Hello!

My 13 year old is jealous of some of his friends that are getting $30 a week in money. That amount is crazy to me, given that he really doesn’t have any expenses, that he barely does his chores anyway and he will only waste the money on food and games. He currently get $10 a week, if he has done his jobs. Wondering how much everyone else thinks is reasonable for his age? Thanks in advance.


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  • Lesson number 1. Always be grateful for what you have.
    Lesson number 2. It doesnt matter what others have as all through life there will be others that have more then you. Thats just how it is.
    Lesson number 3. If you want more money then get off your butt and earn it. Grab a trash bag and go for a walk and collect discarded bottles that you can cash in for the 10C refund and you will be surprised how much money you can earn and all while you are getting some exercise.


  • $30 seems like a lot of money. I paid my kids they amount of pocket money they were in age.


  • I think it depends on what you pay for outside of this. If you give additional money for movies, food when he goes out etc. then a small amount is fine.
    I was giving my 13 year old $50 a week for a while so he could learn how to budget his money. If he liked a tshirt he needed to decide whether to blow his money in one week on it and miss out on maybe going to a movie with a friend, or save a bit for a few weeks for the tshirt.
    Giving him $50 a week I swear saved me money! Apart from school and sport related expenses, he paid for everything else including mates gifts for a birthday and if he wanted a canteen lunch.


  • Depends what he is doing for that. If he is doing no chores. then $0. . .. If he has his weekly chores and is doing them, depending on how many I would say $1-$2 per chore is acceptable.


  • My son is grateful for whatever he gets. $10 is perfectly reasonable!


  • I think $10-20 a week is reasonable. $30 a week I feel is a bit much.


  • My 16 year old daughter has been getting about $20 a fortnight. I usually buy most of the things she needs, that’s just her play/eat money when out with friends.


  • I paid my 8 year old son $25 to clean my car, inside and out. My friends said; thats WAY too much for a kid. So maybe im not the best to answer


  • My brother is 14 and I give him $10 a fortnight which is enough for him to buy food at school and if he needs other stuff we usually buy it for him. $10
    Is more than enough for a 13 year old.


  • My sons get dollars according to their age, so my 13 year old received $13 and of course, it went up one dollar every year. However, when my first son got a job, it reversed so he then paid me $15 a week board. We had many arguments about this but I stood firm. You contribute to the household when you can. I didn’t ever raise the amount above $15 for board and it went into a separate account (so really is there for him anyway as a little future nest egg until he moves out). He loves this idea now that we are four years down the track and the account looks good.


  • Our 13 year old gets $5 a month as his base. More can be earned for chores and we still hand over $20 or $30 if for example he’s going to the movies with friends. We’re considering that we probably need to up it next year to help him learn budgeting.


  • $10 is fine. Especially if he doesn’t have any expenses. I’d ask your child what they would want to spend money on if they did get extra. Maybe you can come to some agreement that you can purchase a special something (within your budget) once he completes a certain amount of chores for a set period of time. That way he doesn’t spend pocket money on unnecessary fads or junk and learns about saving for something cool.


  • My son works for us if he wants money.
    So he chooses to work every 2nd sat for $35. He’s 15. If he’s to lazy. No pay…its on him this way.


  • My 11 year old gets $5.00 a week……$30.00 IS CRAZY sorry but tna teaches them.nothing, .those people have way to much money……..


  • Wow, $30 is a lot of money. I think $10 a week is a good amount. When I was a child, I used to get less than one dollar a month………..how times have changed.


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