Our Children's Spending Money
Two thirds of parents with children aged 4-18 give their kids spending money - at least from time to time. The average allowance is approximately 50 PLN a month, with older children (aged 16-18) getting an average of 76 PLN a month. They spend this money primarily on candy, newspapers, magazines, beverages, as well as costs associated with using cell phones and toys. Children also have a significant influence on their parents' shopping decisions.
Where do children acquire money?
Two-thirds (66%) of parents with children aged between 4 and 18 give their kids money to spend as they like, at least from time to time. Typically, children receive this money in the form of irregular payments from their parents, depending on parents' financial possibilities and the kids' needs (75%), or as gifts (Christmas, birthdays, etc. - 71%) from grandparents or extended family. 40% of respondents among this group of parents give their children money regularly in the form of a weekly allowance or a set monthly "salary". 15% reward their children for academic achievements (good grades), 12% pay their children for performing household chores, the same proportion of children (12%) earns money by working outside the home.
How do children acquire money?
On average, children have approximately 50 PLN to spend. The amount of allowance increases with age; the oldest children receive an average of 76 PLN a month.
How much spending money does a child have on average?
What do children spend money on?
Children and youth spend their money decidedly most often on candy (according to 65% of parents), phone cards/fees (11%), beverages (10%), newspapers and magazines (10%), toys (10%), cosmetics (8%) and computer games (7%).
According to half of the respondents, their children save part of their money for something specific or to have money saved. There are no age differences in this tendency.
Apart from spending their own money, children take active part spending their parents' money. In the large majority of respondent families, children accompany parents on shopping trips. Most often, in one-third of cases, children go shopping with their parents several times a week; in one-fourth of cases - once a week. Only 4% of respondents admitted that their children never go shopping with them. Meanwhile, almost one-third of respondents (30%) declared that their children shop alone for the family several times a week.
Among the studied products, children have most influence on decisions concerning brands of yoghurts and cheeses. This is followed by cereal and toothpaste, as well as audio equipment (players, stereos, tape players, etc.) and children's clothes and shoes; decisions about the latter are made or influenced by the children of almost two-thirds of respondents.
Does the child ever decide or help decide about the purchase or choice of brand of the following products (N=246):
In general, the older the child, the greater his participation in decisions about brands/products. This is particularly evident with regard to purchases of modern technologies such as cell phones, computers, and computer programs or games. Older children (aged 11-18) in large part act as main advisors in these purchases.
Has your child ever influenced the purchase of a
