I'm astonished to learn the amount of money some teens get per week? Are you?

Question

I have some younger relatives in their teens and they have given me the break down on what they and their friends get per week. The parents agreed. I actually can't imagine cutting into our budget this much when my kids are teens- but here it is:

Most get $20 about 4 times a week to go to dinners and movies with friends. Then they get $10 about 4 times a week for going to the pool. A couple times a month they might get $50 to $100 for mall visits (which doesn't include buying basic clothing). If they are going to a friends house they might get $5 for fast food breaks.

That's about $140 per week for just being a teenager. They do not have jobs. These kids are 13,14 and 15. Then maybe an extra $100 to $200 per month in mall visits altogether! I'm pretty much shocked. I'm all for giving a kid spending money, but is this the way it is everywhere else? Or is it just our small town? Really curious, here!

Answer 1

$20 2 to 4 times a WEEK? That's 8 to 16 times a month, so that's $200 to $400 a month just thrown at them! That's all I've got to my name, and I've got a job! I'm 17 and my parents give me a $20 per month gas supplement to get to and from work, and they give it to me the first day of each month. That's absolutely RIDICULOUS!

EDIT: I go to a Catholic high school on scholarship (tuition is $20,000 a year and we can't afford that), and one of the most conceited girls in the school was in my history class last year. For her Sweet 16, her parents bought her a brand new Mercedes. She acted all pissed off and told her parents "Mommy, Daddy, I hate you. You don't love me because you bought me a sh*tty car for my birthday. I HATE YOU ALL! You didn't get me my car! B*TCH I HATE YOU!". She was furious because she "only" got a brand new $70,000 convertible, when the car she "had to have" was $120,000. She also got $10,000 in cash and a deed to a mansion on the Atlantic Ocean. And she wonders why everyone loathes her...

Answer 2

My sister is almost 17 (I'm 21) and my mom is having the same problem with her.

Today was a typical day, she went to play indoor putt putt for $10, pretzels at the mall for $4, Dinner at Big Boy $10. She doesn't have a job, so she just sits there with her hand out...

My mom has decided it's time to cut her off...now she'll have a list of household responsibilities to do each week in order to get a base allowance, and then some optional bigger money chores. Teach her the value of a dollar...

Answer 3

Wow... you must live somewhere prettttty rich...

With all the teens who dont understand that theyre dads wallet does have an end, with parents that think money grow on trees, and fish who fly and eat goblins for brunch...... ok now im babbling.

But that is an absurd amount of money

I get given £50 a month because my dad is really generous, but ill only spend about £20 of it in a month. And that includes food, drink, clothes, 'mall' visits... everything.

Maybe im just cheap haha

Answer 4

That is common for the financially affleunt.

But activivties cost a lot today.  20$ to to dinner and movie is going to get a small fast food meal, one ticket for a movie, and maybe a snack.  I mean, in my area, the movie tickets are 8-15$ depending where you go.  THere are a couple of dollar theaters, but they are S****y.  And a combo meal at McD is about 4-7 give or take.  So its not like they are getting 20 bucks for the evening and its a ton of spending money.  That is literally just enough to go do the activity.

At the mall, one item might cost all that money they got that day, especially if they are buying clothing or shoes.  

If I had the money, I would give my kids that much.  But they would also be working for it either with their own real jobs, or by doing odd jobs around the house for me.

Answer 5

When I had an allowance, I would receive $80 per month to cover everything from presents to movie tickets to my cell phone bill.

Sounds like a lot, but I usually spent about $30 at the most per month. The rest was deposited in my savings account for large purchases or future education.

Now that I'm sixteen, I'm on my own. I can legally get a job and support myself. Of course, my parents still buy my toiletries, food, necessary clothes, etc. and they will until I move out. Any luxuries I want, though, are to be purchased with my own earnings. I think this is absolutely fair.

Most of the kids in my life, however, are handed money by their parents whenever they ask for it (usually at least $20 per day). Yes, it's astonishing. But I wouldn't blame it entirely on the kids. I believe the parents are also at fault for not knowing how to say no.

Answer 6

In California, some kids get $500 a week. Others get jobs at ten and send home $5 a week.

When I was a kid, I got about $20-$30 a week, more with chores (besides the basic room upkeep, etc.). It would be like I needed $10 for the movies, $5 to get a burger with friends, and maybe another $10 to go to the mall.

Answer 7

I'm 16, almost 17, and I dont have a steady job. I just got done finishing up my Grandfather's basement, and when I was younger, I read meters for my dad's company--most went into the college fund.

I get money when I ask for it--which is usually $20 every couple weeks. A bit more in the school year, when I need it to pay for lunches or buy some notebook paper, or a book. But I'm not an excessive spender, like some of my friends are. I plan to spend MAYBE $150 on school clothes, from my savings account.

Granted, I have a laptop and share a car with my twin brother...neither of which I paid for. And I have a nice room, but am thankful for all of that, and plan on getting a job next summer.

I think it's ridiculous how much money my friends end up with sometimes!

Answer 8

haha yeah, I think I'd make more money if I just became a professional teenager.

I started working (voluntarily) when I was 16, held that job throughout high school. While my parents did buy my first car for me, it was from 1966 and broke down a lot, and I paid for all my own gas, food, etc. out of the small amount of money I made from working at the donut shop. My parents would buy me necessities like clothes once a year or so, but for the most part I financed my own activities.

My sister, who just graduated high school, still has yet to hold down a job. She's only had one and it barely lasted 2 weeks. My parents give her money to go to the mall, to go eat, they bought her car which is from 1995 and pay for ALL of her gas. Oh, and they just bought her another car which is an SUV that they're fixing up for her. I don't get it!

Answer 9

I'm turning 16 soon and I'm lucky to get $20 when I'm away working for my uncle for a few days to pay for food. Other than that I have to clean about half the house for 5 dollars a week and they won't even allow me to get a job. I know lots of kids getting hundreds a week for absolutely nothing and then they whine about how they don't have enough cash. The way I see it is it's just making a new generation of kids used to having things handed to them. To answer your question it's fairly normal, pretty sad to say.