Pocket money for my son

[PoorSucker]

He's 13 this year, how much should I give him....

Posting here because prices are different on Koh Samui compared to Pattaya where I live now.

If I give him 2000 baht per month is it spoiling him or is 1000 baht enough.

Thanks for advice...

[jvs]

I would not just give him pocket money but i would teach him about money also.

I would give him the monthly average of the water and electricity bill plus maybe

1000 baht but no more.

As you said 2000?That is a lot of money all at once and it does not matter how much you can afford but how he deals with it .

Maybe also include clothing money and other things you are paying for him.

Why should you make him pay for water and elec?

So he learns to turn of the lights and when the elec.bill is lower he has more to spend on other things.

Teach them young!

[PoorSucker]

3 minutes ago, jvs said:

I would not just give him pocket money but i would teach him about money also.

I would give him the monthly average of the water and electricity bill plus maybe

1000 baht but no more.

As you said 2000?That is a lot of money all at once and it does not matter how much you can afford but how he deals with it .

Maybe also include clothing money and other things you are paying for him.

Why should you make him pay for water and elec?

So he learns to turn of the lights and when the elec.bill is lower he has more to spend on other things.

Teach them young!

1000 it is. Thanks

[marin]

Give him enough to enjoy life but have him keep a budget. Where did the money go must be stated in order to get more next month. 

 

Do you think 33 baht a day is enough for a 13 year old. What can he buy for that in todays Thailand?

[BritManToo]

My boy is the same age (nearly 13) in Chiang Mai.

We give him 100bht every morning before school, that covers his food, drinks and snacks.

(no school = no pocket money) 

[jvs]

Just now, marin said:

Give him enough to enjoy life but have him keep a budget. Where did the money go must be stated in order to get more next month. 

 

Do you think 33 baht a day is enough for a 13 year old. What can he buy for that in todays Thailand?

It is 100% more then he has now,that is a lot! There is no need to spend money everyday,he needs to learn how to handle money,when it is gone he will have to wait until next month .

I would not just give it either,there should be a way to make him feel he earns it,

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, marin said:

Give him enough to enjoy life but have him keep a budget. Where did the money go must be stated in order to get more next month. 

 

Do you think 33 baht a day is enough for a 13 year old. What can he buy for that in todays Thailand?

Food items at the schools food stalls are priced at 5bht, 10bht, 20bht.

33bht would get him a meal, a snack and a drink.

[PoorSucker]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Food items at the schools food stalls are priced at 5bht, 10bht, 20bht.

33bht would get him a meal, a snack and a drink.

He get that already, the 1000 bath is for saving or fun.

 

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

He get that already, the 1000 bath is for saving or fun.

 

I never give my kids free money, they get paid for working (school).

No work = no money.

 

He currently has 13kbht in savings from money he didn't spend.

[PoorSucker]

14 minutes ago, marin said:

Give him enough to enjoy life but have him keep a budget. Where did the money go must be stated in order to get more next month. 

 

Do you think 33 baht a day is enough for a 13 year old. What can he buy for that in todays Thailand?

1000 baht for saving or fun, he has everything covered already. Just making him have an own account to manage money.

[PoorSucker]

17 minutes ago, marin said:

Give him enough to enjoy life but have him keep a budget. Where did the money go must be stated in order to get more next month. 

 

Do you think 33 baht a day is enough for a 13 year old. What can he buy for that in todays Thailand?

Just told him...can I buy Robux for my game... Up2you 

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

Make him earn it.

[PoorSucker]

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My boy is the same age (nearly 13) in Chiang Mai.

We give him 100bht every morning before school, that covers his food, drinks and snacks.

(no school = no pocket money) 

My son, 13 this month goes to English program, 50.000 baht per year. He get snack money every day. The 1000 baht extra is for saving or fun, let's see what he'll do...

[BritManToo]

Just now, PoorSucker said:

My son, 13 this month goes to English program, 50.000 baht per year. He get snack money every day. The 1000 baht extra is for saving or fun, let's see what he'll do...

Mine is in CEP (Chinese and English Program) at a government school 8kbht/term.

