Pocket Money: At What Age and How Much? — Table by Age

At what age does a child need pocket money, and how much is actually appropriate? Almost every parent asks these questions at some point — and the answers vary widely. This guide gives you an age-based orientation and shows what really matters when it comes to pocket money.

At what age pocket money makes sense

Most experts recommend starting pocket money around preschool or early primary-school age — roughly from four to six years. What matters is less the exact age than your child's ability to grasp small amounts and wait a few days for something they want. Begin with small sums paid weekly: for younger children, a week is a manageable stretch of time.

How much pocket money is appropriate? Table by age

The table below follows the common recommendations of German youth-welfare offices. These are European reference values meant purely as orientation, not a global standard — and a guideline, not a rule: what suits your family depends on the parents' budget and on what the child is expected to pay for themselves. More important than the exact amount is that it arrives reliably and regularly.

The shift around age ten stands out: younger children receive small amounts weekly, older ones a larger amount monthly. The reason is educational — with a monthly rhythm your child learns to budget money over a longer period.

Pay weekly or monthly?

A good rule of thumb: weekly until about age nine, monthly after that. A primary-school child still finds it hard to picture a whole month as a planning window; if the money is gone after a week, the next payout is close. Older children, by contrast, benefit from a monthly amount: whoever has spent it all after two weeks feels the consequence — and plans better next time.

Pocket money as a place to learn about money

Pocket money is more than an amount of cash — it is a child's first hands-on experience with money. For it to serve that purpose, a few simple principles help:

• Pay on a fixed date — punctually, and without your child having to ask. Reliability is half the battle.
• Don't tie pocket money to good behaviour or grades. It is not a reward or a lever, but a steady frame for practising.
• Let your child decide for themselves — even when they spend it "wrong". They learn more from small bad buys than from any lecture.
• Support saving: a visible savings goal makes waiting tangible and shows how small amounts add up to something bigger over time.
• Talk openly about money. Knowing how much is left leads to better decisions — for children just as much as for adults.

The last point is the hardest in practice: once the money is no longer sitting in a wallet, both sides quickly lose track. This is exactly where a shared, visible balance helps.