Pocket money for children: what research from France and Switzerland shows

The two studies are not directly comparable. In France, Harris Interactive¹ surveyed 1,099 children aged 8–14. In Switzerland, Sotomo² surveyed 1,429 parents of children aged 5–18. Taken together, however, they point to several similar patterns.

Pocket money becomes more regular with age

In the French study, 49% of children aged 8–10 received regular pocket money, rising to 53% among 11–12-year-olds and 59% among 13–14-year-olds. In Switzerland, younger children were more likely to receive money irregularly or weekly, while monthly budgets became increasingly common from around age 13.

That shift matters. Parents are not only increasing the amount; they are also extending the planning horizon. Managing money for a week is easier than making it last for a month.

The amount rises — and so does responsibility

In France, children who received pocket money regularly reported an average of about €35 a month. Among 13–14-year-olds, the figure was about €39. In Switzerland, the median rose sharply with age: around CHF 40 at age 14 and CHF 90 at age 16.

The Swiss study adds important context. Older teenagers increasingly use their own budget for clothing, transport, food and other real expenses. A larger allowance therefore does not necessarily mean more money that is completely free to spend.

This creates an interesting next step in learning about money. If a teenager has a separate clothing budget, they have to choose between one expensive item and several cheaper ones, compare price and quality, postpone a purchase or wait for a sale, and keep enough money for other needs. That gives them practice in more thoughtful consumption and budgeting.

This is an interpretation of the model, not a causal finding from the studies. Harris and Sotomo do not show that giving a child a clothing budget automatically makes them more financially capable.

Pocket money is not the same as pay for work

The French researchers treated regular pocket money separately from money earned for services or extra work. In Switzerland, 62% of surveyed parents did not tie pocket money to household chores, school grades or other conditions.

Together, the findings suggest a useful distinction: a predictable amount can help a child practise planning, while opportunities to earn extra money can exist alongside it.

Children do not necessarily spend everything immediately

In France, 53% of children said they were more likely to save the money they received than spend it. By ages 13–14, saving and spending were almost evenly balanced. In Switzerland, parents reported that around 80% of children saved at least some of their pocket money.

This does not prove that pocket money automatically teaches children to save. But the data also do not support the assumption that children will inevitably spend everything straight away.

What parents can try at home

Instead of searching for one “correct” amount, parents can gradually increase responsibility. A younger child might start with a small weekly amount. Later, this can become a monthly budget. The next step could be handing over one clear category of spending — for example, part of the clothing or entertainment budget — with an agreement about what it needs to cover.