Pocket money by age: Nibud's guideline amounts (6 to 18 years)

"Mum, can I have that?" Three times per shopping trip, at least. If you have children, you know that question all too well. And although it's easy to say "no" (or "yes" just to get it over with), it's far more valuable to teach children to understand why you sometimes do and sometimes don't buy something.

One of the first questions parents have: how much pocket money do you give per age? Below you'll find the guideline amounts from the Nibud. After that, you'll read how to use pocket money to teach children to save and handle money mindfully.

How much pocket money per age?

How much pocket money you give is up to you - it depends on what suits your family. As a guideline, the Nibud uses these amounts (check the current amounts on nibud.nl):

Primary school, per week:

• 6 years: 1.20 to 2.30 euros
• 7 years: 1.40 to 2.30 euros
• 8 years: 1.90 to 2.80 euros
• 9 years: 2.30 to 2.90 euros
• 10 years: 2.30 to 2.80 euros
• 11 years: 2.30 to 3.50 euros
• 12 years: 2.60 to 4.70 euros

Source: Nibud Children's Survey 2023 (amounts may vary slightly due to rounding).

Secondary school, per month:

• 12 years: 20 to 22 euros
• 13 years: 20 to 25 euros
• 14 years: 25 to 32 euros
• 15 years: 25 to 35 euros
• 16 years: 25 to 43 euros
• 17 years: 25 to 40 euros
• 18 years: 40 to 50 euros

Source: Nibud Pupils' Survey 2025.

In secondary school, many families switch to a monthly amount, and often to a clothing allowance too (averaging around 50 euros per month according to the Nibud).

Pocket money in Belgium: what the Gezinsbond says

If you live in Flanders, the Nibud amounts are a handy reference point, but not the one you'll find with the Gezinsbond. They deliberately don't give a table per age. What they do see: pocket money isn't a given for children under 12, more than half receive nothing. Of the children between 6 and 12 who do receive it, most get less than 6 euros per week. Among teenagers, seventy to eighty percent of parents give pocket money, usually at least 5 euros per month, and the amount rises with age. The Gezinsbond emphasises crystal-clear agreements about what your child pays for themselves (clothes, mobile phone, snacks), more than the amount itself. That agreement actually fits perfectly with Chup's reward system: your child sees what they earn and what it goes towards.

Sources: Gezinsbond, How do you teach your young children to handle money?, Teenagers: what about pocket money? and How much pocket money do you give your child in secondary school?.

From what age do you give pocket money?

Most children can recognise the different coins from around 6 years old. That's a good moment to start with a small weekly amount. Whether your child is ready for it differs per child: if they can wait a bit and do simple sums, they're probably ready for it.

Start early, but keep it simple

Children of 4 or 5 already understand the concept of exchange. You give something, and you get something in return. That's the essence of money. You don't need to explain what inflation is at that age. But you can show that things cost money and that money can run out.

A jar of coins works best at that age. Tangible, visible and easy to count.

Pocket money: a learning ground in miniature

The amount doesn't matter that much. The point is that children learn to make choices. If you get 2 euros a week and that sweet costs 1.50, you've only got 50 cents left. That sum makes more of an impression than any story ever could.

Important ground rules:

• Give the amount at a fixed moment (the same day each week)
• Let the child decide for themselves what they do with it
• Don't top it up when it's gone. That's exactly the lesson.

Make saving tangible

"Saving for later" is an abstract concept for children. Make it concrete by setting a savings goal. Does your child want a particular toy? Work out together how many weeks of saving that takes. Stick a photo on the money box or use an app where they can see their progress.

The moment they reach their goal and buy that toy themselves is priceless. They learn not just to save, but also the feeling of achieving something through patience and perseverance.

Let them make mistakes

This might be the hardest tip for parents: let it go. Does your child spend all their pocket money on something you know will be lying forgotten in the corner after two days? Let it happen. That disappointment is a better lesson than your warning beforehand.

Of course you guide them. Ask questions like: "Are you sure you want that? Aren't you saving for that Lego set?" But ultimately it's their choice. And that's exactly the point.

Talk openly about money

In many families, money is a taboo subject. But children pick up on more than you think. They hear conversations, see adverts and compare with friends. By talking openly about it, you give them context.

You don't have to put your payslip on the table. But you can explain why you choose the supermarket's own-brand pasta instead of the big brand. That kind of conversation normalises talking about money.

Digital pocket money and apps

More and more parents are switching to digital pocket money. Makes sense, as cash is becoming rarer. A children's bank account or a family app where points or a savings goal are visible can work well. In Chup, for example, children save points for chores and rewards, which makes saving for a goal visible in a playful way. You can read how to divide chores fairly across the family in dividing household chores.

The advantage of digital is that children can easily keep track of their spending and savings goals. The disadvantage is that money becomes less tangible. So consider combining physical and digital, especially with younger children.

Frequently asked questions

How much pocket money do you give an 8-year-old? According to the Nibud guideline, that's around 1.90 to 2.80 euros per week. You decide the exact amount yourself, based on what suits your family.

From what age do you give pocket money? Around age 6, when children learn to recognise coins and can wait a bit and do simple sums.

How do you teach a child to save? Make saving concrete with a savings goal: work out together how many weeks of saving it takes and make the progress visible, for example with a photo on the money box or in an app.

How much pocket money do you give in Belgium? The Gezinsbond doesn't give guideline amounts per age. Children aged 6 to 12 who receive pocket money usually get less than 6 euros per week; teenagers usually get at least 5 euros per month, increasing with age.

The basics are simple

Children don't need to become financial experts. But if, by the time they leave home, they know the difference between wanting and needing, if they can save for a goal and if they know that money isn't endless, then you've done well. And that starts with small steps, at home around the kitchen table.