bought him a new cd. I feel it is in kids best interests to learn the value of money and what it takes to get it. To this end he has also become quite proficient in negotiating the swap prices of PS2 games at the local swap emporium.
Answer to your question Mrs Fish, I would say average.
Answer to your question Mrs Fish, I would say average.
We give our 12 year-old £5 per week. So if he wants a new PS2 game, he has to save. He can earn extra if he does jobs around the house/garden.
Richard - The other stuff you mention (Cinema, Mobile Phone, etc) just gets paid as needed. That way we KNOW what he's spending it on...
...Probably.
You have to agree in saying that its a helluva difficult (and full time) job being a parent in this day and age, fueled even more by the easily obtainable drugs etc in schools ... Its frightening to listen to the stories of child addicts being treated in Drug rehab centres around the country.
I am therefor a little over protective and maybe even a little paranoid when allowing my kids out on weekends etc... they dont walk out my door unless I know where they are going, Who they will be with and where I can contact a parent who can verify where they are!
I know in some peoples view it may not the best way of bringing kids up, but I have spoken to my kids at length about issues like the ones mentioned above and I think they appreciate the fact that I care and worry so much .... I just hope and pray that all my efforts are rewarded by my children growing old and not dying to some addiction or violent crime! I will however un-conditionally love them no matter what!!
Im 17, and my dad gives me £5 a week, and £4 for bus fare. This is as well a a Job at TESCO.
I used to get £1-£2 a week, If I wanted to earn more I had to work for it, say wash his car.
At the age of 12, I got a job walking a Dog for someone, 7 days a week, 1 hour a day, £14 a day.
I had that for a year, and then got a paper round.
At the time I was leaving I was on £57 a week, by quite frankly, working my Arse off.
My friend on the other hand, is a complete lazy arse, gets everything bought and paid for him. Never had a Job in his life. I know which position id rather be in, and its not from handouts.
By people giving thier kids alot of money for doing **** all, it gives them the wrong message, wheres the incentive to go out and work?
I used to get £1-£2 a week, If I wanted to earn more I had to work for it, say wash his car.
At the age of 12, I got a job walking a Dog for someone, 7 days a week, 1 hour a day, £14 a day.
I had that for a year, and then got a paper round.
At the time I was leaving I was on £57 a week, by quite frankly, working my Arse off.
My friend on the other hand, is a complete lazy arse, gets everything bought and paid for him. Never had a Job in his life. I know which position id rather be in, and its not from handouts.
By people giving thier kids alot of money for doing **** all, it gives them the wrong message, wheres the incentive to go out and work?
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