Today's Pocket Money!!!

CherieAmour · 07-09-2007 10:35AM #1

I see from a report in today's Indo that the pocket money doled out to the kids these days is quite different to what I got as a kid in the 80s.

http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/indulgent-parents-are-a-soft-touch-for-pocket-money-survey-1073715.html

€10 for primary school kids?? I started at 50p when I was about 7 and this went up to about £1 in between that and the time I turned 10. Obviously if you were going to the flicks, ice skating or the zoo the folks might pay for it if you asked nicely:) , but what i'm talking about here is money for sweets, magazines, sticker albums etc.

The price of stinger bars, cool pops and dip-dabs can't have gone up that much?!?!

I guess they must spend it on credit or something....

A nice little part time job got me the funds in secondary school, but again, the folks would always throw me a few quid - It's €20 a week for today's secondary school goers...

College? Part time job again and a few quid from the folks, but €68????

How much was your pocket money and what did you spend it on??

Spud83 · 07-09-2007 10:43AM

There is no way you should still be receiving pocket money once you are 16. Get a job. I know there are some parents that inist their kids dont work during 6th year to concentrate on the leaving cert which is fair enough, but apart from that they should all be working.

Stephen · 07-09-2007 10:52AM

My pocket money was £1 back in the day. I believe it rose to the dizzy heights of £1.50 after a few years. I went and got a part time job as soon as I turned 16.

CherieAmour · 07-09-2007 10:52AM

Agreed. Apart from the money I earned, which I bought whatever I could out of, my folks would buy me the odd pair of jeans, a CD or whatever for a treat if we were out in town and I saw something. By no means did I get a regular set sum once I got my part time job at 16.

It taught me independence and to appreciate the value of money and the fact that you can't have everything.

Ishmael · 07-09-2007 10:59AM

In Primary school, i got 20p and some panda chocolate on bread for lunch.

Got £1 going to secondary school and i had a job in 5th year so i got nothing after that.

Kimbot · 07-09-2007 11:02AM

I didn't get pocket money as a child. I used to work with my dad and get a few quid. If I ever wanted anything I asked for it but I never put pressure on my mam or dad because they were seperated so I knew things were tight.
My mam used to suprise me with some cool things from time to time and that done me fine.
I started working part time when I was 14 and by the time I was 17 I was working 3 jobs to get money so I didn't have to ask my parents.

_blank_ · 07-09-2007 11:05AM

I was born in 1979, an I reckon I started getting pocket when I was six or seven.

Used to get 20p when the old pair were shopping on a Friday evening, to get a comic and some sweets.

That lasted for a while, then my mam used to just buy the comic and whatever sweets I wanted on the friday evening. I had no actual moeny I could call my own.

For going to the pictures or whatever, it was paid for too.

Hmm.

Tenner a week though. If this is being spent on sweets and other crap like that, is any wonder we have fat kids?

Exit · 07-09-2007 11:55AM

I never got pocket money as a kid. My da would buy me a comic every week, and a can of coke and some sweets would usually be bought during the week, but that was it. When I have kids, it'll be the same for them.

It's messed up when you see a kid who couldn't be more than 7 walking around the street chatting on her mobile.

Kazobel · 07-09-2007 12:05PM

I never got pocket money as a kid so I tend to over compensate with my son and nephews now, I reckon years ago our parents didn't have the disposable income we have now so could afford less whereas now alot of young parents (no-matter the background) are very child orientated and do their best to make them happy.

EDIT: not that our parents didn't, just financially we have a better opportunity now

Mossy Monk · 07-09-2007 12:11PM

I got £1 a week for years then when I turned 13 it went to £5 a week.

missmatty · 07-09-2007 12:18PM

Spoiled rotten = happy??

I remember having the odd puss/tantrum in my time cos I couldn't have what I wanted, but mum and dad didn't have much money. Even so mum used to bring my nan to bingo once a week and when i woke up the next morning there would be a few (previously requested) comics on the bottom of my bed, it was brill.

