My son is in a boarding school. How much pocket money should I give him?

-Umutoni

Thanks for getting concerned about the amount of pocket money your son should receive for his school upkeep and your commitment to educate him. However, there isn’t any borderline to demarcate the amount of money you have to give your child. This largely depends on your level of income, the child’s age and the kind of lifestyle in which you have raised your son. 

A child raised up in an affluent and posh family will apparently require a bigger amount of pocket money to suit his lifestyle. Such a child, if given too little, will always look for a top-up either through stealing or being lured into homosexuality.

On the other hand, if your child is brought up in a relatively low income earning lifestyle associated with low spending, then such a child will require an amount which is just commensurate with the usual ordinary life and so if given too much money, is likely to become wild. He could easily deviate from academics to luxury. 

Similarly, a 17-year-old boy will require a moderate amount of pocket money to match his age requirements as opposed to a 10-year-old whose age needs and spending is totally low. 

As a responsible parent, you should note that it’s not only pocket money that counts in a child’s school life, but providing the child with basic and scholastic requirements play a central role.

Nurture your son by helping him to make life choices, strengthen his career ambitions amidst threats from a moral point of view and highlight the temptations that come with puberty and growth.

Work closely with the child’s school to monitor and support his academic performance and social discipline.

Meanwhile, in all the above cases, a parent should think outside the box and one treasure to give to your child is a safe financial future. Teach your child financial literacy, good spending habits and be a role model so as to keep the candle burning.

Make the child aware that it’s not pocket money alone that will determine his bright future but rather education will merit him to explore all the good future — financial, academic, social and intellectual heights of life. 

The writer is a counsellor

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PUBLIC DEBATES

Sharon KezaI get amazed when I see a parent losing sleep over their child’s pocket money. A child should be given little money but taught to work hard. This helps to avoid extravagance. The priority is school fees and transport.

Elisha Kadondi One’s sex, age and class would determine how much pocket money I give my child. A girl should be given more money than a boy because she must buy pads monthly. 

Gladys Keza The amount of pocket money depends on the school in which your child is. For instance, I would not give my child a coin if he is in a seminary because the diet is super. 

Felix Uwayezu If my child goes to a first class school and is not far from home, then I will give them little money (Rwf10,000). But if the school is far and I cannot visit them often, then I would give them about Rwf40,000.