pocket money.

[willowrose30]

Hi all. Just wondering how much pocket money you all give and at what age. And if you pay for extras e.g phone contracts Thanks. :)

[suzylee73]

Hi :)

I give my 14 year old 5 per week, they are welcome to earn more by doing chores, it's a great way for them to learn work ethics. Also as a carer you can't withhold pocket money as a consequence so I always keep it low and give more as a reward.

As for phone contracts, I bought mine a contract phone for Xmas but they are long term and have lived with me for a few years already. You certainly don't want to be stuck paying a phone bill for a year if the child moves on.

[Gillian1980]

Our agency has a list of how much to give for what age child and then any extras like phone credit are negotiable.

We can't stop pocket money as a punishment either.

I think for a 14 year old the rate is £7.50 per week?

And we have to save £5 p/w to go with the child when they move on.

[willowrose30]

Thanks guys. I think that's what we will go with. We do have a minimum amount that needs to be given so will give that and then negotiate any extras as rewards for behaviour and chores etc.
Thanks for your replies. :)

[fasparent]

Being strict and tight, encourage too save, learning value's young, keeping out of expensive brands. Seeing what they can really afford, if they have the cash. Best way for all mine, most are now employer's, own their own houses run a car. Best not too set a rate use minimum save the rest.

[Eveningsaregettingshorter]

We have set amounts that we have to give, that are age related. Not allowed to withhold. Up to 16 it was £10 per week, plus a clothing allowance, plus £150 for birthday and again for Christmas. Once over 16 pocket money went up to £15 per week, plus clothing allowance, plus the rest, but as young person is working, we have agreed with them that rather than giving this money on top of their wages, we save it directly into an account for when they leave care next year (we save around forty quid a week for them).

[awsomer]

£150 for their Birthday!? Wow, that's amazing, I wish I'd had that much at that age!

Well done for organising those savings, that will make such a difference later on, great idea.

[Eveningsaregettingshorter]

The £150 is a pretty high amount, but it's a statutory amount that we have to use for birthdays and Christmas. As pocket money and clothing amounts are pretty high (never gave my own children anywhere near that), we always insist on savings. It's also important to make sure the child's friends don't exploit them financially, as the fostered children I have looked after usually have a lot more cash than their friends, and this is soon discovered by their peers.

[scarlet5tyger]

£150?? Is that combined or for each?

My LA pays a third of that! For £50 I'm expected to provide presents, cake and party. I manage it but the children don't get the shop bought TV character cake they ask for, or the party at the soft play centre, and the present is usually out of my own money! My current LO is already being prepared that he can't have the £12 Ninja Turtles cake he's asked for, plus invite all his class to the cinema, plus have a new bike!

Yet another area where I think financial amounts need to be determined nationally, not by each local authority.

[Eveningsaregettingshorter]

For each. We work for an IFA. The amounts are set by the IFA, and are not given to us in addition of our weekly payment , but we are expected to spend this on each event.