How many of you were given pocket money when you were in school?
By kalav56
@kalav56 (11464)
India
April 3, 2009 9:23am CST
I was in school some thirty five years back and there was no special pocket money or allowance on a fixed basis..If we needed something we would be given that amount on a particular day and that was it.
However I was fortunate to be given whatever I asked , some insignificant small change for a candy or an icecream stick.If it were an excursion or something bigger, father would naturally give the money without lifting an eyebrow.But tHere was no concept of pocket money whatsoever.I too did not feel the need for this. I am sure you would all have had varied experience regarding this.Please do share.
9 people like this
48 responses
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Apr 09
Hello kalav. When I was a kid, I did not have much pocket money as life back to then was not as good as what it is nowadays. So I didn't get pocket money from my parents. If I needed to buy something, I just asked my parents for some money to buy it???
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Apr 09
Also when I reached my mid-teens, I did some temporary work that was easy to make some small money for me to spend and I was very happy for the money that I got.
1 person likes this
@Roseo8 (2947)
• India
6 Apr 09
Hi Kala.......Since we are contemporaries ,we did our schooling in more or less same period and our experiences to might be similar....Yes I was not given any pocket money,and if I wanted anyhting,I had to just ask,and my parents always saw to it that I had all that I wanted.....But in my childhood days I was quite innocent,and not at all demanding,and I was always happy with what I had....It was only when I was in high school that I was allowed to handle money on my own and to buy books and other things from the school store.....Any way I have no regret since from my early childhood days I was taught the importance of money and that it should be used only for buying necessary things.
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
6 Apr 09
Spot on! We belong to the same generation and I see many of us share a similar attitude[even if they are not contemporaries they seem to ahev a simialr upbringing].We were very happy,had all our needs provided for and would not have a large number of needs.Thank God, it has helped us maintain peace and an equanimity of mind Rose!
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
4 Apr 09
Obviously.I thought 50 rupees in your days too, would be a bit on the stricter side.You must have had all your mess bils and essentials paid for by father separately.So, he would have thought that too much of pocket money to a boy would make him get into wrong company and bad habits Bala-is in't it so?
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
4 Apr 09
We did not have this concept of pocket money in our childhood. we have been made to live a very secured and protected childhood where we did not even traveled in public transport? School was far off and we traveled by drop in school buses from home to school and vice versa. It used to take more than one hour and our bus driver and the conductors were equally strict. We could not even got to buy outside stuffs also! Amidst all these, strangely we did not get the urge even! We were getting all things even before asking and were satisfied with whatever little we had.
When we grew little older, we used to run errands and were made to compete with project work at home and my mom used to give us incentives. Like one day choc'lates, another day colors, another day hair band and stuffs like that. So we were earning the incentives. And when anyone used to do something exemplary she used to get money. And that would be 50 rupees at the most! But trust me, the lure of the money, which was the accolade more than anything else would make us work harder. The fruit of hard work is the sweetest, any day!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
6 Apr 09
Your stories reflect the essence of my story Kala and you would be surprised to know that I still live with my parents and they are very protective even now. Protective in the sense that I have every freedom to do stuffs with them or with an escort to follow me everywhere but when it comes to traveling alone I am NOT allowed! I can understand their concern and do not overdo stuffs. Being single and being apart of my family I MUST and MUST NOT do somethings in life. And I suppose I do that al the time.
1 person likes this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
6 Apr 09
There was a contrast , a totally different style in myinlaws place mimpi.There, there is no system of escort , protection and everyone is terribly independent.Because , it would look terribly pathetic of me and I did not want to look a fool, I quickly became very independent and later , now I am more independent [than them]and take care of all my needs wthout asking anybody.That is what marriage does.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
4 Apr 09
It was the thought of having won a reward more than the amount , that would be most thrilling.I can well feel that.I lived a totally spoilt life and was like a princess in my parents' place, and my mother did not ask me to do anything for her-she would always say, that once we were maried we had to slog it out till our ends, and so she would allow us all to just concentrate on studies and wait on us--poor thing! [however, Iused to help her out a bit once I came to college because I would feel bad if I saw her suffering with backache etc..,And I also had the opportunity to be of great moral support to her, during some very difficult years by taking care of father's illness and taking complete care of him when he had to be escorted to the doctor etc..,
I was very involved and it is of great personal satisfaction to me.Whenever,I read some of your repsonse mimpi, I am reminded of myself[though not in an exactly simialr way] , I can always feel the same level of involvement in you , and a simialrity when you say that you were all highlyprotected.I w as also terribly protected at that point of time in my parents' place to ahve a total contrast once I got married-there I quickly became very very selfsufficient and unpampered because it is the way my[married] house is.
I just become very chatty wehn I start writing to you.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
4 Apr 09
I remember when I used to go to school, I used to get some pocket money. It was a very meager amount. However, what I remember is that I would spend the amount daily in buying something and would not save any.....LOL! However, our other requirements and needs would be completed by our parents, therefore, we did not feel like asking for more amount. However, now a days grown up kids starting demanding hefty amount as their pocket money and when you ask them what do they want to do with the money, they would say that 'they have to treat their friends on their birthdays etc.". The scenario has changed considerably over a period of time and financial status of parents has also improved in comparison to earlier days. Moreover, now a days number of kids have come down to 1 or 2 only, therefore the demands from children keep coming because they know that their parents are earning handsome salary and they can afford to fulfill their demands.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
6 Apr 09
Deepak I myself have given a 'treat' to my friends in years 1977 and 1978 [perhaps the occasion would arise very rarely] , but nevertheless I have done it.The reson was that my father was in the high incoem group then and I did not worry about any budget .But there was no question of a regular allowance or pocket money.We needed soemthing and then we would ask that is all.THe purpose would also be clearly stated and there was no regular supply...But in high school, it was even rarer- once in three or four years may be.
