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How much pocket money should I give my children?

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How Much Pocket Money Should I Give My Children?

Figuring out how much pocket money to give your children can be a tricky question and it’s one that is not easily answered. It’s important to consider a number of factors when making this decision, as this will ultimately determine how successful your child will be when it comes to managing their finances.

The Age of the Child

One of the first things parents should consider is the age of their child. Generally, younger children may not need a large amount of pocket money, as they may not yet have an appreciation for money or understand what it can buy. However, older children are likely to already understand the concept of budgeting and should be given slightly more so they can learn how to manage their own finances better.

Family Income

Another factor to consider is the family income. Lower-income households may not be able to afford giving out large amounts of pocket money on top of other family expenses such as bills and food etc., whereas higher-income households may feel comfortable in giving more. Ultimately, setting an appropriate budget for your children depends on your own financial situation and how you want them to develop their understanding of money management.

Setting the Rules

It’s also important that you set clear rules when it comes to spending the pocket money – this includes setting a regular allowance but also establishing guidelines around larger purchases or treats (e.g.: movies/days out). This helps children learn about the value of money and develop healthy spending habits for later life. Once these parameters have been established, parents must stick with them and not risk undermining any rules by allowing exceptions from time to time; doing so only teaches children that there are no real consequences for overspending which can lead to bigger problems later down the line.

In addition, some parents may find themselves in situations whereby their children constantly ask for ‘one-off’ bonuses which then sets up expectations that such bonuses will happen again in the future – in such cases, parents should try and encourage other forms of earning (e.g.: chores) instead so children still get rewarded but don’t expect handouts all the time; this teaches them responsibility while still rewarding good behaviour with monetary recognition.

Ultimately, deciding how much pocket money to give your kids depends on many factors – age, financial situation and also what kind of lessons you want them to learn about managing their own finances in later life – but if you take all these into account when making your decision then you should be able to provide them with enough support while teaching them valuable skills about budgeting at the same time!