Pocket Money Guide Australia 2026: How Much to Give and What to Teach

Based on consumer surveys and financial education research in Australia, these ranges reflect common practice and what most families find workable:

Primary school (ages 6–12):

• Ages 6–8: $3–$6 per week
• Ages 9–10: $6–$10 per week
• Ages 11–12: $8–$12 per week

High school (ages 13–17):

• Ages 13–14: $15–$20 per week
• Ages 15–17: $20–$30 per week (though many teens this age also start casual jobs)

These aren't rules - they're reference points. What's appropriate depends on your family's circumstances, cost of living in your city, and what you expect pocket money to cover. If pocket money needs to include lunch, transport, or social activities, scale up accordingly.

Cash

Traditional and still effective for younger children who benefit from handling physical money. The jar system (Spend, Save, Give) works best with cash because children can see and touch their money. The limitation: cash can be lost, and there's no transaction history to review together.

Pocket Money Apps

Spriggy is the most popular Australian-specific pocket money app. Parents load funds onto a prepaid Visa debit card, kids make purchases, and parents can monitor spending in real time. It costs around $5.99/month (covering the whole family) and is excellent for kids aged 8 and up. The app also lets you set savings goals and automate pocket money payments.

GoHenry AU offers a similar model with a UK heritage - prepaid card, parental controls, and financial literacy features built into the app. Pricing is comparable to Spriggy.

Greenlight is a US-founded app with Australian availability. It includes a debit card, investing features (for older teens), and solid parental controls. Slightly higher monthly cost but good functionality for teenagers who are ready for the next step.

For children under 8, cash or a simple savings account is usually better - the apps are most valuable when kids are old enough to make their own purchase decisions.

This debate generates strong opinions in parenting circles. Here's an honest breakdown:

Chores-based pocket money links earning to contribution. Children learn that income comes from work, and effort has a direct financial reward. This models how adult employment functions. The challenge: it can create a transactional mindset where kids expect payment for every task, including baseline family responsibilities.

Unconditional allowance gives children a fixed amount to practice budgeting, regardless of what they do around the house. The argument is that some household contributions should be unpaid because they're part of being in a family - not a job. The challenge: it can feel arbitrary to children if they don't understand why they receive it.

A blended approach: Many Australian families use a model where baseline responsibilities (tidying their room, loading the dishwasher) are unpaid as they're part of family life, but additional or above-and-beyond tasks (washing the car, mowing the lawn, helping with a big clean-up) earn extra. This threads the needle between both philosophies.

Whatever amount you start with, the three-bucket principle builds lasting habits:

• Spend (50–60%): For immediate purchases and enjoyment - this is the money kids have freedom with
• Save (30–40%): For a goal they're working toward, whether that's a toy, a game, or eventually something larger
• Give (10%): To a cause they choose - school fundraisers, a charity they care about, or a local initiative

The Give bucket is particularly valuable because it introduces the concept that money isn't only for personal benefit. Let your child choose the cause - their buy-in matters.

Most families find 10–12 is a suitable age to introduce a prepaid debit card (Spriggy, GoHenry). The key is starting with limited balances and real consequences - if it runs out, they wait for the next top-up, full stop.

A proper bank debit card (CommBank Youth Account, ANZ First) typically suits 13 and up, when teens are likely to be making more independent purchases - catching public transport, buying food at school, participating in social activities.

When your 11-year-old wants a $120 gaming controller or your 14-year-old has their eye on expensive sneakers, resist the impulse to just buy it. Instead:

1. Celebrate the want - it's fine to want things
2. Calculate how long it will take to save from pocket money - be honest, even if it's 10 weeks
3. Offer a contribution match for especially strong goal achievement (e.g., "I'll contribute $20 if you save $80")
4. Let them buy it - the purchase feels different when it cost them something

This framework avoids the "bank of mum and dad" trap where children learn that desire alone is sufficient justification for receiving money from parents.

The biggest gift you can give your children financially is making money a normal topic - not taboo, not stressful, just part of life. That means:

• Talking openly about what things cost
• Explaining why you make certain spending decisions
• Involving older kids in budgeting conversations for family purchases
• Modelling the behaviour you want to see - including being selective about what memberships and subscriptions actually earn their keep

When your children see you using a membership that returns real value - partner discounts and a genuine prize draw - they're watching an adult apply cost-benefit thinking to a regular expense. That's a money lesson that lands better than any lecture.