[Pouatchee]

On 8/2/2024 at 10:13 AM, BritManToo said:

My boy is the same age (nearly 13) in Chiang Mai.

We give him 100bht every morning before school, that covers his food, drinks and snacks.

(no school = no pocket money) 

 

totally agree. as a long term teacher in thailand i can tell you that anything more is wasted on junk. it would be a boon for any parent to teach their kids to save for a rainy day.

 

were i a parent, i would never give my kid a lump sum once a month. it would be spent in a dash. my old man gave me 10$ a day when i was in high school in the 80's and nothing a day when i was in primary. if i wanted to eat at a local hot-dog stand on fridays he would give me 3$.

 

the 100bht a day should be for weekday expenditures and a bit more on saturdays and sundays if the child is going somewhere with friends IMHO.

[Will B Good]

 

 

Something I wish I had done was put half their pocket money into a FTSE 100 fund or similar.

 

Trading is so easy now all parents should be considering investments.

 

When my kids were growing up trading wasn't even on the horizon.

[PoorSucker]

4 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

it would be a boon for any parent to teach their kids to save for a rainy day.

Told him if he saves money I'll double it when he's 15

[Pouatchee]

1 minute ago, PoorSucker said:

Told him if he saves money I'll double it when he's 15

 

no one can really tell you what to do with your money in regards to your kid. you are the only one who knows him. ask yourself, knowing what you know about him, is he responsible?

[PoorSucker]

1 minute ago, Pouatchee said:

 

no one can really tell you what to do with your money in regards to your kid. you are the only one who knows him. ask yourself, knowing what you know about him, is he responsible?

No, but I'm trying to teach him. But he's like me...not responsible 

[Pouatchee]

Just now, PoorSucker said:

No, but I'm trying to teach him. But he's like me...not responsible 

 

nor was i. then maybe you try to be responsible and put aside money for his 'college fund'? dunno you or if you are doing it already...

remember this... 'easy come easy go' i chant this to myself now... it is my mantra. when things go sideways it helps me decide if something is worth fighting for.

 

when things come too easily we tend to squander them. just a fact of life... easy come easy go

[PoorSucker]

8 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Told him if he saves money I'll double it when he's 15

Really he said, I doubled down. I'll double every birthday on your savings.

[nikmar]

I give my 16 yr old 160 bt for school, this includes transport. He gets 500 bt every week but he has to earn it. Cleans house, toilets etc. Does shopping and general chores we ask him to do. He gets "cuts" if he shows attitude or does a duff job. he s learnt that money doesnt come free and if you want money - you need to earn it. Like respect.

[PoorSucker]

17 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

college fund'

He's tripple citizen Thai, Finland, Sweden, collage is free in Finland and Sweden although I went to college in Sweden and the the US (had to pay for my year in US)

[ezzra]

What a world we live in now... when a dad have to ask strangers how much pocket money to give to his son,

what next? how to feed him, bath him and tuck him into bed? you're his dad for god sake, figure that

out by trial and error and not asking strangers for advice...

[1FinickyOne]

My kid has good values - when she has free time, of her own volition, she helps with everything. I gave her 10,000 baht per month in high school [I paid her rent but she was living on her own and paid all her expenses] and it was up to her discretion whether or not or how much to save and how much to spend. We have had many conversations about money. When my wife was not well this past summer, she spent every moment taking care of her. No requests for money for doing this and with no school and living at home, there was no stipend.  

[proton]

Glad I have no kids, wife is expensive enough guys who want a mai noi must be gluttons for punishment

[actonion]

You obviously know your Son more then the rest here so give him what you  think, as long as he's earning it...not just free handouts

[rocketboy2]

Step daughter 25 years old, finished Uni, now working.

I still help her 4,000 a month, pocket money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never learn. 

 

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, rocketboy2 said:

Step daughter 25 years old, finished Uni, now working.

I still help her 4,000 a month, pocket money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never learn. 

 

They reckon 28 is the average age of financial independence in the UK.

 

I wish it were, I have still have four well into their 30's tapping me for money.....555

[khunPer]

6 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

If I give him 2000 baht per month is it spoiling him or is 1000 baht enough

As you say, 1,000 is enough for a 13-year old...👍