I really think we need to teach our kids the value of money and that doesn't mean buying them everything they want just because we CAN. I'm glad now I wasn't spoiled as I worked hard in part-time summer jobs and at college so i could have my own money and feel the achievement of being independent. Now I earn a good salary but have not succumbed to running up any huge credit card bills on stupid things just because i can have them. I like to spend money on books and travel and the odd treat, and cos i was broke for 7 years in college i really appreciate it now.

No-one is doing kids any favours by letting them have everything, even if parents can afford it. Personally i think love and security are the most important things.

CherieAmour · 07-09-2007 12:31PM

Well said missmatty!

Kazobel wrote:

now alot of young parents (no-matter the background) are very child orientated and do their best to make them happy.

EDIT: not that our parents didn't, just financially we have a better opportunity now

My parents were "child orientated" without giving me everything I asked for - they wanted me to grow up as a well rounded individual that knows the value of things.

I understand that everyone wants their kids to grow up happy and want for nothing, but are we really doing them any favours by succumbing to every whim? Like missmatty says, just because we CAN buy them whatever they want, doesn't mean we SHOULD.

If you give a child everything and do not afford them the opportunity of learning to appreciate money and the things they have, are we not raising selfish children (and then adults) who will expect things to be like that in adult life when they can't have everything they desire?

I also believe that people who think they should have everything they want are the ones who get into debt because they are living beyond their means. If you are not used to telling yourself that you cannot have something in childhood, then why are you going to let it stop you in adulthood?

I'm happy that I was brought up they way I was. My parents could have given me anything I wanted, but they ensured that I learned that you need to prioritise - even if it is a tub of Haagen Dazs versus a packet of Banshee Bones:D

I bought my first house this year, and I honestly believe my appreciation of it comes from the fact that I worked hard for it and was brought up to take nothing for granted!

Tar.Aldarion · 07-09-2007 02:11PM

I never got 'pocket money'. Quit yer moaning.

NotMe · 07-09-2007 02:18PM

I started getting 40p a week with an extra 10p on Sundays if I was "good" in mass.

It went up to £1 by the time I was 10 and then £2 at 12 and £5 at 15. I never got any extra money.. if I wanted to buy something more expensive I had to save.
My sister is 15 now and she gets €20+ a week. She's always asking my mam for money for clothes, bus fares, etc and she gets it.

Femelade · 07-09-2007 02:26PM

I remember getting 50 pence, and then 1 pound after that.
I have a 6 yr old daughter and i never give her pocket money. She never asks for it, is it even the done thing anymore..??

Ruu_Old · 07-09-2007 02:28PM

I got the Beano every week(normally came with some sweeties as well) and my Mam used to put some money away for me with the Cyril the Squirrel thing.

sioda · 07-09-2007 02:40PM

Like RUU got the Beano every week gratis and about 50p and a quid if i did the lawn or the car wash and vacumn

CherieAmour · 07-09-2007 02:48PM

Ruu wrote:

my Mam used to put some money away for me with the Cyril the Squirrel thing.

Aaah!!! Cyril the Squirrel! There's a blast from the past!

Nothin better than gettin' your card filled!!!!:D

Wompa1 · 07-09-2007 02:59PM

Never got pocket money myself, started working for my dad when I was about 11 or 12 for a tenner a week and couldn't spend the money on what I actually wanted. Worked through secondary school and bought my own lunch and alot of my own books. Worked full time hours through most of college and paid my own way.
Not sure I'd make my kids follow in my foot steps in that respect though, feels like I've wasted my childhood working. Never really got to play sports due to work etc. Think I'd let them work when their 17 if they want but only on weekends and not give them pocket money growing up but give them stuff from time to time within reason

Aisling(",) · 07-09-2007 03:25PM

Im just gone 16 and i get €30 a week.Im in 5th year and amnt allowed work nor have he time beacause of activitys i do but its understandable if you look at it in context...going to the pictures is around 9 euro for a ticket then i f ya get sweet in the shop(not the pictures its a rip0 thats around 4 euro...so your left with 15....then your in town and ya see a nice top or whatever and its gone...oh and ther is the odd alchol aswell but what i get would be the average for most people i know of my age

vorbis · 07-09-2007 03:28PM

used to get 2 pound on a Sunday when I was around 12. Remember thinking how i was going to buy a computer game that was 50 pounds. Got a part time job then when I was 16 / 17 and enver really got pocket money after that. Would get a few bob or some clothes from the parents every so often.

