How much, and when to start
There's no universal 'right' amount of pocket money — it depends on your family's circumstances, your child's age, and what you expect them to pay for out of it. Many families start small pocket money around primary school age, when children begin to understand money and counting, and increase it as they get older and their needs grow. A useful approach is to be clear about what the money is for: a small amount for a young child to spend on treats is different from a larger, more 'grown-up' amount for an older child or teen who's expected to budget for some of their own things (snacks, outings, gifts for friends). Whatever you choose, consistency matters more than the amount — giving it regularly and reliably is what lets children learn to plan and save. Don't feel pressured by what other families do; set an amount that's comfortable for you and appropriate for your child. Our free pocket money tracker helps children keep tabs on what they have.
Linking money to chores (or not)
Whether to tie pocket money to chores is a genuine parenting debate with good arguments on both sides. Linking them teaches the real-world lesson that money is earned through work and gives a sense of contribution and achievement — our free chore & money chart supports this. The counter-view is that some chores should simply be expected as part of being in a family, not paid, so children learn to contribute for free as well. A popular middle path captures both: certain everyday jobs are just expected (unpaid), while a list of extra, bigger jobs lets children earn additional money — teaching both family responsibility and the work-reward link. Whichever you choose, a chore chart makes expectations clear, reduces nagging, and (if paid) shows children the connection between effort and earnings. The key is being clear and consistent about which jobs are which, so everyone knows where they stand. Our free chore chart and jobs list help you set it up.
Building money habits that last
Pocket money's real value is as a hands-on classroom for lifelong money skills. The single most powerful concept to teach is dividing money into save, spend and (if you like) share — encouraging children to put some aside for a bigger goal rather than spending it all immediately teaches saving, patience and the rewards of waiting, which are hugely valuable habits. Help them set a savings goal for something they want and watch it grow — our free kids' savings goal tracker makes this visual and motivating. Let them make their own spending choices (within reason) and even their own mistakes — buying something rubbish and regretting it is a cheap, powerful lesson at this age. Talk openly about money in age-appropriate ways, involve them in small real decisions, and model good habits yourself, since children learn most from what they see. As they get older, gradually hand over more responsibility — a clothing or activities budget for a teen, perhaps a bank account — to build real-world money management before they leave home. Done well, pocket money raises children who understand that money is earned, finite, and worth managing thoughtfully. This is general guidance, not financial advice.
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