As of: April 8, 2024, 5:19 a.m
By: Anne Hund
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For younger children, experts recommend weekly pocket money. From the age of ten it makes sense to receive pocket money monthly.
There are many questions about pocket money. From the experts' point of view, pocket money is particularly important for children because it helps them learn how to handle money at an early age. An important prerequisite is that they are actually able to manage their pocket money.
“The amount of pocket money does not play a decisive role,” says the German Youth Institute. It is much more important that “children receive a small sum at regular intervals, without being asked and regardless of their behavior,” which they can “dispose of freely.” For younger children, pocket money is best paid out once a week, for slightly older children monthly.
The experts emphasize that pocket money makes sense for children of a certain age. (Symbolic image) © Westend61/Imago
Recommendations on how much pocket money can be
Many parents want to know how much pocket money their children should get. The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs had published a list, graded according to the age of the children, which, however, was only intended to serve as a “guide to the amount of pocket money,” as it says there. The numbers are based on expertise from the German Youth Institute. The week recommended was therefore:
Six-year-olds: 1 - 1.50 euros
Seven year olds: 1.50 euros - 2 euros
Eight-year-olds: 2 euros - 2.50 euros
Nine-year-olds: 2.50 euros - 3 euros
According to the experts, monthly pocket money is also recommended from the age of ten:
Ten-year-olds: 16 euros to 18.50 euros
Eleven year olds: 18.50 euros to 21 euros
Twelve year olds: 21 euros to 23.50 euros
But there are also other approaches, as the Federal Association of German Banks (BdB) explains on its website: For example, pocket money could be based on the grade level. “This means that in the first grade the child receives one euro per week, in the second grade two euros per week, etc.”
How useful is a piggy bank? “For younger children, this is still the right place to keep pocket money,” said the BdB in the article. For older children, parents can also consider whether setting up a child account might make sense.