It can be difficult to get into a routine and manage pocket money. Whether you plan on using an online pocket money tracker to help you or not, getting into a pocket money routine will help your whole family benefit from giving pocket money. Every family is different and you need to design a routine that works for you, here are some of our top tips.
Link how you give pocket money to conditions
Chores and Jobs
Giving pocket money in exchange for your children completing jobs can be a great way to reinforce that money is ‘earned’. As we all know, getting paid for work can be hugely rewarding and earning something, however small it is can be very satisfying for your children. It will also make them think carefully about how they spend it – something the academics agree with too! Remember to be clear what jobs are pocket money worthy versus things you expect them to be doing as part of the family. If you need help on deciding how much to give, then have a look at our article on the average pocket money given by age.
Use a Reward Chart
This can be a brilliant way to get your children going with pocket money as well as incentivising them to help about the house. You can either pay by chore completed, chore earned or only give an agreed pocket money amount if all stars or chores are completed. In our experience, children love to see the progression that reward charts give them. We created our own here, or you can actually use the RoosterMoney app as a reward chart or star chart.
Behavioural
Awarding your children for good behaviour is something popular amongst parents of younger children on RoosterMoney. While this can be hugely effective, keeping it positive is important. Many parents use the threat of not getting pocket money as a means of getting their children to do something. We don’t recommend taking pocket money off them as this doesn’t encourage children to save carefully for fear their heard earned cash will be raided!
Only give gifts on special occasions
Everyone loves a gift and there is nothing better than receiving some unexpected money. However, avoid the temptation to give your children pocket money like this frequently – you will end up spoiling them and undoing all that good work your pocket money routine is doing! If either you or their grandparents do give them some cash, make sure that you add it to their overall pocket money, encouraging your children to think about what they will do with it.
Encourage your children to allocate their pocket money
On RoosterMoney we encourage children to divide their money between goals for things they want to get and a savings pot, to put something aside. Getting your children to think about what they do with their pocket money is a really important lesson in budgeting and will help them understand that you need to cover short-term, as well as long-term goals by putting some spending money aside. By stipulating this as one of the conditions when you give them the pocket money, you can reinforce the habit from the outset.
Make it fun and make it stick!
The mantra for RoosterMoney! Everyone finds banking dreary, something we think should change – which is why keeping it fun for the whole family is really important. Whether it is decorating a reward chart, setting challenges for yourself as well as the children (why shouldn’t you be rewarded for cleaning too) or making sure everyone is involved in decisions about the best value lego. This will ensure that your children are fully engaged in the pocket money process and there are less arguments for parents to deal with.