Quids In! reveals the ideal pocket money for kids and the right age to introduce it
It’s a debate as old as the hills, how much pocket money is the right amount? Too little and we might feel like our kids are missing out, or worse, being teased by their mates. Too much and it feels like we risk turning them into entitled loafers who’ll never do an honest day’s work in their lives.
And then there’s the question of what age we start to give pocket money to our kids. According to a NatWest survey, three out of four of us first give pocket money to our kids between the ages of five to seven. The rest of us hang on a bit longer until the kids are eight, nine or ten.
Building better habits
Starting pocket money isn’t about hitting a precise age, it’s about readiness. If our kids are learning to count, curious about money, or asking for small treats, it might be the right time to start. Even if that’s just giving some loose coins at first.
Financial habits begin forming in early childhood. The Money and Pensions Service says attitudes towards money develop between ages three and seven. It’s less about the amount and more about the lessons they will learn on budgeting and saving.
So here it is. Put together from recent surveys, and adjusted for inflation, it’s the 2025 Quids in! Guide to weekly pocket money averages in the UK.
Average pocket money UK 2025
Ages 5–7: £2–£3
Ages 8–11: £4–£7
Ages 12–15: £6–£10
Ages 16+: £10–£20 (often tied to helping out round the house, and transport costs)
Some of us choose a monthly allowance instead, especially with older children. This is good practice for when they get a regular monthly payment later in life and have to budget to make it last.
Pocket money is more than just a treat we give our kids, it’s an important tool to help them understand money and how it works.
Image: Shutterstock/fizkes