Patricide · 07-09-2007 03:35PM

i get 20 euro a week "pocket" money and thats if i do jobs around the house and im 18. Im not exactly poor but my parents just dont want to spoil me i suppose.

Terry · 07-09-2007 03:35PM

Aisling(",) wrote:

Im just gone 16 and i get €30 a week.Im in 5th year and amnt allowed work nor have he time beacause of activitys i do but its understandable if you look at it in context...going to the pictures is around 9 euro for a ticket then i f ya get sweet in the shop(not the pictures its a rip0 thats around 4 euro...so your left with 15....then your in town and ya see a nice top or whatever and its gone...oh and ther is the odd alchol aswell but what i get would be the average for most people i know of my age

Don't be complaining about the price of beer now.
It's pretty much the same price now as it was 15 years ago.
I'm talking about cans, not pints.

Used to pay £1.25 for a can in my local 15 years ago. Works out at just under €1.60. An 8 pack of bud from the off licence is €14.18 or €1.77 a can.

Seems to be the only thing that went down in price after the abolishment of the groceries order act.

_blank_ · 07-09-2007 03:38PM

Terry wrote:

Don't be complaining about the price of beer now.

I don't think she was tbh.

stcatherine · 07-09-2007 03:43PM

I got 10p every sunday after mass, usually spent it on a packet of refreshers that I would make last all day.

Other than that we didn't really get pocket money as such.

My 6 year old gets 10cent every day if he remembers to open his curtains, turn off the hall light and let the dog out for a wee in the morning when he gets up. He puts it his is money box and saves for a new toy.
It's just a way of teaching him the value of money. We throw in the odd 50cent or 1euro every now and then for silly reasons (like helping with the weeding etc) just so he doesn't get bored waiting to have enough to buy something new.

It's working brilliantly as he's stopped asking for something every time we go into town now !

Aisling(",) · 07-09-2007 03:47PM

Terry wrote:

Don't be complaining about the price of beer now.
It's pretty much the same price now as it was 15 years ago.
I'm talking about cans, not pints.

I wasnt just saying that thatd be another thing money goes on....not a beer person anyway spirits n alocopops all the way..i forgot aswell about make up magazines,credit and stuff like that.

Terry · 07-09-2007 03:49PM

Ahh ffs. I just wanted to rant.

CherieAmour · 07-09-2007 03:49PM

And what do Aisling and Patricide think of our 50ps & £1s and nothing once you start working???

Peyton Manning · 07-09-2007 03:51PM

I was always offerend £2 but would refuse it - i wanted two 50p coins instead because I "wanted an eagle instead of a deer"...

Wacker · 07-09-2007 03:55PM

I was born in Nov '81. I think I started getting 50p a week when I was about six, with it going up about 10p every year.
They always used to give me extra though, so no complaints or anything. I still went and got my first job at 15.

Aisling(",) · 07-09-2007 03:55PM

CherieAmour wrote:

And what do Aisling and Patricide think of our 50ps & £1s and nothing once you start working???

well when i was around six it was the smae for me i got around £2 pund a week then probably around 5 when i was 10 the when the enuro came it went up to like 15 euro then slowly up to this...as my mam gives me a tenner and mi dad gives me 20.but it would have been different for mi bothers and sisters because they would have got hardly anything because they grew up ages ago like back in the 70's n 80's and now my mam and dad both work...which is new and they are only supposrting one child and have less bills to pay.....it all has to be seen in context.

Today's Pocket Money!!!

Comments