spending money for teenagers

[kooky]

what do people think is a reasonable amount to give a 14 yr old boy? ds is forever complaining that his friends get more money than him. At the moment he gets a basic allowance and extra if he does jobs around the house.

[2shoes]

ds is 14 and he gets £12 a week. he doesn't do chores as such but is sort of a young carer to his sister who has cp

[chenin]

y 14yo DD gets nothing... she washes up at a local pub

[noddyholder]

My ds is 12 and his friends apparently get more than him.We are starting to give him an allowance from Sept 1st and we have ordered him a cash card for the account.He will get either 30 pounds plus 10 on his phone or 40 and he does the phone himself.That is per month.It doesn't include clothes but does include magazines going to town etc

[80sMum]

It's a good idea to give teenagers a monthly allowance, rather than just pocket money.
Sit down with him and work out all the expenses that he will incur and what you think you would reasonably be prepared to spend on him in a normal year; include clothes (except school uniform), tickets, travel, entertainment, snacks, magazines, cosmetics, mobile phone etc. Then divide that figure by 12 and that is how much he gets from you per month. It may seem like quite a lot, but remember you would have spent that amount anyway. This way, he is in control of his own budget, so he's learning financial management - a vital skill that seems to be sadly lacking in so many younfg people these days.
It's important that he realises that his allowance is all he will get from you. So, if he overspends on his mobile phone for instance, he won't be able to afford to go out till the next month. It's important he realises that his income is finite.
It also helps you to budget, because you'll know exactly what he's going to cost you per month and there'll be no sudden extra expenses for designer clothes etc (if he wants expensive clothes, he'll need to budget for them and make sacrifices elsewhere).

[roisin]

On a related note, does anyone know what the law is on teenagers working? (i.e. time limits, age limits, etc.)

[80sMum]

That info's here

[Glassofwine]

Agree wholeheartedly with 80'smum - I know people who do this and it work fantastically.

[roisin]

Thanks 80s mum

[kooky]

thanks guys, the allowance sounds a good idea, he does need to learn how to budget!