I personally feel that too much of money given to youngsters without monitoring it properly may have some unwanted side effects.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
8 Apr 09
Kala, I agree with you that too much money if being given to youngsters would spoil them because they just cannot think how money is 'earned'.
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
4 Apr 09
I had same experience like u,,is it possible we took birth on the same day, I used to get pocket money ,yes,, and sure it was according to daily need,, not whatever I wanted,, If I had to get a lunch at school ,whenever I forgot it at home ,the bill would be added at month end,we used to look for an ice cream or milkshake at the canteen,and later at college it used to be tea and samosa,,
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
4 Apr 09
And I sure believe that u are providing nicely for the younger ones,and once in a while going out with them to a nice buffet etc,or a drive where all enjoy the beautiful scenery ,do take care and guide the new GEN,
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
4 Apr 09
Hello kalav56,
I left school like 20 years ago. When I was in a primary school, my father would give me some pocket money though my mother always prepared food for me. Most of the time, I would spend half and another half would go to my piggy bank. When I was in secondary school, the pocket money become double than when I was in primary school.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
4 Apr 09
When i was in school i was given 50 paise every day for bus charges. But i used to walk in the evenings and save 25 paise which was like a treasure for me those days. My father later started giving me money while i was in college. He opened a bank account in my name and would deposit money into it every month and warn me to spend carefully only if needed..i really appreciate it and realise how wise he was to have taught us not to splurge and value money..
@alicia812 (646)
• Australia
4 Apr 09
Hi kalav56. I and my siblings were given pocket money in school but only for us to be able to buy lollies or chips in the afternoon while waiting for our school service to pick us up and bring us home. It was just a very minimal amount. We used to bring home-prepared food for our recess or lunch so we really did not need much money. But of course in college we were given pocket money enough to buy us food for a day and some of the things we need in school plus transportation allowance.
@snow8515 (169)
• China
4 Apr 09
My grandma gave me a few amount of pocket money when I was a child. I have forgotten the idiographic amount. However, it was enough for me to buy some stationery or candies. If I wanted to buy some toy that was expensive I would save some from my pocket money until it reached the amount. Also, my parents gave me money sometimes when I did housework. I think it is a good method for children to form concept of money.
@csrobins (1120)
• United States
5 Apr 09
I am twenty two now and was never given an allowance either. I was given money for wahatever need arose and if there was something big they trusted me and gave it to me as well. I learned how to handle my money when I started working at 16 or 17. I think it is a good idea to give kids a little money at a time to teach them the concept of saving and spending. But I am not a fan of just giving kids change...it should not be something they start expecting they deserve but is something that is worked for. It will give them a much better attitude toward work and money.
@hahai_ponce (11)
• Philippines
13 Apr 09
in grade school, I wasn't given pocket money, we always had to bring something from the house or something our parents prepared for school snacks. Whenever we needed money, it should have a slip from the teacher.
although we were thought about the value of money...it was only in college that we had the chance to manage the "allowance" they gave us. Let's say an amount was set for spending the whole week, that's the only money we can spend. If we needed more for school projects and activities, we have to inform our parents a few days ahead.
@xhaylea (361)
•
24 Apr 09
I never really got allowance/pocket money every single week, it just never seemed to happen, but i wasn't really all the fussed to be honest, i did sometimes get it every few weeks, and when i wanted to go out with friends like to the cinemas, shopping or somewhere :)
@alexsis (2149)
• United States
3 Apr 09
I never received allowance or given pocket money when in school. If I wanted some candy money I had to ask. I would usually ask my dad once a week for candy money. And he would give me two quarters to get chips or candy. About once a month my grandmother would give us about $2 and I would use that to buy snacks at school.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
3 Apr 09
i was given a weekly allowance,but i had to earn it.
i had chores to do around the house.
often i hear of kids getting one without at least helping around the house.i can't believe they get away with that.i always had to help out to get it.
@bluishrose (2289)
• Philippines
3 Apr 09
I was given my allowance up to my first year in college. I remember it was a fixed amount, its given to me in full every monday good for a week. Sometimes when thursday comes in my money is spent already lolz! It stoped only when I had a job and working at the same time. I tried to be independent and fortunately I was until now.
@comfort55 (1574)
• India
3 Apr 09
Hi Kalav, I guess, during that time most of us didn't know about pocket money. The reason behind it was mainly that parents were not aware of it, and we also had very limited demands. With the passing of time, children became more demanding, hence parents needed to discipline them.
@neisygirl81 (101)
• United States
3 Apr 09
OMG I totally agree with you!!! I grew up in a family with a very tight budget, so every dime was monitored. There was no such thing as an allowance or pocket money. Sadly, we only got what we needed and not much more. Once and a while we were treated to something special...but not very often. Not to say that I hate my parents for it...just that when I look at kids today I think "Wow, I wish it could've been like that for me"
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
5 Apr 09
Actually, I grew up in a family which had an affluent style in most ways.But, this concept of pocketmoney was not known to me.Just ask and we would get it.But , somehow we belonged to a period where youngsters did not ask too much.I was a lucky person because my fahter would not say a thing if we asked for extra money or something to splurge.But my mother believed in being careful and I think that would have had an unconscious impact.THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE.
