PouchPocket money vs allowance
Quick answer
Pocket money and allowance mostly mean the same thing: a regular amount of money a child can spend or save. People in the UK and much of Europe tend to say pocket money, while people in the U.S. tend to say allowance. The real difference is whether it is tied to chores, not the word.
Two words for one habit
If you search for either term, you land on the same advice: pick an amount, pick a day, and let your child decide what to do with it. Readers in the UK, Ireland and Australia usually say pocket money. In the U.S. and Canada, allowance is the usual word.
The Dutch word is zakgeld, which translates directly to pocket money. Nibud, the Dutch national budget institute, uses it for the regular money kids get to spend.
Where the words can differ
Some families use the two words for different things. It is not a rule anywhere, but you may run into it.
| Term | Often used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket money | A small, regular amount for spending | €2 every Saturday, no strings |
| Allowance | A regular amount, sometimes linked to chores or a budget | $8 a week that covers snacks and apps |
| Chore pay | Money for a specific extra job | $3 for washing the car with an adult |
| Gift money | Money from birthdays and relatives | A card from a grandparent |
Because usage varies so much, say what you mean when you talk to your child. "This is your Saturday money, and it is yours to spend or save" is clearer than either word.
What the numbers look like
In the U.S., a Wells Fargo survey run with Ipsos in May 2025 found that 71% of parents and guardians of kids aged 5 to 17 give an allowance: 43% regularly and 28% occasionally.
In the Netherlands, Nibud's Kinderonderzoek 2023 found primary school kids typically get between about €1.20 and €4.70 a week, depending on age. For example, 8-year-olds get €1.90 to €2.80 and 10-year-olds get €2.30 to €2.80. Nibud says these amounts describe what kids usually get, not what they should get.
In the U.S., a common rule of thumb is 50 cents to $1 a week for each year of age, as described by Acorns and Wealthsimple. They come from different countries and measure different things, so don't read one against the other.
The question that matters: chores or no chores
More important than the word is whether the money depends on household jobs. There are three common setups:
- Money with no link to chores. Chores are part of living in the house.
- Money linked to chores. Each job or each week of jobs earns pay.
- A mix: a base amount plus paid extra jobs.
Each has trade-offs, and families disagree. Our page on whether allowance should be tied to chores lays them out side by side.
Pick your words and stay consistent
- Choose the word your family likes. It will not change the result.
- Decide the amount, the day and what it covers.
- Write it down where your child can see it.
- Review it a few times a year.
Terms in other places
Some families say "spending money" or "weekly money". In Dutch the regular amount is called zakgeld. The label matters less than the agreement. For the Dutch tables, see the page on allowance by age.
If you want a simple way to keep track of a pretend balance without handling coins, a free tracker like Pouch can do it on your phone. It does not move real money; you hand over cash or make a bank transfer however you like.
Questions parents ask
Is pocket money the same as allowance?
Mostly yes. Both mean regular money for a child to spend or save. Pocket money is the more common phrase in the UK, and allowance is more common in the U.S.
Does allowance have to be tied to chores?
No. Some families link them, some keep them separate, and some do both. Each approach has trade-offs, so pick what fits your family.
How much pocket money should a child get?
There is no single right number. Nibud reports that Dutch 8-year-olds typically get €1.90 to €2.80 a week, and a common U.S. rule of thumb is 50 cents to $1 a week for each year of age.
What is the Dutch word for allowance?
Zakgeld. It literally means pocket money, and Nibud uses it for the regular money kids get to spend.
Sources
- Nibud, Zakgeld: Weekly amounts Dutch primary school kids typically get; amounts describe what kids get, not advice
- Ipsos, Wells Fargo survey on allowances (May 28, 2025): 71% of U.S. parents give an allowance: 43% regularly, 28% occasionally
- Acorns, Chores and allowance by age: 50 cents to $1 per week per year of age
- Wealthsimple, How much allowance by age: 50 cents to $1 per week per year of age