Glasgow Children Receiving the Most Pocket Money Despite Tough Economic Times
Released
on: May 27, 2010, 07:57 am
Author: Engage Mutual
Industry: Financial
While money may be getting tight and costs continue to rise,
pocket money is one aspect of the UK's financial environment that has
yet to feel the effects of the current economic climate. The epicentre
of this pocket money phenomenon is Glasgow, where children receive the
most money each week.
A new study by Engage Mutual of 3,000 UK
parents shows that British parents are still giving their children pocket money
despite tighter budgets, instability and increasing financial pressures.
At the top of the list, Glasgow children receive the most pocket money with an
average of £4.87 per week, which works out to £253.24. Here, children often begin to
receive pocket money at the age of four, giving them a piggy bank containing £3,545.36 by the age of 18.
The children of Southampton, on the other hand, fall at the other end of the scale
with a weekly sum of £2.69 being dropped in their piggy banks each week. This
equates to £139.88 in the first year, and £1,958.32 from the age of four to 18. This
is £1,587 less than children living in Glasgow.
Engage Mutual's poll revealed that 68 percent of parents give their children pocket
money and they haven't reduced how much they give each week even with the tougher
financial times. Of those surveyed, only seven percent of parents said they're
giving their children less than last year.
On average, British parents give each child an average of £4.08 each week for pocket
money.
Newcastle children come in second with a weekly sum of £4.67 or £242.84 per year,
and Cardiff children come in third with £4.65 per week or £241.80 annually.
An estimated 67 percent of children need to work for the extra spending money doing
chores and odd jobs around the house. These include vacuuming, dusting, making the
bed, or keeping their rooms tidy.
Interestingly 65 percent of children save at least some of the pocket money they
receive each week.
"Whether a small but frequent amount of their pocket money goes into their piggy
banks or a child trust fund, it all helps children form positive thinking patterns around money
management and saving for the future. This creates a great foundation for children
while teaching them vital life skills such as budgeting and the work/reward
concept," explained Karl Elliott of Engage Mutual.
Children in Birmingham, Coventry and Portsmouth all get more than £4.00 per week on
average, with young Britons in Swansea get £3.04 a week while those in York receive£3.07.
"Pocket money creates the ideal opportunity to encourage good behaviour and reward
children for a job well done. Parents also withhold it as a way to punish children
when their behaviour is less than ideal. Most parents tell us they pay close
attention to what their children spend money on and 74 percent of them say they have
also set up a children's savings account for each child," explained the Engage Mutual representative.
Only seven percent of the parents surveyed say they're giving their children less
pocket money than in previous years. The main reasons for this, they say, are tough
financial situations, higher mortgage payments, and the need to be increasingly
careful with their finances.
KIDS GET THE MOST POCKET MONEY IN:
|
AVERAGE PER WEEK |
(£) |
AVERAGE PER YEAR (£) |
1. |
Glasgow |
4.87 |
253.24 |
2. |
Newcastle |
4.67 |
242.84 |
3. |
Cardiff |
4.65 |
241.80 |
4. |
Portsmouth |
4.42 |
229.84 |
5. |
Coventry |
4.41 |
229.32 |
6. |
Birmingham |
4.38 |
227.76 |
7. |
Leeds |
4.30 |
223.60 |
8. |
Aberdeen |
4.25 |
221.00 |
9. |
Chelmsford |
4.16 |
216.32 |
10. |
Wolverhampton |
4.13 |
214.76 |
KIDS GET THE LEAST POCKET MONEY IN:
|
AVERAGE PER WEEK |
(£) |
AVERAGE PER YEAR (£) |
1. |
Southampton |
2.69 |
139.88 |
2. |
Swansea |
3.04 |
158.08 |
3. |
York |
3.07 |
159.64 |
4. |
Norwich |
3.16 |
164.32 |
5. |
Oxford |
3.24 |
168.48 |
6. |
Brighton |
3.25 |
169.00 |
7. |
Bristol |
3.29 |
171.08 |
8. |
Plymouth |
3.32 |
172.64 |
9. |
Worcester |
3.38 |
175.76 |
10. |
Cambridge |
3.48 |
180.96 |
1 Survey conducted for Engage Mutual by OnePoll in March 2010 with 3,000 parents
across Great Britain.
For further information please contact:
Kathryn McLaughlin, Engage Mutual Assurance
01423 855245
mobile: 07794 283788
Kathryn.McLaughlin@engagemutual.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Engage Mutual Assurance is a trading name of Homeowners Friendly Society Ltd (HFSL),
Registered and incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, Registered number
964F and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Engage Mutual Funds Limited (eMFL) and
Engage Mutual Insurance Ltd (eMIL). Both HFSL and eMFL are authorised and
regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). HFSL’s Register number is
110072, eMFL’s Register number is 181487. eMIL is authorised to conduct general
insurance business by the Financial Services Commission Gibraltar and is regulated
by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business. eMIL’s FSA
Register No is 485680. You can check this on the FSA’s Register by visiting the
FSA website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.
Engage Mutual is one of the larger UK mutuals providing simple, value for money
savings, protection and investment products. It currently helps over 438,000
customers of all ages to protect, preserve or enhance their welfare, with some of
the most straightforward products on the market. Engage Mutual prides itself on
being a family-oriented, modern mutual, providing products that help enable
households of all kinds to plan their finances to help meet their future needs
More
information on Engage Mutual is available at www.engagemutual.com Engage Mutual supports mutuality, friendly societies and the regional financial
services industry through links with the Association of Financial Mutuals, Mutuo
and Leeds Financial Services Initiative.
Engage Mutual Funds Limited (EMFL) is a provider of the Child Trust Fund direct and
in partnership with organisations including Yorkshire Building Society.
Engage Mutual has been the title sponsor of the Rugby Super League since 2005 and
has extended its agreement to 2011.
Engage Mutual announced its entry into the health cash plan market in July 2008
following an agreement of partnership with Wakefield & District Hospital’s
Contributory Scheme (WDHCS). Further to this, 30,000 health cash plan customers
transferred from Premier Health Benefits (part of WDHCS) to Engage Mutual Insurance
Ltd.
100411/004
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